95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Roof Rack Lights

Old Jul 29, 2003 | 09:07 AM
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Roof Rack Lights

So anyone got Pics... of where the heck to run wires for roof mounted lights? and where they grounded it?

<stares at Corey>

Anyone?
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 09:31 AM
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Ducky

The one I saw ran the wires up from the engine bay, into the fender and up where the stock aerial used to go using some flexible conduit.

On mine with the rear window spoiler I'm going to run mine out under the spoiler where the cabling comes out for the high level brake light. Then I will run it along the roof rack via flexible conduit (or maybe inside the roof rails (mine are hollow aftermarket ones). I'll put a connector under the spoiler so that the whole lot can be removed as one.

I have also heard of people running the cable up the inside of a Snorkel.

Cheers
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 10:55 AM
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Check out my webpage. I run them along the rack, along the rear hatch opening, then under the carpeting to the front of my rig where I wire them to a switch and ground them.
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 11:40 AM
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This is the way I did my roof lights a few years ago.

Works for me.
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 12:24 PM
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...

Corey...

Did you run both the wire for the positive and negative or did you ground it somewhere up top? and just ran the one hot wire to splice it...
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 12:55 PM
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Both wires are run down together side by side, and the ground is in the engine bay.
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 02:12 PM
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pop the end cap off the front of your roof rack rails. see that hole? goes right down the pillar to the engine bay. use plenty of sealant, and voila! a nice, clean roof install of some pretty lighting.

assuming you have a roof rack, that is.

-bd
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 06:41 PM
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I tried routing the wires through the holes under the factory roof rack rail cap, but couldn't get the wires to cooperate. I ended up doing the same thing as Corey (BTW, thanks Corey!), except I grounded the lights to the rack and only had to run one positive engine wire to the engine bay.
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Old Jul 29, 2003 | 10:53 PM
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I just have one + & - wire going down the pillar also.
The lights are tied into each other on the roof.

The wire behind the weather stripping is holding up really great.
Better than I thoguht it would.
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Old Jul 30, 2003 | 04:49 AM
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just to clarify, i just have one + going down the pillar. no - because the lights are grounded to the rack.
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Old Jul 30, 2003 | 10:51 AM
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Not sure how 3rd generations are, but for my 2nd gen I ran a positive wire from the engine bay, though the firewall, then up along the inside of thee roof where the factory wires for the sunroof are (drivers side). I then drilled a small hole to run the wire out of and grounded the lights to the roof rack. Sealed the hole with 100% silicone and its ready to go. If you have a factory wiring hole, though, I would definitely use that. Also, I would use a relay to trigger the power on and off.

Heres is a pic of the wire coming out of the roof, the relay near the master cylinder, and (had to throw it in) the finished roof rack.






Last edited by szf2; Jul 30, 2003 at 10:55 AM.
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Old Jul 30, 2003 | 11:23 AM
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Originally posted by transalper
I ended up doing the same thing as Corey (BTW, thanks Corey!), except I grounded the lights to the rack and only had to run one positive engine wire to the engine bay.
excellent jay. what the hell, corey's methods are tried and true. as long as you got the performance and look you wanted, you're ahead of the game.

-bd
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