Official Tennessee Thread

I got bored and my dome light got brighter...

 

That's been me today

 

I got a conversation starter:

I got a 50" curved light bar for Christmas. Now I gotta figure out how to mount it, with an OEM roof rack, since I don't want to get rid of it. NO ONE appears to have EVER installed a 50" with a roof rack. So its time to forge a path.

I have 2 ideas:

1: remove the rack, bolt the mounts in the proper holes, cut away the portion required (on the roof rack) to slide around the light bar mounts and BAM, done.

2: cut the 90* angle off the led bar mounts and rivet the flat part to the roof rack to make it all fit.

I think I am going with the first option (I am quite anal so although it sounds messy and hard, I will make sure I measure six times and cut once). What are your guys' thoughts on this? I am definitely open to suggestions and techniques. I wish I was still in TN so I could head on up to Levi's for some help haha

 

Option 3: Mount the light bar using my factory channel plastics and give me your roof rack.

Sounds like the best option to me.

 

I think you mean, "Sounds like the best option FOR me" haha

 

Option #1 seems good. What mount are you going with? I wold bolt it with the rack on the bottom (touching the roof) and the mount on top of the rack bracket. Then fit and trim repeat.

 

Ya know... Autocorrect

 

Or like this but on the outside edges of the OEM rack. Possibly with the plates hidden inside the plastic?

 

This was the first thing that came to my mind when i read jeremy's post.

 

I don't think he'd be able to do that due to the extra width of his bar and it being curved. Option 1 def. seems like the way to go

 

Have you thought about the wind noise yet? I have one with the mounts and have started taking it off while not using due to the noise it produces. What ever you do make sure it can be reversed if you can't handle the noise that it produces. I have the templates for the light bar that can be faxed to you next year if you like. I drew them before I mounted them.

 

Do you have a pipe bender and/or measurements for your bedrack? I'm about to build an identical one for my truck.

 

Heather got me the mounts from MCM Fab () I think you're right. Placing them in that order, and doing a lot of "rinse and repeat[ing]"

I actually went to this one first, and based off the mount (pic'd above) and the size (40" vs 50") I don't think that option will be viable.

This^^

I have heard about the noise thing and I agree 100%; it should be "reversible" if I don't want it all the time. I am not as concerned about noise YET since rolling on 35's and the roof rack already makes noise. However, my plan is, if I don't want it all the time, to leave the mounts in place, and just remove the bolts on each end of the light bar that connect to the mount, if I don't want it during DD'ing. The light that heather bought came with a sweet wire harness that's plug n play into the light so itll be a simple disconnect the plug, remove the 2 bolts and off it comes. (that harness is going to save me an hour + in time since I wont have to make one now, came complete with relay and everything). I will def take you up on that template once Im back in GA, thanks!


Thanks for all the input, keep any thoughts coming!

 

Copied from the East Tennessee Overlanders Facebook page. I just got added to the group but they look like a pretty active group.

 

This pic shows a good head on of the mount. I think this mount will make it easy to trim along the outside of the roof rack, where the roof rack bracket is. I also think I can bend the mount ever so slightly out, and then once I attach the light bar, tighten the bolts to bring it back in, around the front of the roof rack itself and itll look seamless. whatcha think? (it may be easier than I initially thought/expected).

Then ill just run the wiring down the windshield and under the hood. use some black silicone to tie it in with the windshield and itll look clean.

 

Bleeker, will you link me to the group?

EDIT: nvm.

 

Yes we are welcome.

 

I don't I went to a friends house and he bent it for me. One thing I would change is the bars to go all the way across and have the basket sit on top of the bars. Or have not used L iron for the cage it rocks a bit when off roading not bad but just a bit.