Christmas lights on grill?

14thegipper · 12-06-2004, 04:21 PM

Wondering how I can hook up christmas lights on the grill of my car...

Can I just use a strand of regular ac lights and splice off the headlight wires?

Obvioulsy I am a bit challanged in the electric department.

Thanks :xmas13:

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ChickenLover · 12-06-2004, 04:24 PM

If you go pick up a power inverter you can use a regular plug in. Walmart has em for about 30 bucks. It's a good thing to have in your rig anyway. They make power inverters that plug into your cig outlet and inverters that hook directly onto your battery.

Paul H. · 12-06-2004, 04:27 PM

Be careful, in some states, lights on the grill are illegal.

ChickenLover · 12-06-2004, 04:32 PM

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=1818510

Yamaha+Toyota=Fun · 12-06-2004, 06:12 PM

Dude thats gonna be so sweet, we gotta get some pics!!

Scofco · 12-06-2004, 06:20 PM

There is a garbage truck that rolls around every year on it's route COVERED in christmas lights. It looks so awesome.

I need to get a photo of it this year.

Ontos · 12-06-2004, 06:24 PM

If you poke around at Wal-Mart, sometimes you can find ones that run off of 2 C-Cells....thats how I rig up my front wreath with lights. And if some cop is going to give me a ticket for christmas lights, then I'll let him! But I know who'll get coal in his stocking this year.........

KING · 12-06-2004, 07:57 PM

Can anyone indentify how good that power inverter from Wal-mart is?

ChickenLover · 12-06-2004, 08:04 PM

I have that exact one pictured above. I have ran my laptop, portable dvd player, computer speakers and a cell phone charger on it all at the same time with no problems. It's small enough to fit under my seat when not in use. Money well spent IMO.

turboale · 12-06-2004, 08:57 PM

Yeah,
Thats how much they cost... places just marked them sky high because they were "new technology" A buddy got me one for christmas when he worked at Bestbuy and the $75 ones only were $35 (thats 5% over cost). Mine is a 275watt and has two plugs but honestly I don't know if Ive used both at the same time...

Unless you know your going to be needing two plugs that one above should suit you just fine.

As for the christmas lights... get the battery powered ones. These inverters are not made to go outside the cabin in which case you'd have to string them from inside the truck down. Battery powered ones are your best bet.

jimbo74 · 12-06-2004, 09:09 PM

they might hassle you for red and blue lights on the frill... but for christmas lights they probably wont say anything....

turboale · 12-06-2004, 09:17 PM

If you can live with the white lights definately go that wroute... you will get much less flack from the po if you do...

my .02...

sabre · 12-07-2004, 06:07 AM

what about stringing them around a roof rack? Wouldnt that be safer than on the grill?

tulsa_97SR5 · 12-07-2004, 06:46 AM

Earlier this year when our power was out for 4 days I picked up two of these at sam's club, 500w/1000w peak. Used the 4runner as a generator, it was enough to power a laptop, cable modem, wireless router, radio and a few lights. Everytime i'm in there they still have 'em.

VECTOR
POWER INVERTER 500 WATT
Item: 148648
Price: $28.87

Colemanfu · 12-07-2004, 07:16 AM

No lights on the grill but I did add some red garlin around my Light Force's and a strip in the lower grill. Makes it look like it's smiling!

Marc M · 12-07-2004, 04:57 PM

Just go buy an '05 Tacoma. Mine has a 115 volt plug in the bed, just run an extension cord to the front for your lights....

It's just that easy.........

Marc

Scofco · 12-25-2005, 11:30 PM

Searching for something and came across this thread...
I did lights on my rack this year using an inverter.

ErikJeanna · 12-26-2005, 01:03 PM

I did mine this year as well... just for Xmas eve. I probably had about a 100 people either cheer, flash their lights or honk when they saw me. Just about everyone rubbernecked to get a gander. I had lights from front to rear and plugged them all in from the rear using my power inverter. Here are some photos:

ebelen1 · 12-26-2005, 01:56 PM

Erik, that's awesome. Next year, you need more lights on the body...

ErikJeanna · 12-26-2005, 06:45 PM

Next year I'm getting those "net lights" for hedges and draping them across the truck. I'm also going to put some stupid blow up scene or something on the racks. Should be funny... huge mud tires humming down the road with Frosty the Snowman surfing on top!

X-AWDriver · 12-27-2005, 06:55 AM

**BLING**

payyourtoll · 12-29-2005, 02:00 PM

had to say that is very cool. Christmas lights + big truck = bliss for my kid if he saw it lol

12-06-2004, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChickenLover Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NV Posts: 2,583	If you go pick up a power inverter you can use a regular plug in. Walmart has em for about 30 bucks. It's a good thing to have in your rig anyway. They make power inverters that plug into your cig outlet and inverters that hook directly onto your battery. __________________ 95 4Runner, 3VZE , 141k, 4WD, Auto. (Head gaskets replaced at 106k) Last edited by ChickenLover; 12-06-2004 at 04:26 PM.

12-06-2004, 04:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
ChickenLover Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NV Posts: 2,583	http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=1818510 __________________ 95 4Runner, 3VZE , 141k, 4WD, Auto. (Head gaskets replaced at 106k)

12-06-2004, 06:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Yamaha+Toyota=Fun Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bellingham, Washington and Ketchikan, Alaska Posts: 1,081	Dude thats gonna be so sweet, we gotta get some pics!! __________________ 92 pickup... sold 90 integra- b18b turbo, intercooled, 10 lbs of boost, 240 whp... blown up 79 2wd yota pickup

12-06-2004, 06:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scofco Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,577	There is a garbage truck that rolls around every year on it's route COVERED in christmas lights. It looks so awesome. I need to get a photo of it this year. __________________

12-06-2004, 06:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ontos Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern Nevada Posts: 139	If you poke around at Wal-Mart, sometimes you can find ones that run off of 2 C-Cells....thats how I rig up my front wreath with lights. And if some cop is going to give me a ticket for christmas lights, then I'll let him! But I know who'll get coal in his stocking this year......... __________________ 1999 4Runner 5spd. - Headers, Cat-back, Safari rack, Hella 3000's topside, Hella 1000's up front, Rear flood lights, 265/75/16 BFG A/T's, some more odds and ends......and of course, the "wonder-mutts" 1991 Trooper 2.6L 5 spd- Enjoying a well deserved retirement after surviving 309,000 miles, 4 continents, too many "field fixes" to count, 1 ex-wife, and a grizzly bear

12-06-2004, 07:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
KING Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: PEORIA, AZ Posts: 1,853	Can anyone indentify how good that power inverter from Wal-mart is?

12-06-2004, 08:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
ChickenLover Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NV Posts: 2,583	I have that exact one pictured above. I have ran my laptop, portable dvd player, computer speakers and a cell phone charger on it all at the same time with no problems. It's small enough to fit under my seat when not in use. Money well spent IMO. __________________ 95 4Runner, 3VZE , 141k, 4WD, Auto. (Head gaskets replaced at 106k) Last edited by ChickenLover; 12-06-2004 at 08:06 PM.

12-06-2004, 08:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
turboale Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,836	Yeah, Thats how much they cost... places just marked them sky high because they were "new technology" A buddy got me one for christmas when he worked at Bestbuy and the $75 ones only were $35 (thats 5% over cost). Mine is a 275watt and has two plugs but honestly I don't know if Ive used both at the same time... Unless you know your going to be needing two plugs that one above should suit you just fine. As for the christmas lights... get the battery powered ones. These inverters are not made to go outside the cabin in which case you'd have to string them from inside the truck down. Battery powered ones are your best bet. __________________ --Austin RHaus NYC 06 M45 Sport - Beauty 96 4Runner - The Beast Last edited by turboale; 12-06-2004 at 09:00 PM.

12-06-2004, 09:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
jimbo74 Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 6,582	they might hassle you for red and blue lights on the frill... but for christmas lights they probably wont say anything....

12-06-2004, 09:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
turboale Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,836	If you can live with the white lights definately go that wroute... you will get much less flack from the po if you do... my .02... __________________ --Austin RHaus NYC 06 M45 Sport - Beauty 96 4Runner - The Beast

12-07-2004, 06:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
sabre Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rochester,NY Posts: 770	what about stringing them around a roof rack? Wouldnt that be safer than on the grill? __________________ '01 SR5 4x4 Millenium Silver Added ♠ Roofrack ♠ Sunroof wind deflector ♠ Ventvisor ♠ Clear corners ♠ Clear turns ♠ Clear bug deflector ♠ Color matched running boards ♠ JVC-KD-SH99 MP3 player deck (Silver of course) Foremost Web Hosting

12-07-2004, 06:46 AM	#14 (permalink)
tulsa_97SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: tulsa, OK Posts: 1,329	Earlier this year when our power was out for 4 days I picked up two of these at sam's club, 500w/1000w peak. Used the 4runner as a generator, it was enough to power a laptop, cable modem, wireless router, radio and a few lights. Everytime i'm in there they still have 'em. VECTOR POWER INVERTER 500 WATT Item: 148648 Price: $28.87 __________________ Brian 85 sr5, 5spd - back on the road, doing DD duty for now 86 2wd reg cab - future project 90 sr5, 97 - gone

12-07-2004, 07:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
Colemanfu Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DAYTONA USA Posts: 156	No lights on the grill but I did add some red garlin around my Light Force's and a strip in the lower grill. Makes it look like it's smiling! __________________ Colemanfu DAYTONA USA 2004 4Runner sr5 v6 4x4 3' Revteck lift, 275/70/17(32.5x11) Lightforce 170's, reflector mod, spoiler, super tint 00' KTM LC4 640

12-07-2004, 04:57 PM	#16 (permalink)
Marc M Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Washington, Pennsylvania Posts: 16	Just go buy an '05 Tacoma. Mine has a 115 volt plug in the bed, just run an extension cord to the front for your lights.... It's just that easy......... Marc __________________ '06 Tacoma Dbl-cab, 4X4, V6, 6-spd, SR5/TRD Off Road.... '90 4Runner 4X4 SR5 5-Spd '86 Shortbed 4X4 5-Spd, SAS'd ASAP '82 Supra 5-Spd Take your automatic and "Stick" it........ My Web Album in Progress

12-25-2005, 11:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
Scofco Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,577	Searching for something and came across this thread... I did lights on my rack this year using an inverter. __________________

12-27-2005, 06:55 AM	#21 (permalink)
X-AWDriver Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Littleton,CO Posts: 10,174	BLING __________________ '99 4Runner Highlander 4wd E-locker,rear diff and deckplate mod * 265/75/16 Nitto TerraGrapplers * Yakima Load Warrior rack * clear corners/signals * Tacoma skidplate * Silverstar lamps/fogs Alpine CDA-9831,Bazooka EL Series 250w amp,MTX 10" sub

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12-26-2005, 01:03 PM	#18 (permalink)
ErikJeanna Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 643	I did mine this year as well... just for Xmas eve. I probably had about a 100 people either cheer, flash their lights or honk when they saw me. Just about everyone rubbernecked to get a gander. I had lights from front to rear and plugged them all in from the rear using my power inverter. Here are some photos: __________________ DON'T SHOOT! I'm an involuntary traitor to the Toyota world. This WAS my Toyota... a loaded 1998 4Runner SR5 2wd Check out my Sound Domain web page to see it in all it's glory!

12-26-2005, 01:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
ebelen1 Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Socal Posts: 1,964	Erik, that's awesome. Next year, you need more lights on the body... __________________ ____________ Edwin 1999 SR5 4unner

12-26-2005, 06:45 PM	#20 (permalink)
ErikJeanna Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 643	Next year I'm getting those "net lights" for hedges and draping them across the truck. I'm also going to put some stupid blow up scene or something on the racks. Should be funny... huge mud tires humming down the road with Frosty the Snowman surfing on top! __________________ DON'T SHOOT! I'm an involuntary traitor to the Toyota world. This WAS my Toyota... a loaded 1998 4Runner SR5 2wd Check out my Sound Domain web page to see it in all it's glory!

12-29-2005, 02:00 PM	#22 (permalink)
payyourtoll Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: FL Posts: 1,467	had to say that is very cool. Christmas lights + big truck = bliss for my kid if he saw it lol __________________ Rob

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