LED lights on Tail gate....

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daaaang.. that's a clean install.......
Now you need to post pics on how they illuminate at night time...

Good job !!

I'll have to see how hot they get after a few minutes of usage...
 
I'm still a ways from finishing the bumper. Will definitively post pics when it done. Thanks for the compliments. Wish I could have found a 1-3/16" hole saw. Have one for wood, but a carbide tipped one for steel would be the perfect way to go.
 
Here is the bit I am talking about. The CT5. Shows the 1-3/16". The dealer I went to just didn't stock it. Should have waited or ordered it. Got them down to $35. Kind of pricey but worth it for the quality of hole in steel. Leaves nearly a perfect entry and exit hole, unlike a standard wood hole saw used in steel.

Had to drill 4 holes for the bumper for 2 lights, and will do 4 more for the flush mount in the rear hatch. And if I add some under hood lights, will be another 2 to 4 holes. So $35 isn't so bad considering that many holes needed.

For one listed is the ct3 the ct5 has more cutting teeth.

http://www.championcuttingtool.com/pdf/newCT3.pdf
 
tailgate lights are one of the best underappreciated mods. i did three trucklight model 33s in my 80 and they kick butt! (now they have the super 33, brighter....oooohhhhh)

trucklites are flush (ish) mounted and can be either grommet or flange mount. small 1' hole. oh, and made in the usa
DSC03721.webp
 
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nuclearlemon said:
tailgate lights are one of the best underappreciated mods. i did three trucklight model 33s in my 80 and they kick butt! (now they have the super 33, brighter....oooohhhhh)

trucklites are flush (ish) mounted and can be either grommet or flange mount. small 1' hole. oh, and made in the usa
Click to expand...

These?
http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wc...10001&storeId=10001&productId=32152&langId=-1


jfnall, I stole your mounting method for the panel that will be mounted in my hatch. Mounted my PWM right next to it. The second flood will go in the other side of the hatch, but I haven't made a panel for that side yet.

IMG_20120909_182153.jpg


IMG_20120909_182202.jpg
 
Nice! Where'd you get the plastic, Johnny?
 
Ridge Runner said:
Nice! Where'd you get the plastic, Johnny?
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It's not plastic, it's 16 gauge steel I painted with Tractor Supply satin black enamel paint.

I got the steel at Lowes :D
 
Gotcha. In the pics it looks like or similar to the material used in the Wagon Gear panels.
 
I ran these light for about 1.5 hrs on 85°F temperature and they hardly felt warm...
I doubt they get that hot... all n all they did great..
 
nuclearlemon said:
tailgate lights are one of the best underappreciated mods. i did three trucklight model 33s in my 80 and they kick butt! (now they have the super 33, brighter....oooohhhhh)

trucklites are flush (ish) mounted and can be either grommet or flange mount. small 1' hole. oh, and made in the usa
Click to expand...

Do you have any photos of how these look installed?
 
Really great ideas and photos. Where are you getting power from? Are you able to access constant power from inside the tailgate? If not, how did you pull power into the lift gate? Some additional install images would be great.
 
r3lc said:
Really great ideas and photos. Where are you getting power from? Are you able to access constant power from inside the tailgate? If not, how did you pull power into the lift gate? Some additional install images would be great.
Click to expand...

Funny that this thread just popped up, I started pulling wires through my hatch yesterday for my floodlights.

I'm not quite finished so I'll snap some pictures for you.
 
Initally I was going to get powaa from the rear wiper blade motor...
But since I got a 6ga wire running straight from the Aux battery all the way back for my fridge I got power from there.... I fed some pull wire on the top tail gate and through the ceiling and down the rear pillar.......

Sorry I got no pics of this but I think Johnny has it covered...

I like to see pics if any body has used this as back up lights.....
 
This is the tool to use. I kept the end straight when fishing through the route I wanted to go, then once it was out, I'd bend a loop to hold the wire. Snip off the loop and fish the next route:

IMG_20121125_141731.jpg


Take off the d-pillar vent and fish your way up:

IMG_20121125_141737.jpg


Fish from that vent up to the access hole for the wiper motor harness. Spray some silicone lube into the rubber boot to aid in sliding the wires through:

IMG_20121125_141747.jpg


Wire comes out of the hatch here:

IMG_20121125_141800.jpg


I fished in two runs. First was from the access hole in the hatch ( 3rd pic above ) to the access panel. Super easy with the coat hanger. Second run was from the access hole in the top of the body ( 3rd pic above ) down to the d-pillar vent. The latter was difficult and requires some patience, but it worked well.

Put my panel in and waited till dark to snap a couple of pics ( full brightness ):

IMG_20121125_163522.jpg


IMG_20121125_182425.jpg


IMG_20121125_182506.jpg
 
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nuclearlemon said:
tailgate lights are one of the best underappreciated mods. i did three trucklight model 33s in my 80 and they kick butt! (now they have the super 33, brighter....oooohhhhh)

trucklites are flush (ish) mounted and can be either grommet or flange mount. small 1' hole. oh, and made in the usa
Click to expand...

I bought 3 of these and just tested one. I am seeing a dark patch in the center of the light patch - it turns out there is a dimple on the plastic lens over the LED that is creating this shadow.

Do yours have this (it kinda looks like it in your picture)? If so did you try to do anything to them to even out the light?

At this point I may try to file then polish the dimple to reduce its impact...
 
woytovich said:
I bought 3 of these and just tested one. I am seeing a dark patch in the center of the light patch - it turns out there is a dimple on the plastic lens over the LED that is creating this shadow.

Do yours have this (it kinda looks like it in your picture)? If so did you try to do anything to them to even out the light?

At this point I may try to file then polish the dimple to reduce its impact...
Click to expand...

Such a perfectionist. I'm just happy to have light!
 
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