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I purchased and installed a set of Rigid SR-Q reverse lights for my truck. I have tried two different mounting options and neither one has worked.
On the first attempt, I used a 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" L bracket. I chopped off 1/2 the length of one side and drilled a new hole closer to the bend to mount to the lower bumper bolt. I drilled a 3/8' hole on the other side to bolt in the reverse lights. The problem is the bracket is not level, blocked from rotating by the frame lip, and the light does not drop down low enough for full lens exposure (i.e. 1/3 of lens is blocked by frame).
On the second attempt, I used a 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" square u-bolt that goes over the hitch crossbar. A perfect solution EXCEPT the U-bolt is 1/2" too short when the plates, nuts and washers are installed. The first plate sits flush with the hitch tube. The second plate is used to mount the light. I cannot seem to locate a 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 4" square u-bolt. I can find longer ones, but the threads are not long enough to tighten it down to the hitch tube.
RULED OUT: Drilling is not an option for mounting the lights.
The first option may work if I can find a sturdy 1" to 1 1/2" wide L-bracker about 3/16" thick. The second mounting option is sturdier and moves the lights farther back toward the bumper. Any ideas?
U-Bolt Design
Last edited by GMC to Ford; Mar 4, 2018 at 09:38 PM.
Put a plate on top of the hitch crossbar for the long u-bolt to shorten it. could get a Die to add threads to the longer u-bolt too, if the diameter of the remainder shank is large enough.
Put a plate on top of the hitch crossbar for the long u-bolt to shorten it. could get a Die to add threads to the longer u-bolt too, if the diameter of the remainder shank is large enough.
Your idea may work. I will install the plate first and see how much it reduces the length. I have been able to find 4 9/16" and 5" long U-bolts but nothing between 3 1/2" and 4 9/16" in length. I may still need to cut threads.
Last edited by GMC to Ford; Mar 4, 2018 at 09:00 PM.
Can you just rotate your u-bolt setup 90* and buy an L- bracket from the hardware store? Use the L-bracket instead of the flat plate you have now. Drill the holes for the u-bolt whatever distance gives you the perfect mounting height.
Can you just rotate your u-bolt setup 90* and buy an L- bracket from the hardware store? Use the L-bracket instead of the flat plate you have now. Drill the holes for the u-bolt whatever distance gives you the perfect mounting height.
Thinking outside the box! I like it and it should be an easy fix. I think the flat plate can be removed and just use the L-Bracket (4" or 5') to bolt to the hitch if I can find a suitable thickness. I think that I will mount the nuts facing to the rear with the L bracket pointing toward the front of the truck. It will completely hide the nuts behind the bumper and provide a finished look to the L-Bracket from the rear.
Last edited by GMC to Ford; Mar 4, 2018 at 10:13 PM.
I’m happy to have helped. It can be useful to throw out ideas like yours and see what you get back.
for the L-bracket, I’ve bought 1/4” steel L-brackets from Home Depot or Lowe’s in the past. They have various sizes. You’ll have to walk the store, I think I found them in the gate hardware section....but it may have been in the building materials section. If you walk around, you’ll find them.
Here are a couple I have laying around that came from Lowe’s or Home Depot. You can cut them to length. They already have a few holes in them and come painted. They are more than adequate to hold lights.
For anyone who tries to replicate this process, I purchased the 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" square U-bolts from OReilly Auto Parts. I could not find the same size in any of my internet searches. The 2 1/2' inside width is rare and it fits the hitch crossbar perfectly. The 2" and 3" width is more common. The u-bolt came with the cross plate and standard nuts. I purchased the NyLock nuts separately.
Need Help with Mounting Aux Reverse Lights
