front wiring set up on roof rack.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:03 pm

so i got a coleman rack and 2 hellas for the front of the rack. i was wondering if there are any links on here that show how others have set theirs up. i used the search engine but im a little slow on the cpu so i dont get it. or any info you have will help. i have an idea of how to do it but i figured why not ask yall. thanks

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:28 am

Ok here is some pictures of what I did. I mounted four lights.

Mounted the lights and ran all the wires in some wire loom.

Opened up the roof rack supports and ran the wires.

Closed it up and added some other type of wire “loom”

I ran the wire from the ceiling down the driver’s side pillars to the pre-wired fuse box I had already installed.
Hope this helps you out or gives you an idea and don't forget to post some pics of your finished project.

Gris · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:09 am

http://jeep.allgris.com/v/mymods/electr ... ooflights/

03kjsport · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:41 am

thanks guys. i will for sure post the set up pics. im gonna try to get something done today but we shall see.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:52 am

great alblum gris. looks like youve had some good fun in your KJ. nice mods. how do you like the bumper lights. ive seen those on ebay and almost got them but i wasnt sure of the company. are the light gaurds metal or plastic. either way they look sweet.

Gris · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:53 am

Light guards are plastic. TBO, I'd rather have spent the $20 extra to get Hella 500s, but these say "Jeep" and Hellas don't

They came with 100w and 130w bubls. All 4 blew within 2 weeks of having them. I replaced em with PIAA bulbs and they've been fine since then. Also, all the metal nuts and bolts rusted to crap and needed to get replaced. China Special!!

If I ever get time to play again, I'll be finding a way to retrofit the stone guards onto hella 500s.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:27 pm

so i commited and started it. here is what i did.

picked a spot and taped it for some protection.

drilled it out and put the lights on.

i bolted it on with the nut end on the inside

did the otherside

wired it through the frame of the rack.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:54 am

03kjsport,

looks cool. I am wondering about a couple of things:

1. how you will continue the wires? I saw the "more to come." PLEASE include MANY pics to illustrate this process.

2. If you can get full down the road light from that placement of lights. Don't they look like they will be angled down a little? maybe just in those pics.

3. Concernd about the metal tubing in the rack and your hole placement. How did you seal theose holes? Water MAY get in there faster and cause rusting and thus a weak spot sooner.

3a. On the same note as above, the holes themselves MIGHT weaken the tubes there. I will be interested in see how the rack holds some loads.

It looks great and a very clean install so far. Please keep us posted

I am aiming at a set up with a rack from Rock Lizard. As soon as I can get it, and pay for it.

Gris · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:16 am

Came out great 03kjsport!

I wish I could have run my wires through my tubing, but my design prohibits me. Basically, I was lazy (if you can call it that) and decided to use a pipe bender to bend my tubing instead of just buying and welding in 90deg turns. Except the bender crimped the pipe. So to get more strength and stop the crimping, I put 1/2 rebar into the pipes before I bent the corners. Makes it extremely strong without much added wieght, but means I can't run wires through the pipes.

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

Do you guys go through car washes with these rigs? I am talking about the one with rags spinning and wiping.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:52 am

you know i did take into consideration that i would be altering the factory specs possibly. i had to screw the bolts on. it was a very tight fit. i figure as long as the fit is tight that it wouldnt effect the weight distribution much. all holes are sealed with an epoxy plus they are fitted with rubber washers. my plan for the wiring is in the air still. i want to run it too the back and set up a spare battery in the rear. wouldnt use'm much so they wouldnt be killing the battery quick.
its all trial and error. also the lights swivel up and down and move left and right when they are lose. so when i get them wired ill light them up then set them to my road likings then tighten them. i just threw them on then took a pic as i was doing it so they do look uneven in the pic. ill post more as its done. thanks for yall's input.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:44 am

Why the spare battery in the rear? Why is that needed? How many watts are those things?

Just relay them off the main battery and save your money. Like you said they won't used much so why have a spare battery. You adding things to that Kj you are not telling us about?

You would primarlty use them while driving, so the alternator will power them, not the battery.

Am I missing something here? I have a set of 150 watt KC's and they are relayed to the battery, no need for a second battery here.

Gris · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:08 am

Agree...

I have over 1000watts of light and an electric air compressor (draws 20 amps) and just use the Optima and stock alternator.

Car wash... I'm not allowed in any of the hanging rag kind.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:50 pm

the only reason i dont want to hardwire them to the jeep is i dont plan on having the rack on all the time. i want to have the option of taking them off and tossing them up without a wiring issue. i have a brand new battery for my boat that i hardly use so i figure this is a way i would be able to have that option. another thing with the weight specs is, the rack sits on the cross rails so they are really your weight limits. it doesnt matter if your rack can hold 500 pounds if your cross rails only hold 150. i also went with the remote control wiring harness to avoid drilling threw the fire wall. this is another reason id like to rig it in the back. smaller can of worms. what do youz think of the idea. im open to all your suggestions. in fact, i need them. thanks

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:41 pm

First thing is There is access through the firewall with out drilling. I will find the link.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Jeep_Liberty/Electrical/Firewall_Penetration

Second, I would get a water tight connection and use it as a plug at the base of the rack so one could remove it at will.
I would no more use a second battery for this.

http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcatalog/largeview.php?SearchField=70401

I personal note is that I would consider a roof rack a "Permanent" item. Only that taking it on and off with any regularity would get old real fast and wind up causing more damage to both the KJ and the rack and lights.

Put it up there, seal the wires good and enjoy it. Trust me the first time you have to take it off and then find yourself needing it and have to put it back on. you will wish you had just installed it and left it.

Gris · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:42 pm

Agree again. My rack is removable by taking out 4 retention pins and loosening one bolt. A buddy had a waterproof connector laying around that I soldered 4 hot and 1 ground wire into. YOu can get em at pepboys cheap if you need to.

Just unplug it and remove.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:28 pm

cool thanks. ill let yall know what i do.

Rush345 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:36 pm

With the discussion of Light I thought this was the thread I should jump in and ask my question. Having seen on another thread the owner of a KJ Renny had installed on the cowell behind the hood just forward of the rear veiw mirrors some Hella 500 lights. I really liked the entire look, placement like the Police spot light found on most police cruisers. Now that we are disscussing lighting issues. I have the factory fog lights in the bumper of my '02 Liberty Sport, taking these into consideration I have swithed out my Head Light bulbs with Piaa's. Now with these issues already addressed, what light do I use on my cowell?? This placement is just in front of each lower outside corner of the windshield, with the rear view mirror just to the outside and a little behind the lights. I'm thinking of using these lights for night driving or especially during bad weather say snow something to cut through and increase visabilty since I have factory Fogs and my Piaa's I thought this would be the logical next transition. I'm not considering a roof rack yet but if I go that way I will follow your design. But for what I'm considering what do you advise as my extreme weather light??? :roll:

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:56 am

Driving with high powered lights in that position (on the cowel)in a snow storm would be like driving with a sheet over your windshield. The light would reflect right back into your eyes. For that kind of driving your factory fogs are best. OR something down low to the ground. That high up (roof, Cowel, whatever), no matter the wattage would be suicide in a fog or snow situation.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:03 am

5 jeeps huh wood. did you take a second job to cover the insurance. JK. you must be single and probably own a coon hound. must be nice.

front wiring set up on roof rack.

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