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Mounting 30 inch LED lightbar in lower valence

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by BrannigansLaw, Oct 28, 2021.

  1. Oct 28, 2021 at 11:18 AM
    #1
    BrannigansLaw

    #1
    BrannigansLaw [OP] Well-Known Member

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    $79 30" Light Bar Single Row, SWATOW INDUSTRIES 168W 30" Slim LED Light Bar Kits Spot Flood Offroad Driving Lights w/Wiring Harness Black Cover for Truck Pickup Wrangler Toyota Chevy Ram UTV
    Amazon.com: SWATOW INDUSTRIES 30 Inch LED Light Bar Kit 120W Single Row Light Bar with Wiring Harness Black Cover Spot Flood Combo Off Road Driving Light Fog Light Slim LED Bar for Truck UTV ATV RZR 4x4 Boat : Everything Else

    Anyone know what I would have to do in order to mount this behind the OEM front valence? Would those brackets work? Or are there any lightbars that fit in that area that bolt right up without any modification?

    Thanks TW!
     
    BrannigansLaw, Oct 28, 2021
    #1
  2. Oct 28, 2021 at 12:29 PM
    #2
    tacojim02

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    tacojim02 Well-Known Member

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    I would say it is very doable. But you would probably have to cut the valance out a little in the back and modify the brackets. Just saying.
     
    tacojim02, Oct 28, 2021
    #2
  3. Oct 28, 2021 at 2:08 PM
    #3
    SellyKlater

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    SellyKlater Well-Known Member

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    I mounted a 31" in there. Fit right in behind the valence. No cutting, just took the bumper off and put it back on. I made some L brackets out of some 1 inch scrap aluminum.
    PSX_20170319_194735.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2021
    SellyKlater, Oct 28, 2021
    #3
    TWJLee and sonofdad like this.
  4. Oct 28, 2021 at 2:17 PM
    #4
    BrannigansLaw

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    BrannigansLaw [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nice, that looks excellent.
    From how you describe it, pretty easy mount job?
     
    BrannigansLaw, Oct 28, 2021
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  5. Oct 28, 2021 at 2:23 PM
    #5
    SellyKlater

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    SellyKlater Well-Known Member

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    Yea basically the frame is about 32 inches apart in the section. You might have to test fit how close to mount the light bar near the radiator. But that size Bar should fit right in between the frame.
     
    SellyKlater, Oct 28, 2021
    #5
  6. Oct 28, 2021 at 2:27 PM
    #6
    sonofdad

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    sonofdad Member

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    ditto what @SellyKlater did above.
    installed an LED light bar last year.
    ordered
    $37 Nilight LED Light Bar 32" 180W 12600LM Spot Flood Combo Driving Lamp Roof Bumper Off Road Lights LED Work Light Pods for Van Camper Wagon Car Pickup Golf Cart ATV UTV SUV Truck Boat 4x4
    this light bar and
    $17 Nilight Wiring Harness Kit 14AWG Heavy Duty 12V On-Off Switch Power Relay Blade Fuse for Off Road LED Work Light Bar-ONE Lead
    this harness. it was 32" in width. it barely fit behind the valence ... no cutting of the plastic required.
    i had to make my own brackets as well. it wasn't super difficult and am happy how it turned out.
    some pics of the install attached.

    2020-04-11-17.03.52.747.jpg
    2020-04-12-13.18.42.275.jpg
    2020-04-12-14.00.29.590.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2021
    sonofdad, Oct 28, 2021
    #6
    joe25rs, SellyKlater, TWJLee and 1 other person like this.
  7. Oct 28, 2021 at 6:59 PM
    #7
    GyvesHD

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    GyvesHD Well-Known Member

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    I had a dual row light bar tucked behind but I switched to a single row style. More light output. Don’t have pictures of the brackets I made but wasn’t hard at all

    33B9B346-D512-47BE-93C2-AE019259E33B.jpg
     
    GyvesHD, Oct 28, 2021
    #7
  8. Oct 28, 2021 at 7:17 PM
    #8
    Old green toyota

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    Old green toyota Well-Known Member

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    If the brackets it comes with are too tall, cut them down and re drill the center hole. Or just make your own. The hardest part will be cleanly mounting the switch
     
    Old green toyota, Oct 28, 2021
    #8
  9. Oct 29, 2021 at 8:10 PM
    #9
    Tacomasaurus Rex

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    Tacomasaurus Rex Well-Known Member

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    Very nice I’ll have to do that! Kind of thought it’d be interesting to mount a light in side of these triangle shaped areas on grill. However it wouldn’t gain you much light…
    upload_2021-10-29_22-9-49.jpg
     
    Tacomasaurus Rex, Oct 29, 2021
    #9
  10. Mar 23, 2024 at 11:07 AM
    #10
    Krugermeier

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    Krugermeier Active Member

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    I’m going to buy your same bar and harness. I want to ask, is there any reason I SHOULDN’T run the 378 watt option they have versus the 180 watt?

    also, when it comes to the harness, the on/off switch is a circular red one. Can I change the switch to rectangular so that it fits flush in the pre-existing dash switch mounts?
    $17 Nilight Wiring Harness Kit 14AWG Heavy Duty 12V On-Off Switch Power Relay Blade Fuse for Off Road LED Work Light Bar-ONE Lead
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XMM3T5

    IMG_0669.jpg
     
    Krugermeier, Mar 23, 2024
    #10
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