Wiring for Lights on Roof Rack

[Maximus Ram]

I did a search and couldn't find anything specific to this question.
So ..When mounting lights on your rack, did you drill a hole in the roof, run the wires all the way down the rack to the hatch (suv's) or come up with some other brilliant out of the box type of method ?
Photo's of how it was done are very helpful.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[pangaea]

Sorry, I don't have any detailed photos of it right now, but on the Bio Bonatti 110 I ran the lights across the rack, down the snorkel and crossed into the cab through the engine firewall.

 

[articulate]

You can also pass the lighting wires through the third brake light. There's typically a rubber or poly gasket at the light housing that will conform around your wires for a pretty painless entry into the cab area.

Wish I had a picture for you.

 

[Curtis in Texas]

I wired my roof rack light using a 4 pin flat trailer light wiring harnesses.
I ran the front driving lights up the right "A" pillar and put the connector right there at the top of the door. I can remove my roof rack by just unplugging the lights from the plug.
http://www.photogra.com/index.cfm?p...tRow=26&OrigStartRow=26&kw=&pg=YES&d=1&addos=
You may notice something odd going on with the roof rack, so in case your wondering, I have a Kayack rack that lowers and the driving lights bar will also lower for clearance into my garage. They are held in place with detent pins. The top basket stays in place and everything folds down around it.

I used clear RTV to glue the wiring harness inside the drip rail behind the door.
On the rear lights and towing lights I used the same set up behind the rear lift glass and door.
http://www.photogra.com/index.cfm?p...to&StartRow=31&OrigStartRow=26&kw=&pg=YES&d=1

I ran a + lead to the rear of the truck to power several power items.
One is a set of rear lights for backup lighting switched with a relay and cotrolled by a tap to the factory back up light wiring circuit.
I also ran another wire from the dash to the same relay so i can turn on the back up lights without having to put the truck in reverse.
http://www.photogra.com/index.cfm?p...to&StartRow=31&OrigStartRow=26&kw=&pg=YES&d=1

Surf around thorugh my albumn and you will see the rest of the wiring including the relay plate on the firewall for the overhead driving lights. The best part about it's setup is it is protected from damage and accessible for repairs.


I hope this give you some ideas.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Sorry, I don't have any detailed photos of it right now, but on the Bio Bonatti 110 I ran the lights across the rack, down the snorkel and crossed into the cab through the engine firewall.

My wires are run in a similar fashion. No snorkel in my case, so I ran the wires down in the valley of the windshield gasket. Has worked good for the last two years. I had photos, but it looks like the links are dead. I hate dead links!

 

[offroad_nomad]

Ran the wires from the rack to above the rear driver side passenger door. Then routed the wires behind the rubber weatherstrip, then down behind the weatherstrip into the engine bay and the relays:

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I ran mine behind the large A-pillar trim on the Discovery. But, not all trucks have a piece like that, so you'll have to find some other place to hide it. No way would I be drilling a hole in the roof.

 

[soonenough]

There's a really detailed write-up over in the FJ Cruiser Forums How-To articles showing how one guy drilled a hole through the roof and used a 90º elbow facing the back of the vehicle to route the wires into the cab. He sealed up the elbow with a piece of large diameter heat shrink. I'd link to the article but for some reason my internet explorer isn't letting me access their forums right now.

I wired my roof rack light using a 4 pin flat trailer light wiring harnesses. I ran the front driving lights up the right "A" pillar and put the connector right there at the top of the door....

Ran the wires from the rack to above the rear driver side passenger door. Then routed the wires behind the rubber weatherstrip, then down behind the weatherstrip into the engine bay and the relays....

I have a question for you guys that have routed the wires this way. If you're running four 100W lights on the roof, you're going to be pulling ~35 amps, correct? (100W / 12V = 8.3A per light) If you want the two pairs of lights to work independently, you'll need two separate (+) wires, and they'll need to be 14-16 gauge. You'll need to run one common (-) wire (since you probably don't want to risk grounding 35 amps through whatever random path it might take through the chassis), which will need to be 12 gauge.

Is this 3-wire bundle too big/thick to pass through the door weatherstripping (or behind the 3rd brake light) and maintain a seal?

....I ran the wires down in the valley of the windshield gasket....

That's exactly what I was thinking about doing, which would avoid having to pass the wires through the weatherstripping. Do you have any pics of the install? How'd you secure the wires to the edge of the windshield / A-pillar? I was thinking about using little dabs of silicone, as someone else had mentioned.

 

[Maximus Ram]

I'll have to look at the xj's windshield and doors and see if either of these would work.
I like the connetor idea. Definitely would be good if one wanted to remove the rack for whatever reason.

 

[ExpoMike]

This is what I am thinking of using for my setup, when the time comes.

http://www.defender.com/large/256144_l.jpg

 

[ntsqd]

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|49758|112306|316479&id=680929

Only downside that I see is the 16 amp (per terminal?) limit. The up side is the five terminals.

 

[ExpoMike]

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|328|49758|112306|316479&id=680929

Only downside that I see is the 16 amp (per terminal?) limit. The up side is the five terminals.

I had found the original manufacturer specs at one point and that was per terminal.

Found the manuf. site info. http://www.aquasignal.info/aquasignal_us/files/content/series_accessories.pdf?id=191

16amp x 4 (not sure what the 5th wire is for, since they only reference 4 for that rating).

 

[ntsqd]

Could be a misprint on Defender's part.

 

[Maximus Ram]

I found a 2 pole trailer connector that shouldn't be to intrusive when installed.
Does anyone know if there are holes through the roof were the factory rack rails are ? I think I may try to run the wires through there.

 

[Overland Hadley]

That's exactly what I was thinking about doing, which would avoid having to pass the wires through the weatherstripping. Do you have any pics of the install? How'd you secure the wires to the edge of the windshield / A-pillar? I was thinking about using little dabs of silicone, as someone else had mentioned.

I have not used any silicone glue, but I have considered it. Might use a dab half way down the windshield.

Here are some photos.