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Rough Country 30" LED with hidden front bumper mounts

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by CleanupBoss, Aug 24, 2015.

  1. Aug 24, 2015 at 1:24 PM
    #1
    CleanupBoss

    CleanupBoss [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Chet
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    S/C w/ Gibson exhaust Araid CAI, afr/boost gauges in Craven Speed mount, LED camper shell lighting kit clear bra, fogs, Leer shell w/keyless entry & Thule roof rack system Pop & Lock tailgate handle Rugged country 30" light bar for lower front bumper, Baja Designs SR2 flush mount rear bumper lights, DB Customz grill w/ 3" cube lights, Viair 2 gal tank, Viar Compressor
    For those of you who may be considering this product, I thought I should pass on a few installation tips that may be helpful. I have a 2015 Base, DCLB.
    Brackets
    First, the bumper bracket installation instructions are adequate. It would have been helpful if the brackets themselves were marked "R" and "L" but after playing around with them, you can figure out which bracket goes where. After removing the outside 14mm bumper bolts (Do not use a "Wrench" as suggested by the install instructions...these bolts are on very tight so you'll need a socket wrench that is pretty substantial) the first thing you will notice is that the holes on the "hidden brackets" are just a shade too small to go over the threaded posts that you just removed the 14mm bumper bolts from.
    I had to put the brackets in a vice, grab my corded drill and some light oil and hog out the existing bracket holes to 1/2 inch. (I had previously read somewhere else that the RC bracket size had been a problem, but forgot about it until I tried to install the brackets myself)
    DO NOT tighten the brackets after you get them onto the posts, I'll explain why later.

    Cutting the "Fins" in the lower bumper
    First, tape off the areas surrounding the fins to protect the inside of the bumper from scratches and errant cuts. Actually, the more you tape the better, both inside and the exterior of the bumper itself.
    The install instructions tell you to use a reciprocating (Sawzall type) saw, along with a side cutter to remove the fins in the lower bumper to eventually accomodate the LED light. I didnt like the idea because a sawzall needs a very long blade to reach the areas and is generally difficult to controll while sawing because it likes to jump around a lot. The sawzall would be almost impossible to use for the "Addidional trimming" needed, as I note further down. Instead, I followed the advice offered by DB Customs in his custom grill install video...I used a dremmel with an all purpose cutter to cut through the plastic to remove the lower grill fins. I left about 1/8 inch of the fins uncut so that I wouldnt be cutting right next to the interior of the lower bumper https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-trail-toys-single-row-led-group-buy.385076/
    After the fins were cut, I attached a sanding drum to my dremmel and used medium speed to sand down the remaining 1/8 inch. You can really take your time and get the former fin area flush with the interior of the bumper.
    The inside ends of your lower bumper is where you will experience some difficulty. The instructions simply tell you that "Additional trimming may be required for 2015 models". Yeah, no shit!
    First, your brackets (previously attached to the bumper posts) will not fit flush with the interior of the lower bumper until the lower bumper fins are removed. You will have to cut end-slots in the bumper plastic in order for the brackets to protrude and lay flat. I used a silver sharpie felt pen to mark where my slots will go.
    Once your brackets lay flat, make sure the 7mm mounting bolts (see below) actually fit into the LED light housing (See below again). Once your confident the 7 mm mounting bolts fit, test fit the LED light bar onto the brackets and inside the lower bumper. Becuase there is litterally no clearance between the ends of the light bar/bracket and the inside edge of the interior bumper, you'll have to jockey the light bar around on the loose brackets to in order to connect the 7mm mounting bolts to the light bar housing.

    Attaching the light bar to the "hidden brackets"
    This is where I had the most difficulty because there are absolutely no install notes, pics or diagrams for the light bar attachment to the "hidden brackets". To further complicate things, one side of my light bar housing would not accept the 7mm mounting bolt. Just like the mounting brackets, the 7mm bolt hole on the light bar housing was a bit too small. That's why I warned earlier to make sure the 7mm mounting bolts fit into the ends of the light bar housing before you do any test fitting. I was finally able to force the 7mm bolt in-but it was like I had to recut the die in the process.
    First, you have to find the 7mm (size 13 metric end wrench) mounting bolts. I found mine in the seperate box that the "hidden mounts" came in.
    Inside the box containing the light bar, you'll find some extra boxes with mounting hardware. While most of this stuff you paid for, you will not use. In amongst the hardware, you'll eventually find some 1/2" hard rubber spacers, and some washers and lock washers that will fit over the 7mm mounting bolts. The spacers go between the inside of the mounting bracket to create space between the inside of the bracket and the end of the light bar housing. The lock washer and washer go over the 7mm mounting bolt which then slides through the end of the mounting bracket, into the hard rubber spacer and ultimately into the light bar housing.
    Now you'll notice that everything is together and you can tighten the bumper bolts back up.
    Once everything is tightened, you'll also notice that you do not have enough room on the ends, between the end of your light bar/bracket assembly and the inside of your lower bumper to get a 13mm end wrench onto the mounting bolt. You need this space to loosen the mounting bolts in order to adjust the beam of your light bar.
    So, using my silver felt tipped sharpie again, I drew a circle pattern inside the lower bumper next to the ends of the light bar and cut out an access hole. I had to loosen everything again, cut out the plastic, reassemble and I could finally adjust the light bar.
    Obviously I'm not a professional mechanic but for those of you who enjoy my lower skill level, I hope some of these tips help.
     
    captainchris likes this.
  2. Jan 1, 2017 at 9:44 AM
    #2
    spiralout462

    spiralout462 Well-Known Member

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    Icon suspension '15 toyota nav TRD FJ SE anthracite wheels Weathertechs Trd pro pieces
    New Year REVIVAL !!

    Im attempting this installation today. This is the ONLY writeup I have found thus far on the whole WWW!
     
  3. Jan 2, 2017 at 6:16 AM
    #3
    spiralout462

    spiralout462 Well-Known Member

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    Went in nice. The mounts truly are hidden.
    I'm looking foward to getting some power to this thing!
    2017-01-01 16.19.04.jpg
     
  4. Jan 11, 2017 at 6:45 AM
    #4
    spiralout462

    spiralout462 Well-Known Member

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    Follow up.....
    Wired to CH4X4 switch. Works like a champ!

    20170104_215512.jpg 20170103_180906.jpg
     
  5. Jan 11, 2017 at 1:21 PM
    #5
    spiralout462

    spiralout462 Well-Known Member

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    Probably 3 or 4 hours. I am admittedly slow though. I tried to cut the grill out perfect with a dremel. Worked well. I'm glad I did flush mount instead of behind. Im ok with committing to a lightbar there. Wiring went smoother than o expected. Probably because I did alot of research first.
     
  6. Feb 21, 2017 at 6:39 PM
    #6
    Afbird

    Afbird Well-Known Member

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    Pioneer MVH x560bt Crux SWRTY
    Is that light output shot with the headlights on? Looks nice!
     
  7. Feb 22, 2017 at 7:33 AM
    #7
    spiralout462

    spiralout462 Well-Known Member

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    I honestly dont remember. Its a quality piece. Fit and finish are surprisingly good. I will probably run the same thing on my 2015. I really Like the looks of their black series, but im a little worried that performance might be compromised. 12000 lumens is more than enough for my needs. Let us know what you decide to go with. That lower bumper slot looks like it is made for a 30" bar!
     
  8. Feb 24, 2017 at 8:45 AM
    #8
    TacoTacoma97

    TacoTacoma97 Eagle Scout

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    I think it's a Tacoma, let me go check again...
    *Cracks knuckles* Where do I begin?
    FullSizeRender.jpg IMG_3354.jpg Hey guys! So I bought an LED light bar, and had it installed by Crow Concepts here in Waco TX. I bought the bar from eBay (I'll leave the link below) but it's for 2nd gen Tacoma's I believe. Anyways, the bar and brackets came together for a great price of $89.99 (it was on sale). I'm not a salesperson, so cut me a break here. I want to help you all out here. I'll probably post this in some other threads.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/331842362600
     
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    #8
  9. Feb 27, 2017 at 5:44 AM
    #9
    Afbird

    Afbird Well-Known Member

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    Pioneer MVH x560bt Crux SWRTY
     
  10. Feb 27, 2017 at 5:45 AM
    #10
    Afbird

    Afbird Well-Known Member

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    I like the look of that single lens. I just have to make a decision and pick one. Yours looks nice though. Good job!
     
  11. Apr 9, 2017 at 3:19 AM
    #11
    TRDSportpete

    TRDSportpete Well-Known Member

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    TRD grill, TRD air intake, TRD fog lights, 3" lift, 33" Ridge Grapplers, 18" Fuel Trophy wheels. MBRP cat back. BestTop
    This looks awesome! Great job on the install, it looks factory.
     
    TacoTacoma97 likes this.

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