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Hi guys, this is my first post. Bought my 2005 Lariat SC 6.5' 4x4 about a month ago and have been getting it ready for some Rocky Mountain camping this summer.
Last night's and today's operation was some lighting upgrades to include dual 30" light bars mounted behind the grill and LED strip under the bed rails. It was a major pain to do, but both turned out great. I have 10 hours into the light bars and about 3 hours into the bed lights and power outlets.
LED bars up first.
This is how it started out.
Building brackets.
Brackets taking shape.
I had to relieve the top bar to make room for the hood latch.
Fully welded the tabs on and finished grinding everything.
Brackets painted and mounted again.
f/8, 1/2000 sec, ISO-200. BRIGHT!
I also put in some LED strip under the bed rails. Wired to a switch at the rear. 16mm round rocker switch fits the top hole ezzzactly. Also wired up the triple 12v outlets that came with my camper shell (forgot to take pics of that come to think of it. Drove 5 hours one way to pick it up 2 weeks ago. $450 in almost like new cond., paint matched to my truck.) I plan to use the 12v outlets for an air compressor and a plug in 12v LED work light that I can hang outside.
Lights up really well. Going to use these a bunch while camping.
Lows + Fogs + Highs + LED bars. White speck on the right is a building door about 300yds away.
Lows again.
Lows + Fogs
Everything. Far trees are ~150yds.
I tied the relay signal wire into my high beams so activating high beams turns on the LED bars. It's crazy how instantaneous LEDs are vs halogen. When switching high beams on, the LEDs flood everywhere and a moment later, the nasty yellow halogens show up barely visible with a narrow beam. Total cost for the front lights I'd say is $150, and the bed lights I might have $20 in since I used the switch from the front lights relay harness.
Let me know what you guys think. I did a bunch of measuring and looking online and I haven't seen anyone else squeeze two of these behind the grille yet.
Looks great! You went to a lot of trouble to build your setup. The only thing I question is hooking them up into your high beams. You wouldn't be able to use your highbeams for normal driving without burning the eyes out of oncoming vehicles! Those lights are bright! The difference is sure noticeable in the pictures.
I find even in the daytime if you look at the lights when on I see spots in front of my eyes afterwards.
Looks great! You went to a lot of trouble to build your setup.
You have no idea....10 hours of measuring and fabbing. I could build another set of brackets in about 45 minutes now that I have all the measurements.
Originally Posted by Bob McNally
The only thing I question is hooking them up into your high beams. You wouldn't be able to use your highbeams for normal driving without burning the eyes out of oncoming vehicles!
I don't drive towards vehicles or follow closely with high beams on, do you?
Mount looks good, nice work! I have a single 22" behind the grill and another in the gap in the lower grill opening. I also tied mine into my brights with a relay, it's a good setup when tied into the brights.
04-15-2015, 12:10 AM
Dual 30" LED behind grille
