Inspired by other threads from this forum we built a light for the rear bumper swing-out tire carrier for my Tacoma that’s been working flawlessly for the last 9 months of travel and use this past season. Special thanks to Iron Pig Off Road and Vince (Skrewball) whose skill translates concept into reality.
Its intended use is to light a site for late night camp emplacement or as an area work light for field repairs. The criteria for this project is durability, ease of deployment, low power consumption, bright, wide field of illumination, and low cost.
Some of you have seen this on the road throughout the US and Canada this year already, but Iowa Law Enforcement cameras capture it best...
Major Components:
I learned of these lights from DDM tuning - DDM Tuning : Truck / Trailer
I selected this Hi Power 116mm Round Off-Road Flood Light which uses 6 x 3W Hi Power LED bulbs with a 1350 Lumen output per unit. Can be used on 9-32 volt systems; lifespan: up to 120,000 hours; 1.5A current draw; IP 67 Waterproof; Stainless Steel mounting kit; 1.45lbs.;aluminum housing and acrylic lens.
Painter's Extension Pole from Lowe's; fiberglass handle and extruded aluminum shaft; extendable from 2-4 feet.
Discarded automobile coiled cable cell phone charger.
Stainless steel M-8 nuts, bolts, washers, lock washer, spring washer.
Electrical shrink wrap.
Automotive brake line.
Nylon cable 1/2" cable holders.
Self tapping screws.
Cable loom.
Conduit bracket (2), 1 1/2".
Electrical wiring.
The painter's pole was disassembled; the cast metal threaded roller post was removed from the aluminum shaft by its 2 screws; the screw post was cut at the collar removing the threads and discarded. This left a platform for the light bracket and revealed a small opening large enough for an M8 bolt; internally it was large enough to capture an M8 nut. Assembled light bracket to the pole with the addition of a spring washer to allow for horizontal and vertical light aiming via the axis of the bracket. A 1/4" hole was drilled in the aluminum shaft near the end to allow for internal routing of the light wiring. The cell charger cable serves as the poles internal wiring; it's coiling allows for the easy extension and retraction of the light wiring. Pole is mounted to the swing-out; the tire carrier was drilled and tapped and the pole is secured to the carrier by 2 conduit brackets and 4 stainless steel screws. I chose so cover the fiberglass pole with appropriately sized shrink-wrap and the bottom is covered with an end-cap shrink-wrap material. The wiring is spliced and then routed through pole and brake conduit, bent to match the pole placement, and secured with cable holders and self-tapping screws into the carrier. Subsequently, power and switching is drawn from an existing power distribution box in the bed of the truck (from a previous modification).
Application photos:
Its intended use is to light a site for late night camp emplacement or as an area work light for field repairs. The criteria for this project is durability, ease of deployment, low power consumption, bright, wide field of illumination, and low cost.
Some of you have seen this on the road throughout the US and Canada this year already, but Iowa Law Enforcement cameras capture it best...
Major Components:
I learned of these lights from DDM tuning - DDM Tuning : Truck / Trailer
I selected this Hi Power 116mm Round Off-Road Flood Light which uses 6 x 3W Hi Power LED bulbs with a 1350 Lumen output per unit. Can be used on 9-32 volt systems; lifespan: up to 120,000 hours; 1.5A current draw; IP 67 Waterproof; Stainless Steel mounting kit; 1.45lbs.;aluminum housing and acrylic lens.
Painter's Extension Pole from Lowe's; fiberglass handle and extruded aluminum shaft; extendable from 2-4 feet.
Discarded automobile coiled cable cell phone charger.
Stainless steel M-8 nuts, bolts, washers, lock washer, spring washer.
Electrical shrink wrap.
Automotive brake line.
Nylon cable 1/2" cable holders.
Self tapping screws.
Cable loom.
Conduit bracket (2), 1 1/2".
Electrical wiring.
The painter's pole was disassembled; the cast metal threaded roller post was removed from the aluminum shaft by its 2 screws; the screw post was cut at the collar removing the threads and discarded. This left a platform for the light bracket and revealed a small opening large enough for an M8 bolt; internally it was large enough to capture an M8 nut. Assembled light bracket to the pole with the addition of a spring washer to allow for horizontal and vertical light aiming via the axis of the bracket. A 1/4" hole was drilled in the aluminum shaft near the end to allow for internal routing of the light wiring. The cell charger cable serves as the poles internal wiring; it's coiling allows for the easy extension and retraction of the light wiring. Pole is mounted to the swing-out; the tire carrier was drilled and tapped and the pole is secured to the carrier by 2 conduit brackets and 4 stainless steel screws. I chose so cover the fiberglass pole with appropriately sized shrink-wrap and the bottom is covered with an end-cap shrink-wrap material. The wiring is spliced and then routed through pole and brake conduit, bent to match the pole placement, and secured with cable holders and self-tapping screws into the carrier. Subsequently, power and switching is drawn from an existing power distribution box in the bed of the truck (from a previous modification).
Application photos:
