Roof mounted driving/spot lights

[pete.sb]

The other night, me an a few mates got bogged. Turns out the puddle we were in was deeper than it looked :S.

We were diffed with basically the head lights half submerged (one head light was fked), and our fricken hand winch broke, and it started going dark.

Mainly for this situation, but others as well, what are the legalities regarding mounting extra driving lights up higher, like on the roof or roof racks or something?

I've seen heaps of Hilux's going around with lights mounted on the rollbar, and that makes sense because its an actual bar, often engineered from the factory with lighting mounts.

Thats all well and good for hilux's though, but we were in a SWB GQ with a distinct lack of anything on the roof (even a working seal). So is it actually legal to just drill through the roof and bolt the lights strait on? Do you need roof racks or a special mount or something?

[Dominator]

dont know if i would go mounting lights directly through the roof. i dont reckon there would be enough strength in the panel. i was told the other day it is legal to mount spotties on your roof as long as they were hooked up the same way you would normal spotties. ie. through your highbeam swithc and with an on off switch. i have got a gq lwb with a real small tube bar so i cant mount spotties on the front so i am going to mount them on the roof either on a roof rack or on a roof basket.

[brendan_h]

your better off ring the rta as theres alot of people on here say you can as well as you cant

[Patroler]

So is it actually legal to just drill through the roof and bolt the lights strait on? Do you need roof racks or a special mount or something?

Jesus! i guess you could drill through the roof but it certainly aint what i'd be doing, would suck having holes in the roof if you had to take them off for any reason - legality or resale etc.
Instead i'd either get some rhino bars or something similar and make brackets to fit the lights to it, and have them on a plug, that way when you wanna go play at night its just a simple case of tightening 4 cap screws to mount the bar and plugging in an anderson plug. The advantage is when you wanna drive round town and not draw attention or get them stolen, fit into a carpark etc, you can have them in the boot out of the way.
OR just don't drive into such deep puddles, it'll do wonders for your driveline seals and oil and alternator...
Also make sure you run a relay or two and some decent wire, have seen headlight switches melted from people with no idea wiring lights directly into them durrrrr...

[bogged]

your better off ring the rta as theres alot of people on here say you can as well as you cant

what he said

[micks troll]

definetly use a roof rack as you don't want them too far back as then you can't turn them down enough to light up the track in front of you (also don't have too low or it'll just glare off the bonnet). Not sure on legallities but as the boys said speak to the department of transport as each state is different. I've never been in trouble for mine but I also dont have them on all the time but have had them for over 8 years and passed many a policeman and never had trouble......touch wood. I have mine through a 3 way switch for highbeam off or manual, this may not be allowed as all extra lights should only come on with highbeam????If this helps here's some pics. I run the wiring through the rear door to a plug under the drivers seat. You could just run it through the drivers or passagers door and in behind the seat! worth doin for night drives just watch for low branches

[mkpatrol]

your better off ring the rta as theres alot of people on here say you can as well as you cant

what he said

I spoke to a bloke I know in the RTA after the other thread & he gave me a rundown on what the inspection manual states.

It talks about maximum heights for older vehicles (pre 89) after that ADR13 applies which says that there is no max height but they must be mounted at the front of the vehicle so that makes it a no no for most peoples set ups. It also says that they must be set up in pairs.

Having said that everything is up of different interpretations. I was waiting on a copy of the inspection manuals so I could post up the exact rules but they have no arrived. I will when they do.

[bogged]

also says that they must be set up in pairs..

yea knew this one, 2x spreads or 2x pencils..

[mkpatrol]

It doesnt actually stipulate what beam pattern you have to run in these pairs but the local states may think differently.

[Chook350]

In Vic u can get away with it if there wired up so u cant turn on from inside vehicle, they r classed as work lights. ive had 4 mounted on my roof eva since i bought the patrol 5 years ago an neva had any issues with police. check to c if the rules r they same for u guys

[-Scott-]

I suspect this is one of those "mods" which police aren't too fussed about, and won't use it to create trouble. But, if you give them a hard time. they'll hit you with it.

Never argue with a police officer - isn't that right, RN?