Pod Light Mounted Over Bed NEW IDEA!

Hello,

Has anyone come across a mod in which they mounted pod lights at the back of the bed near the rear window? But my plan is to mount them on a bar/pole which is attached at the bed on the outside corners. It will be attatched to the bar/pole on some sort of hinge with a lock at the base that way when in use it is locked and not in use can fold down and look clean. The pod lights when down will meet at the middle of the bed and lock in place for normal driving will look like 2 pods meeting at the center window locked in so it doesn't move. When off roading or camping the bar/pole folds up and locks in place making the lights sit about 2 feet up from the bed when the pole is standing vertical. It will allow me to aim the lights over the bed or the side of the truck to set up camp. More of a spotlight option is what im going for. If anyone has feedback ideas or even seen it before please share. Im starting the idea on paper but wanted to reach out before I start coming up with a hinge that is strong enough to stay locked tight while off roading and some sort of lock for the pole and light when folded down.

Thanks,

 

I think I'm grasping what you're saying. That would be a pretty neat idea! No, I've never heard of or seen anyone do this before.

 

Im glad someone understood me lol its always hard to explain a idea. I wanted to do it on a telescopic pole but couldn't find anything I think would be strong enough and not crazy expensive but with the length from the outside of the bed to the center is about 2 feet on each side with 2 feet standing on top the bed that's high enough for me to aim over a camp spot or anything need be also with gear loaded in the bed will be high enough to not be blocked and can also be angled towards the back of the tailgate for anything specific. The pod light mount will allow the light to rotate but the actual mounting pole seems the hardest to finish game planning especially wanting it to lock tight when off road and set up standing so its not going to fall apart off roading and my light is dangling lol

 

Are you able to fabricate stuff yourself? Even if it's the basics, like a welder and a grinder.

 

I have seen quite a few mount them on the rear of their cab racks. Or you could also put them on top of a headache rack, not common for Tacoma, but I have seen them.

 

I don't but a close friend is very handy at that stuff! He will be helping me. Since we camp together and with these lights my light bar and flush rear bumper lights I don't think we will have any issues getting to our point and setting up camp at night once everything is installed . lol

 

This roughly what you are asking about? I already rigged a few cubes (one on either side) of my truck. They are exceptionally useful

 

I get that idea but its more stationary want the truck to still look clean and having the pods sit behind the rear center window when not in use eliminates a pod just standing out.

 

Got it, telescoping with tubing or square tube would be the way to go then with a locking pin to raise and lower. The internal wiring would need slack and free from burrs to prevent shorting out. I ran my power in through the shark fin, but you would be better off going under the cab to the engine or if you have a power tap inside the cab then come up through some of the plastic plugs at the bottom of the cab.

 

Here is a horrible drawing

 

Here's a rough sketch of a way I think it could work

 

Looks sideways bit I think I get your idea.

 

Thanks haha!

 

with yours and mine I think we are getting somewhere!

 

Agreed! The writing came out pretty small on my pic. The top writing shows that there will be a plate on one side with a hole that lines up with a hole on the other bar, and a pin will go through locking it in place.

Or maybe a bolt welded that side, and a wingnut to secure it. Then you don't fuss with a pin.

 

I like the pin idea for when its folded down I can drill a whole near the light mount the pin to the bed by the center window when the pole is folded it slides into the pin or vice versa and gets locked with a nuti can tighten it so it doesn't move. maybe same route for the base on the outside end of the bed where its mounted at and that way the nut being tightened will eliminate any wiggle room from just a pin being slided in.

 

Well there ya go! To secure the rig to the bed, I'd just use some T-slot nuts and utilize the channels.