After the 1st of the year I'd like to add a "puddle" lamp to my ranger. Much like higher end cars have when you unlock the door with the remote.

Is there any sort of aftermarket kit that can be added on?


Rich

 

dont know if theres an aftermarket kit, but sounds like a good project

 

cool idea. i bet you could find s good light and housing through some electronics source.
y

 

i think i remember seeing some guy on here do it. i could be mistaken though

 

I'm doing something similiar that maybe you can adapt.

I've already ordered some LED lights and as soon as they get here I'll do a how to. But mine are going to be in the bottom of the door and illuminate the ground. They turn on like the dome light when the door opens. Keep an eye out for my how to if you're interested. It should be up in the next week or so, depends on when they come in.

You could probably do something similiar by putting the light under the cab somewhere. I'm not exactly sure how you'd wire it to illuminate when the remote unlock is used though.

 

i had cold cathodes mounted to the frame. I have since taken them out, because it wasn't exactly necessary. If i do it again, I would go LED's on the outside, just for protection from the environment.

 

I was going to get some 48" white LED stripes and mount them to door sills for puddle lights and have them activated with the door trigger (since I don't have power locks). I just haven't done it yet.

 

well, i would say you could wire up a relay on your existing dome light, so that your puddle lights turn on like your dome light does when you use the unlock function on your key-fob. then it's only a matter of mounting up whatever you deem appropriate for "puddle light" duty.

the only down side i could see is that the puddle lights would come on when you turn the dome light on manually... if that's a problem for you.

 

The little current that LEDs draw you might not even need to run a relay.

 

I have thought about doing this also. I'm looking for more of a stock look though. Like using puddlelamp mirrors from a SportTrac, or finding a way to get them off and Exploder or Freestyle/500.

 

here, we call 'em 'trail lights'. 55w halogens, two mounted to the frame on each side pointed pretty much straight down to shine some light to what we're wheelin' on at night. Matt has 'em, Tre has 'em, i've got 'em in boxes. lol. I plan to have mine wired to so they come on with a switch, come on when i unlock the doors, and come on when the doors are open. Little different idea than what you're after though.

 

Thanks guys,

Little things like this are nice. I'd never have really noticed it... but on our eldorado it's a nice touch when walkng to/from the car in the winters ice.

Directly tieing into the dome light and installing in the stock drivers side mirror sounds acceptible to me. Is there some sort of ready to install LED kit that I could just wire in? (I'm pretty ignorant about electric stuff)

Rich

 

I don't think theres anything that will install on the stock mirror and provide enough light. Your best bet would be under the door or something.

 

isn't this stock on say an eddie bauer or mountaineer limited?

Maybe you could mod the ranger housing and explorer together and get heated mirrors too.

 

Actually I think hes referring more to courtesy lights, not trail lights. You are simply combining the ideas in your application. I have aftermarket power locks so I didnt know the dome comes on when you unlock by remote. This will be easy then, just find some lights/LEDs that are the right size and bright enough for you, then figure where you want to mount them. Under the cab is probably your best option for what you want them to do. Wiring it will be easy, I think it will be the same as mine when I'm done.

 

I was thinking the same idea. But I think most 01+ Explorers had them. At least the ones with keyless entry.

 

I cant say I've seen these in person but if it wont be bolt on, will it be bright enough to be worth the work to mod them to fit. IMO it would be cake to just do your own seperate lights and wiring into the dome switched power.

 

I have seen the puddle lights on a 95-01 body.

Its just on the highest end model offered.

 

I vote explorer mirror swap!!




it's all in how you trigger that relay and wire that stuff up. mine will be pimp whenever i get around to actually installing my keyless crap. lol.

 

This has been attempted before. Unfortunately, Explorer mirrors don't fit the Ranger door frames.

 

Well God^^^ has spoken. So I guess it would be easiest to run a strip of LEDs or some light under the door. If anyone has or when someone does this I wanna see pics. I think that would look pretty good.

 

Guys, i just learned something today...

lol.

Didn't know that...thanks.

 

I think a strip of LEDs would look cleaner than 2 seperate lights. Thats just me though.

 

I've had this idea for a while now. I've tried the LED's, but didnt think they were bright enough.

 

Was that in the bottom of the mirror or under the truck / door?

Rich