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Post by kushmcdieselson on Jul 25, 2015 21:52:45 GMT -5
I can vouch for how insanely bright Rigid LED's are. Got a pair of SR-Q2 Hyperspot led's mounted into the predrilled holes on my Aries Grill Guard, with a 10" SR Series Flood hanging from the clamp mounts above them. Even with the tiny 10" it literally lights the night up in front of me, I wouldn't even need headlights except for the fact that they aren't road legal. Well, technically according to NC law I could get away with using the hyperspot's as long as they are aimed as to not cross left of center, and no more than 75 feet ahead of my vehicle, but I don't want to push it. Also have a pair of D2 Diffused Flush Mount waiting to be installed into my rear bumper. I popped out those big rectangle reflector's on my 01 Monty, and riveted an aluminum plate in and filled it with bondo, just have to finish my sanding. Luckily, I'm spraying the bumper's and sides with Rhino Liner so my bondo work doesn't have to be entirely perfect. Will post up some pictures when the lights are all installed.
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Post by ES_97Sport on Jul 27, 2015 15:26:55 GMT -5
I can vouch for how insanely bright Rigid LED's are. Got a pair of SR-Q2 Hyperspot led's mounted into the predrilled holes on my Aries Grill Guard, with a 10" SR Series Flood hanging from the clamp mounts above them. Even with the tiny 10" it literally lights the night up in front of me, I wouldn't even need headlights except for the fact that they aren't road legal. .... Ah, yes. That's what I thought. Good to hear feedback! I was afraid of that, though. The shop is pretty well lit and they were blinding even in there. DANG! I never thought of doing that! Both my '97s have the tire carrier so they have the running/brake light assemblies in the lower bumper valance. My new '99, however, just has the square reflectors. Good idea! I was thinking of retrofitting the factory tire carrier and rear fascia with the factory light assemblies but that looks to be cost prohibitive. I REALLY don't want to have and entire rear tire carrier and bumper custom built so if I could salvage the stock bumper, have a tire carrier built and then fit the lights in place of the reflectors, that might not be so bad. And, thanks for reminding me!! I need to talk to the guys downstairs and get that lined (no pun intended) up for the '99. BEFORE I put the skids on this time. Edward
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Post by jkdv8 on Jul 28, 2015 16:40:33 GMT -5
That is a good idea for the rear bumper. Past couple years I've been looking to add lights where the reflectors are. Kinda been waiting for a set that's capable of doing brake/tail/turn with the white switchback feature for reverse. Much like the multifunction LED strips but in the shape to fit the bumper openings.
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Post by ES_97Sport on Jul 28, 2015 17:38:29 GMT -5
That is a good idea for the rear bumper. Past couple years I've been looking to add lights where the reflectors are. Kinda been waiting for a set that's capable of doing brake/tail/turn with the white switchback feature for reverse. Much like the multifunction LED strips but in the shape to fit the bumper openings. Have you looked under the rear bumper assembly to see what wiring is there? The parts guy and I were looking at the diagrams. It almost looks like the rear light assemblies that come on tire carrier version have the wiring already in place. Edward
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Post by kushmcdieselson on Jul 28, 2015 19:14:06 GMT -5
That is a good idea for the rear bumper. Past couple years I've been looking to add lights where the reflectors are. Kinda been waiting for a set that's capable of doing brake/tail/turn with the white switchback feature for reverse. Much like the multifunction LED strips but in the shape to fit the bumper openings. I spent a good deal of time searching for regular LED flood lights that were the exact dimensions of the red reflector so I could use the black surround as a bracket for them, or even something that would be the exact dimensions of the resulting hole after removing the reflector and bracket. Once I decided that I was going to spray the truck with Rhino Liner and I found the flush mount Rigid's with the diffused lens that I knew would be perfect for backup lights, I gave up on that search and decided to bite the bullet and grab a small can of Bondo. Something I never noticed until I ripped the reflectors out was that they actually hit right in the curve of the bumper, so a square piece of aluminum wouldn't cut it. Took the rectangle and repeatedly bent and test fit to get the right curve in it, clamped it, drilled 10 holes all around and pop riveted it and filled it with bondo. Like I said, I knew I was spraying the bumper with bed liner which is going to give me a lot of leeway as far as imperfections. But that's as far as I got lol, have to work on it at work in between other installs. As far as the type of lights you are looking for, I think the closest you are probably going to find is going to be 4 function LED tail lights like they use for cargo/utility trailers like these: Multi-Function LED Truck Trailer Tail Lamp
But like the website states, LED turn signals are very low draw so you will probably need new flasher relay's like these to get them to function properly: Hazard Warning Flasher
And I doubt they are going to be the exact size you need, so you will most likely still need to do some body work in the bumper to get them to have a factory installed look.
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Post by kushmcdieselson on Jul 28, 2015 19:25:12 GMT -5
That is a good idea for the rear bumper. Past couple years I've been looking to add lights where the reflectors are. Kinda been waiting for a set that's capable of doing brake/tail/turn with the white switchback feature for reverse. Much like the multifunction LED strips but in the shape to fit the bumper openings. Have you looked under the rear bumper assembly to see what wiring is there? The parts guy and I were looking at the diagrams. It almost looks like the rear light assemblies that come on tire carrier version have the wiring already in place. Edward You know, I haven't even paid attention to whether or not there are any wires in the rear bumper assembly, will have to check on that tomorrow if I get a chance to do some more work on Monty. As far as spraying the steps, I'm not sure if I'm going to leave them on and just spray the tops, or pop them off and spray both sides of them. Not even sure how long I'm going to keep them on, as I just ripped all the plastic off the factory boards and pulled the back trim piece off. Turns out they are pretty beefy under all that plastic. I may eventually order up those Tyger 3" black round steps that are floating around on Ebay, that's why I am on the fence about spraying both sides. I'd love to get some sweet custom step's welded up, but that is the one thing I can't do, weld, even though I have access to a 220v mig welder at work. Lucky for me, I am the bedliner spray tech, so if I do just the tops and decide the bottoms need to be done, I can easily snatch them off and spray the undersides. I think I just talked myself into doing it anyways, it's 6 bolts and 6 nuts, for total coverage from the elements lol. This thread is really motivating me to get the body work done so I can get the spray done and have the lights finally installed so I can show you guys pictures of the fruits of my labor lol.
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Post by ES_97Sport on Jul 29, 2015 18:21:28 GMT -5
I had to look at my pics again to see that. Hadn't occurred to me either. That does make it kinda awkward. I still like the idea, though. Once it's finished it'll look good. I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I was looking at my friends Sport with the fascia that has the little round reflectors. I think it might be easier for me to pull a fascia with the round reflectors, cut the holes to whatever size and then replace my existing fascia. Especially since I'm thinking of rhino lining the entire fascia, too. The bumper covers with the little round reflectors are dirt cheap here. Usually $20-$30. Hmmmmmm. ... You know, I haven't even paid attention to whether or not there are any wires in the rear bumper assembly, will have to check on that tomorrow if I get a chance to do some more work on Monty. I need to do the same before I leave tonight. Maybe I'll get lucky with the '99. I know its not brain surgery to run the wires but its just more time and effort I'd rather spend on something else. Nope! Not strong enough for my uses. The stock tube type steps on the '97-'99 are actually pretty strong for what they are. I bashed the crud out of mine before I invested in skids. Better than nothing for sure! If you're not wheeling it where you need the protection of real skids, I might just opt for rhino on the top and semi-gloss black on the bottoms. Something you can easily touch up. Welding would be a good skill to pick up. Not difficult - it just takes practice. If you have access to a tube bender that'll do 1 3/4" and 2" tube - you probably don't need DOM - bending is most of the work. If you got guys that know how to weld, I'd get one of them to teach you. Yea, definitely helps! I've been dragging my feet on the corner lights for over a year. Now I'm looking forward to getting that project started. Edward
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Post by jkdv8 on Jul 29, 2015 19:48:14 GMT -5
That is a good idea for the rear bumper. Past couple years I've been looking to add lights where the reflectors are. Kinda been waiting for a set that's capable of doing brake/tail/turn with the white switchback feature for reverse. Much like the multifunction LED strips but in the shape to fit the bumper openings. Have you looked under the rear bumper assembly to see what wiring is there? The parts guy and I were looking at the diagrams. It almost looks like the rear light assemblies that come on tire carrier version have the wiring already in place. Edward You know. I haven't looked either but I've pulled the rear bumper off before and have had the tire down and didn't notice anything like that. It maybe possible with a separate harness but I was planning on running them off the trailer harness and just unplug them if I'm pulling something. Only thing That would need to be ran is the reverse lead and maybe some more grounding points. That is a good idea for the rear bumper. Past couple years I've been looking to add lights where the reflectors are. Kinda been waiting for a set that's capable of doing brake/tail/turn with the white switchback feature for reverse. Much like the multifunction LED strips but in the shape to fit the bumper openings. I spent a good deal of time searching for regular LED flood lights that were the exact dimensions of the red reflector so I could use the black surround as a bracket for them, or even something that would be the exact dimensions of the resulting hole after removing the reflector and bracket. Once I decided that I was going to spray the truck with Rhino Liner and I found the flush mount Rigid's with the diffused lens that I knew would be perfect for backup lights, I gave up on that search and decided to bite the bullet and grab a small can of Bondo. Something I never noticed until I ripped the reflectors out was that they actually hit right in the curve of the bumper, so a square piece of aluminum wouldn't cut it. Took the rectangle and repeatedly bent and test fit to get the right curve in it, clamped it, drilled 10 holes all around and pop riveted it and filled it with bondo. Like I said, I knew I was spraying the bumper with bed liner which is going to give me a lot of leeway as far as imperfections. But that's as far as I got lol, have to work on it at work in between other installs. View Attachment As far as the type of lights you are looking for, I think the closest you are probably going to find is going to be 4 function LED tail lights like they use for cargo/utility trailers like these: Multi-Function LED Truck Trailer Tail Lamp
But like the website states, LED turn signals are very low draw so you will probably need new flasher relay's like these to get them to function properly: Hazard Warning Flasher
And I doubt they are going to be the exact size you need, so you will most likely still need to do some body work in the bumper to get them to have a factory installed look. I was trying to find a set that would fit in the reflector housings as well to keep the factory look. Some of the euro spec lights sparked some interest but they are all to big. Also I liked the fact of the rear fog light (wired to come on with the front fogs) but remembered over there they only do one reverse light and the fog on the opposite side. What I'm probably going to end up doing is buying those strips you can cut and do an odd number of tail/brake/turn in red (possibly red/Amber switchbacks) and to even number of white. Like 3 strips red and 2 strips white etc. depending on the their width and room then smoke a piece of plexiglass to put over them.
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Post by kushmcdieselson on Jul 29, 2015 21:46:36 GMT -5
I saw one of those style fascia when I was leaving a parking lot about two weeks ago before I dove into my current project, and wondered to myself if it would fit on my 01 Sport for that exact reason, this was more of a "readily available parts to make my current bumper work for as cheap as possible" scenario lol. I have been meaning to tinker and learn to weld, but it's the busy season at work and with the past month being so hot learning to weld has been at the bottom of the list ha, but still on the list. I don't have access to a tube bender, but I wish i did! Along with a ton of other machine shop access. Lol, yea the steps are definitely not strong enough for actual wheeling, so I guess I meant relatively beefy compared to other factory steps I've dealt with. I don't really have any plans of seriously wheeling this rig since it's 2wd drive, but just road debris will eventually cause damage to the bottoms of the steps, so painting the bottoms makes way more sense as far as ease of repair in the future. It also means less time in an insanely hot tyvek suit spraying lol. I would love a pair of custom skids/steps that would give Monty a much more aggressive look. I'd also love to eventually get some sort of light wheeling in, but only after I'm sure I won't end up stuck somewhere lol. I was trying to find a set that would fit in the reflector housings as well to keep the factory look. Some of the euro spec lights sparked some interest but they are all to big. Also I liked the fact of the rear fog light (wired to come on with the front fogs) but remembered over there they only do one reverse light and the fog on the opposite side. What I'm probably going to end up doing is buying those strips you can cut and do an odd number of tail/brake/turn in red (possibly red/Amber switchbacks) and to even number of white. Like 3 strips red and 2 strips white etc. depending on the their width and room then smoke a piece of plexiglass to put over them. Just curious, why wouldn't you just tie in behind the connector so that you won't have to unplug something every time you tow? Unless you just don't want to add the additional draw of the custom LED's onto the T-connectors converter box with the draw from whatever you are towing? In which case you could also just tie in behind the tail lights in front of the T-connector. Either route should work fine, I don't think those LED strips are going to add significant draw. And the trim to length LED strips with the smoked lens over them is probably going to be the least bodywork intensive and easiest route to accomplish what you are going for, like I said before, the slight curvature is going to make it really tough to find any light that will perfectly in the space you have to work with, and the strips will follow that curve rather well. Are fog lights in the rear that come on with the front even legal to run? Seems they might cause vision problems for anyone driving behind you at night, unless you only intend on using them on the trail?
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Post by ES_97Sport on Jul 30, 2015 18:40:20 GMT -5
...I saw one of those style fascia when I was leaving a parking lot about two weeks ago before I dove into my current project, and wondered to myself if it would fit on my 01 Sport for that exact reason, this was more of a "readily available parts to make my current bumper work for as cheap as possible" scenario lol. There were three fascias. The little round reflectors, the square ones like yours and the tire carrier with the rectangular lights. Looks like the round reflector one was 97,98 and the square reflector is '99-'05. The tire carrier fascia (with the big, long holes for the lights) fits '97-'99. So, that means the '97/98 will fit on the '99-'05. Interesting! My friend with the '98 just left for the day. I'll grab some measurements of the area the reflector and the inset takes up and a couple good pics. Looks to be much smaller than the square reflector one. Can understand that! That depends on your definition of 'regular wheeling'. Rock crawling? Absolutely not! Running fire roads? They'd be ok, and as I said, way better than nothing. The only thing they won't stand up to is having the weight of the vehicle slammed down them on a rock. If you drop the whole vehicle on a rock as I did, it'll fold up. But, protection from rock/dirt/gravel rash? Yea, they'll probably work for a long time. They are really solid even if they don't look like it. The only part that sucks is the mount system - not because it doesn't work or isn't strong, but because of the design. You have to watch catching those braces on branches, sticks, logs, rocks, etc. Yea. Ha, ha! That's what they ALL say! You have NO IDEA how many 2WD Toys I've seen and still see off road in CO and UT. Build in a lot of articulation, a rear locker and some good, sticky tires and you can wheel pretty much anywhere someone with open diffs can and almost anywhere someone with just a rear locker can. The tech at the dealership (he drives a Toy truggy) and I were discussing this yesterday. I was telling him I still haven't installed a second switch on my air lockers, so they're still wired to both front and rear come on when I hit the one switch. Was telling him I've just not been able to get up the motivation to re-wire everything because I use the lockers so seldom its just not a big enough PITA to care. Which led into a discussion about how little we use 4WD when we're wheeling in the first place. We both go out to Moab a couple times a year. He was telling me that the vast majority of the time he's out there wheeling, he's in 2WD. His truggy is wicked - he is NOT wheeling baby trails. Pretty much the same for me. I put it in 2WD lo or 2WD lo-lo and if I need a little extra traction I lock the rear axle. He's got a twin-stick so he does the same thing - disengage the front and drive in 2WD lo. I've seen the guys running 2WD Tacomas and the old Toy mini-pickups running 33"-37"s. They drop the axle gears for the tires, build in some good articulation, slap an ARB or Detroit in the back and take off. Not much stops them! I was reading a few weeks ago that they had an entire group do the Rubicon. I'd think twice before trying to do something in Area BFE, but there are a lot (the majority, in fact) that do not require a $150,000 crawler. Just stay away from the snow, mud and quicksand! Yep. Exactly. Also, powder coat and rhino are 'sticky'. If you DO brush up against something, the tube isn't gonna want to slide, be that rock dirt, log or whatever. I like powder coat and rhino from a durability standpoint, but they both can cause issues at the wrong time. Yea, you want these ... All-Pro Off Road. That's as aggressive as it gets I think without a full cage. Stuck, smuck. That's part of the fun! Put a bumper and winch on it and you're all good. Neither do I. As far as I've been able to tell the factory harness for the lower lights plugs into the regular harness for the standard rear lights somewhere in the rear - there isn't separate wiring and a fuse for the lower lights. That's what, two 1157? Running, brake and turn. I think those pull more than the little LED strips. So, that wouldn't be any difference as far as I can see. In the US? No. No regular fog, driving, etc. light is allowed in the rear except for backup lights which are only allowed to be on when the vehicle is in reverse. Only amber and red; white for backups. I believe the letter of the law requires them to be tied to a switch so it is actually impossible for them to come on unless the vehicle is in reverse. Of course, everyone ties them into a manual switch so you can use them when you want. I would not want to be defending that in a courtroom. Yea, that would be a really bad idea on the street or on the trail. It'd be ok if you were by yourself, but I'd be really chapped if I was the guy behind you. Everyone I know has the rears switched and only turn them on when needed. No one runs them full time off road. There's just no point unless your backing up. Too much light messes up your night vision, too. There is a reason the rear running lights are red colored. Edward
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Post by jkdv8 on Jul 30, 2015 20:10:03 GMT -5
I don't tow very often so unplugging and plugging it in wouldn't be that big a hassle. The T connection is a good idea as well. Just wasn't to thrilled about tapping into the wires again. The very least I will pop the reflector out of the base but, yeah didn't want to cut into anything. Would like for it to look stock afterwards. Challenge will be finding those strips with bright enough LEDs.
As for the rear fog it's just like a brake light that stays lit when the front fogs are on. Euro spec, depending on what side of the road they drive on, only have one white reverse light on one side and the red fog light on the other. Some of the Saab, Volvo, and Jaguars that I've seen over here have them if they're equipped with forward facing fogs. Like an additional safety feature they implement over there.
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Post by 6500rpm on Aug 16, 2015 21:21:28 GMT -5
Mine's more of a work truck but the first part of my drive is a country road with a lot of deer. No body mentioned these but I installed two round 6000K Cree LED's on the ARB bumper and a Cree LED light bar on the bumper filler plate. I use these every morning (yea, I get up early) as long as there's no traffic around and it's like watching high def TV. It's almost shocking how many deer are near the roads that I would have never seen with my headlights. I've got a local company named SuperbrightLED.com that makes a great harness kit and plenty of good rocker switches on Ebay that fit the block outs that were in my sports dash. For that much, I've changed every light in the vehicle over to LED including installing projector beam style LED's in the back up lights. Saves power, lasts forever, and come in a wide variety of colors, beam angles, and brightness ratings. superbrightled.com has a really good web site with tons of information.
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Post by kushmcdieselson on Sept 4, 2015 20:54:42 GMT -5
I finally had the time to finish the body filler and install the lights in the rear bumper. Now I still have to install the auxiliary fuse panel and rewire all my lights and the cb radio I installed.
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Post by bdmontero on Sept 4, 2015 23:03:20 GMT -5
I just went to the local truck stop and grabbed a set of rubber gaskets and some white led lights and the connectors that go with them. Cut it out and popped the rubber grommet and light combo in. Did that along time ago. Always thought those stupid reflectors did zero good anyway. ;D Sent from my SM-N900V using proboards Attachments:
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Post by kushmcdieselson on Sept 5, 2015 8:29:53 GMT -5
Did you have the small round reflectors or the large rectangle reflectors in your rear bumper bd? I had thought about getting the bumper fascia with the small round reflectors to cut out and install the new lights, but it was cheaper to buy a can of body filler than a new bumper lol.
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