My roof rack offroad light install

Well, I got the lights mounted almost a week ago but didn't get around to wiring them up between the kids and the oh so hot weather lol. Finished everything up today and decided to take some pics and do a little write-up.

I purchased 4 long-range 100 watt off-road lights from harbor freight to mount on my roof rack. I went with these because I tried them out on my 97' Rodeo before and was very pleased with the quality and brightness for the price (spent less than $50 for all 4). Plus I like the hard black plastic housing with light guards too. I mounted them using 4 CB antenna mounts bolted to the roof rack:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5150.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5185.jpg

I ran the main power wires for the lights to the underhood fuse box, since the wiring included with the kit had inline fuses etc, I used the main power supply stud on the fuse block to connect the wires to:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5171.jpg

I ran the wiring down through the grommet on the passenger side firewall, down under the footwell portion of the carpeting, up behind the center portion of the dash and up inside the lower steering column section and up to the far drivers side portion where my new switch panel is mounted. I took some pics of just the wiring and then went back over everything with wire loom:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5174.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5167.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5169.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5180.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5181.jpg

(as you can see, the fuse holders are tucked behind the center area here, I left them somewhat exposed for the pic and tucked them back when finished, I can easily reach in and access them for fuse checks)
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5170.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5175.jpg

Now this little "grabber" tool is awesome, I have 2 of these, just route it where I want the wires to go, and grab the wires and pull them through (a coat hanger and tape works too but this works awesome, and I had the tool so I use it lol)
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5176.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5177.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5193.jpg

I used the dash mounting stud here for my ground for the switches, I added a washer so the ring terminal is contacted by metal on both sides when tightened down:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5179.jpg

Here is the new Rodeo switch panel (thanks Bart!). The first 2 switches (left to right) are for the 4 lights up top (one per pair, I'm thinking about rewiring everything to one switch but It's nice to have a choice of not using all of them) and the far right switch will either be for a pair of rear lights I'm thinking of adding or something else I'm sure I can use it for eventually lol. I had it so I used it to fill in the panel.

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5161.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5162.jpg

I ran the roof wiring down through the door channel, using some excess weatherstripping to shield it from the door, and tucked it inside the interior panels, everything is down through the panels and under the carpet up to the dash. I used the lower seat belt mounting bolt to run 2 larger gauge ground wires up to the top so I could have a good ground at the lights, one wire per pair of lights:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5184.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5189.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5191.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5192.jpg

Here is the finished install on the switches and lights:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5163.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5164.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5194.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5195.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5196.jpg


K, so decided to pull along the side of the house to take some pics of the lights at nightfall on my fence. Here are some daytime pics for distance reference (measured it out, it's about 50ft to the front portion of the fence fro where the lights are, and with the fence opened it's about 92ft to the rear portion of the fence)

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5198.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5201.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5203.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5204.jpg

Here are the night pics:

Just headlights:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5205.jpg

Just roof lights:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5207.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5209.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5213.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5210.jpg

Headlights and roof lights:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5208.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5218.jpg

With the gate opened:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5214.jpg

Headlights on with gate opened:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5217.jpg

Just for reference, I took this pic with all lights off (I have not a single piece of externally lighting on the house for these pics, and the street light is out so it's REALLY dark)
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5215.jpg

I parked in front of my neighbors house with the truck pointing towards the end of my street, it's gotta be at least 30 yards
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5219.jpg

after all was said and done I wouldn't hesitate to buy these lights again, 2nd time I've purchased them and same happy smile on my face. Flah was turned off for all night pics BTW :)

went down the road a minute ago for a better pic. This dirt road is pretty wide and long (haha). I can park across it and there would still be room for a truck to get by.

Just headlights:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5220.jpg

Just rooflights, headlights off:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_5221.jpg

WOW that looks great, your VX is fast becoming my favourite on this site!!!!!!

I wish i could put a similar roof rack and light setup on mine but i park in an underground carpark every day with a 205cm hieght limit :(

did the lights come with covers also, think in my state you have to have covers if it is so far above your headlights. looks good and like the switch set up, what year was it from?

Dejavoodoo

Thanks guys, and shut up Zeus! The switch panel is from a 95.5-97 Isuzu Rodeo, it normally has factory switches in it but I took them out and put the offroad light switches. The only covers are the black guards on them. We don't have state inspections here and I never had a problem with these when I lived in Cali so I think I should be good. And Crotchrocket, my buddy has the same problem, he wants to run a roof rack but they park in a low hanging garage so they can't fit. Your truck still looks awesome though!

Looks good man. Just make sure you seal that boot up in the firewall. I forgot after I installed my fog lights and I had water coming in after rain storms. I finally sealed it with silicone and I am dry as a bone.

Thanks Ryan! Ya I checked the water issue already, so far no water! Used my high pressure nozzle in all corners of the windshield, hood etc.

Instead of the wires going through the door seal, could they come under the headliner and drill through the front fang of the roof rail on the inboard side? Just forward of the crossbar mounts. It seams like an ideal wire location for roof lights. I saw where someone brought wires through the roof a similar way, but through the rear spoiler.
I'm to lazy to try, but I'd like to.

BTW, I like the lights and the rack

Thanks! I thought about that but I didn't want to drill through my roof, I wanted to make them easily removable if I ever wanted to get rid of them, the rack or the whole truck at some point and not leave any holes. I saw the same thread with the spoiler setup and I think someone even did the roof rail drilling on here too. If they hadn't fit the way they did I would have ended up drilling but it worked out nice this way for me. No leaks either. Also I'm not sure how much space the sunroof stuff takes up under the headliner and the edges of it are pretty close to the roof rails.

Great write up, and it looks friggen Awesome!
It will make it a lot easier when I do mine, thanks for
posting all the pics with it.

no problem and thanks!

Nice work Ram! And from your posts it sounds like you did it on the cheap too!

I'm considering a similar setup but need a basket for my stock yakima rack.

Thanks Grif! This Rage basket should work for ya, about $100 shipped. Ya I did it on the cheap. I try to find a nice quality product that I know will work and last but save money doing it. I've tried these lights before so I knew what I was getting into. Total for roof basket/lights/crossbars etc is $208 for everything, give or take a buck or two. ($100 for basket, $45 for the crossbars, $45 for the lights, and $18 for the switch panel from Bart). This is why I "refused" to buy stock Yakima bars, I got my entire set-up done for less than I would have paid for just the stock bars. And IMO I think it looks damn good. (I think my bars may sit a little lower than the Yakima's too, not positive though, wanna measure yours to the top of the crossbar?). Next up is my winch install, working on a snorkel too and a few other doo-dads

If you make it out to the Moab meet next year, please don't drive behind me with those lights on.... :bwgy:

Let me know about that snorkel setup, I've been thinking about rigging up a jeep or rover snokel to the VX- just needs the same windshield angle to look good and everything else can be fabbed up pretty easily.

I'm actually looking into using a Rodeo style snorkel that a friend of mine has from the land of Oz. It looks like it'll work pretty good all except for the windshield angle, just need to bend the tube back. I'm thinking that you MIGHT be able to use some heat and bend it back, also thinking you could cut it, reangle it and "plastic weld" it back together, sand it down, repaint and it'll look like it came that way. And I won't have the lights on behind anyone, don't worry lol. I did use them last night on some young kid weaving in and out of traffic and about took my front end off driving like a retard. After the 2nd time doing it (he would cut me off and weave back over and get stuck behind someone and then do it again) I flipped them on in his back window. Probably shouldn't have but he slowed down :laughing:

I guess I am the only one (So far), but every spot their is supposed to be a pic, I get a "Upgrade to Pro Today-Bandwidth Exceeded-Photobucket." Help!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lasturbo

I guess I am the only one (So far), but every spot their is supposed to be a pic, I get a "Upgrade to Pro Today-Bandwidth Exceeded-Photobucket." Help!!

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yeah i can't see anything either. photobucket sucks now. i just use my facebook page to host pics now.

Ya it says I exceeded the bandwidth for this month, retarded. I can either upgrade and pay for it or wait until the end of the month when it resets lol.

LoL

Crotchrocket said favouret...:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bob Barker

LoL

Crotchrocket said favouret...:D

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must be a brit thing.....

I agree, it looks good & night wheelin' is way fun. Even more fun when you can see. I know this is about the lights, but I gotta tell ya, I love the body painted mirrors, I think this is now on my mod list. Together with the snowflakes, it's a great unified look.

Thanks man I appreciate it, I get it alot about the mirrors lol

So did you get an Isuzu paint code, or was it a rattle can job?

It was actually done by the PO and it's a pro job, matches perfectly.

Yeah, it looks great. For whatever reason, it visually gives the vehicle a more aggressive stance. I just looked at the VX-02 and it had body-colored side mirrors as well. I'll bet the other VX concepts did as well, the production units probably just used black to save on production costs. I either have to paint mine or buy an ebony.