Hey, I have seen a lot people on this site mount there lights directly onto there bumper. I would like to add a set of lights, but dont want to spend the money on a light bar. How do I go about mounting a set directly onto my bumper? Is it as easy as just drilling a hole or is there more to it? Also what kind of hardware do you guys use?
Thanks,
Chris

 

I know there is a guy here who makes "light tabs" for this... I used a piece of bent cold rolled steel for mine (before my Manik deer guard). I bent them to a 90 degree angle and attached them to my tow hook mounts.

 

Light tab dimantions: http://generation-edge.com/forums/to...rms=light,tabs

Some for sale from the guy who came up with them: http://generation-edge.com/forums/to...rms=light,tabs

Pics of em in action: http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/582259/7

 

I drill a hole in the bumper -- but make sure you have adequate clearance. The lights I use are "slim" and don't have the huge arched dome aft of the mounting point.

Most lights have a "stud" which points down and gets a nut from underneath. With those you need no hardware other than what comes with the lamp. However, some are leary of drilling holes in things -- whereas I kind of enjoy it...I have things mounted all over my truck and many of them required drilling.

 

Just drill the hole, but Be forewarned, if you go with Kc's or a replica style, it is a b#tch, and you will have to space your bumper out more, and it eliminates the possibilty of a billet grille, because the back of the light sits right in between the bars of the stock grille. if you don't space the bumper, you won't be able to get good height aiming on the lights, and they will be pretty much like fog lamps. Otherwise you can go with a slimmer profile, and it is much easier.

 

save your bumper - use light tabs

 

mine were mounted to the bumper, hella 500s, they are very slim. i couldnt get to the inside of the bumper to put a nut on, so i drilled sraight through the whole bumper and put the nut in the opening in the valance. much easier

 

Get the light tabs like Neils. I have a set just have not put them on yet. I forget who I got them from Neil knows where to get them.

 

neil got his from me...

as soon as i get my ranger back, i will be making some more. i just need the original that i have in the toolbox to make them off of...

there is a difference in how the other guy makes them, and how i make them... i use a $20,000 pirahna machine to bend/press them, and punch out the holes, so they are close to perfect.

basically, i guess carl came up with the design? or someone did, a few years ago on g-e... then i started making them and sold about 20 of them... then i got banned on generation-edge and that other guy took over making them(btw, in person he was an a-hole about it - "hey dude, since you got banned i make the light tabs, now"... anyway...

if you dont want to wait for me to start producing them again, it is a very easy thing to do, if you don't care about how good they look. you can just torch the hole out, which is what that other guy does, i think... and bend it with in a vice, while heating it up and hit it with a hammer to bend it...

here's what mine look like:

 

i have a set from the guy on g-e which i never installed since i never got the lights... they dont seem to be as good of a quality as the other ones i have seen that i think were made by christian... if you start making them again soon i would rather use yours

 

Ha ha! Weinies! Drill that bumper, baby!

 

I would love to just drill some holes but I dont think my dad would be to happy with me. I will wait for the light tabs. Just post when you start making them again!
Thanks,
Chris

 

ditto

 

Why would you possibly drill holes in your bumper when you have a perfectly good bolt behind the top? It's stronger, removable, and so easy to do.

What a GREAT idea those lights tabs were....a very smart man must have thought of those...I wonder who it was?

 

It was me...

 

Are you saying YOU came up with the idea??!!

 

Nope, but I use the idea...

btw I think Christan did (Trevelyn1015)

or some a-hole from GE

 

hahaha...

will, you really don't know...

it was carl(buckgnarly) who is your "a-hole from GE)....

hahahhahahahhahahaahhahaahahahahahahhaahahahaa

i just mass produced his idea... i think i asked for permission before doing so... i think...

 

Nice! Way to go !


Actually, it's a sticky on ORR.

 

^ i gave credit, mr gnarly...

 

Oh I know that man.
I really could care less if you make them, and as I remember you made them at quite an attractive price. Almost made it not worthwhile to DIY!

Reminds me of that line Dan Akroyd uses in Tommy Boy, "I make car parts for the American people...I forget how the rest goes"

 

Ha ha! Because I didn't have any tabs, but I DID have a drill!

 

I bought light tabs from both 'vendors' neither one fit
both needed to have more distance between the L flange and the hole for the bumper bolt
Christians was welded shut and redrilled and the other one was used on an out board bolt which sits higher up on the bumper
both were $25 delivered, Christian's stock was thicker and wider, the other came painted (but I painted them both in hammered rustoleum anyway)
surprisingly enough, both were made in the great state of Texas......

 

Ah yes, the infamous "impatient mod"...I'm quite familiar with that one! I've got many, then many more replaced that many more when I found a better way. Then many more replaced that many more that had replaced that many more and so on and so forth! It's a horrible cycle!

 

Yes, but in this case I've never looked back...that could be why I keep backing into things though...

I'm just ragging because of the SERIOUS reluctance people have to do mods which require drilling or cutting the vehicle. I enjoy mocking such delicacy! Of course, Carl, I know you're not one of them -- I've cut holes on your truck myself.