Now that I have my roof rack, I want to put some lights up there. How in the world did you guys wire the lights. On a 4runner that is. It wasn't a problem when I had a truck, but where do you run the wire on a 4runner. Did you drill? :eek: Or did you tuck the wire in the door down the sill or something? Thanks for the help.

 

You can do it cleanly without drilling. I know Corey has shown several people how to do this recently. This thread should help you out

 

JSB, I lost my entire website last week as a server blew up with my host.

I am on a new one now.
The link in the URL above from Joey won't work, and I will have to see if I have the vids on my computer.
If not, I'll make new ones

But running the wires on the roof is easy.
I ran them down the rubber gasket that goes along the roof, down the frame of the sill up there, and through a hole by the fender and into the engine bay.

Give me a few hours or so, or tonight, and I'll get some fresh pics.

 

Awesome!

Thanks guys. I decided last night it needs something, so lights it is! If I keep spending this money though, I'll never get my new wheels.

Corey, tonight's fine. I don't have the lights yet...I wanted to make sure it was possible with out having a ton of wire dangling on my roof.

Thanks again,
Jeremy

 

Check out my website - I've run the wires down the roof rack an in through the hatch. I've got pics and stuff on my site. I've got 3 sets (6 lights) of Hella 500s on my rack wired that way.

 

Jackson how many relays are you running with that set up? I plan to get a Yak Rack when I get back to the states and want to put at least 4 Hella's on top of it. I already have 2 relays for my brushgaurd hella's and my fogs and don't want to have very many more.. Thanks

 

Jackson,

Nice setup. I bought the same rack.
I'm probably going to put 4 Hella's up there as well.

UKMyers brings up a good question. I've never put relays on my lights. This may be a stupid question, but why do you need relays.

 

So you don't burn up the switches.

 

JSB, just made a page with some info on it.
There are pics and one video on it.

http://64.127.247.125/tech/roof_light_wiring/

Also note that in our Tech section here at Yotatech, I have a write-up in the Electrical section on how to wire up lights with relays.
Yes, you must use a relay to do it properly.

 

That explains why I kept burning through switches when I had three 200,000 candle light power KC day lighters on my old truck. Of course that's when I was 18. I just kept buying bigger/heavy duty switches.

Thanks for the info Corey!

 

Nice write up Corey...I need to figure out away to get the wires to that sill now. Unfortunately my rack is further back. Maybe I'll go down the back door and come back up through the fender. I'll do some chacking after work. Thanks again everyone.

 

If you need another idea, you can read my write-up as well.

 

Yea... when it comes to wiring, definitely do it right. I've got 1 fused relay for each set of lights.

 

Dang Darren, you have a great set up as well. I think I might have to do what you did, and just have a visible wire run to the door. I'm not going to be able to hide it like Corey or run it to the back hatch like Jackson. But that's okay, now that I've seen yours it doesn't look bad at all.

Hey Jackson, did you go with the Driving 500s or the Fog 500s. I was thinking the Driving might have a longer range of like, but they aren't as wide of a spread.

 

The 500s on the front of my rack are driving, the 500s on the back of my rack (not in any of the pics) are fogs. If you want to run fogs, but them lower on your rig. I would think that fogs up top would have to be aimed much lower to be of value - that will cause a lot of reflection on your hood.

 

Cool...That's kind of what I was thinking. Thanks!

It looks like 4X4 Connection has the best price too. I've looked around and can't find anything lower.

 

yea... I haven't seen anyone beat 4x4connection by more than a few dollars. Their customer service is terrific, and the sales people are very nice. Plus, they are on the east coast, which means shorter delivery times for me.