Adding Lights on my Truck in January

[Starsailor]

I am doing a bunch of mods on my 99 elplorer this winter and need some advice on which ones to get and where to mount them. I heard you get a lot of reflection off the hood when mounting on top. Is it better to mount the forward ones on the Brush Guear? Also how advantagous is it to mount both rear and side lights do they help all that much with lighting up around you. Finaly question is the stock alternator powerful enough to handle the additional load and what is the best way to wire them?

 

[leebo]

there are several pros and cons of mounting them both on the roof and the front. I can't yet speak for the roof, but for the front I've ran into a few problems. The biggest is the fact that they're right there ready for any trouble(mud, rocks, tar), but this same thing makes them light up the road in front of you better. As for the alt. this all depends on what type of light you're using. If you plan on Piaa 80 or such you will run into some problems. If you go with a lesser light though you'll have no problems. I would suggest getting an optima batt. though. The red top will work fine. As for the wiring...check out the post "switches and computers". It gives you a quick idea of what is needed to wire the lights. It will be a bit different for you since I'm wiring a bit more lights(at least 8) to one area. You will get the idea though. It's not that tuff of a job once you get over the fact you're working with power. If you're unsure though....don't do it. Take it to a pro. You can do a ton of damage with falty wiring.

 

[mattadams]

Starsailer... I have several lights on my roof and they are properly aimed so I've enver had a problem with reflection or anything (though I wouldn't recommend it if you've got a sunroof!) I've got forward facing, sideways facing, and rear facing, so I don't worry about not having enough light . I love driving around with the roof lights on, it's an awesome sight and I can't even begin to describe it... watching the beams of light as they stretch down the road for a long long ways . I used to get a kick out of when I was housesitting for one of my co-workers (this was when I was first installing the lights) and this neighborhood had those street lights that are light sensitive, meaning if its dark they come on, if its light they don't. I could turn off the street lamps from about 1/4 mile away, LOL.

By the way, the best way to wire them is the way the manufacturor recommends. If you mount them on the roof you will need to extend your wires, but it still should be wired up exactly as recommended.

The altenator depends on your size of altenator, and honestly I don't remember how to check. If you have a 130-amp, no sweat, I've got 14 lights and my altenator can handle it just fine (for a short amount of time anyway, I've never driven with all them on for any extended amount of time), the optima as a backup is good. Working on a dual-battery setup.

 

[leebo]

HA HA matt. I've got you beat on the dual battery setup. It looks right I owe one to the good old boys on this one. I was looking in a local race shop and they had just what I was looking for. All the wires a box and everything. It's got about 20' of wire to be ran from anywhere to anywhere. It looks like rather than the GPS I was thinking about a dual setup is on its way. A nice little brace by where the spare tire was and I'm set. Now if only I can find the funds to pay for all the plans I have. What sucks is I'm even doing all the work myself and I'm looking at several dollars. Isn't 4x4ing great.

 

[Starsailor]

Where heck am I to put the second battery?

Great thanks for the help as for my alternator it is the standard one that comes through with the SOHC engine and as for the second battery where in the heck am I going to find room to put it? not much room in the engine compartment so where else do I place it

Originally posted by mattadams
Starsailer... I have several lights on my roof and they are properly aimed so I've enver had a problem with reflection or anything (though I wouldn't recommend it if you've got a sunroof!) I've got forward facing, sideways facing, and rear facing, so I don't worry about not having enough light . I love driving around with the roof lights on, it's an awesome sight and I can't even begin to describe it... watching the beams of light as they stretch down the road for a long long ways . I used to get a kick out of when I was housesitting for one of my co-workers (this was when I was first installing the lights) and this neighborhood had those street lights that are light sensitive, meaning if its dark they come on, if its light they don't. I could turn off the street lamps from about 1/4 mile away, LOL.

By the way, the best way to wire them is the way the manufacturor recommends. If you mount them on the roof you will need to extend your wires, but it still should be wired up exactly as recommended.

The altenator depends on your size of altenator, and honestly I don't remember how to check. If you have a 130-amp, no sweat, I've got 14 lights and my altenator can handle it just fine (for a short amount of time anyway, I've never driven with all them on for any extended amount of time), the optima as a backup is good. Working on a dual-battery setup.

 

[mattadams]

well you can put it about anywhere as long as you feel confident in your ability to properly wrap wires and make sure nothing sparks inside the vehicle, cause you won't have a firewall to prevent it from doing it though. Most people that put a dual battery in put it by the drivers side headlight, in front of hte windshield wiper fluid container. Some have to move or buy seperate containers to make it work.