Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 753
Roof Rack Lights.
I thought I'd start a bit of a build thread...
I took my roof rack off the other day simply to change all the bolts to stainless steel bolts. I was getting a bit sick or the rusty ones. I decided that I'd spray them black too...
While it was off, I thought this would be a good time to start adding some lights.
Whilst planning how I was going to power and control the lights, I came across the 'D-Box'... It's perfect to sit in my second battery box. (Until I get a second battery that is!) Here's the link encase you're intresed in little boxes of electric wizardry!
Part 1 -
Part 2 -
Now that I know how I'm going to power and control the lights, I need to get the power to the roof. I decided to use 7 core trailer wire from the second battery box:
Through the firewall:
From there, I went under the plastic runners, up into the rear wheel arch, (where the wheel jack is stored) up the rear pillar, then chased under the trim into the rubber that connects the boot:
The cable then ran back on itself to the corner of the boot lid and I ran it into the roof rack runner:
The cable ran along this runner until it reached the hole I drilled just behind the rear roof rack leg:
This is as far as I've got at the moment. Im working (slowly) on the D-Box & also a quick connection junction box at the roof rack end so that if I need to take of the rack for any reason, it should be quick and simple!07 Land Rover Discovery III HSE
07 BMW 1200 GS Adventure
08 Mercedes Sprinter
13th Oct 2014 9:13 pm
Jay666d
Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 753
There's not much to see while I'm working on the electrical side of this install, so I thought that I'd position some lights on the rack today...
I'll start off with the 4x spot lights up front:
Then 2x flood lights at the rear:
I also made a hole in the rack for the wires to go through... Trying to keep everything as neat as I possibly can!
I decided that this may not be enough light...
I bought 2x campervan awning lights:
Then painted them Black:
Attached them to each side:
Now I really do need to crack on with the electrics and swithes! 07 Land Rover Discovery III HSE
07 BMW 1200 GS Adventure
08 Mercedes Sprinter
16th Oct 2014 8:29 pm
Andy Foster
Member Since: 27 Dec 2009
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 6551
Like the awning light idea
AndyD4 MY15 SE TECH
D3 gone but never forgotten.
16th Oct 2014 9:15 pm
Jay666d
Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 753
Needless to say... I'm now on the look out for an awning! 07 Land Rover Discovery III HSE
07 BMW 1200 GS Adventure
08 Mercedes Sprinter
16th Oct 2014 10:20 pm
r4ff
Member Since: 30 Apr 2013
Location: York
Posts: 512
Quick question about the floods on the rear (getting a slimline II next month and thinking of rear lights)... will the upper tailgate not block them when it's raised? or are these mainly just to throw more light out when reversing?what is this life, if full of care?
we have no time to stand and stare.
17th Oct 2014 10:22 am
Jay666d
Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 753
Morning R4ff,
Unfortunately they will be blocked when the tailgait is open... I had considered mounting something on the inside, but to be honest I'll probably only use these when reversing or hooking up to the towbar.
I think that the awning lights I have put on the left and right will be the lights I use when 'working' in the dark!07 Land Rover Discovery III HSE
07 BMW 1200 GS Adventure
08 Mercedes Sprinter
17th Oct 2014 10:35 am
Jay666d
Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 753
Not really got too much done this week...
Wired all 4 front lights together and the 2 rear lights together... Left and right will run independently.
Routed the 4 cables around the inside of the rack to the back, right hand side.
I then joined all the wires to to a 7 core trailer cable:
This will marry up to the 7 core cable that runs to the back of the car via a weather proof plug:
Click image to enlarge
This means just one connection for all the lights... Makes life a little easier if I need to take it off in the future for any reason 07 Land Rover Discovery III HSE
07 BMW 1200 GS Adventure
08 Mercedes Sprinter
22nd Oct 2014 8:19 pm
Russs
Member Since: 02 Apr 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 16
Looks good, I like the awning lights, they are nice and neat. What and where are you putting the switches?
I've dome something similar, with a light bar up front and three small LED spreads at the sides and rear. I've also put an LED strip in the boot which lights up the ground when the tailgate is open, as it does block the roof rack light when open.
I found a neat switch panel on ebay and ran all the wiring through to the front interior light panel. Three switches for the three rear lights, one for the light bar on the rack (activated by high beam), and one for the light bar on the bull bar (also activated by high beam). The last one puts power from the second batter through to the ipad in the dash to charge it up when it gets low
2006 D3 TDV6 SE, rear air, e-diff, EGR blanks, ARB bull bar, Tracklander roof rack, Blue Tongue compressor installed, GNVP adjustable height rods, 285/60R18 LTZ, D4 tow hitch, iPad mini install, plasti dip wheels & badges, lights, lights and more lights
24th Oct 2014 5:38 am
Scarab
Member Since: 11 Jun 2011
Location: Hastings
Posts: 1283
^Really love that switch panel! ^
24th Oct 2014 9:15 am
Jay666d
Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 753
Hi Russs,
I think I already mentioned that I thought about mounting something on the inside of the tail gate! I'll see how I feel, I do have one spare feed I can use... Do you have a picture of yours?
As for the switches, I bought some toggle switches and made up a couple of concepts on where to mount them. As yet, non of them float my boat!
However, you idea is excellent! I've not seen anything like tis on eBay... Do you have a link?07 Land Rover Discovery III HSE
07 BMW 1200 GS Adventure
08 Mercedes Sprinter
24th Oct 2014 11:08 am
AAA.Happy.Disco1.Fan
Member Since: 04 Nov 2010
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 2895
What are the Regs about using roof rack mounted lights to the front when driving on the highway, please?
I ask since I've just been given a job lot of suitable lights but I'm loath to fit them - other than for display - if I would have very limited use for them on the road.
AAA
24th Oct 2014 11:15 am
Jay666d
Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: Northumberland
Posts: 753
Legally speaking... There supposed to be wired into the full beam, just like the driving lamps.
ie, you can't turn them on by themselves.
I'll be using mine for off road use and they'll be on a switch, not wired in... For the sake of MOT's they'll be decommissioned into 'for show' status! 07 Land Rover Discovery III HSE
07 BMW 1200 GS Adventure
08 Mercedes Sprinter
24th Oct 2014 11:33 am
Scarab
Member Since: 11 Jun 2011
Location: Hastings
Posts: 1283
Not wishing to derail the thread but are you just allowed to have any lights at the front (of correct colour of course) wired in to main beam?
Are there any regs about size, distance from floor, aim of the beam etc?
I'm going to be putting lights on the rack soon and haven't yet looked into this side of it.
24th Oct 2014 11:40 am
LandRoverAnorak
Member Since: 06 Mar 2014
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1131
Essentially, yes. Beyond the colour and being equally spaced about the vertical centreline, there are very few restrictions on 'optional main beam headlights', as long as they're wired to come on and off with the main beam. If you're keen then look for Schedule 5, Part II of this document:
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