Exterior Semi-Tech General discussion of exterior for the Ford Ranger.

mounting off-road lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 11-17-2008
big-blue-oval's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: alberta
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
mounting off-road lights

has anyone mounted off road lights in the bumper opening between the tow hooks? i would like some extra light, but would like to keep it low profie, and i don't have the honeycomb grill, i have the "H-bar" grill. the truck is a 2006 FX4.

i have however added the front skid from a level II model. anybody help me out? a pic or two would be awesome!

EDIT: here's a pic of a super duty with the idea i have in mind (the amber lights) http://www.kchilites.com/store/Fog-L...5-P603C20.aspx
 
  #2  
Old 11-17-2008
99ranger4x4's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
get the lights and and start test fitting them.
then drill holes where you think you would like them to be.

if they are too big or too small then return them and get another kind.
 
  #3  
Old 11-17-2008
big-blue-oval's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: alberta
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
er, no offense, but that is the obvious answer (and is about as useful as a poopie flavoured lolli-pop). i have test fit a few, but am curious if anyone else has done it, how they did it and what lights they used.
that is why i asked.
 
  #4  
Old 11-17-2008
jtslmn720's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Kent State, Kent Ohio
Posts: 7,367
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
  #5  
Old 11-17-2008
99ranger4x4's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
some Hella 500's i had
Name:  82907528.jpg
Views: 1164
Size:  109.6 KB
 
  #6  
Old 11-17-2008
mud_bogger's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Eagle Point, Or
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How would you rate the Hella's compared to a daylaighter?
 
  #7  
Old 11-17-2008
jtslmn720's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Kent State, Kent Ohio
Posts: 7,367
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
ah i see what you want. personally unless you have a rectangular opening that lights in there dont look good. there just arent any lights that contour to the shape of the opening. those look good on the super duty because they leave no gaps on the edges
 
  #8  
Old 11-17-2008
jtslmn720's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Kent State, Kent Ohio
Posts: 7,367
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by mud_bogger
How would you rate the Hella's compared to a daylaighter?
daylighters are better imo, but ive only used the 130watt ones so you have to expect it when you have almost 2.5x the wattage from a sealed beam light compared to a 55watt light that uses a bulb
 
  #9  
Old 11-17-2008
Fx4wannabe01's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 21,721
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
for a 'no drill' option....


since you've got a '06+ truck, you don't have the bolts that the 05 and older trucks use to mount light tabs. Here's those light tabs mounted to a tow hook bolt....longer bolt is needed, and a nut to act as a spacer, then a holding nut.

came out pretty unique on this '07 i did...

Name:  PC080016.jpg
Views: 2338
Size:  74.3 KB

Name:  PC080021.jpg
Views: 780
Size:  94.6 KB

Name:  P6010221.jpg
Views: 632
Size:  49.4 KB

Name:  P6010223.jpg
Views: 614
Size:  51.5 KB
 
  #10  
Old 11-18-2008
Jmhm17's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
why do you want to mount the lights so low? your gona smash them up on stuff, they should be mounted above your bumper.. when they are too low the also become useless in tall grass, i found that out when i had them mounted on my safari bar..
 
  #11  
Old 11-18-2008
jaysinpa's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New Brighton, PA
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Fx4wannabe01
for a 'no drill' option....


since you've got a '06+ truck, you don't have the bolts that the 05 and older trucks use to mount light tabs. Here's those light tabs mounted to a tow hook bolt....longer bolt is needed, and a nut to act as a spacer, then a holding nut.

came out pretty unique on this '07 i did...







Now that's a good idea. Might try that myself. One question though, why the spacer nut?
 
  #12  
Old 11-18-2008
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
To space the light out from the bumper.
 
  #13  
Old 11-18-2008
jtslmn720's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Kent State, Kent Ohio
Posts: 7,367
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by 04blackedge
To space the light out from the bumper.
or just make the bottom piece longer. best advice is make that drop piece as short as possible. mine is about 4 inches and the lights still bounce from time to time
 
  #14  
Old 11-18-2008
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Yeah you can do both, thats just what the spacer was for.
 
  #15  
Old 11-18-2008
big-blue-oval's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: alberta
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Jmhm17
why do you want to mount the lights so low? your gona smash them up on stuff, they should be mounted above your bumper.. when they are too low the also become useless in tall grass, i found that out when i had them mounted on my safari bar..
i would like them inside the rectangular bumper opening so that the glass lenses are not the leading edge of the vehicle. believe me, i don't make a habit out of bumping things with my truck, but the bumper makes a much better bumper than offroad lights do. also being mounted in the bumper instead of on is a theft deterrent.

you bring up a good point on the tall grass, but my main reason for wanting the lights is to help light up the back roads i travel. as ashamed as i am to say it, my truck doesn't see nearly as much off-pavement use as i would like.

Fx4wannabe01: thank you for those pics, they may have just inspired me... i'll have to break out the measuring tape and see if my idea will work. THANKS!
 
  #16  
Old 11-18-2008
big-blue-oval's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: alberta
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
here's another question: what would serve me better, the long range, or the driving lights? i've seen the diagram comparing the two, but what works best/what are you guys running?
 
  #17  
Old 11-18-2008
Redneckstone's Avatar
Level III Supporter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: usa
Posts: 24,936
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally Posted by big-blue-oval
here's another question: what would serve me better, the long range, or the driving lights? i've seen the diagram comparing the two, but what works best/what are you guys running?
when i had mine i used long range but being i had over 1300w of light lol didnt really matter it was just bright as hell...

if its just one set driving personally
 
  #18  
Old 11-18-2008
Fx4wannabe01's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 21,721
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Originally Posted by 04blackedge
Yeah you can do both, thats just what the spacer was for.
I used what i had....i made those mounts to the same spec's as the tabs underdog and jusnes sells. they wern't right for this truck in that location, so i just spaced the bracket away. if i had heat(oxyacet), i'd bend up a newset of 1/4" mounts.
 
  #19  
Old 11-19-2008
jaysinpa's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New Brighton, PA
Posts: 648
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 04blackedge
To space the light out from the bumper.
That's what I thought. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RangerDaver
OLD - Interior, Exterior, Electrical, & Misc.
3
07-12-2009 11:04 PM
Hawklore
New Ideas
25
05-30-2007 06:46 PM
06VRSCA
Exterior Semi-Tech
3
02-27-2007 11:53 AM
CjRanger99
Exterior Semi-Tech
47
05-30-2005 02:11 PM



Quick Reply: mounting off-road lights



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:54 AM.