Light bars and pillar lights

[sleepywan]

I just got my new JLU Sahara with soft top. I wanted to get a light bar to go above the windshield, but since there aren't really mounting brackets I've seen (that aren't hideous and go all the way up the side of the windshield), I decided maybe to get a 30" light bar to go on the hood (in front of the wipers) since I have the factory Sahara bumper with no ways to mount anything without drilling holes.

I'm looking at a light bar like this: https://www.amazon.com/Westin-Autom...526403851&sr=8-2&keywords=westin+09-12211-30C

But not sure what kind of bracket would work on the JL hood without requiring drilling.

I also wanted to get some pillar lights, since those can be attached without drilling.

But finding reviews is really tough. For the pillar lights, the MOPAR brackets are $145 and ugly (IMO). I like the streamlined brackets like these use for $99 including the lights: http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-jl-led-lower-windshield-kit-70047c.html - but this is a kit that comes with the lights and I really don't know how good the lights are or how easily they'll connect to the Aux switches/battery harness. I think that also has a light bar available in a set--but again, not sure about power.

Anyone recommend a decent 30" light bar with a hood mount that doesn't require drilling. Or some better (smaller/cheaper) pillar light brackets?

TIA

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[MojitoJLUR]

I just got my new JLU Sahara with soft top. I wanted to get a light bar to go above the windshield, but since there aren't really mounting brackets I've seen (that aren't hideous and go all the way up the side of the windshield), I decided maybe to get a 30" light bar to go on the hood (in front of the wipers) since I have the factory Sahara bumper with no ways to mount anything without drilling holes.

I'm looking at a light bar like this: https://www.amazon.com/Westin-Autom...526403851&sr=8-2&keywords=westin+09-12211-30C

But not sure what kind of bracket would work on the JL hood without requiring drilling.

I also wanted to get some pillar lights, since those can be attached without drilling.

But finding reviews is really tough. For the pillar lights, the MOPAR brackets are $145 and ugly (IMO). I like the streamlined brackets like these use for $99 including the lights: http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-jl-led-lower-windshield-kit-70047c.html - but this is a kit that comes with the lights and I really don't know how good the lights are or how easily they'll connect to the Aux switches/battery harness. I think that also has a light bar available in a set--but again, not sure about power.

Anyone recommend a decent 30" light bar with a hood mount that doesn't require drilling. Or some better (smaller/cheaper) pillar light brackets?

TIA

This is the one I'm looking at, but iffy on buying it without any reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-Moun...62&sr=8-5&keywords=hood+light+bar+JL+wrangler

 

[sleepywan]

This is the one I'm looking at, but iffy on buying it without any reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-Moun...62&sr=8-5&keywords=hood+light+bar+JL+wrangler

That looks nice, too.

Yeah, none of these new JL light bars seem to have many reviews.

The Rough Country ones I listed have reviews, but nothing beyond "look great, installed easily!" - which is not really helpful. They also don't put out as many lumens as many of the other light bars and cost more.

 

[Firecracker Rubi]

Same Chinese light bars I imported a pallet of years ago. 50/50 chance on getting a dud if they don't expect each one. I have to take each bar out of it's box and test a multitude of things. About 30% of them had either positive or negative continuity through the aluminum housing. Negative wasn't the end of the world, since our vehicles have a negative chassis ground. The positive ones were a direct short and there was no saving them.

If the seller is testing them before shipping you should be fine, if not it's a craps shoot.

All of the ones I sold that worked at the date of sale, never had an issue after the sale. They did have shitty lenses and things like that, but for 20% of the cost of the Right bars, you should expect that.

 

[dbtran]

I just got my new JLU Sahara with soft top. I wanted to get a light bar to go above the windshield, but since there aren't really mounting brackets I've seen (that aren't hideous and go all the way up the side of the windshield), I decided maybe to get a 30" light bar to go on the hood (in front of the wipers) since I have the factory Sahara bumper with no ways to mount anything without drilling holes.

I'm looking at a light bar like this: https://www.amazon.com/Westin-Autom...526403851&sr=8-2&keywords=westin+09-12211-30C

But not sure what kind of bracket would work on the JL hood without requiring drilling.

I also wanted to get some pillar lights, since those can be attached without drilling.

But finding reviews is really tough. For the pillar lights, the MOPAR brackets are $145 and ugly (IMO). I like the streamlined brackets like these use for $99 including the lights: http://www.roughcountry.com/jeep-jl-led-lower-windshield-kit-70047c.html - but this is a kit that comes with the lights and I really don't know how good the lights are or how easily they'll connect to the Aux switches/battery harness. I think that also has a light bar available in a set--but again, not sure about power.

Anyone recommend a decent 30" light bar with a hood mount that doesn't require drilling. Or some better (smaller/cheaper) pillar light brackets?

TIA

Here is my setup. Hammerhead Armor Windshield mount with Zilla 51.5 bar, Rigid Midnight cubes, Piaa 30" mounted with Rough Country mounts, Baja Designs S8 10" with amber cover.

 

[Luis Angel Reyes]

Take a look to the A-Pillar from baja designs:
https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/Jeep-Wrangler-JL-Lighting-Kits.asp

 

[JASPER]

Here is my setup. Hammerhead Armor Windshield mount with Zilla 51.5 bar, Rigid Midnight cubes, Piaa 30" mounted with Rough Country mounts, Baja Designs S8 10" with amber cover.

lmfao

 

[sleepywan]

I ended up going with the Rough Country cubes and 30" mount for the hood....decent price and easy install. I'm not sure why tiny little metal brackets cost so much for some of the cube lights.

 

[rogueknb]

I ended up going with the Rough Country cubes and 30" mount for the hood....decent price and easy install. I'm not sure why tiny little metal brackets cost so much for some of the cube lights.

Do you have the preinstalled Aux Switches on your JL? I do, if so, how easy was the install using the provided wires? Any videos, tips, comments, etc. would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks.

 

[dbtran]

Do you have the preinstalled Aux Switches on your JL? I do, if so, how easy was the install using the provided wires? Any videos, tips, comments, etc. would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks.

The wiring harness will have a rocker switch and usually 3 wires plugging into it. Black wire will need to grounded, white wire goes straight to the aux wire you choose. 1 and 3 are 40amp, and 2 and 4 are 15amp, so if you will only have 1 light working off the aux wire, I'd go with either 15amp wires (2 & 4). The other wire going to the rocker switch is used to light up the switch so you won't need that wire so cut it off or put some electrical tape on it. You should also disconnect the battery positive and negative to do any electrical work. I was lazy and didn't do it and it worked fine. Just try not to touch any wires to metal or other wires. I'm still waiting for S-Pod and Genesis dual battery to come out to make it all nice and tidy. Right now its a hot mess of wires.

 

[rogueknb]

The wiring harness will have a rocker switch and usually 3 wires plugging into it. Black wire will need to grounded, white wire goes straight to the aux wire you choose. 1 and 3 are 40amp, and 2 and 4 are 15amp, so if you will only have 1 light working off the aux wire, I'd go with either 15amp wires (2 & 4). The other wire going to the rocker switch is used to light up the switch so you won't need that wire so cut it off or put some electrical tape on it. You should also disconnect the battery positive and negative to do any electrical work. I was lazy and didn't do it and it worked fine. Just try not to touch any wires to metal or other wires. I'm still waiting for S-Pod and Genesis dual battery to come out to make it all nice and tidy. Right now its a hot mess of wires.

Will this be considered one light or two lights since they come as a pair?

 

[dbtran]

Will this be considered one light or two lights since they come as a pair?

If you want a 30" light bar and cubes to light at once, you would have to add both black wires to a ground, 2 white wires to the aux wire. I would you use the 1 & 3 40amp wires. That's how I have my hood led bar and cubes wired. I press Aux 1 and they both light up at the same time. It's your preference on how you want to wire it. You could probably use the 15amp to wire both but when you have 2 other cables available, why risk it?

 

[DickZip]

Artech dual pillar cube mounts and aurora cubes

 

[rogueknb]

If you want a 30" light bar and cubes to light at once, you would have to add both black wires to a ground, 2 white wires to the aux wire. I would you use the 1 & 3 40amp wires. That's how I have my hood led bar and cubes wired. I press Aux 1 and they both light up at the same time. It's your preference on how you want to wire it. You could probably use the 15amp to wire both but when you have 2 other cables available, why risk it?

So I bought the Rigid D-SS pro lights and the three wires coming out of the harness are red, blue and black...no white...which one is which, do you know? Thanks.

 

[dbtran]

So I bought the Rigid D-SS pro lights and the three wires coming out of the harness are red, blue and black...no white...which one is which, do you know? Thanks.

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the red is power and black is the ground. Maybe you could call Rigid support to confirm it or a another member can chime in.

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