Help/Advice Needed - electrical, switches & install

Gear/Plan:

Rigid Industries 50” straight LED light bar (Purchased, just need mounting brackets and wiring harness to arrive)

Baja Designs Squadron Sport Amber ditch lights (pending)

Baja Designs Squadron Sport Amber dust lights (pending)

*** Pending - there is a huge OffRoad Show coming up at the end of Sept here in L.A. and I’m debating on whether I pull the trigger now or hope that BD will offer some discounts at this event to save some $$.


Undecided:

- Factory bumper is coming off and a custom tube bumper will be installed in a few months, hopefully. I’ll most likely have another set of Squadron Sports installed on the bumper by adding mounting tabs the custom bumper, to replace the loss of the stock fog lights from the factory bumper removal. A 30” LED light bar may also get installed into the custom tube bumper at some point down the road.

- under the hood mounted onboard air compressor

- winch


Prelude:

I’m an admitted electrical wiring and install novice. But, I’m not an idiot, I can follow instructions and thoroughly enjoy that learning process. I also like to plan for project installs as much as possible. Putting together a parts list, for me at least, is a necessity to mitigate starts and stops during the install. I HATE not finishing a project because I forgot a fuse or harness or properly sized termination connections. Planning for future/potential additions, is also something I like to factor in, so that minimal effort is required when adding gear that I either didn’t have the funds for or need for, at the time of original install.


I’ve installed the stereo systems in my last two trucks but, frankly, that doesn’t require much electrical knowledge in my opinion. I do like to DIY as much as possible, not just for $$$ saving but, more importantly, for learning and knowledge gains.


Decisions, decisions:

I understand some of the benefits for the

$659 Switch-Pros SP9100 Switch Pros SP-9100 8-Switch Panel Power System With Concealed Mounting Hardware

Switch-Pros SP9100, I just don’t know if I can justify the cost. However, I also like to live by the mindset of, “do it once, spend $$$ smartly and do it the right way”. I’m also of the mindset, “I’ve got a 2018 truck, install new hardware/technology and keep it current and future proof”. I’ve also seen similar lighting installs that I’m planning to do, without the 9100.


Without the 9100, is the install of all the under the hood hardware THAT MUCH more difficult?


Do the benefits of the 9100, both install and day-to-day functionality, make the decision a no-brainer?


If you don’t go the 9100 route, is your experience simply that, the entire install process and operation of the switches feels more “manual”?


Are additional relays and terminal plates really necessary for what I’m planning to do?


For an electrical noob, PowerTrays’ website appears to have almost everything required to complete a clean install...thoughts?


Looking forward to hearing all of your experiences, thoughts and advice. TIA.