Mounting Driving Lights

[Shadrach]

I had a set of Light Force 170 Lights mounted on an N Fab bar on my 03. I removed the lights but left the bar when I sold the truck. I am looking for mounting options for my 03. Show me what you guys have done. I was going to mount one of those big aluminum front bumpers on the truck but changed my mind. I have seen Bull Bars and other brackets. I am looking to see in real life what all my options are. Thanks in advance.
David

 

[cerberusiam]

If you have a lot of wild animals and you drive a lot at night, a custom cow killer bumper is about the best investment. If not, one of the brush guards or bull bars are relatively easy and cheap to install. Almost all of them use the tow bracket to install on so you might have to get their tow hooks if you use them a lot. Neither of those will protect much from an animal hit but they do help a bit for brush and give a mounting plate for lights. One of them even has a drop down step to access the engine compartment easier. All depends on what you want to do and spend.

 

[Killgore]

David, after much deliberation I went with the Ranch Hand Grill Guard and hung some Hella 550's from two pieces of 4" angle iron I attached to the heavy mesh grill on the backside of the guard. - Ed

 

[endoscott]

where did you purchase and how much did it cost?

 

[Killgore]

Ouch! And, you're asking an old man who can hardly remember how to find his own mailbox? My maintenance records indicate that on 11/13/2013, I purchased the Ranch Hand from a dealer in Birmingham, who has since gone out of business, for an installed price of $583.00. (Probably the reason he went out of business.)

On 3/7/2015 my records indicate that I installed the Hella 550's after building my own wiring harness which I ran straight from the battery with a relay as suggested in their installation instructions but bypassing the tie-in to the high-beam headlights. I preferred to put a push button on the dash giving me independent control over the lights which is not legal in some states. I also re-wired the auxiliary fog-lights at the same time which had quit working due to some demon in the TIPM; building a wiring harness with relay, push button and running them from the battery, again probably not legal in all states. My reasoning on the separation of these lights from the tie-in to the existing wiring system was an attempt to avoid any relationship with the TIPM which on a 2006 can be an expensive and aggravating faux paux peculiar to that model year. Everything has worked flawlessly since the installation. Oh sure, once in awhile when I'm sitting at an intersection with my left-hand turn signal on, they will sometimes start to flash to the right for no reason, again the TIPM letting me know it's still acting up. I just laugh to myself and figure the folks behind me are probably thinking the goofy old goat in front of them is not sure where he wants to go and therefore they give me plenty of room.

I can't remember where I bought the Hella 550's or how much I paid, but I suspect I bought them off ebay at the prevailing price. They are good driving lights and really melt the asphalt when I'm highballing it on some of these back roads late at night and worried about the deer grazing on the right-of-ways.

If I have violated the forum rules by posting price or brand, I apologize. I refer you to my front license plate in the photo where the regimental colors of the 11th Mississippi Infantry are proudly displayed. I am a descendant of a long line of folks who have had issues with centralized authority. Hoo-Rah!

- Ed

 

[DaveHess]

Hi Shadrach. I have an 03 also. I had a 4"Bull Bar on mine and had some cooling problems after it's installation. I removed the bar and the problems went away. The only thing my simple mind could come up with was a disruption of air flow since the lower cross bar went across the space where our tow hooks are and the loop portion of the bull bar went about half way up the grill. I had initially selected this bull bar for that reason. It resembled the grille guards I liked from the '70's.

Anyhow, I had a set of 5" PIAA's mounted on the bar. Sold the bar and kept the lights. I welded up a set of opposing "L" brackets (1/8") to a set of 1" x 1/8" flat stock. I placed the flat stock portion of the brackets behind the top two fasteners (underneath the tow hooks) of the tow hooks. I then cut two smaller lengths of the 1 x 1/8" flat stock to act as shims and placed these under the bottom two fasteners of the tow hooks. These work great and are very stable. The lights are about 3" from the bumper of the truck. I placed them that far out due to heat concerns and the plastic from the bumper. On the inside of the Passenger "L" bracket, I drilled a hole and mounted a rubber lined adel clamp and that is where I hold my block heater cord during the winter months. Nice easy access and not real apparent to view. Just my .02 cents.

 

[Ozymandias]

Check this out.
http://www.piaa.com/store/p/591-Dodge-Ram-2500-/-3500-2004-Trail-Light-Mounting-Bar.aspx

Maybe that's what you are looking for.

 

[Shadrach]

I'll probably end up with something like that again, unless I invent my own.

David.

 

[Mark.Smith]

I have a chrome guard similar to the Ranch Hand and I put two Hella Black Magic driving lights on the second bar even with the headlights. The guard came with two tabs with self tapping bolts. Needless to say the self tapping bolts didn't cut it. I got two 3" stainless bolts and lock washers and drilled all the way through the bar and put nuts and washers on the back side. Sealed the whole thing up with clear silicon. Seems to work.

 

[Motorhead]

Shadrach, I mounted some old school Perlux 200T driving lights where the factory fogs were mounted. I removed the plastic surround and that opened up the hole in the bumper some. I traced a pattern and cut the holes in the bumper larger using one of those small air driven, reciprocating metal saws. Made quick and accurate work with the saw. I smoothed out the edges, cleaned them with Lacquer thinner and painted the cut out edge to prevent rust. I then made up some mounting brackets that bolted up to the inner bumper stiffeners. The Perlux 200T's originally came with 100 watt sealed beams. I found some old stock, 5.75 inch headlamps that you can replace the bulbs in such as a Cibie style headlamp. I installed some 130 watt halogen bulbs. NICE and BRIGHT. With them mounted low, I don't get the glare and don't get too many high beam flashes from on coming cars.