Ranger-Forums - The Ultimate Ford Ranger Resource - off road lights... best location??

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off road lights... best location??

Hello everyone... This is my first post! I am in the process of purchasing a 04 XLT 4X4 and this has confused me...

Im coming from a 99 Blazer and wanted a midsize pickup. But what brought me to asking this question is that I have 4 KC Daylighters mounted on a brushguard on my blazer, and it very tight. I am curious if they will fit on a brush guard on the ranger... I know it has a slightly smaller grill. If anyone has pictures of a brush guard with 4 lights on it it would be GREAT :squareeye

OR would a roll bar be a better option? Like a BackRack or something? But this is a pretty obvious question... but when mounting the lights above the truck on the roll bar does the roof affect the aiming of the lights? or cause any reflection on the hood while driving?

Please pictures would be great!

Thanks a lot, Anthony

You mean like this?

https://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...ine=1314234066

As far as glare? I havent experienced any, and mine are aimed more for suburbia than out in the woods. I use them later at night when travelling down dark side streets that are lined with cars.

Also, if you buy a backrack (I got mine on craigslist for $60) New I think their like 200ish.. if you cut the U off the bracket, and flip the bracket over and weld the U back onto the bracket, THEN install the back rack, you can also put a tonnuea cover on the truck as well. Thats what I did.

Its kinda hard for me to post pics from my phone so heres a link to a bar i made.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/exterior-semi-tech-39/four-100w-off-roaders-118301/

Thanks. Looks great! I like the look of the lights on the top. However I like the beefy look of the brush guard. I'll prolly put 2 on the brush guard and 4 on the back rack eventually :) but... How do you run the wire threw the firewall. Is there a pre existing hole or did you go threw the door jam? Also how do you run the wires threw to the back 4 lights on the rack?

Thanks, Anthony.

If you remove the fuse box in the enging compartment, you can safely (triple and quadruple checking of course) drill thruogh the firewall, then use a rubber grommet. You can go anywhere around the steering column. I cheated on my first install for my fog lights (which didnt come with my truck) and went through the steering boot.

For the back rack, I ran 6awg extension cord from the battery, under the truck, then up the side, and drilled a hole in the bed. I made my self a power box in the bed, and then hooked all the lights to it.

The backrack I have has the mesh, So I had to weld on a peice of 2x2 angle to the top, to mount my lights. I then, using black zip ties, spray painted a 2in diameter PVC pipe, attached that to the front of the bar between the bar and the cab, cut out a section of the pipe so it wouldnt block my middle cab light. I then ran all the wiring through the PVC pipe. I then went a step further, and added a set of brake lights to the top of the bar, that double as turn signals. I also added 2 more back up lights to the bar as well. All powered by the power point I put in the bed. I used an old metal tool box, to house all the wiring, however I discovered, I need a bigger box.... As a stop gap, I attached a piece of rubber over the clusterF@#$! of a wiring mess my power point turned into lol til I get around to straightening it out.

i will take a pic of my 4 hellas on my brush guard for you tomorrow to dark and to tired to move tonight

Thanks FMD. I like the idea of the power box in the rear. As for now I have to wait for the brush hard to come in first. Then see if 4 lights fit. My only dilemma is that I have a fiberglass cap that's on the truck. Maybe I could rig up a mounting bar on the cap instead of a back rack. I will post pics Friday!

They also have a light bar that fits in the door channel. Hella makes them I think

Here mines:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/pictur...ictureid=11826

https://www.ranger-forums.com/pictur...ictureid=11825

This way I can use it as ladder rack and offroad lights bar

i prefer the lights on the grille guard. even if you don't mount all 4. i'm sure you can fit all 4 on the front tho, and you get better lighting from there IMO.

could always do the cheap-ish hella's up front then do the diy hid kits for them.

you have to be careful mounting lights behind the grill. These lights throw ALOT of heat, and a few people have melted their grills.

Attachment 22782

got the hellas on my guard. thinking about 2 more on the lower bar of the guard as well.

How about drilling holes to go off the side of the verticle piece instead?

If you ever get stuck, getting to your front tow hooks with out crushing your lights is gonna be a real pooper