Making a light bar

JackAndCoke · 11-20-2009, 03:47 PM

Hey guys

I'm making a light bar using the stock rack thats up there. Just wondering, can I ground the lights directly on the bar?

Travis873o · 11-20-2009, 03:49 PM

i don't believe so, the rack isn't properly grounded to the frame.

xKingSizex · 11-20-2009, 03:59 PM

Absolutely not. It is not grounded, as he said.

ChickenOnAWire · 11-20-2009, 04:00 PM

im just curious how do y'all run the wires for the lights, and does it make a difference if you have a sun roof?

Jeepn-n-tx · 11-20-2009, 04:16 PM

Since I have a Yak rack on top, I bought a spare bar from ebay. I then drilled holes where I was going to put my lights, set grommets, ran the wiring through the bar where is conveniently pops out near the rear door. The yak bars have a plastic cap on the end, I drilled a hole and placed a grommet there as well. I also put a little silicone inside the cap before I placed it back on the bar. As the wires came out of the bar, I put on a sleeve of heat shrink and then also used some of that plastic wiring protector as the wires ran from the bar down into the door. From there, is just a matter of routing the wiring down inside. I had this set up on for about a year but ended up taking it off when I moved to a home w/ a garage. HTHs.

**the88thpianoman** · 11-20-2009, 04:39 PM

Look at page two of my build thread. You'll see the proper way to run wires and also where you can ground to the frame on the roof.

ronsaun · 11-21-2009, 02:18 AM

i just did one. see the pics. drill a 3/8 hole in the groove on the drivers side that the roof rack mounts into. its runs the length of the roof on both sides. go as far up toward the winshield post as you can. gently pry down the headliner w/a screwdriver and you will see your hole. you can pull the 2 wires out w/ needlenose. then remove the interior windshield post cover(you will need a long skinny socket to get the grab rail off) and you can run the wires right down near the e brake pedal. then to get the power for your switch run a seperate #10 wire thru the rubber boot used for the main wire bundle(punch a small hole in it w/pocketknife) put a water proof 40 amp inline fuse in. route the wire to the fuse block. crimp a #10 spade on it and plug it into the fuse block. crimp a ring terminal on the ground and hit the closet bolt or screw on the INTERIOR fire wall that has CONTINUITY TO GROUND(that would be just about anyone of them). take the other #10 that comes from your lights and the power wire and connect it to a 30 or 40 amp toggle switch mounted wherever you decided. BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!