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30" Light Bar Install - Easier Than You Might Think

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by rysingsun, Dec 16, 2015.

  1. May 3, 2017 at 8:19 PM
    #441
    gargamel05

    gargamel05 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you. Ill try it out tomorrow. Definitely will attach photos once done.
     
  2. May 4, 2017 at 3:48 AM
    #442
    waydago

    waydago Well-Known Member

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    TRD Pro Exhaust, aFe Filter, Hard Tonneau, Predator steps, Pro Grille, Pro Fogs, Pro Badges, Pro Skid, Decal Inserts, H9 headlight swap, tailgate light bar, !7 in 4-Runner Pro wheels, 265/65-17 Falken Wildpeaks, AVS Bug shield and window shades, WeatherTechs, Sill protectors, pistol holster, Home Link mirror, Power tailgate lock, Redline Tuning hood struts, Caliper covers, Rigid Radiance light bar.
    Check this photo from an earlier post. It shows how I attached the mending bar to the Rigid bracket and the light bar. image.jpg
    And it shows the holes on the cross brace I used. The plastic clip I mentioned before would get removed and a bolt put in through to the mending bar which might need a hole drilled in it. Just lift the light bar up to align holes in the mending bars with the the elongated holes. Attach the hardware through both the elongated holes and bar will be in place to center. And you may need to bend the vertical portion of the cross brace when the light bar comes up and is fully tightened down. Another detail: you will need to remove the air dams on either side before beginning any work on the install of the light bar. They're flexible enough to maneuver back into position in the end without cutting them.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2017
    Corneeeeelius likes this.
  3. May 4, 2017 at 5:42 AM
    #443
    gargamel05

    gargamel05 Well-Known Member

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    You are a savior. Much better pic and I see how you did it. Thank you so much for all your help. I truly appreciated. Too bad, you're not near me. I would have bought you a 6 pack ;-)
     
  4. May 4, 2017 at 6:34 AM
    #444
    waydago

    waydago Well-Known Member

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    TRD Pro Exhaust, aFe Filter, Hard Tonneau, Predator steps, Pro Grille, Pro Fogs, Pro Badges, Pro Skid, Decal Inserts, H9 headlight swap, tailgate light bar, !7 in 4-Runner Pro wheels, 265/65-17 Falken Wildpeaks, AVS Bug shield and window shades, WeatherTechs, Sill protectors, pistol holster, Home Link mirror, Power tailgate lock, Redline Tuning hood struts, Caliper covers, Rigid Radiance light bar.
    You are very welcome. I hope it works smoothly for you. I expect this method could work for many different brands of light bar. I like that it is behind the lower grille and avoids, as someone else put it, sticky fingers from removing a light bar when the lower section of the grille is cut out and it is inserted there. That idea was never on my radar. There are many mounting solutions out there and some include brackets that attach to the crash bar. But they involve cutting the air dams. Not a big deal but I didn't want to do that. The Radiance comes with only small brackets but they work perfectly for this method. It is the best solution I could come up with. Thanks for the beer offer. :cheers: Good luck. Interested to know how it pans out. Side note: The bar looks really nice in the early evening with the backlight on with the DRLs.
     
    gargamel05[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. May 4, 2017 at 12:48 PM
    #445
    gargamel05

    gargamel05 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah. That was my concern as well. I didnt want to cut the air dam. ;-)
     
  6. May 4, 2017 at 8:07 PM
    #446
    gargamel05

    gargamel05 Well-Known Member

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    I end up not using your method. Went ahead and use the Apex brackets.

    20170504_191736.jpg
     
    1bad2k likes this.
  7. May 5, 2017 at 6:12 AM
    #447
    waydago

    waydago Well-Known Member

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    TRD Pro Exhaust, aFe Filter, Hard Tonneau, Predator steps, Pro Grille, Pro Fogs, Pro Badges, Pro Skid, Decal Inserts, H9 headlight swap, tailgate light bar, !7 in 4-Runner Pro wheels, 265/65-17 Falken Wildpeaks, AVS Bug shield and window shades, WeatherTechs, Sill protectors, pistol holster, Home Link mirror, Power tailgate lock, Redline Tuning hood struts, Caliper covers, Rigid Radiance light bar.
    Looks great. Well done! What do the Apex brackets look like? Do they attach to the crash bar like some others?
     
    gargamel05[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. May 5, 2017 at 6:42 AM
    #448
    1bad2k

    1bad2k Well-Known Member

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    Do you know part number for the brackets? Got a link to them? Thanks.
     
  9. May 5, 2017 at 9:34 AM
    #449
    gargamel05

    gargamel05 Well-Known Member

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    Sorry, I do not. It came with the lights when I bought them from a member here. Brackets are super nice and make installation super simple. I will try to text the seller and see if he has a part number for you. Thanks
     
    1bad2k[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. May 5, 2017 at 9:34 AM
    #450
    gargamel05

    gargamel05 Well-Known Member

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    Yes. Looks like any other lower bumper mounts to be honest ;-)
     
  11. May 5, 2017 at 11:34 AM
    #451
    DrillerDML

    DrillerDML New Member

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    In need of help. I am wanting to hook up a 12v accessory plug in the bed of my 2015 Tacoma.. why? So I can power a small pump to sirculate water in my portable bait tank. I have a light bar to install too. I have 2 air on board push button switches. All wiring is ran I was trying to use 2 separate add a circuit fuse links straight from my fuse box in dash but then I ran into a problem. 12v plug worked fine light bar worked fine but all my warning lights on instrument panel was lit including 4x4 light. Do I need a special harness for this truck or what. Hope for a quick reply thanks
     
  12. May 11, 2017 at 8:25 AM
    #452
    gonzale20

    gonzale20 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, this is the method i will be using when all items come in. Thanks OP
     
    gargamel05[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. May 11, 2017 at 10:51 AM
    #453
    1bad2k

    1bad2k Well-Known Member

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    These guys showed up yesterday, Amber backlit 30" radiance bar. All I need is to decide on which brackets I like for the hidden mount and an oem looking push button.

    20170511_124755.jpg
     
  14. May 11, 2017 at 12:42 PM
    #454
    DonM77

    DonM77 Well-Known Member

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    My Caliraised kit should be here tomorrow. Hoping to find time next week to install the bar. Doesn't seem like there is a good install video out there that shows entire process.
     
  15. May 11, 2017 at 1:31 PM
    #455
    econwatch

    econwatch Well-Known Member

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    Used some aluminum angle bar and self-tapping screws on the bumper bar to create a raised mount point for the light bar brackets.
    The grill and bumper plastic comes off with a little effort (after figuring out where all the clips are). The bumper support plastic needed some trimming where the brackets protruded slightly.
    Next up wiring in a fuse block and switches!


    rps20170511_162625_287.jpg rps20170511_162648_404.jpg rps20170511_162713_175.jpg
     
    Blue16TSS likes this.
  16. May 11, 2017 at 3:28 PM
    #456
    gargamel05

    gargamel05 Well-Known Member

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    I used Apex brackets with mine. Made installation so much easier.
     
  17. May 11, 2017 at 5:06 PM
    #457
    1bad2k

    1bad2k Well-Known Member

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    I can't find them anywhere on the net. Have a link?
     
  18. May 11, 2017 at 5:45 PM
    #458
    obz

    obz Well-Known Member

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    1bad2k[QUOTED] likes this.
  19. May 11, 2017 at 6:55 PM
    #459
    1bad2k

    1bad2k Well-Known Member

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  20. May 11, 2017 at 7:05 PM
    #460
    obz

    obz Well-Known Member

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    I think those are the Apex now. Caliraised used to sell them from what I gather, but now sell their own (maybe made by Apex but branded as Caliraised). You can probably reach out to @CaliRaisedLed for more details.
     
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