Forums46
Topics537,757
Posts9,728,746
Members87,039
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Light bar installation
#8423058
10/19/21 02:02 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,117
Brother in-law
OP
THF Celebrity
|
OP
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,117 |
Ok I’ll admit I’m not good at working on cars or wiring.
Say I buy a light bar
What connection parts and tools am I goin to need?
Probably comes with some but I’m guessing they suck
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8423144
10/19/21 02:58 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 516
Whammer7
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 516 |
What year, made and model of vehicle?
"Sometimes, too much to drink is barely enough"
Mark Twain
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8423208
10/19/21 10:51 AM
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,497
TX_LT230FH
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,497 |
If you buy one off Amazon they will usually include what you need to connect. It consists of the wires to connect to the battery, a relay, and a switch. They're not hard to hook up at all. Make sure you have the right bracket/mount.
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8423230
10/19/21 11:33 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 516
Whammer7
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 516 |
Tractor supply will have the wiring harness as well, if you want to see it first.
I watched a YouTube video on how to install, which was very easy, especially in the 2005 GMC they were showing. Trying the same thing for real on a 2020 Tundra proved different, as the gaping holes in the firewall on the GMC where you could snake the harness through didn't exist on the Tundra.
I ended up paying a shop $150 to install the light using my parts. The Tundra has a double firewall, so I'm glad I did sub the installation out.
"Sometimes, too much to drink is barely enough"
Mark Twain
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8423364
10/19/21 01:27 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,571
Gumbeaux
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,571 |
Mentioned above but you'll need the wiring harness, switch and a relay. You can build your own but it's too easy, much cleaner, and not much more expensive to just buy one where everything is included.
If you're putting this into a Ford with the upfitter switches then most everything you need is already there. You just need to ground it and run a wire to the correct upfitter wire that is already there from Ford.
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8423726
10/19/21 07:54 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,117
Brother in-law
OP
THF Celebrity
|
OP
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,117 |
It’s just a utv
Mainly looking to know what the best and easiest connectors are
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8424049
10/20/21 01:57 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,571
Gumbeaux
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,571 |
For a UTV, you can buy prewired blocks with the fuses and relays in them. I bought mine from Hester's Motorsports in New Mexico.
Makes things a lot simpler, especially if you're planning on wiring up multiple things. For example, I've got a lightbar on front, a small one on the rear, and I ran a switch for my road feeder.
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8424730
10/20/21 07:14 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,841
DocHorton
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,841 |
Buy the whole kit on Amazon...comes with everything you need. I've done it several times myself and I'm not a whiz at that sort of thing, but it was pretty easy.
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8424735
10/20/21 07:16 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,841
DocHorton
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,841 |
https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-Offroad-Lighting-Harness-Warranty/dp/B07PGXRM92/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=curved+light+bar+kit&qid=1634757292&qsid=136-4838608-8324428&sr=8-4&sres=B0818RPRML%2CB07X86TQ8B%2CB07PGXRM92%2CB075NZ9ZN6%2CB0711QGZZ6%2CB07QVXFPHM%2CB078BNZJCF%2CB01M2AEQNA%2CB0834XW7GZ%2CB01LG04EBI%2CB0818RKPPC%2CB01J92X8H6%2CB08GKCYG26%2CB07SH41PR4%2CB07BTTVX9M%2CB089LH11CX%2CB07TDJP5W3%2CB07DXXQYML%2CB0721Q1N4D%2CB087TW9QFW&srpt=VEHICLE_ACCENT_LIGHT
This is the one I got.
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8429630
10/25/21 10:17 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,347
scot
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,347 |
Hopefully you have a full car sized battery as they pull a good bit of power.
The reason for all the fancy wiring is due to the large power draw most switches are not made for the power so a relay is needed to manage. Most will have instructions that are pretty reasonable.
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8430587
10/26/21 07:46 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,095
FamousAmos
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,095 |
I installed one on my Mule and just wired it directly to the battery. Zip-tied the wires to the roll cage and that's where the on/off switch is located.
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Whammer7]
#8431182
10/27/21 01:57 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,309
Stump_jumper
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,309 |
Tractor supply will have the wiring harness as well, if you want to see it first.
I watched a YouTube video on how to install, which was very easy, especially in the 2005 GMC they were showing. Trying the same thing for real on a 2020 Tundra proved different, as the gaping holes in the firewall on the GMC where you could snake the harness through didn't exist on the Tundra.
I ended up paying a shop $150 to install the light using my parts. The Tundra has a double firewall, so I'm glad I did sub the installation out. I have 2 bars on mine and ran switch wires through the big wire grommet. Also have 4 gauge running to my amp. I am not sure about Fords but I bought a switch for the Tundra that fits a blank in switch panel.
2017 Tundra 5.7 CM 4x4 2006 Champion 2200 Bay Boat
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: TX_LT230FH]
#8432184
10/28/21 12:41 PM
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794
ILUVBIGBUCKS
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794 |
If you buy one off Amazon they will usually include what you need to connect. It consists of the wires to connect to the battery, a relay, and a switch. They're not hard to hook up at all. Make sure you have the right bracket/mount. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If it is an ATV just zip tie the wiring to the roll cage with black wire ties instead of drilling holes in anything. I have 5 of the 18" bars on my side by side on 4 switches (front, each side, & back). I installed the switches that came with the wiring harnesses into the plastic dash and wired the harness directly to the battery. The only other thing I'd recommend doing is sealing the light bar really good by using a high grade clear silicone and putting it all the way around the lens as well as any other joints on the light bars. By doing this I've never had one fog up or get any kind of moisture within it at all. The only issue I've had is a dead battery one morning as one of my barn cats must have jumped up on the dash and hit one of the light switches. lmoa
High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
|
|
|
Re: Light bar installation
[Re: Brother in-law]
#8432286
10/28/21 02:11 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,571
Gumbeaux
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,571 |
I drilled the roll cage and ran wires inside. I can't stand all those zip ties and exposed wires everywhere. Not hard at all to do.
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, txcornhusker
|