Debating An Offroading Lighting Idea

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

JasonJ

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2013
Messages
1,521
Reaction score
51
Location
Michigan
I have made a lot of progress today. Finished figuring out the workaround for the oddball military electrical connects, and...

I think I finally found the dadgum bulbs - and they are LEDs!!! :pepper: :emoticondancer: :pepper:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KJ94Q1K/

Any reason I shouldn't put two spots in the middle with a flood on each end?

Two spots in the middle with floods on the end sounds good to me.. in theory.. You'd have to try it to see if it gave you the beam patterns you want.

As for not having the front lens... you say the old red ones are 3/8" and you're only real concern is the gap that may cause wind noise? Just get some 3/8" thick phenolic material, or sheet of plastic or even rubber, cut a spacer to fit between the lens retainer and the bulb housing itself. Done.

Either that or 3/8" UV protected plexiglass.....
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
Anyone know if the orientation of led bulbs matters? In other words, is there a "top" and "bottom"?

This is coming together quickly now that I have the bulbs, which just arrived this afternoon. Too bad it's supposed to rain a lot tomorrow morning.
 

jeeplib05

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2016
Messages
851
Reaction score
14
Location
Ohio
Shouldn't matter which orientation you have them, they all have flat reflectors unless they're made with angled ones so that they point one certain direction or something, I would think
But that would be noticeable from the start, so from the pic I would say there's no right or wrong way
Hopefully I'm understanding your question
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
I am now ready to mount these things and wire them up. Just a few days ago I was on the verge of giving up.

Turns out, Milspec number be hanged, these are actually a standard Par36 size bulb. They practically grow on trees. My previous Internet searches kept taking me in circles. My main hang up was not wanting to invest in a bunch of bulbs until I had resolved the lens issue. Well, more on that in a second...

To recap, here are the parts I was dealing with. If you think of them as two halves, the lens cover and the light housing it helps.

Laid out in order of assembly:
You must be registered for see images attach


One of the new lights I just got today:
You must be registered for see images attach


And the back:
You must be registered for see images attach


Here is how they mount as a straight replacement for the original 28V bulbs:
You must be registered for see images attach


Side view of the completed assembly:
You must be registered for see images attach


And a front view:
You must be registered for see images attach


Coming up, what will hopefully explain why I have been wringing my hands over the gap created by the lack of a lens cover once the infrared lenses were removed.

That is a BIG gap:
You must be registered for see images attach


I can hear the sucker whistling in the wind already. I've long since abandoned any illusions of good gas mileage, but that sure isn't going to help...

The new bulb and the infrared lens mounting bracket. Hmm...:
You must be registered for see images attach


Wow! The new lights are just BARELY thin enough to fit there!!!:
You must be registered for see images attach


The final product:
You must be registered for see images attach


:grd: :signs1: :weld:

I did hear an ominous crack coming from one of the lights just after I set it down. Looks like a hairline crack in one of my #$%^&* new $26 bulbs. Hope to heck it doesn't cause a problem. The lights were a snug fit and I guess there may have been a little too much pressure on one of them. Ain't it always something. :blah:

Anyway, all that remains is to bolt them on and get them wired up.
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
No, it was not easy at all. Now had I known then what I know now, yeah. :icon_razz:
 
Last edited:

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
Alright, so it rained off and on all day, so nothing done.

As for getting the wires from the roof to the inside, I am quite leery of just prying stuff off the roof rail area without knowing what I'm doing. Any advice? A video would be really cool.
 

tommudd

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
3,642
Location
Southeastern Ohio
Screws under the rubber molding going down the drivers side, screws are in the folds , start by removing that
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
Folds? I don't see no steenkin folds.

Look, I'm dumb - spell it out for me!!! :happy175:

To be serious, there is what looks like a trim piece along the channel where the roof rails mount. Is that what you are talking about? Can I just pry it out without having to swear, kick my dog, then buy a new one?

PS: Removed the roof rack today and boy am I glad I did. Got all six lights mounted (this includes the two work lights for the back) and soldered everything up on the front end. About two years ago I bought a big pack of heat shrink wrap at HF and it came in handy today by saving me a trip to the store. Then it got dark and my better sense made me quit for the night.

It also looks like the new lights will make the Jeep about a half-inch too high to get in the garage, unless Tom, TwoBobs & Mac want to come over and give me a hand every time I need to go in or out. (I can't get in there now anyway since the GF has still not managed to get rid of her old car.)
 

uss2defiant

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2014
Messages
3,597
Reaction score
152
Location
Tucson, Arizona
although I'm not sure how to remove it.
I looked at the part fische and couldn't find a diagram that would give you a clue.
nothing in the fsm either.
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
I can find info for every other kind of Jeep on just how to do this elegantly. Then there are the cowboys who drill holes like mad and then squirt on three tubes of caulk.

Then there is me. :happy175:
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
All ready, except for getting the wiring inside and hooked up. Everything on the outside end is complete, save for adjusting them once they are working.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
I spent more time than I would care to admit prying on rubber trim pieces on the roof rail area. The stuff is very hard and seems brittle. I may end up drilling holes and then keep a shower cap in the glove compartment.

I need to do the back end for the work lights, too.
 

tommudd

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
3,642
Location
Southeastern Ohio
Folds? I don't see no steenkin folds.

Look, I'm dumb - spell it out for me!!! :happy175:

To be serious, there is what looks like a trim piece along the channel where the roof rails mount. Is that what you are talking about? Can I just pry it out without having to swear, kick my dog, then buy a new one?

PS: Removed the roof rack today and boy am I glad I did. Got all six lights mounted (this includes the two work lights for the back) and soldered everything up on the front end. About two years ago I bought a big pack of heat shrink wrap at HF and it came in handy today by saving me a trip to the store. Then it got dark and my better sense made me quit for the night.

It also looks like the new lights will make the Jeep about a half-inch too high to get in the garage, unless Tom, TwoBobs & Mac want to come over and give me a hand every time I need to go in or out. (I can't get in there now anyway since the GF has still not managed to get rid of her old car.)

PM me your phone number, Ill send some pics
 

tommudd

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
3,642
Location
Southeastern Ohio
postdlp: post Tom's pictures after! Thanks :D

Did ya ever think they are for his eyes only ? :emotions34::Insane::icon_razz:

But these will just be ones I took to show him where screws are etc
nothing ****** or.......:happy175:
 

profdlp

Counting My Blessings
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
5,817
Reaction score
1,766
Location
Westlake, Ohio
My phone chokes on pictures larger than 600k. I really appreciate you trying, though. :(
 

Latest posts

Members online

Top