Mounting an LED bar

[SnowBlazer]

Hey guys. I spent most of my morning researching how to mount an LED bar on the tracks for the cross bars on my roof. Looked on ORTB and there's some ideas over there but I'm a simple guy. I'm thinking of just using a washer below the track with maybe a wing nut (on each side) to secure a 42" bar.

I'm not doing any off-roading where this bar has the potential to get ripped off. My rig is my DD.

Thoughts?

 

[Mounce]

I guess you could mount it to one of the preexisting cross bars if it came down to it.

-Have you seen the recent threads about the roof-mounts?

 

[dmanns67]

Check out the thread below. These are custom brackets that mount to the roof. They are made for a 50" light bar though. Looks clean and no need to use the roof rack.

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/13285-light-bar-mounts/#entry429031

Here is also a link to the search for every thread with "LED light bar" in the thread title. Lots of threads with info and ideas. I seen a couple that actually use the track the roof rack cross bars mount to as a mounting point.

http://gmtnation.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&andor_type=and&sid=c3f4eb012d03ff8bdcff2bab29df0d06&search_app_filters[forums][sortKey]=date&search_content=titles&search_app_filters[forums][sortKey]=date&search_app_filters[forums][noPreview]=1&search_app_filters[forums][pCount]=&search_app_filters[forums][pViews]=&search_app_filters[forums][sortDir]=0&search_term=LED+light+bar&search_app=forums

 

[djthumper]

A washers isn't going to lock into the track and may be too sloppy and slip through. Simple is one thing. Laziness from doing it properly is another.

 

[Sib]

I just looked at ChrisFix's youtube channel and he has a few videos that he posted recently on how to build an LED light bar. I did not watch the videos, but his other videos are great so I would check those out.

Here's a link to his vids...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCes1EvRjcKU4sY_UEavndBw

 

[Mounce]

Chris' video won't apply to this. He made his mount on some bed-rails he made for his truck.

 

[SnowBlazer]

I've been a huge follower of ChrisFix for the longest time. Like Garth said, his was made for his Mazda B300 truck. As for what DJ and Dmanns said, I don't want to drill into the body. And I was thinking washers that way it's temporary. Still haven't found a solution though.

 

[Mounce]

Might try searching custom roof baskets, I know the guys with those use custom mounts that go into the tracks on the existing roof rack.

 

[djthumper]

I found some bar stock that fit well into the track so that I could mount my rack lower. I drilled and tapped it to center.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

A washers isn't going to lock into the track and may be too sloppy and slip through. Simple is one thing. Laziness from doing it properly is another.

I have used washers for years with no issue. No slipping and no movement with everything thrown at it. Basket, lightbar, tire...3/8 washer and bolt will clamp down plenty.


Figure basket, hi-lift, tire, shovel, fuel, and misc has prolly been 200 lbs up there at times and the washers have been perfect. I do use a small piece of rubber between the tracking and the thule bars but the washer is slid directly in the track.

 

[SnowBlazer]

This is where my idea came from... http://forums.offroadtb.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=2073

 

[GalacticFuzz]

Hehe....all the way down at the bottom of the tread btw for those that are clicking the link SnowBlazer supplied.

 

[Matt]

3/8 washer and bolt will clamp down plenty.

I think I'll be using this method with the superstrut bar and cone nuts.

 

[Jlb304]

Hey guys I'm a new and I know this post is old but I have a 52 inch on my TB that I'm about to lift and i used Silverado light bar mounts the door jams are the same so they fit...you might have to do a little tweaking like I did but they're a great start to work with!! Figured I'd note this for anyone else wanting to install a light bar on a TB!!!

I had the same problem searched for months and couldn't find anything made for a TB..then one day I was looking at a buddy's Silverado and realized the mounts for it would fit flush in the jam so that what i did.. the bar sits pretty right above my windshield!

 

[djthumper]

There are mounts made for the TB just not by a commercial big name.

 

[theywatchintv]

There are mounts made for the TB just not by a commercial big name.

could you point me in the right direction?

 

[Blckshdw]

could you point me in the right direction?

There was a member back in 2015 that was trying to make and sell custom brackets for this platform. He never got any traction and hasn't been back on here since then. If you aren't up to the task of fabricating your own, you'll likely need to find a shop, or someone with the skills and tools locally, that can tackle this for you.

 

[theywatchintv]

There was a member back in 2015 that was trying to make and sell custom brackets for this platform. He never got any traction and hasn't been back on here since then. If you aren't up to the task of fabricating your own, you'll likely need to find a shop, or someone with the skills and tools locally, that can tackle this for you.

i actually found some magnetic mounts that were pretty cheap. i’ll let you guys know how they work!

 

[corky]

Hey guys. I spent most of my morning researching how to mount an LED bar on the tracks for the cross bars on my roof. Looked on ORTB and there's some ideas over there but I'm a simple guy. I'm thinking of just using a washer below the track with maybe a wing nut (on each side) to secure a 42" bar.

I'm not doing any off-roading where this bar has the potential to get ripped off. My rig is my DD.

Thoughts?

I made these today for a 50" curved bar I had, still have to paint and mount the switch but if anyone likes them I'll have the template available and some quick bending instructions