Discreet 40" LED Lightbar on Factory Roof Rack
- Thread starter WildYoats
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #122
Yes, some of the holes may need to be drilled slightly larger. Consider them guide holes. It's weird that on some applications they work fine as is, other needs to be drilled a little bit larger. I think someone mentioned this some pages back too.
My holes a tiny bit small, easy drill press work. These need a finish yes?
I have my rack apart right now, can I put these on after the bars are inserted? The little wedges will rethread, right? Just curious if I need to keep the rear covers off for a bit.
It looks like it'll work, but you know what they say about appearances.
I have my rack apart right now, can I put these on after the bars are inserted? The little wedges will rethread, right? Just curious if I need to keep the rear covers off for a bit.
It looks like it'll work, but you know what they say about appearances.
- Thread starter
- #124
Yes, I would finish (even though they are stainless), and yes, they will fit after with the bars in place!
Super. Light ordered, plates drilled. I’ll slap some color on there tomorrow. Maybe red.
CharlieS
GOLD Star
Awesome member produced product!!! Thanks, WildYOats.
I installed mine today. They fit great. I bored the mounting holes to 9/32" which worked great.
I messed up the mounting position for the lightbar, but ended up slotting them with a rat tail file to get the mounting height where I wanted it. I found that 3/4" from the top of the mounting flange made for an ideal location. Maybe 5/8" would be better, but this height clears the roof.
I also used a 40" black oak light bar - it fit like it was made to go here. I did add a thick (maybe 1/16") washer between the lightbar and the mount, but that was the extent of modification. It may have worked fine without it, but I like things to be as close to perfect as possible.
The guys at black oak upgraded me to a 5watt setup for a marginal $$ increase, since they had it in stock (vs the 3 watt version I ordered). It is incredibly bright!
I was able to fit the 16ga wires under the rack stanchion and under the windshield trim. Fair warning, I damaged my windshield trim to get to where I wanted to be ($100 later...) Once removed, there is plenty of room to fit two wires under the white plastic clips. Amazingly, I didn't damage any of the mounting clips - good trim tools help. A new windshield side trim is on order.
One whiny comment, drilling through that stainless is a b!7(@!
I installed mine today. They fit great. I bored the mounting holes to 9/32" which worked great.
I messed up the mounting position for the lightbar, but ended up slotting them with a rat tail file to get the mounting height where I wanted it. I found that 3/4" from the top of the mounting flange made for an ideal location. Maybe 5/8" would be better, but this height clears the roof.
I also used a 40" black oak light bar - it fit like it was made to go here. I did add a thick (maybe 1/16") washer between the lightbar and the mount, but that was the extent of modification. It may have worked fine without it, but I like things to be as close to perfect as possible.
The guys at black oak upgraded me to a 5watt setup for a marginal $$ increase, since they had it in stock (vs the 3 watt version I ordered). It is incredibly bright!
I was able to fit the 16ga wires under the rack stanchion and under the windshield trim. Fair warning, I damaged my windshield trim to get to where I wanted to be ($100 later...) Once removed, there is plenty of room to fit two wires under the white plastic clips. Amazingly, I didn't damage any of the mounting clips - good trim tools help. A new windshield side trim is on order.
One whiny comment, drilling through that stainless is a b!7(@!
Last edited:
CharlieS
GOLD Star
I think you'd find it challenging to fit that many wires in the channel.
The trim is soft aluminum under rubber, and I think it'd take a skilled hand to remove it without bending. Mine had an excess of window mastic that made it stick more than desirable. Without that, you may be able to pry it up carefully, starting from the top edge.
If I weren't so ocd, I could reinstall what I removed, but it is definitely worse for the wear.
I can see why others have just used silicone or RTV to adhere wires to the groove in the trim channel, it is definitely an easier way to go. I prefer the more stealthy approach of hiding them under the trim, for better or worse.
Last edited:
SQRRRL
SILVER Star
CharlieS
GOLD Star
I bored mine out to 9/32nds and that worked great without any slotting on my 2013.
Also, if you are using the black oak 40" single bar, the mounting holes shouldn't be any lower than 3/4" from the top edge of the mount (maybe even a hair higher), otherwise you may get roof contact at the middle of the lightbar.
The rails are different I believe. The 2019 LX has Shiny clamp rails, right? And this uses the screw holes in the channel rails clamps. I haven't personally looked at the rails in the 3rd gen LX . . .
Pic attached. There are some threaded holes spaced out along the inside edge. Rail width is 45 inches, measured just behind the sunroof
CharlieS
GOLD Star
I'm 99% sure, these brackets won't work in that application (without modification).
I'm sure you can make some that work. I have a local body shop/metal shop that does this kind of work for a reasonable price. I just bring them a cardboard template and tell them the material and thickness I want and they make it.
I'm sure you can make some that work. I have a local body shop/metal shop that does this kind of work for a reasonable price. I just bring them a cardboard template and tell them the material and thickness I want and they make it.
For those going down the scene lighting route. This from the internet site "sciencealert".
"According to the results, by far the worst option for outdoor lighting was traditional incandescent bulbs, while the best (and least appealing to insects) was a warm coloured LED light - those are the LEDs that produce a yellow/orange hue, rather than cool blue light."
"According to the results, by far the worst option for outdoor lighting was traditional incandescent bulbs, while the best (and least appealing to insects) was a warm coloured LED light - those are the LEDs that produce a yellow/orange hue, rather than cool blue light."
Spend some time at a site like this and I'm sure you'll be able to piece together the clamps necessary for the rails
Rack Attack
www.rackattack.com
CharlieS
GOLD Star
I replaced the trim and the white plastic clips. I had to destructively remove the old clips. The new trim snapped right in and fit like a glove. Although I didn't damage the old clips when I removed the trim, I decided that I didn't want to risk an installation problem over the few bucks the four clips cost. Here are the part numbers in case someone needs them in the future:
Got my bar up today for mockups.
Bracket fits just like a glove.
Bracket fits just like a glove.
Beautiful craftsmanship. Love how low profile it is. Any chance i could buy some brackets off you? To fit 2009 LX570.
Used the video linked in this thread to get in and out with no broken windshield trim clips or bending. Able to reuse everything.
forum.ih8mud.com
Put in two of these silicone jacketed 12 gauge.
Was a tight fit at the last clip at top of windshield.
Used zip ties to attach in the gutter. The wire wouldn't quite fit beside the gutter clips and I didn't love the idea of bathing it in rtv.
Windshield moulding removal
Windshield moulding removal? My molding was either installed wrong or damage when removed for a windshield replacement. I see the FSM states these are non reusable. So I suppose I could just ripe them off. But I'd like to find the trick to releasing the 4 clips along the side and the 2 on top...
forum.ih8mud.com
Put in two of these silicone jacketed 12 gauge.
Was a tight fit at the last clip at top of windshield.
Used zip ties to attach in the gutter. The wire wouldn't quite fit beside the gutter clips and I didn't love the idea of bathing it in rtv.
