mounting lights on a yj

[raptor_pilot]

Ok here we go guys. I just got a set of new off road lights. I want to mount them on the bumper but i cant figure out how to. Does anybody have any experience with this? Pics would be great too. Thanks
Mike

 

[Sparky-Watts]

TJ Stalling/Idle problems...

If you've got the stock YJ bumper, your best bet is to drill holes in the top to mount them. I just got my windshield frame lightbar mounted on my YJ a couple days ago. That seemed to be the best way to mount them for me. Pics soon.

 

[bryanjeep]

What kind of choices are these?!?!?!

Stay away from the rotobar light bar. It sucks. I have it and it shakes way to much. The metal it is made out of is a really cheap quality. I bet most windshield light bars are shaley too. I love my bumper mounted KCs. They are just enough light for me.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I don't know what brand my lightbar is, but it is absolutely solid, no shake or rattle to it at all. I've seen some pretty cheesy lightbars, also, and heard bad stories about the rotobar. I was more concerned with the molly screws I used in the windshield frame being solid enough, but after it was mounted, they really worked well. I was surprised at just how thick the metal was in the frame. Several people told me it was really thin, but it's at least 3/8ths of an inch thick!!!

After typing my first reply, I remembered seeing a set of lights that would work on a YJ. There are I think, 4 holes in the front of the front bumper. This set of lights was on a pivot that would allow you to bolt the lights to the front of the bumper and pivot them up 90 degrees. Downside to that is the lights would be the first point of contact.......not a good thing, in most cases.

 

[Junkpile]

If you want the lights to be little better protected, you can weld some tabs to the back edge of the bumper - but flush with the top. Then mount the lights to the tabs so they will be mounted a little farther back. I don't really like bumper mounted lights. After the first dip in some thick mud, they are coated and ineffective. I like the hood mounts and the ones that mount in front of the factory windshield hinges, but the hood keeps them from lighting the path right in front of the Jeep....good for some auxillary lights that point out at an angle. The ones that mount on the side of the windshield frame are okay, but tend to get in the way and get banged on alot. I like the plain "old-school" lightbars that mount above the windshield frame....but they too can be a problem around trees.

 

[bryanjeep]

Hmmmm...I think I like it

Having a white Jeep sucks for glare too. Any lights on the hood all the way up to on top the windshield will produce a lot of glare. I had the ones that mounted to the hinges. They look sweet but arent fuctional on a white Jeep. As for the lightbar, the windshield actually glows way too much to even use the lights. So you can say that I have the lightbar for looks since I refuse to use them anymore.

The bumper mounts never gave me trouble. I have been through lots of deep mud and they still never got covered. My bumper protects the lights. They are resessed into the bumper.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

With the lightbar I'm running, there isn't near as much glare off the white hood as I expected, and they sit far enough back that they don't put any light onto the windshield. I'm very happy with the setup as it is. I've got excellent visibility way past the highbeam light pattern, and the two outer lights on the bar are pointed just slightly outwards to light up the ditches on either side (better for spotting renegade deer), while the middle two are pointed way down the road. There is not a single area from the low-beam pattern on out to several hundred yards that isn't lit up like daylight now!

 

[Nymisus]

Leaf spring question

I've got 2 KCs on my warn bumper, already had holes in it just had to make them a bit bigger....like the set up alot and haven't had any problems....as for mud I put some rain-x stuff on the glass and the mud just slides off

 

[hi_c]

In regards to the light glare off the hood of your jeep... it wouldn't do that if it was covered in mud.
:mrgreen:

c

 

[bryanjeep]

ooooooooooo good one
I guess you are the lucky one to not get any glare because when I was looking around for a lightbar, everyone with white Jeeps told me that the glare was terrible on the hood and windshield. Of course, like everything else, I didnt listen to them.