Mounting Front Driving Lights - Stock Bumper

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Mounts and Finished Install:


View attachment 2672168View attachment 2672169
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The 12mm nut/bolt at the end of the bar in the above pic goes through the aluminum crash bumper using existing holes so no modifications were done and this all can be removed.
View attachment 2672171Grille is not cut or modified either.

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IMO this is by far the superior way to protrude past the grille. I see no reason to permanently trim or press on anything when we have our choice of wide open slots to horizontally attach the lights. Yes it makes the horizontal bracing a little bit more complex but the payoff is clearly worth it.
 
I have yet to drive at night to see how stable the lights are. Obviously the square frame with gussets creates a strong lateral mount but there is not much to attach to get good horizontal stability. (not an engineer so my terms may be wrong).
The 8020.net hardware in 1.5 inches square and the aluminum crash bumper is only ~3 inches wide so not much room for any kind of brackets/bracing at the base. The crash bumper is the only really substantial hardware in front on the radiator; everything else is either plastic or stamped sheet-metal.
 
Mounts and Finished Install:


View attachment 2672168View attachment 2672169
View attachment 2672176View attachment 2672170

The 12mm nut/bolt at the end of the bar in the above pic goes through the aluminum crash bumper using existing holes so no modifications were done and this all can be removed.
View attachment 2672171Grille is not cut or modified either.

View attachment 2672172View attachment 2672173View attachment 2672174View attachment 2672175
Nice work!
 
Everything is from 8020.net except nut/bolts and the plates I made. Plates will be custom to your lights-The ARBs needed 4.5" wide and about 9" to get far enough out the grille.

2ea 92 inch 1515-S (40 inches for top and bottom and 12 inches for uprights) These were then cut to fit as needed.
2 ea 4351
4 ea 4336
4ea 4302
2ea 4480
4ea 2030-Plain
A bunch of these 3908-I did not have enough

I used M12 all-thread to bolt through the bumper, w/large grade 8 fender washers, lock washers, and nuts

What else I can offer:
I would suggest getting everything in black. I thought the aluminum would be OK behind the grille but had to rattle can some parts.
The 1515-S is heavy duty, and if you have enough of the 3908s this thing is solid! Get the M8 bolts for the 3908s in 16mm-I originally bought 10mm and that is just not enough and 20mm are too long. I found these at the local screw supply store (Copperstate Nut&Bolt or Tacoma Screw)
Do not get anything on 8020.net that is labeled economy.
Also I tried to not take the bumper cover off but ended up doing it anyway...save the hassle and take it off from the start. There is a stamped sheet metal piece that holds the cover in front of the radiator that is just always in the way. Look around Mud for removal instructions; it is easier than it looks and on mine the lights did not have to come out.
Remove the horns, they like to bust up knuckles as you work-just 2 bolts.

I am sure there is more...PM me if you take this on and want input.
 
Baja Design ONX6 30 inch arc combo + pair S2's for a wider side lighting.





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Everything is from 8020.net except nut/bolts and the plates I made. Plates will be custom to your lights-The ARBs needed 4.5" wide and about 9" to get far enough out the grille.

2ea 92 inch 1515-S (40 inches for top and bottom and 12 inches for uprights) These were then cut to fit as needed.
2 ea 4351
4 ea 4336
4ea 4302
2ea 4480
4ea 2030-Plain
A bunch of these 3908-I did not have enough

I used M12 all-thread to bolt through the bumper, w/large grade 8 fender washers, lock washers, and nuts

What else I can offer:
I would suggest getting everything in black. I thought the aluminum would be OK behind the grille but had to rattle can some parts.
The 1515-S is heavy duty, and if you have enough of the 3908s this thing is solid! Get the M8 bolts for the 3908s in 16mm-I originally bought 10mm and that is just not enough and 20mm are too long. I found these at the local screw supply store (Copperstate Nut&Bolt or Tacoma Screw)
Do not get anything on 8020.net that is labeled economy.
Also I tried to not take the bumper cover off but ended up doing it anyway...save the hassle and take it off from the start. There is a stamped sheet metal piece that holds the cover in front of the radiator that is just always in the way. Look around Mud for removal instructions; it is easier than it looks and on mine the lights did not have to come out.
Remove the horns, they like to bust up knuckles as you work-just 2 bolts.

I am sure there is more...PM me if you take this on and want input.
How is the night driving and vibration effect on this well thought out design? Are you good or plan to modify this original design?
 
Nice! how does this cross beam affect the light beam spread?
I am not entirely sure yet. The original plan was to cut-away the crossbar, but at install there was such a prodigious amount of light coming through the grill I decided to hold off and see if that was really necessary. The bar is an arc shape and a combo, mixing wide and spot lenses. What I am finding is I have very bright illumination of the road for 20-30 yards in front of the vehicle and a very good spread either side of the track, but not a long throw. From 200+ yards I cannot really discern any useable improvement in illumination over the standard OEM headlights on high beam.

Am not sure if this is entirely the crossbar blocking light output, or if it is also just the nature of lightbars. My prior experience was from 20 years ago running Hella Rallye 2000 type spot lights which throw a fairly narrow beam a mile down the road. I had assumed the tech had moved on and was looking for the same from the lightbar with a wider spread as my use is mainly desert areas. What I will do one evening this week is take off the front grill and try to determine how much light is being blocked by the crossbar. If it makes a significant difference then I will either remove the crossbar or reposition the lightbar in front of the grill. If not, then I will probably mount the lightbar to the roof rail and put 2 long throw spots on the front grill.
 
I am not entirely sure yet. The original plan was to cut-away the crossbar, but at install there was such a prodigious amount of light coming through the grill I decided to hold off and see if that was really necessary. The bar is an arc shape and a combo, mixing wide and spot lenses. What I am finding is I have very bright illumination of the road for 20-30 yards in front of the vehicle and a very good spread either side of the track, but not a long throw. From 200+ yards I cannot really discern any useable improvement in illumination over the standard OEM headlights on high beam.

Am not sure if this is entirely the crossbar blocking light output, or if it is also just the nature of lightbars. My prior experience was from 20 years ago running Hella Rallye 2000 type spot lights which throw a fairly narrow beam a mile down the road. I had assumed the tech had moved on and was looking for the same from the lightbar with a wider spread as my use is mainly desert areas. What I will do one evening this week is take off the front grill and try to determine how much light is being blocked by the crossbar. If it makes a significant difference then I will either remove the crossbar or reposition the lightbar in front of the grill. If not, then I will probably mount the lightbar to the roof rail and put 2 long throw spots on the front grill.
Thanks for the great response, if you do take off the grill , please grab some picture of how you mounted this!
 
I am not entirely sure yet. The original plan was to cut-away the crossbar, but at install there was such a prodigious amount of light coming through the grill I decided to hold off and see if that was really necessary. The bar is an arc shape and a combo, mixing wide and spot lenses. What I am finding is I have very bright illumination of the road for 20-30 yards in front of the vehicle and a very good spread either side of the track, but not a long throw. From 200+ yards I cannot really discern any useable improvement in illumination over the standard OEM headlights on high beam.

Am not sure if this is entirely the crossbar blocking light output, or if it is also just the nature of lightbars. My prior experience was from 20 years ago running Hella Rallye 2000 type spot lights which throw a fairly narrow beam a mile down the road. I had assumed the tech had moved on and was looking for the same from the lightbar with a wider spread as my use is mainly desert areas. What I will do one evening this week is take off the front grill and try to determine how much light is being blocked by the crossbar. If it makes a significant difference then I will either remove the crossbar or reposition the lightbar in front of the grill. If not, then I will probably mount the lightbar to the roof rail and put 2 long throw spots on the front grill.
Had the same Hella lights on my rally car. You are not getting proper light throw with the bar. I run the BD pro squadrons and they are brighter than my HIDs in low, and comically better than the brights. I'm at 9k lumens with the pair. You are over 3x those lumens at at slightly higher position. Unless you have some massive voltage drop, which should be flickering maybe, your bar is interfering. I would also check tilt.
 
How is the night driving and vibration effect on this well thought out design? Are you good or plan to modify this original design?
I have not driven at night with them yet...far enough north that it is not dark until after 10p and light again before 5a.
 
I have been told this BD kit will fit the round fog light location on the 2013-2015 LC200s. Had anyone here tried this or heard of it working? BD will neither confirm nor deny, basically they tell me “we have no idea, try it at your own risk.”

Anyone have experience here?
Thanks!




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I have been told this BD kit will fit the round fog light location on the 2013-2015 LC200s. Had anyone here tried this or heard of it working? BD will neither confirm nor deny, basically they tell me “we have no idea, try it at your own risk.”

Anyone have experience here?
Thanks!




View attachment 2830497
The lights fit, but the brackets are way too small.

I had a local metal shop fab up some stainless steel brackets to make those lights fit my '13 LC. I posted pictures on this forum previously.


I still have the brackets, lights and the trim (painted Imron flat black) if anyone is interested.
 
I have been told this BD kit will fit the round fog light location on the 2013-2015 LC200s. Had anyone here tried this or heard of it working? BD will neither confirm nor deny, basically they tell me “we have no idea, try it at your own risk.”

Anyone have experience here?
Thanks!




View attachment 2830497
I bought the Baja Design Squadron Pro clear kit from SLEE and it fit perfectly.

IMG_20210615_152259353_HDR.jpg
 
Are the 2020 OEM fog lights the same size/set-up as the 2013-15 factory fogs?
Nope. I am pretty sure the BD lights are direct bolt in fit for 2016+. I have it all in the garage if you want me to verify over the weekend (I just installed a TJM bumper so my bumper is sitting on the floor).
 

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