Emergency Light Bar

[Timd32]

Anyone have suggestions on a yellow strobe bar for 2018 2500?

Want to add one to my truck, it has the cab lights already not sure if that matters?

Maybe one that has some white led in the middle?

Do I need to drill the roof?

Then maybe some grill lights?

Never really looked so being a little lazy on this.

 

[R.Taylor]

Whelen makes some really nice light bars and LED strobes. Same stuff the police/fire use.

 

[Timd32]

Will check them out.

Little off topic but this place makes towing lights in the USA.

https://www.custerproducts.com/products/custer-usa-line/

 

[Timd32]

The Whelen stuff is really nice. Leader of the pack stuff for sure.


Might try this company out, made in FL. If I can see some video or install pics on something other then a European plated land rover.

https://www.strobes-r-us.com/closeup.asp?cid=102&pid=472&offset=0

Clicking will get you nowhere.....

 

[Wayne M.]

If I was outfitting a truck, I’d go Whalen for the support, quality, and that they sponsor Motorsports.

 

[Timd32]

Yeah I kept looking last night a bit.

Found Whelen that have some neat features. Looks like they have better software and a little better integration package.

They actually have a ton of stuff (too much) for all different price ranges. I think I just clicked on like a $3k set up the first time rounds and was a little sticker shocked.

I'm thinking like $1,500 all in for all the mounts, bells and whistles. I can get there with Whelen and still have a nice set up.

Last thing I need is some cheap thing that will fade and look like crop in a few years.

 

[jhenderson]

Before I drilled the roof I’d strongly consider a backrack headache rack.

 

[Timd32]

Before I drilled the roof I’d strongly consider a backrack headache rack.

Have one, good idea. Will see what they have for that.

 

[Wayne M.]

I would DEFINITELY mount it to a headache rack. Our mini salt trucks have a nice narrow unit, maybe 2’ Long. It’s real bright. I can get the details on it. I believe it’s Whalen.

 

[Wayne M.]

Tim, here’s the unit I mentioned. Note it’s not bolted to the roof, but on the body canopy. It’s Federal- Signal, the brand besides Whalen that I couldn’t recall. It is very bright. Don’t let the size fool you.

 

[Timd32]

Tim, here’s the unit I mentioned. Note it’s not bolted to the roof, but on the body canopy. It’s Federal- Signal, the brand besides Whalen that I couldn’t recall. It is very bright. Don’t let the size fool you.

View attachment 120519 View attachment 120520

Awesome, thanks, will take some measurement of my back rack and see if Whalen has a cross reference.

I was up on 684 yesterday near Armonk like a few miles from 287 and some folks lost a bike with a kid carrier on the back it was on the right side of the right lane. Easy to pick it up, would have if I had that light deal, other wise I don't trust anyone, too many distracted drivers.

I was just coming on to 684 was easy pick, traffic was super light. So have to use common sense, was like 5 miles later the person pulled over and figured out something had happened.

 

[R.Taylor]

I think you could easily fit a light bar on the rack you have, Get a Whelen.... I'm going to get one when I get my topper. Get one that gives you directional flashing options to let people know to keep right or left of you.

 

[Timd32]

I think you could easily fit a light bar on the rack you have, Get a Whelen.... I'm going to get one when I get my topper. Get one that gives you directional flashing options to let people know to keep right or left of you.

Looks like this is a mid grade one, it has 67 Scan Lock flash patterns, so not sure if one of them is directional.

I found there flash pattern page and could not find the direction one in any of them, I wonder of on the smaller ones thats available?

You need to add the permanent mount. So its a little over $500, figure will need some sort of adapter plate as well as some wiring.

 

[AnonEd]

I had a Federal Signal on my truck for 27 years...the plastic covers had faded a bit but it still worked as new, both audio and video. The bulbs were all halogen, interchangeable, and original. And it was considerably less expensive used. I'd make two suggestions for consideration: One, does it lessen output if it's dark outside (have seen a few LED that are so bright they tend to dazzle/blind people at night, not what you want if you're trying to be seen), and two, ask at least two different agencies, one city or county, one state, about what's allowed in your state. The local Sheriff said I was fine with an amber bar, the state troopers said no, someone might mistake it for a police car (which must have red in this state), to which the Sheriff said, "Wow, they might mistake a huge truck for a police car...and slow down...and the trooper has a problem with that?"

 

[Timd32]

I had a Federal Signal on my truck for 27 years...the plastic covers had faded a bit but it still worked as new, both audio and video. The bulbs were all halogen, interchangeable, and original. And it was considerably less expensive used. I'd make two suggestions for consideration: One, does it lessen output if it's dark outside (have seen a few LED that are so bright they tend to dazzle/blind people at night, not what you want if you're trying to be seen), and two, ask at least two different agencies, one city or county, one state, about what's allowed in your state. The local Sheriff said I was fine with an amber bar, the state troopers said no, someone might mistake it for a police car (which must have red in this state), to which the Sheriff said, "Wow, they might mistake a huge truck for a police car...and slow down...and the trooper has a problem with that?"

Thanks for the info.

I know the blue lights around here are the volunteers for first aid and fire, they have to have a permit for those and it could be revoked if they abuse it, they actually are not allowed to break any laws with those, speeding, passing and the sort. Of course we give them the right away when it's safe to do so.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Timd32]

So checked and no issue with the amber light deal.

I found a flip down mount for the Back Rack, that should allow me to park in garages that my truck fits into. Will require modifications to fit the other mount that the kit comes with, took some rough measurements and it should work.

https://backrack.com/accessories.aspx

Ordered mount from Summit and that 23" Whelen today from an online vendor in RI.

 

[AnonEd]

That should let you be seen by anyone except a Tesla on autopilot

 

[Timd32]

Bracket arrived pretty nice power coated and stainless latch.

Not sure if it will rattle will add some rubber as needed to quiet that down.

You can't build it for the price of the bracket.

It looks like it will work and the plate is very large, the picture on summit did not do it justice.

Front, back, overview.

 

[Timd32]

Light came in today, could not really use the mount but it went on the plate popped a few holes in it. It's pretty nice all the way around, tested in on the bench pretty cool so far.

The flip back only adds a very little past the original Back Rack, someone put some thought into this bracket. I made the hole work out so it fits pretty perfect with no way for the plastic to jam the metal, its just for like pulling thru not driving in that position.

 

[Wayne M.]

That’s really nice!