Offroad light grill mounting suggesting needed

[kwelhand]

Does anyone successfully mounted a pair of 5" off-road lights on the grill (see red circled location) or perhaps air inlet below the grill?
Could you share your mounting solution that doesn't wobble while off-roading?
I have a pair of old LED lights that I would like to use out of it.
Thanks in advance.

 

[CharlieS]

Because the body and frame move independently, and I would want the lights to be rigidly mounted, it seems like it would be tricky to put them in the grille without creating some sort of rigid mounting structure to attach them to. I've mounted lights to the aluminum crash bar, but they were in a large opening behind the bumper with good clearances, so not really at risk of contact when the body and frame move differently.

 

[kwelhand]

Because the body and frame move independently, and I would want the lights to be rigidly mounted, it seems like it would be tricky to put them in the grille without creating some sort of rigid mounting structure to attach them to. I've mounted lights to the aluminum crash bar, but they were in a large opening behind the bumper with good clearances, so not really at risk of contact when the body and frame move differently.

I'm planning to install a hidden winch so the crash bar has to go soon.
Yeah, it seems like our grill is free floating... lots of movement

 

[TeCKis300]

The whole front bumper floats and has built in flexibility to accommodate movement between the cab and frame. It'd be hard to mount anything substantial that needs support. Could possibly put a metal backing plate under the bumper skin on the shelf right under the grill. Tie that into the brackets of the lights. Maybe use sikaflex to bond the backing plate to the bumper.

For the lower grill position, could mount to the crash bar or future winch plate structure. Making sure it has clearance to the bumper that will move independently.

I put fogs on the crash bar behind the bumper. Not exactly what you're looking for but may give you ideas

'08-11 LX Spot Fogs in Bumper

This mod is specific to the '08-11 LX. Fitting fogs in the faux air intake blanks. The spot is pretty recessed with limited aperture. As such, I would probably limit the lighting type to spot or hyperspot beam patterns as anything else would likely waste light within the recess. Which is...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[kwelhand]

The whole front bumper floats and has built in flexibility to accommodate movement between the cab and frame. It'd be hard to mount anything substantial that needs support. Could possibly put a metal backing plate under the bumper skin on the shelf right under the grill. Tie that into the brackets of the lights. Maybe use sikaflex to bond the backing plate to the bumper.

For the lower grill position, could mount to the crash bar or future winch plate structure. Making sure it has clearance to the bumper that will move independently.

I put fogs on the crash bar behind the bumper. Not exactly what you're looking for but may give you ideas

'08-11 LX Spot Fogs in Bumper

This mod is specific to the '08-11 LX. Fitting fogs in the faux air intake blanks. The spot is pretty recessed with limited aperture. As such, I would probably limit the lighting type to spot or hyperspot beam patterns as anything else would likely waste light within the recess. Which is...

forum.ih8mud.com

WOW very nicely done! looks OEM to me

 

[bloc]

This is all making me rethink my idea of light brackets on the crash bar emerging through the grille slats. Might need to rig something temporary up with no light and stick a go-pro up there to see how bad things are.

I put fogs on the crash bar behind the bumper. Not exactly what you're looking for but may give you ideas

'08-11 LX Spot Fogs in Bumper

This mod is specific to the '08-11 LX. Fitting fogs in the faux air intake blanks. The spot is pretty recessed with limited aperture. As such, I would probably limit the lighting type to spot or hyperspot beam patterns as anything else would likely waste light within the recess. Which is...

forum.ih8mud.com

I read that as frogs three times before what you were actually saying wafted into my head.

It’s too early.

 

[SF1911A1]

I wanted to do the exact same thing and after researching all over mud and the inter webs I determined this was really the best option. See attached picture with mounting bracket circled.

 

[Moby]

Mine are here: Mounting Front Driving Lights - Stock Bumper - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/mounting-front-driving-lights-stock-bumper.248800/page-4#post-13488216

Pics of lights installed: Mounting Front Driving Lights - Stock Bumper - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/mounting-front-driving-lights-stock-bumper.248800/page-6#post-13503766

I've since changed to a light bar freched into the grill with the same mounts

 

[kwelhand]

@Moby Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for.... mad welding skill!

@SF1911A1 Because of weight, I'm trying to stick with OEM bumper for now.

 

[CharlieS]

I just (re)read that entire thread, and it sounds like people have had luck with mounting to the crash bar and not breaking the grille or bumper plastic.

Honestly, I don't see see how that is possible - given the amount of movement I observe in my frame mounted bullbar.

I also ran across the post with pics of what I had done on my former '13. They're recessed, so no contact with plastics. Not sure why the link doesn't go to my post, but it is #153:

Mounting Front Driving Lights - Stock Bumper

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[DownTheRoad]

Here's the front end with grill removed on 2010, but I think all 200s are very similar, if not the same There is a rigid bar just below the grill that you could secure the lights into

 

[Moby]

I just (re)read that entire thread, and it sounds like people have had luck with mounting to the crash bar and not breaking the grille or bumper plastic.

Honestly, I don't see see how that is possible - given the amount of movement I observe in my frame mounted bullbar.

I also ran across the post with pics of what I had done on my former '13. They're recessed, so no contact with plastics. Not sure why the link doesn't go to my post, but it is #153:

Mounting Front Driving Lights - Stock Bumper

forum.ih8mud.com

I've had mine on for some time without issue. My mounts do not touch the grill or bumper at all even if I lean on them pretty hard. With the LP9s I did get ever so slight vibration (just slight movement, not enough to touch anything). That top piece is either 1/4 or 3/8, can't remember, but it is long and the LP9s are heavy and big. The top piece had to be pretty long to get them to fit. The slight movement made no impact on beam pattern.

I switched to a light bar because the LP9s stuck out too far and were actually too much light for my use. I cut the lumens by about 1/3 with the bar and am much happier overall. I was able to cut several inches off the length of the top piece with the light bar. Now there is no flex or vibration with the lighter bar.