roof top lights

[4wheelsdriven]

I have just brought myself a roofrack for my gu patrol and am thinking of mounting a reverse light at the back and driving lights up front. What have you guys used to get the wires threw the roof, is there something on the market i can buy.

[hiluxmad]

check the B pillar for a rubber grommet some cars have em..
if not just tuck em around the door seal on the b pillar

[PJ.zook]

I just drilled a hole, used a grommet and sealed with coon. Granted i have no qualms about drilling holes in the Sierra, you might think twice about doing it in a GU.

[TroopiePete]

Don't forget to install a plug in line so you can take the roof rack and lights off the car without having to cut the wires, a water proof type of plug would be best.

The main problem is that some people have is under sizing the cables supplying the lights, 100W Lights draw 8 Amps - each!, put a heap of them up there and the cables can get quite large. - 4 x 100W = 32Amps
And keep the cable runs short as at 12 Volts voltage drop is significant.

Also don't forget to run a Ground wire as the roof rack will not have a good earth, or for each light run both a Positive and Negative wire of equal size.

[macneil]

Don't forget to install a plug in line so you can take the roof rack and lights off the car without having to cut the wires, a water proof type of plug would be best.

The main problem is that some people have is under sizing the cables supplying the lights, 100W Lights draw 8 Amps - each!, put a heap of them up there and the cables can get quite large. - 4 x 100W = 32Amps
And keep the cable runs short as at 12 Volts voltage drop is significant.

Also don't forget to run a Ground wire as the roof rack will not have a good earth, or for each light run both a Positive and Negative wire of equal size.

true to stop voltage drop tho run a bigger wire... this is where is best to run out under the bonnet up near the snorkle as going through the car will be a longer run... not to mention so many wires!! will take alot of the grommet space up in your firewall..

[265grunter]

why not put a 7 pin round trailer plug up at the underside of the gutter on the back pillar,run the biggest cable that u can fit and parallel them to overcome the voltage drop.this way u have spare cables to connect led lights to the rack for blinkers,stop etc.

[TroopiePete]

Not a bad idea except some may not like to cut a hole this large.

The idea of running the cable up the snorkle is possibly the best idea, it also keeps the cable runs short for the high current loads such as driving lights, a plug could be installed up the top or down in the engine bay.
Still the idea of using a Trailer plug is not a bad idea, although not totally water proof.

[beinthemud]

Ghay

[TroopiePete]

Ghay

Guess you could be called that, depends on the mud you have been playing in

[beinthemud]

Ghay

Guess you could be called that, depends on the mud you have been playing in

Which one have you been in then

[265grunter]

wouldnt be too concerned about waterproofing considering the cars that have roof lights normally have rooted rear window seals, rusted side window frames,perished firewall grommets...................................

[TroopiePete]

wouldnt be too concerned about waterproofing considering the cars that have roof lights normally have rooted rear window seals, rusted side window frames,perished firewall grommets...................................

Good point.

I have thought of adding lights up top but I already hook too many things of the roof racks, think I collected a few trees while on the inland tracks on Fraser, even managed to knock a bit of paint off!

[4wheelsdriven]

So by the sounds of it there is not much out there to do this job neatly and professionally.