Ditch lights on a 2004 Ford Ranger

[Jandro2004FX4]

Hello friends, I just wanted to share with everyone these new lights on an old Ranger…I had a tough time finding a heavy duty hood mount, as the hood design is old-school. Anyway my friend Christian found these awesome mounts on eBay from Go Fast Explorers. I love the simplicity and durability of this design, and installing it was a cinch; it fits into an existing hole under the hood so no drilling…all I did was paint them

 

[Jandro2004FX4]

GFE A Pillar Bracket

 

[Uncle Gump]

Not sure I've seen ditch light brackets made specifically for a Ranger. They look pretty good. I was eyeballing a set made for a early Tacoma... thought I might just make a pair that was similar.

The ask for that set seems a bit high. Twice what the Tacoma brackets cost.

I'd spend the better part of a day making a set... so I suppose it's a matter of what my time is worth.

Thanks for sharing...

 

[SenorNoob]

That could work well as a camera mount too...

 

[Jandro2004FX4]

Not sure I've seen ditch light brackets made specifically for a Ranger. They look pretty good. I was eyeballing a set made for a early Tacoma... thought I might just make a pair that was similar.

The ask for that set seems a bit high. Twice what the Tacoma brackets cost.

I'd spend the better part of a day making a set... so I suppose it's a matter of what my time is worth.

Thanks for sharing...

Yes they are a little more expensive, I’m paying for my lack of metalworking skills!!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Yes they are a little more expensive, I’m paying for my lack of metalworking skills!!

No shame there...

Are the good and solid?

Lights don't vibrate on rougher roads?

Do they wires just route through the hood gap?

 

[Jandro2004FX4]

That could work well as a camera mount too...

Great idea!!

 

[Jandro2004FX4]

No shame there...

Are the good and solid?

Lights don't vibrate on rougher roads?

Do they wires just route through the hood gap?

Super solid. Bolted under the hood with the side stabilized by the gap…no movement at all, although I haven’t had the chance to go off-road with them yet. And yes, the leads go right under the hood, zip-tied in place. Later today I’ll post some pics of the wiring

 

[Jandro2004FX4]

So yeah the cabling goes through the hood gap, zip tied in place. Tucked it up behind the insulation, same on the other side. It all goes to a fuse box in front running to six switches on my dash (3 down, 3 to go!). Fuse box is hooked to the blower relay because it was the only that turns off with the ignition…anyway, back to the brackets, please note that because of the way they mount, they don’t sit “straight”; they angle with my hood. This works for me as I have them (provisionally) aimed slightly to the side. With apologies, here’s some pics:

 

[Jandro2004FX4]

 

[Uncle Gump]

@Jandro2004FX4

I ended up buying the same set you did. I have to say... they're pretty nice brackets. The only thing I did was was double up some 1/8" rubber stripping and placed it under the opposite side from the bolt. Leveled them up a pinch. Simple install... Solid and I'd likely buy them again. I did see another bracket that was the same basic design... but cheaper. Can't vouch for them though.