Wiring lights on roof

[jr91X]

Where does anyone run the power wire from the lights to the switch that I am going to mount on the dash. I do not want to see the wires and am leary about drilling the roof. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

 

[jimbo74]

well if you dont want to drill, there are really no options if you want it to be very durable and unseen....

you can run it through the doors... possibly up the rear hatch, but that seems liek a lot of work......

 

[jr91X]

Where is the best place to drill. Even with a grommit, wont that leak through the roof?

 

[wired_af]

not if you do it right and seal it very good with silicon

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by jimabena74
possibly up the rear hatch, but that seems liek a lot of ork......

running through the rear hatch is easy

there's a rubber grommet and you put a small slice in it then trace the wire through it. I then made some plastic tabs that slid under the roof rack runners and are held in place by the screws holding the rack to the roof. you can't see any wires and everything is nice and tight

and getting the wire to the rear hatch is no problem, just tuck it under the plastic trim panels

 

[hydroxy]

for future mods, when running the power wire under all the plastic trim... I would run like 4 or 5 wires taped together so that they are there incase you wanna install something else later, then you dont have to run wires all over again. Atleast that is what I did, and it has paid off.

To get off the rear quarter panels, you need a size 50 torx wrench. Everything else is just pry/pull.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86955&highlight=rear+light

 

[mattadams]

good tip there! I drilled holes and used a grommet/silicon sealent and it never leaked, ever. Worked fine . It also looks much more professional I think then having wiring running all the way to the back hatch then all the way to the front again. Keep in mind the longer the wire the more power gets lost along the way.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Here, http://catalog.com/susq/other/wiring.htm is a good page for determining the size of wire you need for different length runs.

 

[jr91X]

thanks. I just drilled and sealed it with window silicone and it works great

 

[94ZebraRanger]

I just ran the wires inside the edge of the rack and in the hatch then to the relay mounted in the side panel.

no problems.

Tim