colossal_monstrosity Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 I am interested in seeing how/what people mount their roof lights on (closeups, where it attaches tot the roof), specifcally on the ea82 cars. I need inspiration, but I also don't want to tear up my roof, and I can't think of how it's done. So show me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 In my opinion, a gutter-mounted roof rack is the best way to mount lights. Here's my car with its current roof rack and light combo. Here's what I used to have. It's just the factory rack, which is flimsy and allowed the lights to move around entirely too much. A good thule or yakima rack is more than stout enough though. (Sorry I don't have a closer shot.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EYE_WHY Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 I just (last night) put some roof lights on my car. I used a pretty basic gutter mounted roof rack and a little aluminum spacer (looks kinda like o=o so that one end mounts on the rack through a screw and the other end attaches to the the light with a screw and bolt. I would upload some pics but I am on a 56k and that would take forever). So anyways, my question is how do you get your wires from outside to inside?? I have heard of people taking out antennas and routing wires through there or drilling holes somewhere but what is the simplist way to get wires inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 I'll try to take a close-up pic tonight of my setup, but it's just a Yakima rack, with little flat pieces of scrap metal (happened to be filed down triangles) welded onto the ends, with a hole drilled in them (had to remove the plastic caps...which was a pain). then I bolted the lights through the hole. This was really convenient when it came time to wire them, as with the caps removed, I just pulled a wire through the bar to the other side for the far light. let's see what I can find for pics that's the only one I can find that's very good, I'll take a close-up later this afternoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyewdall Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 For my 2M antenna, I just ran the coax through the back hatch when open, then closed it. Haven't noticed any leaks where it compresses the gasket. You could do the same for power wires to lights I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 Forgot to mention that I just punched a hole in the weatherstripping around the passenger side window and ran the wires through there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colossal_monstrosity Posted November 12, 2005 Author Share Posted November 12, 2005 So what if I wanted JUST a light bar? Is there a place I can buy that by itself and just bolt it on (probably have to make a few holes...), or do I have to make one? Since I really only want lights so far...and I don't see the need to spend $200 on a yakima rack + light accessories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samo Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Here's mine. Standard Yakima rack with two extra load bars (plain old iron pipe) heading from front to back to hold the tire. Wire is run through where the antenna used to be. I made a rectangle out of aluminum, drilled a hole for the wires to pass through, and riveted it in place where the antenna was. Works fantastic, and the lights are ultra-stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 stock ea82 roof rack works great. if you dont have one you can install one on a sedan or 3-door, take off the headliner sedans and 3doors trim the end of the rails about 1 inch on each end with a hacksaw if you make a pigtail connection for the lights tou can take it down or swap it to other soobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowman Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 So what if I wanted JUST a light bar? Is there a place I can buy that by itself and just bolt it on (probably have to make a few holes...), or do I have to make one? Since I really only want lights so far...and I don't see the need to spend $200 on a yakima rack + light accessories. Get some of these, and some steel tube, and you're good to go. They're called "Quick-n-easy" roof racks, and list at $57 for a set of 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samo Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 I think my Yakima towers weren't much more than $50 or so, but I could well be mistaken. The load bars are the expensive part, which is why I went to Home Depot and got some iron pipe for mine. Works just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Here are some pics.... I need to clean 'em up, and spray some rustoleum on them or something... here's what I did with the wires...this is just the antenna wire for the CB, but I did the same thing with the wires for the lights when I had those wired: I'm sure you could just get a generic roofrack from walmart or something that would work well with for this application another idea I had, that I'll probably use if I add more lights in the future: They make brackets for a CB antennae that are meant to mount to a roof rack, it just a nice clamp that mounts on the rack, a 90* angle to a flat piece with a hole drilled in it, would work perfect for keeping your lights up high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colossal_monstrosity Posted November 12, 2005 Author Share Posted November 12, 2005 Hmm...those look fun. I can already see me spray painting that wood to get rid of it though. Where would I buy those? Or should I just google it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Junkyards are a great place to find those gutter mounts. Alot of VW's will have them if the prev owner put a rack on the car. I have a custom made roof rack that has some mounting points in it. No pix right now cause im at work. -Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soobmater Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 heres mine, on a mudrat roof rack and... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SakoTGrimes Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 here's mine. simple flood lights zip tied to the roof rack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadbryan Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 I am interested in seeing how/what people mount their roof lights on (closeups, where it attaches tot the roof), specifcally on the ea82 cars. I need inspiration, but I also don't want to tear up my roof, and I can't think of how it's done. So show me. i was wondering if you knew of any good trails? if you ever wanted to go on a trail drive let me know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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