Auxiliary light wiring route

OK, so i see that a thread was started on HOW to hook up aux lights, dealing with the grounds, and all that jazz. I would like to know how you guys got the wiring INTO the truck. Im trying to do a really clean install on my forward facing and rear facing aux lights. the 2 i have on the bumper were easy enough, i just wired them into the existing fog light wiring.

i'd like to use the switches on the left side on the cluster for all my lights, and it seems like some of your trucks are set up in a similar manner. i just dont like a rats nest of wiring up top, and would like to avoid drilling holes in my roof.

any suggestions/close up pics of your installs/helpful hints?

as of now my conduit is external. since you have the snorkel that is the best place to hide the wires. you can run the conduit with the wiring from the lights down the inside edge of the snorkel into the hood. then you can make a ground in the engine compartment, put your relays and eveyrthing in there and then send the trigger wire with a power wire and ground thru the firewall where the rest of the wires go on the driver side foot well, you can pull them up into the dash by the fuse compartment and then finally up into the console to your switch.

I drilled a hole just inside of the factory roof rack mounts. I wouldnt recomend that cuz mine leaks every so often, just have to silicone it about 2 times a year. If your truck has a snorkel you can run the wires between that and the A piller, just use some black wire loom you wont really be able to notice it. I also seen a truck where they notched the top corner of the door jam and ran the wires threw there.

Witch ever way you decide to do it make sure you put a plug or disconects somewhere so you can remove the rack if needed, trust me it saves a headache later on if you end up respliceing wires.

If you drill a hole in the top corner of the rain gutter, You can run the wiring straight up behind the plastic A-pillar cover. The cover comes off, but you need to get new plastic retainer pins to put it back on.

durt d1ver wrote:

If you drill a hole in the top corner of the rain gutter, You can run the wiring straight up behind the plastic A-pillar cover. The cover comes off, but you need to get new plastic retainer pins to put it back on.

fancy... i gotta figure this out as well.

interesting ideas..pretty much the same thing i was considering. glad you guys could solidify it for me! lol

next up, is a dual battery setup ABsolutely neccesary for running the extra lights?

Dual batteries arent really a necesity for just lights. But if you have a winch on there also its definately worth the up grade. A higher amp alternater is worth looking into also, you can never have to mutch power.

Long Haul wrote:

Dual batteries arent really a necesity for just lights. But if you have a winch on there also its definately worth the up grade. A higher amp alternater is worth looking into also, you can never have to mutch power.

i have my dual battery tray, i just dont have the money for the second battery, i also need a good VSR that can handle a 240 amp alternator.

That's where i drilled to run my satellite radio antenna. Looking down from above the front corner. you can pretty much remove the whole area to the left of the hole also.

i need to see that in perosn. how does water not get in the truck? so that antenna wire is running from inside your truck into that exteranl side of the a pillar and into the engine bay?

The channel is outside of the truck, the trim panel essentially just covers up all the spot welds and body seams. It empties out near the hood cowl and fender. I then ran the wire under the fender, and then into the cab. Easiest for lights would be to run it under the hood to the relays.

got ya. where is a good place to get wire? i can't find crap in westchester. i need to rewire my rear lights. im going to run it like how you show it, ill just run conduit right up to it.

Mine are routed under the rubber windshield piece and the switch is wired through the driver side gromment. It's nothing extravagent but it looks fine and was easy.

suh-weeet. thanks for the pic man! might get a chance to do it tmorrow. it's not like we're wheeling at night this weekend though, so im sure'll ill be ok.

good luck, let us know how you make out!

well, i got the work lights in the rear hooked up. i figured those would come in handy alot more than the 4 giant forward facing ones.

its not the prettiest wiring job ive done, but its held together by duct tape and zip ties. and that's pretty much my MO, lol

devitor wrote:

well, i got the work lights in the rear hooked up. i figured those would come in handy alot more than the 4 giant forward facing ones.

its not the prettiest wiring job ive done, but its held together by duct tape and zip ties. and that's pretty much my MO, lol

My entire truck is held together by duct take zip ties and bunge tie downs.

Jake wrote:

My entire truck is held together by duct take zip ties and bunge tie downs.

sounds like i might get along with you guys just fine, lol

devitor wrote:

Jake wrote:

My entire truck is held together by duct take zip ties and bunge tie downs.

sounds like i might get along with you guys just fine, lol

Seriously though I am going to have to tape my passanger side mirror on so uhaul will let me rent a tow dolly lol and my bumper end caps are falling off too. My truck is a mess right now