Has anyone ever added cab lights???

I have a 2004 f250t that does not have them.....I think they look great and would love to add.....are they available as a dealer part, or should i go to auto parts store for them.....

I am a little worried about having to drop the headliner to run the wireing, as was sort of praying that there might be a wirig harness up there.

thanx

 

This has been done over and over throughout the years...
So far, the main issue is leaking. For some reason, more than not, when cab lights are added in they will leak in heavy rain. I do not know why; I have however heard of the problem and seen one or two myself...

Kind of odd

If you decide to try, I would recommend a good body shop instead of the dealer...

 

Even if there were a wiring harness up there, you'd still have to drop the headliner to bolt the lights down, connect the wires, etc. Last I heard the wiring harness *is* there, but only to the passenger footwell. So you have to buy the harness that runs up the A pillar and connects to all the lights. And the 5 lights. And measure 4 times, drill once. It's something like a $70 option when ordering a truck, which I consider the biggest bargain out there, compared to doing it later!

Duncan

 

would have gladly ordered them, but i was luckly enough to buy what i wanted off the lot, at a pretty good dicount, so it was not an option for me.......But I do want them!

 

Rats! I had exactly the site you'd need stored in my Favorites (added it a few months back) but now it seems that the URL has changed and so it no longer leads to the site it is supposed to. It was a man's personal site where he described with detailed instructions and pictures the step-by-step installation of some cab clearance lights. If I ever find that site again I'll be sure to post it. In the mean time, you could try searching any way you can on FTE for this topic - I think that's where I got the link in the first place.

Good luck!

Ryan

 

Cab camper/lights aren't terribly hard to install.. 'DO' buy good quality units though if not OEM.. Cheap units/gaskets will be more prone to leak.. I would suggest to not to use the teardrop type with a center/top lens attaching screw.. There are 'alot' of aftermarket styles.. The mounting holes can be MEASURED, marked, drilled, and then if possible 'anchor nuts' used to attach them (crimp/expand a NUT into the underside/backside of hole).. And of course the wire holes added then.. The headliner can be lowered 'slightly' (best before drilling) by just removing the visors, overhead display, left pillar post cover ect. to run the wire.. No need for a complete removal.. The anchor nuts do use a special tool though to install/crimp them into place and do make for a better hold, and tend to leak less than just sheet metal screws, but are optional.. Anchor nuts are what has been used through out the years for not only cab lights, but door mirrors ect. Superior hold in thin metal, and a good anti-seize/non hardening silicon will help seal the threads and make screw removal easy.. No rusting holes.. The lighting/power wire can be 'just' a single wire run from right/passenger side with the center and left lights tied in along the way to the power source.. Ground can be a separate wire as well, or each light can be grounded individually on the attachment/sheetmetal.. A 'fish' wire helps to aid in running the wire.. You can pick up the lighting power at the wire loom leading to the headlight/park switch.. OR, you can buy all OEM pieces, but aftermarket tends to be priced a little better, as long as a good quality is the goal.. I saw a new 'white' 250 running down the road with a set of clear cepek or ? cabs installed with amber bulbs/LED.. Looked very stealth, and functional!!

.......................HP........................

 

I had the dealer install them on an 00' F-250 and they never leaked. I had it in some pretty heavy rain storms and never once had a problem. The dealer had the template to do this. I think it took them a couple hours to due this and it was worth the money to let them due it. I would say let the dealer deal with it, if you have the cash. I think it cost a couple hundred for the lights and the install.


PSDboy

 

One of my trucks has overhead lights and the other doesn't. I'm going to follow this procedure to install some OEM lights I'll pick-up at the dealership. The bodyshop at my local dealership quoted me $350 for the install, but I think I'll do it myself.

Cab light install instructions

Hope this helps

 

Awesome - the link Twin Tritons posted is the exact one I was referring to in my post. It's a great set of instructions, and should be just what you need, AV3Fire. Nice work, Twin Tritons.

 

Great pics...

Easy as 1-2-3.. Sorta..

One of the benifits of doing it yourself is that...Experience 'IS' the best teacher, and it'll be done to 'your' quality standards as long as you have the needed tools.. PLUS, when Ford did my warranty Rear Main, they washed the truck (nice of them, but) and 'scratched' my paint!!! Not to mention the harness hanging down, and the leaking trans line.. You maynot have an experienced tech measuring and 'drilling' holes in your truck.. THE most important part of the install, is making sure of the measurment/position of the lights and will vary some between lighting manufacturers.. And, for 300.00 or so...I'd do it myself.. Thats almost the price of a Predator or exhaust!!!!

...........................HP..................... .........

 

Great comment. I want the lights on my one truck to look exactly like the lights on my other truck. I'll be able to measure them and ensure they are the same spacing whereas a tech at the dealership may just plunk down a template and start drilling. I will also have no one to complain to or about if the headliner or such does not fit right afterwards if I do it myself, but odds are that the job will be done right the first time. Drilling 7/8" holes in the roof for lights isn't too scary. Now, when I cut a large hole in my sister's car for a sunroof, that was kindof scary. The sunroof ending up looking great and was leak-free, even during our long winters.

Motorman's website said it right, "Then be prepared for every friend you ever had tell you (jokingly) "Hey those are crooked!"*

 

You've got it made with a 'donor' for comparison sitting right there!!

Not rocket science for sure, but it's 'always' a little un-nerving to drill holes in a virgin panel.. We do alot of two way radio installs, as well as lighting on brand new trucks in the fleet, and it always makes me nervous.. We don't like to hear...OH..OH!!! Nothing like drilling a hole in an untried area to find a bracket or ? behind it, or that you can't feed any wire there..

Shoot us a pic during/after the install.......

......................HP.................

 

At about 60.00 for the 'OEM' type lights (5) 'including' the wire harness, its worth the work to do it yourself, if the bone stock look is a must.. Some of the aftermarket lights don't need a 'large' hole to be drilled as they have provisions/clearance in their base for the light socket/plug.. Only a small hole for power/wire.. An easier install, that only requires 'minimal' headliner access to run wire.. Nice look'n lights too, and could save another 25.00 or so on the harness!!

.............................HP...................

 

NICE!!!!

I agree with everyone else in you don't know what the dealer will do to your $40,000.00 baby when they have it in the shop, behind closed doors. I stayed with my truck when they completed mine and watched the install. Listen to me i sound like and daddy watchen a doc give a kid their shots or something...

But very nice link. I will try to perform this on my next truck if they dont have the cab lights.


QUESTION???

Where is everyone buying their lights at?? The dealer or some third party vendor. Just wondering.


PSDboy

 

PSDboy..

Shop around.. Prices can vary 'some'.. The OEM style is available from KC lights and others I'm sure.. Prices may be 'coast' sensitive, as would shipping costs/distance.. The OEM light style is now manufactured by PACE ( I think).. # pac 20-235.. Their price is 46.99 for a set of five, (approx. 9.39 ea. + shipping/tax).. MY cost for Ford units is 7.50+ tax each wholesale.. About 10.00 or so retail.. A better deal from Ford if you can swing it than the KC deal, not to mention no shipping.. All and all, not a huge difference in price though..

..........................HP...................... ..