Anybody have the Deifiant lightbar for their 01-04?

Hahahahaha. We will see. "SheepFab"?... "SD Offroad"?... "WTF Offroad"? lmao!!!

 

if you go to the defiant web site you can look at a full pick of the light bar looks like it mounts to the front of the frame rails?

 

I've noticed that you are coming up short on anyone sending you picks of their bracket/installation photos for their light bars. I think there might be an option that you could check out the next time your poking around under your truck. I noticed that there could be a possible mounting location on the the frame rails that attach to the bumper support bar (The bar that runs left to right inside our lower plastic valance.) I have included photos of their location. The foreseeable benefit of this location is the fact that no drilling would be involved, and there are two holes that would provide for lock nut and washer support on the mounting bolt and bracket.

Frame Mounted Bumper Support - Exterior View
The forseeable downside is that the location directly above these mounting points, where you would exit the lower valance, is approximatley 1 1/2 inches wide.

Frame Mounted Bumper Support - Side View
The holes located on top of the bumper support mounting points are aproximately 29 3/4 inches apart from center to center between the left and right supports.

Frame Mounted Bumper Support - Top View
The top hole measures a little greater than 1/2 inch, and the bottom hole a little smaller.

Mounting Hardware Option


If you made the mounting plate come out flat, and welded to the light bar at the point in which it exits the valance, is seems as if it would clear with zero problems. And on the plus side, it could easily be installed in one solid piece.

It looks as if the Defiant Light Bar has perpendicular mounting points, based on the first picture you posted, so perhaps they manage to keep it small enough in diameter to fit through that portion of the valance. Overall, it seems that going with this location would ensure zero to limited vibration since it is attached to the frame itself.

There is always room for improvement, but this will hopefully spark some conversation and thought until someone can track down, or provide photos of the "official" mounts. What do you think Sheepdog? (And everyone else that is hoping this project takes off!!!)

 

Yeah that style is clean. Didn't get to check out the mounting method yet on my bro's truck, but your best bet is check out Defiant's website. It just mounts to the frame. The key thing to that bar is the 2" tube when most lightbars are 1.75"

 

idigtulsa beat me too it. I like his mounting, but make sure it doesn't wobble. It's annoying when you see off road lights shake.

 

Thanks dude! That really helps a lot. I'm having a hard time coming up with ideas right now because I'm in Virginia, so I don't have a truck to look at and start brainstorming. But I will definately entertain your idea and see what I can come up with.

 

Are you sure it's 2" tubing? That seems a little big for how it looks in relation to the truck in all these pics. I think its 1.5".

 

$250 is a lot, might as well save some more for a whole new bumper. I would be interested too if price and style were right. Subbed to follow along. Wish I had welder, shit a garage too lol.

 

most of the time the wobble comes from light bars that mount to the front bumper instead of the frame

 

I'm running 1.5" on my bumper. It looks a lot larger than mine. I'm very sure it's 2" OD from my brother telling me. I'll ask him.

 

True also, But to make sure I'm clear I was referring to the mounting bracket idigtulsa came up with could wobble if you don't use thick enough plating.

 

uhh if i can find a way to mount these i am soooo building my self one. i can build this for like 50 bucks...i need a better pic of mounts though

 

That's my problem too...

 

i might just have to beast fuck it idk we will see.

 

bump?

 

i'd be interested in one of these for my 2000. i dunno if the mounting is any different between 1998-2000 and 2001-2004, though...

 

yes there is a differeance

 

Ditto

 

If you go to this site and look at the top right there is a picture which might give you some reference to how they are mounted. I would make my own but am not sure how to get a nice radius in the tubing to make it look good. I go to a voc school and could get the machine shop to cut my out some AL brackets to mount it so that wouldn't be a problem.

If you end up making these I might bite, unless I make my own first.....

Heres the link http://www.defianttruckproducts.com/display_part/328.php

 

I'll have one within a few months. I have the cash for the bar, but gotta save a little for the lights. I'll probably get PIAA's. I also want to mount a switch for them in that spot down below the dash by the security button in my '04.