Backup Lights

[Rhinebeck01]

Actually you got me the part numbers in less then 30 seconds. lol. I will order a set this morning. I am assuming the flush mount Rigid back up lights are going to be easier to install since all that needs to be removed will the mounting cover.

These lights…
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rgd-20641

@viper88
Looking forward to what your end result is...

Sponsored

 

[viper88]

@viper88
Looking forward to what your end result is...

I like how you mounted the Rigid's under the bumper quite a bit. No permanent cutting into the bumper. I actually like your solution more then drilling a hole into the bumper itself and flush mounting. Mounting into the rear reflectors seems like the most elegant solution. I hope anyway? lol. I hope to have some free time in the next couple of weeks to look at how to mount them. My concern is not machining out the female mounting hole into the reflector itself. I think most of the work will be figuring out how to attach the light to the back of the reflector. Additional material might have to be plastic welded in to the back of the reflector so the light itself can be attached sufficiently. I also noticed the cooling fins on the exterior of the lights. I want to see how much heat the light generates to see if there would a problem if they were mounted to the back of the reflector? I am assuming heat will not come into play when reversing since the lights are not on very long. The issue of heat might be a problem when using the back up lights as a auxiliary light that's on longer. Hopefully we will see. lol. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@viper88

I'm not sure if you will need to be securing / sealing anything when you jury rig the reflector / Rigid pairing....

A product that I have used a few times is Goop Flexible Adhesive / Sealant. It dries clear and is a tad flexible after it dries.

The flexible part is a big deal as what you stick together.... if it takes vibrations, etc. will not hold up great if you do not put the pieces together with a product that dos not have a little give...as in flexible..

I use Goop Flexible Adhesive/Sealant a lot...... i.e. To place an LED light board, in a Harley Davidson's rear tail light that originally was was lighted with a bulb.

I have done a few of these over the last few years. IF an LED board placed / secured with Goop can hold up when the item you used it on is on the back of a Harley, will you know it is good to use.

I have never had an LED board secured with Goop, let loose even after thousands of driving miles.

Also, if you heat up dried Goop with a hair dryer, it will let loose so you can easily redo, repair, remove.

 

[rommel102]

Will be installing two rear LED floods. Been a while since I did an install like this and when I used to do it on my TJ years back everything was a military splice, some spit, and lots of zip ties and call it a day. I'd like this to be a bit more professional when all is said and done.

I have the trailer tow and AUX package and want them to go the "turn them on manually and also when in reverse" route, probably to Aux 4 (Aux 3 is currently being used for front mounted PIAAs that I'm in the middle of installing). I have some 16g wire which I'll attempt to route up the framerail, some plier taps, two of the Roadmaster diodes, plastic tubing, and a lot of OCD planning ideas.

So my questions:

1. I like the ease of @Bilymac light housing install. If I'm not mistaken I can easily access the trailer wiring from there and it is a nice weather-protected place to do the wiring. But if I don't go that route, what is the best place to mount the diodes? Can the trailer tow wiring be accessed from the engine compartment?
2. Where should I be using splice connectors like the taps or butts vs using a military or y-type splice? How many splices should I have in my wiring diagram? I don't mind soldering if I must but also like the liquid electrical tape idea @Rhinebeck01 has mentioned.

 

[OMTBiker]

Thank you Sir! Do you have a picture of the back of the reflectors by any chance?

@viper88 - is this what you were looking for? <a href="https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/backup-lights.10763/page-13#post-547112">Backup Lights</a>

 

[viper88]

@viper88 - is this what you were looking for? <a href="https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/backup-lights.10763/page-13#post-547112">Backup Lights</a>

Very helpful! I ordered the reflectors this morning for $20. The flush mounting points don't look promising but hopefully I can work something out. Maybe eliminate the mounting plate all together? I am thinking of machining a template where the light can be mounted without the screw plate. Or with a different pattern? I don't know what the lights themselves look like yet. It looks like some modifications to the lights might be needed? I will probably order a set of both the flush mount and surface mount Rigids to see if one is more promising then the other for a solution. I will return the set I don't use. Or maybe a different light all together? Fingers crossed on this. lol.

 

[Fire Burns]

Very helpful! I ordered the reflectors this morning for $20. The flush mounting points don't look promising but hopefully I can work something out. Maybe eliminate the mounting plate all together? I am thinking of machining a template where the light can be mounted without the screw plate. Or with a different pattern? I don't know what the lights themselves look like yet. It looks like some modifications to the lights might be needed? I will probably order a set of both the flush mount and surface mount Rigids to see if one is more promising then the other for a solution. I will return the set I don't use. Or maybe a different light all together? Fingers crossed on this. lol.

Well keep us updated @viper88! Last dude who (allegedly) tried this mod gave us all a tease, but never responded to multiple requests to status/results. I agree that if done right, this is potentially the most elegant solution for those of us (an we are legion) with the steel bumper.

 

[viper88]

Well keep us updated @viper88! Last dude who (allegedly) tried this mod gave us all a tease, but never responded to multiple requests to status/results. I agree that if done right, this is potentially the most elegant solution for those of us (an we are legion) with the steel bumper.

I don't have the steel bumper. I have the standard plastic Rubicon bumper.

The last guy is probably just really busy. Or hopefully he's out enjoying his JL.

I am swamped with work but will look into it soon. I am waiting for the lights. I got the rear reflectors yesterday. It might make more sense to machine a part out of aluminum or phenolic. A replacement insert that is the same shape or cut-out as the rear reflector with the mounting clip . The only difference would be a hole machined to flush mount the back up light. The aluminum or phenolic / plastic insert would be more substantial and have mounting points for the lights machined in. Maybe wrap the insert with reflective tape so it still looks like a reflector and have some reflective properties. The insert could also be painted any color or wrapped with any vinyl. It's just half ass brainstorming for now on my part. lol. Hopefully the lights arrive soon so I know what I am actually working with. I also need to take a look at what's behind the bumper also.

 

[Fire Burns]

I don't have the steel bumper. I have the standard plastic Rubicon bumper.

The last guy is probably just really busy. Or hopefully he's out enjoying his JL.

I am swamped with work but will look into it soon. I am waiting for the lights. I got the rear reflectors yesterday. It might make more sense to machine a part out of aluminum or phenolic. A replacement insert that is the same shape or cut-out as the rear reflector with the mounting clip . The only difference would be a hole machined to flush mount the back up light. The aluminum or phenolic / plastic insert would be more substantial and have mounting points for the lights machined in. Maybe wrap the insert with reflective tape so it still looks like a reflector and have some reflective properties. The insert could also be painted any color or wrapped with any vinyl. It's just half ass brainstorming for now on my part. lol. Hopefully the lights arrive soon so I know what I am actually working with. I also need to take a look at what's behind the bumper also.

Get it right and you will probably have folks begging you to make them! I might be one of them!

 

[mlebofsky]

Get it right and you will probably have folks begging you to make them! I might be one of them!

Me too.....

 

[Sprint7]

OK guys. I know i have left you hanging without an update but i have been swamped at work. I used the Rigid flush mount lights. You can not simply change the reflector, you have to modify the mounting bracket behind it which is simple enough. That went well and it fits snug. My thought was to drill four small holes around the cutout and mount the light on the reflector. Of course I only measured once and miss-drilled the hole. I ordered another reflector and the entire project is sitting on my desk waiting to be completed. It's a little tedious, but pretty simple and i think it will work well.

Now that i have been publicly shamed for not finishing a project i gonna finish it up next week!

 

[viper88]

OK guys. I know i have left you hanging without an update but i have been swamped at work. I used the Rigid flush mount lights. You can not simply change the reflector, you have to modify the mounting bracket behind it which is simple enough. That went well and it fits snug. My thought was to drill four small holes around the cutout and mount the light on the reflector. Of course I only measured once and miss-drilled the hole. I ordered another reflector and the entire project is sitting on my desk waiting to be completed. It's a little tedious, but pretty simple and i think it will work well.

Now that i have been publicly shamed for not finishing a project i gonna finish it up next week!

Good to hear back from you! I am still waiting for the lights. I ordered both the surface mounted and flush mounted lights. I guess I will return the surface mounted lights now that you confirmed you used the flush mounted ones. I have not looked at the bumper yet. Which bumper do you have? Did you remove the bumper or did you do all the work with it on the JL? Any pics of the modifications to the mounting bracket? Any additional hi resolution pics are welcomed! Looking forward to seeing your lights! Thanks again!

 

[Sprint7]

Good to hear back from you! I am still waiting for the lights. I ordered both the surface mounted and flush mounted lights. I guess I will return the surface mounted lights now that you confirmed you used the flush mounted ones. I have not looked at the bumper yet. Which bumper do you have? Did you remove the bumper or did you do all the work with it on the JL? Any pics of the modifications to the mounting bracket? Any additional hi resolution pics are welcomed! Looking forward to seeing your lights! Thanks again!

I'm going to try to answer several of the questions that i have gotten. I have the steel bumper with sensors.

First you have to remove the bumper completely to remove the bracket and reflector.

Here is the backside of the bumper showing the bracket.

Then you remove the bracket and the reflector

I purchased the Ridgid Flush mount light and took off the mounting bracket and lens

I cut the back plastic of the reflector and then used the lens as a templet to carefully cut a hole in the reflector with a dremel tool.

BEFORE

AFTER

Then i trimmed the back piece until the light was snug.

Then i turned to the bracket and trimmed it until the light would pass through
BEFORE

AFTER

Then install the reflector back into the bracket

At this point i was rolling and dreaming about the blinding light i was going to cast behind my jeep. Only one thing left to do. The reflector bolts into the bracket but i wanted to use the four small allen bolts to secure the light to the reflector.

Well i only measured once not twice and drilled the hole in the wrong place. I put the bumper back on with a missing reflector while i ordered another lens and everything is sitting on my desk waiting to finish up.

Overall it is not a hard project but the bracket behind the bracket is the reason i think you don't see more "bolt in" lights offered. This will motivate me to finish this up and hope to have it done within the next week.

If anyone has any questions please let me know.

 

[viper88]

I'm going to try to answer several of the questions that i have gotten. I have the steel bumper with sensors.

First you have to remove the bumper completely to remove the bracket and reflector.

Here is the backside of the bumper showing the bracket.

Then you remove the bracket and the reflector

I purchased the Ridgid Flush mount light and took off the mounting bracket and lens

I cut the back plastic of the reflector and then used the lens as a templet to carefully cut a hole in the reflector with a dremel tool.

BEFORE

AFTER

Then i trimmed the back piece until the light was snug.

Then i turned to the bracket and trimmed it until the light would pass through
BEFORE

AFTER

Then install the reflector back into the bracket

At this point i was rolling and dreaming about the blinding light i was going to cast behind my jeep. Only one thing left to do. The reflector bolts into the bracket but i wanted to use the four small allen bolts to secure the light to the reflector.

Well i only measured once not twice and drilled the hole in the wrong place. I put the bumper back on with a missing reflector while i ordered another lens and everything is sitting on my desk waiting to finish up.

Overall it is not a hard project but the bracket behind the bracket is the reason i think you don't see more "bolt in" lights offered. This will motivate me to finish this up and hope to have it done within the next week.

If anyone has any questions please let me know.

Can never have enough intel. Thanks for the pics and explanations, very helpful. I see what you mean about the internal bumper bracket and clearance for mounting the light housing. I have the reflectors and am still waiting for the lights. I have not had any time to look at my bumper yet. I have the standard plastic Rubicon bumper. Not sure how different the internals will be from your steel bumper? I hope to have some time over the Easter weekend to remove the bumper for a look. I am looking forward to some pictures of the lighting pattern and output from both your screen and exterior when your done. Thanks again for sharing, it's much appreciated.

 

[thundermuffin]

I just got a pair of Squadron S2 Sports with work/flood lens to mount under the bumper, I’ll post the results and pics once I get them installed

Sponsored