Roof rack lights

[johnrrogers]

I use trailer connectors on my race car as they are also vibration proof pretty much as well as the water proof. I would run the light wires from the engine compt down the frame rail and up between the cab and bed. That way there are no holes in the sheet metal.

 

[TexasExcursion]

I will totally be copying you Bruce. Hope you don't mind!!!

I don't mind a bit!

One thing you've got to account for is the depth of the female plug. I chose the location above the back edge of the rear passenger door because there was enough room between the roof and the headliner for the 3 inches or so of housing and then the bend in the wires--there was a bit of a pocket in the roof reinforcements that allowed the female end to slide in without pushing down the headliner. Is your CB antenna hole in the center of the roof? If so, you might have trouble getting it to fit.

Oh yeah, I also liked using the trailer wire hookup because it made wiring the relays, switches and all that real easy. Just wrote down what color wires were getting connected to each set of lights on the rack, then used the same color wires in the engine bay when connecting to the relays. Pretty simple--even for a color blind guy like me (my 8 year old helped on a few occasions .

Good luck--feel free to ask if you need more details.

Bruce

 

[bushpilot]

a little dielectric grease inside the truck side connector will keep
water from leaking passed the connection pins too ! and itll keep
the connection nice and clean and prevent corrosion.

 

[TexasExcursion]

a little dielectric grease inside the truck side connector will keep
water from leaking passed the connection pins too ! and itll keep
the connection nice and clean and prevent corrosion.

That's good info, I'll have to pick some up and put it on the connector. Thanks BP!

 

[bushpilot]

bruce you can typically get it <cheapest> at any automotive store....
its often used inside the connection ends of spark plug wires...

Dielectric grease is a NON-conducting grease that seals out moisture
and therefore prevents corrosion on electrical connectors.....so for MOST
of us we should be squirting a little inside the trailer plug connections too.

you can also find it in the electrial section at lowes...is
usually 'round the electrical tools / phone & tv jacks....*OR* you
can find it at radio shacks.

 

[drchris1024]

Nice work, Bruce How do you turn on the lights and do they all come on at the same time ???

 

[paulkeith]

bruce you can typically get it <cheapest> at any automotive store....
its often used inside the connection ends of spark plug wires...

Dielectric grease is a NON-conducting grease that seals out moisture
and therefore prevents corrosion on electrical connectors.....so for MOST
of us we should be squirting a little inside the trailer plug connections too.

you can also find it in the electrial section at lowes...is
usually 'round the electrical tools / phone & tv jacks....*OR* you
can find it at radio shacks.

I always see it hanging on the racks at the register at vatozone and advance. Every now and then i grab a few packs...at $0.99 they can't hurt.

 

[TexasExcursion]

Nice work, Bruce How do you turn on the lights and do they all come on at the same time ???

I installed switches on the dash panel. Lots of guys don't like drilling in the truck, but I didn't mind too much...obviously.

 

[paulkeith]

jesus, i'm an aerospace engineer and i think that's complicated...eheh

 

[Ironmerganser]

Thats a whole lotta switches........but me LIKIE!!!!!