Bumper Mounted Light Bar?

[kb0nly]

I've seen a few pics on here now of custom bars that guys made to sit on top of the bumper and mount a couple lights to it. Is there anyone making these that i can go out and buy one?

My other choice is of course to drill through the bumper and just mount the lights on there, but i like the look of those bars some of you guys have made, especially the ones that curve up and go across in front of the grill to put the extra lights about the same height as the headlights.

Chime in here! I used to have a good metal shop nearby that would make something like that if i asked him, well, he closed up earlier this year, i guess the economy took its toll on his business.

 

[kb0nly]

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37439&highlight=bumper+light

Talking about this thread... BNK-KJ and 501 have what i would like to have.

 

[kb0nly]

Here is one that "might" work.

Its made to fit a TJ but it has flat mounting feet. The only question is the width, they don't have the dimensions for this one available online that i can find, anyone got a clue on it? If it would fit the flat area on the top of the KJ bumper all it would take is a little drilling.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/12110_400.htm

 

[Ry' N Jen]

I've got one kicking around that I used on one of my other cars.
I'll have to see how much of it I'll have to modify it, once I have
the Backbone installed.

I found these while hunting down parts for my KJ.
This kit isn't cheap, but if you a Jeep Purest into keeping things stock,
it might be worth your while.
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/liberty-parts-accessories/lights.htm

About half way down the page:
"Off-Road Light Installation Kit
2002-2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK, Liberty, Patriot
$80.00"

 

[kb0nly]

Yeah i saw that kit on that website a while back. I assume by looking at the picture that those clamp onto the roof rack cross bar?

 

[hyde]

I would go and find brents bar, that thing is looking best since it is wider and doesnt stick out too much, i would definitely primer and paint it to matching color, though..

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Oh, and since you got a welder around, ask them to drill another small hold and fish the wires through the back into it and catch them by putting another hole on the bumper instead of having wires all over the place. Make sure the pole/mount is not too heavy, otherwise it may sag over time if it is heavy & high. .

 

[Dave]

^^^Hyed.....that looks good in the pic with the lights on. Now you got me thinking....darn it. I am broke right now.

Dave

 

[kb0nly]

Oh i plan on making one if nothing else. And i'm going to put a grommet at each light mounting location and then another one on the back of the bar end on the drivers side, that way the wiring will be inside the tube and will sneak out the back of it at the grill and go in from there. I like the wiring to be hidden.

The only commercially available product i have been able to find so far is for the TJ, its not that bad of a price, around $60-$65 online. Trying to determine through the manufacturer or its dealers what the width of the mounting plates on it is to see if it could be made to work on the KJ.

 

[kb0nly]

I would go and find brents bar, that thing is looking best since it is wider and doesnt stick out too much, i would definitely primer and paint it to matching color, though..

I wish i could find one like that, he made that though.

 

[bigBlue]

is the light bar drilled in to the bumber cover, or the actual bumber beneath the cover?

 

[kj924]

is the light bar drilled in to the bumber cover, or the actual bumber beneath the cover?

It would have to be drilled into the steel bumper structure underneath the bumper cover to be able to hold it up with the weight of the lights and all.

 

[bigBlue]

does anyone know how far out the steel bumper sits underneath the bumper cover (so that we know how far out the bar has to sit from the grille before we go drilling)?

 

[kb0nly]

Looking through the how-to's on here if you drilled bolt holes to mount lights through the metal you would want the holes about an inch from the grill and about 3 1/2" from the ends of the flat area of the bumper.

So i was planning on installing a light bar by drilling bolts down through at those points.

 

[hyde]

does anyone know how far out the steel bumper sits underneath the bumper cover (so that we know how far out the bar has to sit from the grille before we go drilling)?

I know, right!? I always thought this too, the mounting points should be long enough for the bumper lights to go through without light bar, many people did this, in fact we just talked about it in the other Hella 500 topic. I assume there is an inch or so before you can grab onto anything. http://jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39562

Oh I would never think of mounting anything to that flimsy bumper, it sways and bends like rubber, a light would probably ripped off if it got tangled to anything with only bumper holding it..

Here is a thought, go to electricians, they got conduits and conduit benders, they can help ya out, you can probably attach condiut fitting to the end of it, OR you would need to weld something to the end of it so you can bolt it to bumper.

 

[kb0nly]

I just got a confirmation that the KC HiLites 7400LB made for the TJ is 31.5 inches from bolt hole center to bolt hole center. I measured the flat area of the KJ bumper and its 31.5 inches. So here is what i am thinking, you could take a 7400LB and cut the tabs at the bolt holes so as to remove that portion of the mounting tabs and leave a flat edge, then drill a new hole to lineup with the metal under the plastic of the KJ bumper.

Its about $70 shipped from most places. I might still save up for something else.

 

[kj924]

I just got a confirmation that the KC HiLites 7400LB made for the TJ is 31.5 inches from bolt hole center to bolt hole center. I measured the flat area of the KJ bumper and its 31.5 inches. So here is what i am thinking, you could take a 7400LB and cut the tabs at the bolt holes so as to remove that portion of the mounting tabs and leave a flat edge, then drill a new hole to lineup with the metal under the plastic of the KJ bumper.

Its about $70 shipped from most places. I might still save up for something else.

I was looking at one of those bars too. If I did get it, I would just cut the bar in the middle and take about 3-4 " out of it and weld it back together.

 

[kb0nly]

I was looking at one of those bars too. If I did get it, I would just cut the bar in the middle and take about 3-4 " out of it and weld it back together.

Hmm.. good point. I figured i would be making a new bolt hole where i wanted it anyway though, but that would definitely work also!