Flareside cargo/reverse light mounting ideas.

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Jan 15, 2014 | 08:08 PM

broncoderek

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Flareside cargo/reverse light mounting ideas.

I got two rectangular driving lights for Christmas. My idea is to mount them to do triple duty: one is for aux reverse lights, two is for cargo/bed lighting and third to "tell" other drives to turn off thier high beams or quit riding my *** so close.

I'm trying to think of where and how to mount these to serve these purposes. All I can think of right now for location is about 8" higher than the front corners of the bed. This way I'll get aim-able light in the bed while also lighting the area behind the truck for backing up and the light can reach over the tailgate and into the car behind me (only if they deserve it).

So how do I get them up above like that? (I am going to wire them so I can manually switch them btw).

I don't have a welder or else I'd fab up 8" "stalks" to mount to the bed...

Jan 15, 2014 | 09:06 PM

Diesel_Brad

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From: Gilbert, PA

Bolt them to the roof of the truck

Jan 15, 2014 | 11:16 PM

UNTAMND

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From: Lansdale, PA

With your tailgate up, they will hurt you more than help for backup lights.
Backup lights need to illuminate from behind the body of the truck. I had lights on top of my roll bar for plowing, pointing forward and to the sides some, as well as pointing back, and they would be either aimed too far behind me to help a lot, or they would brighten the tailgate enough that it was still hard to see.

Best setup for reverse lights is bumper or side of the hitch mounted, with a 3 way switch, on, off, and auto(when you're in reverse they come on with your regular reverse lights). This setup is the best I've had.

I ended up mounting my lights on posts that fit into the stake pockets and pinned, then I had a plug for them. I could put them in any stake pocket pointing any direction. When I didn't want them looking goofy, they went in my truck box out of sight.

Jan 16, 2014 | 05:14 AM

broncoderek

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel_Brad

Bolt them to the roof of the truck

That's the best location for me but I can't stand the idea of holes in my roof.

Jan 16, 2014 | 06:26 AM

dixie460

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From: SW Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by broncoderek

That's the best location for me but I can't stand the idea of holes in my roof.

So mount them to steel plates, then epoxy some welding magnets to the bottom of the steel, and you got mag mount lights with no holes. Make a power cable to run out your window. Not really permanent, but that's about all you can do if you ain't willing to drill holes.

Or... just get a light bar. The only holes you need are to mount that. Then all the other holes go in the light bar itself.

Or... put a rollbar in the bed and mount the lights to that.

Just a few things to consider. I agree with the above posts where if you have your tailgate up and the lights are mounted low in relation to the bed, you won't be doing yourself much of a favor. Gotta be up high to work best.

I'd have done this a long time ago but my problem with cab top mounting is low hanging branches...

Jan 16, 2014 | 06:58 AM

broncoderek

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Great ideas, thanks!

Top of tailgate would be cool I guess too (always compromises). I could turn them 180 degrees if I needed the light in the bed... It'd look goofy though.

Jan 16, 2014 | 08:43 AM

dixie460

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From: SW Florida

Oh and I want to say that I saw a clamp-on light bar somewhere on the net... it clamped to the drip rails on the cab. Not sure how durable it is. I wouldn't buy one because I'd be afraid someone would steal it... not that I live in a bad place or anything, but it ain't a chance I'm willing to take.