great white
Well-Known Member
Well, I finally got tired of staring into a black hole at night behind the truck. The reverse lights just aren't cutting it with the truck cap already cutting down the vis and the stock little white lights......well, they suck!
So, since the PO had graciously backed into something and dented the heck out of the bumper I'd thought I'd pull it off, work on hammering the dent out and do some metal fab:
Not too shabby!
I pulled off the plastic rub strip and cut it for the light, then I measured and cut the holes in the metal bumper.
I made a template to locate the other side in the exact same spot.
I got most of the dent out of the bumper, but that thick metal is some hard to bump out. It's definitely not like doing sheet metal work!
I could have just hung the lights under the bumper, but my trailer rock guard would block it while installed and render them useless. Bolting the light on top of the bumper is just not appealing to me at all.
I prefer a more "integrated" look and tacking lights on or under the bumper isn't gonna get it.
Pic with both lights installed:
The lights are 35w halogen tractor flood lights. I fabbed up a simple bracket and welded it to the back of the bumper in order to have a place to bolt the lights on.
A little bit of electrical work set me up with a relay triggered off the reverse lights. It's just a simple 30 A relay that I mounted up in behind the drivers side tail light to keep it out of most of the weather. The light wiring in the bumper is soldered and wrapped until I can pick up a couple weather pac connectors. I may add a switch later on down the road but I'm running out of real estate on the dash, at least until I get my center console finished
Pic with lights off:
Pic with lights on:
All in all, a great success! The flood lights just blow the stock lights right out of the water.
Visibility is great now.
I ran out of split loom for the harness inside the bumper, so I'll have to pick up some more tomorrow.
I still have to eventually send the bumper out for final smoothing and re-chroming.
So, whatchatink?
So, since the PO had graciously backed into something and dented the heck out of the bumper I'd thought I'd pull it off, work on hammering the dent out and do some metal fab:
Not too shabby!
I pulled off the plastic rub strip and cut it for the light, then I measured and cut the holes in the metal bumper.
I made a template to locate the other side in the exact same spot.
I got most of the dent out of the bumper, but that thick metal is some hard to bump out. It's definitely not like doing sheet metal work!
I could have just hung the lights under the bumper, but my trailer rock guard would block it while installed and render them useless. Bolting the light on top of the bumper is just not appealing to me at all.
I prefer a more "integrated" look and tacking lights on or under the bumper isn't gonna get it.
Pic with both lights installed:
The lights are 35w halogen tractor flood lights. I fabbed up a simple bracket and welded it to the back of the bumper in order to have a place to bolt the lights on.
A little bit of electrical work set me up with a relay triggered off the reverse lights. It's just a simple 30 A relay that I mounted up in behind the drivers side tail light to keep it out of most of the weather. The light wiring in the bumper is soldered and wrapped until I can pick up a couple weather pac connectors. I may add a switch later on down the road but I'm running out of real estate on the dash, at least until I get my center console finished
Pic with lights off:
Pic with lights on:
All in all, a great success! The flood lights just blow the stock lights right out of the water.
Visibility is great now.
I ran out of split loom for the harness inside the bumper, so I'll have to pick up some more tomorrow.
I still have to eventually send the bumper out for final smoothing and re-chroming.
So, whatchatink?
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