LIghts on roof rack

[cumminscruiser]

Does anyone have a good idea how to get the 12 volt wires to lights on a roof rack?

 

[ginericLC]

A snorkel is an excellent routing mechanism. You can also run them up the D pillar through the rear vents. Or you could run the wires up the inside of the A pillar and drill a hole in the roof.

 

[cumminscruiser]

Lights on roof rack

I guess the biggest problem is getting the wires through the roof, a bulkhead fitting of some sort would be great. What I dont want to do is drill a hole, pass the wires through and use silicone to fill the gap.

 

[ntsqd]

On the high end you could go with one of the many varieties of Cannon/Amphenol type mil-spec assemblies. Be sure to spec an "Environmental" version, std versions aren't sealed.

In the middle there are the water resistant (proof?) "Power Point" sockets.

On the low end there are the Hubbell water tight strain reliefs. I'd buy them local as the link is a package of 25.

 

[latinoguy]

You can always do what I did

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v...ry Lighting/?action=view&current=IMG_0064.jpg

I ran the wiring thru the raingutter cowel.... The problem will arise when I add additional lights...time to get a snorkel...

 

[cumminscruiser]

Lights on roof rack

I like the west marine water proof connector, great idea.

 

[DBS311]

I ran mine as Gineric mentioned.......through the vent on the D pillar. No holes to drill and no water intrusion to worry about.

 

[HenryJ]

Does anyone have a good idea how to get the 12 volt wires to lights on a roof rack?

This what I did: Wireless control lighting

 

[tdesanto]

The only wiring I have inside the vehicle is from the switch to the relays in the engine bay (multiple). The wires carrying the power are run from the relays to the lights. For these wires, I ran them from the engine bay, under the vehicle, up through my rear bumper, in the space along the hinges of the rear door (this is covered by the small section on the other side of the hinges when the door is closed). There is only a short run from the door area to the roof rack. From there the wires are split out to the various lights.

 

[cumminscruiser]

Lights on roof rack

Great ideas, the 2kooltech site seems to be down. I may try running the wires on the outside w/o drilling holes.

 

[latinoguy]

I ran mine as Gineric mentioned.......through the vent on the D pillar. No holes to drill and no water intrusion to worry about.

Sorry, but having trouble indentifying the D pillar. anybody have a pic of such location?

 

[02TahoeMD]

D pillar typically is the last pillar on a vehicle such as an SUV, that straddle both sides of the lift gate. On my Tahoe, I routed my roof rack cables up through the vent system located in the D pillars and up to the roof. Was the easiest, cleanest way to run the lights that I found.

 

[cumminscruiser]

Lights on roof rack

Nice job on the Tahoe. I'm thinking on going with the waterproof connector from west marine, if it heavy enough for all the lights, and run the wires through the front pillar. I may just change my mind holding the drill on a perfecty good sheetmetal roof.

 

[ginericLC]

If using the D pillar you can use inexpensive trailer plug wiring connectors. They tuck nicely in the D pillar when the roofrack is off. I did a Jeep JK light wiring a few months ago and I thought of doing this after the fact. His roofrack is a permanent mount and even the roof can be removed without taking the rack off so hopefully it won't be an issue for him.

 

[cumminscruiser]

lights on roo rack

yea, its looking better from the D pillar,