http://www.jcwhitney.com/cab-top-lig...lterid=c2820j2


I've been trying to design something exactly like this but for the Ranger for the last year. I haven't come up with anything I'd feel comfortable mounting on my Ranger without the weight of the lights breaking something.

I was stoked when I saw this on JCW.com just now. Has anyone been able to accomplish this?

 

I could be wrong but since Superduty 3rd brake lights work on ours wouldnt this work if you selected a superduty? or is that what your asking?

 

that is over priced. you could take a piece of diamond plate or thin steel and bend it in that shape. then drill holes and use longer screws to secure it.

however it is a very nice option for those who don't wanna drill into the roof (90% of us) for lights or even a cb radio.

 

thats what i was thinking

 

decent concept. now make your own version and bingo. good find

 

I know ONE of the F-series trucks use the same 3rd brake light, but I don't know which one. But this product is only for CB equipment and small items. I'm looking for something that'll handle lights as well. That's why I want to make something.


It is overpriced. That's why I want to design something and modify it to mount lights as well.

 

I stand corrected.





The instructions on this site are much bigger:
http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/s...ight-mount.htm

 

I've seen those on S10s before. They sell them at Summit for S10s but not for Ranger :(

I didn't know superdutys 3rd lights worked. cool.

 

i would make the back the same size but the front would be wider or longer to space out those lights/add more.

 

for sure. i want 4 lights on top. Daylighters to be exact. think it could hold the weight? lol

 

if the metal was thick enough and had the support.

 

I wonder how it would hold up overtime, if it would stay tight with the wind and weight working on it.

 

That's my main concern for when I'm designing this thing... which is why I haven't thought of a decent solution yet. :(

 

Well I hope you figure something out lol, Im not creative enough to do something like that. Are you starting from scratch or modifying one of them?

 

I'll be starting from scratch. If I'm gonna pay $150+ for one of those things, I'm not gonna modify it. lol

 

well if they would hold it i would just attach something to the front wide enought to hold 4 lights. But will it hold it? lol
im really interested to see what you come up with

 

That is a pretty cool idea... The way im gonna do lights is either headache rack or backrack

 

I'm interested in what I eventually come up with as well.... lol


Aren't headache racks and backracks the same thing but just made by two diff companies?

 

lol well get on it!



Yeah I was thinking the same thing lol although i think they call headache racks backracks in diff parts of the country. Never heard of a backrack here.

 

so did anyone do anything about this?

 

Still in design phase

Translation: Been too busy

Second Translation: Been too lazy




Take your pick

 

I've been turning the idea over and over in my head for the past couple weeks:

Support for the larger "front bar": Magnetic base (but how do I make it not scratch the roof?)

Support for the whole unit itself: ABSOLUTELY needs a backing plate inserted inside the 3rd brake light opening, but I haven't remove the 3rd brake light to inspect the opening yet.

Construction needs to be KISS (keep it simple stupid) because I can't bend or weld metal since I don't have the proper tools. If I design something and patent it, then I will invest in a simple sheet metal bender or something.

 

If you have nothing to bend or weld metal with, I think you're going to have a very hard time with this, since it's bent

 

I can probably get away with SIMPLE SIMPLE bends... nothing too fancy.

But I've also been mulling over a design that doesn't need any bends in the metal... depends on when I get off my fat *** to take apart my Ranger's 3rd light. lol

 

I just mounted 4 PIAA 520 lights to my cab without drilling. I used the Q-towers and crossbar made by Yakima to mount to. The towers mount into the door frame and have a rubber pad where they rest on the roof, preventing scratches. Then I drilled into the bar to mount the lights and ran the wires out the hollow tube to hide them from view. The lights are at the front of my cab because I have the 2 door xlt and not the suicides, and for personal preferences I like it better. If you have the suicide doors you could mount them at the rear of the cab. This was my solution to avoid drilling, damaging my truck, and needing the tools and knowledge to bend and weld. Hope this helped.