Offroad Light Install

[02RangerXLT]

I ordered a set of 55w KC off road lights from JC Whitney last weekend and I finally got them yesterday. I was debating where to mount them, I like the light tab idea that I'd been seeing so I decided to go that route.

I first tried to use the bolts that are right behind the bumper, but because I couldn't get those stupid clips on the grille off, I couldn't access the bolts, so I gave up on that. I had seen some lights that used the tow hook bolts, so I decided to do that. Little did I know Ford decided it was a good idea to tack weld the damn nuts on there... FAIL. Luckily, the local welder who made the tabs had some nuts from a Chevy hitch that fit.

Anywho, if anybody wants dimensions on the tabs, I'd be happy to give them to you.

On to the pics.

Heres the bolt it will attach to:

And the lights:

And the light tabs:

And the duplicolor:

More pics to come as I work on the project

 

[backroad101]

Where did you get the light tabs?

 

[snomaker321]

I ordered a set of 55w KC off road lights from JC Whitney last weekend and I finally got them yesterday. I was debating where to mount them, I like the light tab idea that I'd been seeing so I decided to go that route.

I first tried to use the bolts that are right behind the bumper, but because I couldn't get those stupid clips on the grille off, I couldn't access the bolts, so I gave up on that. I had seen some lights that used the tow hook bolts, so I decided to do that. Little did I know Ford decided it was a good idea to tack weld the damn nuts on there... FAIL. Luckily, the local welder who made the tabs had some nuts from a Chevy hitch that fit.

Anywho, if anybody wants dimensions on the tabs, I'd be happy to give them to you.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Indeed. Took a little bit of trial and error, but once we found out where the bend had to be they were a snap to make.

 

[EERNGER]

I ordered a set of 55w KC off road lights from JC Whitney last weekend and I finally got them yesterday. I was debating where to mount them, I like the light tab idea that I'd been seeing so I decided to go that route.

I first tried to use the bolts that are right behind the bumper, but because I couldn't get those stupid clips on the grille off, I couldn't access the bolts, so I gave up on that. I had seen some lights that used the tow hook bolts, so I decided to do that. Little did I know Ford decided it was a good idea to tack weld the damn nuts on there... FAIL. Luckily, the local welder who made the tabs had some nuts from a Chevy hitch that fit.

Anywho, if anybody wants dimensions on the tabs, I'd be happy to give them to you.

just a thought, but why dont you just use the bolts behind the bumper? I see you tried to remove the grille to do that, but why not just slip the angle of the light tab around the bumper through the wheel-well and then move them around to the front of the bumper? then you can just access the bumper bolts from under the truck. That's how i got my light tabs on anyhow. Just a thought. you will love em when you finish.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Because I can't get to that bolt that is behind the bumper on the top... if thats the one you're talking 'bout... I can't reach it from under the bumper, at least not without being more of a hassle than it is worth... I picked this spot because I could get to it easily. I don't know, I just don't have the patience to work at that spot lol.

Could you please edit the pictures out of your quote or something, just makes the post easier to read for people. Thanks!

Here is my awesome one minute painting stand:

 

[02RangerXLT]

Another update here...

Got the light tabs on and the lights on, now I'm in the process of wiring the things up.

 

[Crane]

The wiring is the best part

 

[02RangerXLT]

Oh yes I'm sure lol... a monkey could follow KC's instructions... These bolts on the tow hooks have been such a pain in the ass... They're metric (FAIL), so I had to find something that would go right on, the welder that did the tabs had some nuts from a Chevy pickup (now, no jokes...lol) that fit right on there, so I had to get two more for the ground. Anywho, its hot out, but the wiring must go on. Update in a few hours.

 

[EERNGER]

Because I can't get to that bolt that is behind the bumper on the top... if thats the one you're talking 'bout... I can't reach it from under the bumper, at least not without being more of a hassle than it is worth... I picked this spot because I could get to it easily. I don't know, I just don't have the patience to work at that spot lol.

Could you please edit the pictures out of your quote or something, just makes the post easier to read for people. Thanks!

Lol , first time i have had a request like that, but since you asked...they are gone.

I was just pondering where you were running into trouble, because i have a virtually identical truck to yours, and i got mine on. but now that i think about it, they were kind of a pain to get to, however i was also fighting slush and salty snow falling down the inside of my bumper onto my face...

but onto bigger and better things, i see you got the lights on and they look great! any plans to bridge the two tabs and make a bar out of it? because 4 lights on the bumper looks sexy...

 

[02RangerXLT]

Lol , first time i have had a request like that, but since you asked...they are gone.

I was just pondering where you were running into trouble, because i have a virtually identical truck to yours, and i got mine on. but now that i think about it, they were kind of a pain to get to, however i was also fighting slush and salty snow falling down the inside of my bumper onto my face...

but onto bigger and better things, i see you got the lights on and they look great! any plans to bridge the two tabs and make a bar out of it? because 4 lights on the bumper looks sexy...

Yeah, sorry, but half the time you get a ton of people that quote a thread full of pictures, makes for a very long scroll

Yeah, I'm fighting dust and dirt now haha.

I do have the two lights hooked up now, one of them works, one doesn't, not real sure why, maybe the ground on one of them? I'm not sure what it is anyway... Either way... the light that did work heated up really fast, i mean like instantly... should take an egg out there and see how long it takes to cook, lol.

If I bridged the two tabs, I would also have to move my license plate, because Nebraska is stupid and requires a front plate... you'd have to have pretty good eyesight and reflexes to read the front plate when you drive past it... I'd probably just move it onto the bracket or something... So for right now, no, but maybe at a later time.

JC Whitney didn't ship my covers because in the package, it said KC was out of the covers when they shipped, so I had to send some postcard to KC about them... LAME. So they're covered with socks LOL.



If it doesn't storm tonight (even though we are in a nader watch) and I get the other light working, I will aim my lights and take some pics of the results...

Thanks for the comments guys!

 

[02RangerXLT]

Fixed it, I turned the ground over and it worked

Like my temporary light covers?

 

[machine090767]

take off those stupid socks.

 

[02RangerXLT]

take off those stupid socks.

No

 

[EERNGER]

take off those stupid socks.

Ya its all fine and dandy, until you have rocks kicked off of the truck in front of you crack the lenses...then those stupid socks dont look so stupid.

This has happened to me, i should point out.