anyone know how to mount and place underbody rock/ flood lights. more of a flood light so when you open the door they come on along with all of the interior lights. kinda like what they have on fire trucks. i really want to do this to my '96 but i have no idea even how to get started. and i have no clue about wiring. any ideas and suggestions are welcome.

thanks.

I dont have my bronco to go look at (getting a new engine) but on my 89 buick Century I did this with my underglow. Inside the door jam by the hinges their was a pressure switch for the dome light. I just spliced in to that so when you open the door in turns on. I thought it was a cool way to show the neon off cause you cant run them in michigan when the car is in motion. The neon had very low draw thoght so I dont think I would splice rock lights in like that.

Just find the hot wire for your inside lights that come on when you open the door. The switch should be in the door jam area. Splice into that wire and run to the flood lights you have mounted. Then ground the other wire on the flood light and you should be good. Good luck

Just find the hot wire for your inside lights that come on when you open the door. The switch should be in the door jam area. Splice into that wire and run to the flood lights you have mounted. Then ground the other wire on the flood light and you should be good. Good luck

Yeah .............that'll work.:wacko

That spliced wire would work as a turn on lead for relays powering those lights. Search here for off road light wiring and you will find a ton of info including diagrams of how to wire that kinda stuff up.

If you want them as rock lights for off roading you will need to wire in a switch prolly a three-way to have em off, on, or on the door lead.

i cant tell you about the wiring since mine are to switches but here is placement ideas
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/311736/fullsize/picture-670.jpg

whole album
http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/4953/33076

TEX Can you tell me which light is it that puts the light straight to the side out in front of your front tires?

and where exactly does this light shine?
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/306673/fullsize/picture-662.jpg

Looking at your pics I may have to steal wherever it is that those front ones are... really good side visibility..

anyone know how to mount and place underbody rock/ flood lights.

I mounted a pair of Piaa P3000's driving lights to a lip on the bottom of the floor, pointing outwards, and centered between the tires:

with flash on:
http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights_(flash).JPG



with flash off:
http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights_(no_flash).JPG



The light at the front is a tractor lamp that is covered in welding splatter, but I have a set of Hella 550FF that I will be putting under there soon.

I used this set-up on the last two trips and having the Piaa's firing outwards was awesome. Lots of light under and beside the truck.

As for your wiring, just hook up a relay to be triggered by the dome light, and maybe a three way switch so you can dis-able them when/if you want to.

As for your wiring, just hook up a relay to be triggered by the dome light, and maybe a three way switch so you can dis-able them when/if you want to.

Sounds familiar....................................

:goodfinge

Bronco Boy you didnt mount it to the fram but to the floor? Got any pics of the mounting, wiring, and lights you used?

stan the man,
do as joe stated. Find the hot wire that goes to one of your lights (say the dome light in the rear. Once you find what color that is (assuming ford didnt change it at the plug, pull the drivers side rear plastic wall/fender cover down. You will see a plug in there. Use one of those press on blue "t"'s that allow you to piggyback a wire off the main wire. I can get a pic later if you dont know what I am talking about. Run the wire down through the brakelight housing hole (there is a seam in the fender that will allow you to run the wire down) and then run it into the engine compartment, or somewhere "dry". Then, using one or two output relay from the autoparts store (it will have one or two number 87 terminals depending n how may lights you plan to run, like pass and drivers side. One would be dead in the middle and one would be an outside terminal. Make sure its not an 87a in the middle, thats not what you want). Then wire the relay. I know that the 87's are the output leads to the lights, the 30 is the input lead from the battery (use a larger wire, at least 10 gauge) and IIRC, the switch lead from the light plug inside goes to the 85 terminal, and the 86 terminal is the ground. There are several good spots inside the engine area for existing grounds. If it doesnt work, I have the 85/86 backswards. Dont forget to put a fuse on the main battery wire.

I have three lights per side as rock lights off a single switch using two relays. I used cheap fog lights from harbor freight. they are mounted to the frame and underside lip like chris stated. It really doesnt matter where you mount them, as long as its secure.

That looks cool, I wonder if there is an LED solution. Low voltage and low profile. Something for me to look into, thanks for the idea....

yeah, there are tons of cool LED's, they just arent cheap

Bronco Boy you didnt mount it to the fram but to the floor? Got any pics of the mounting, wiring, and lights you used?
Yes, to the floor. I'll get some pics of the lights on the weekend. The wiring was just from my old rock lights, and you can't see it. ;)

TEX Can you tell me which light is it that puts the light straight to the side out in front of your front tires?

and where exactly does this light shine?
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/306673/fullsize/picture-662.jpg

Looking at your pics I may have to steal wherever it is that those front ones are... really good side visibility..

that light is one of the lights mounted to shine in front of the front tires

the light that is mounted to shine light to the front of the front tires are mounted to the frame (some random hole i found on each side) and tucked up inside the bumper. at least I think this is the answer you were looking for.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/306674/fullsize/picture-663.jpg
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/306672/fullsize/picture-661.jpg

one light in the exact location on each side.
this one is about at the middle of the frame, just about the back edge of the door
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/311731/fullsize/picture-666.jpg
and rear wheelwell
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/306675/fullsize/picture-664.jpg
granted at the time of these pics, and still today, the lights are not aimed anywhere in paticular. they were put in place and test wired up. Just got enough wiring done to hook them up and see if they work since my interior is still halfway ripped out.

speaking of which I need two new bulbs...need to find some

Thanks for all the info guys... I ran my Dads superduty into my Grandpas field during thanksgiving to clean his Sat dishs. and I couldn't see a thing when I was backing up, I think this will defently help,

this is what I did for my superfuty
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/155253/fullsize/bumper2.jpg

this is what I did for my superfuty
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/155253/fullsize/bumper2.jpg


Good idea, I remember on Xtreme 4X4 they had a bolt on bumper for the superduty that had 2 lights like that, and it looked WORSE Then stock,

That is the best of both worlds... but he has the backup sensors and I dont think I can talk him into it. :toothless

i mounted some for a buddy by welding two tabs to the hitch, and wired them off the trailer light plug. Super easy to do

My local Sam's Club has these cheapo 18-LED 12V rechargeable drop lights for $20ea right now. I'm giving them as Xmas gifts to a few mechanics & I even got one for my g/f to give to ME. :D I'll probably go get a couple more.

Since they're 12V, you can wire them to constantly recharge as you drive & use them as portable worklights, or direct-wire them (no battery) so they're area lights.

Or if you're electronically-inclined, you can rewire them internally so you can switch them on&off remotely, but have them recharge whenever the engine is running. That'd make them perfect for rock lights.

I can't find them online, though. :shrug

i cant tell you about the wiring since mine are to switches but here is placement ideas
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/311736/fullsize/picture-670.jpg

whole album
http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/4953/33076

How did that kit work? That is the one is the stuff I sold you right?

Bronco Boy you didnt mount it to the fram but to the floor? Got any pics of the mounting, wiring, and lights you used?

All pics are here (http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights.html).



Left light:

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights_01.JPG




Right light:

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights_05.JPG




Front light:

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights_03.JPG




Switch: (it's the middle one)

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights_06.JPG




Wiring schematic:

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Light_Wiring_Schematic.JPG

those side lights look to be filled with water.

I did this to my Screw, its a great mod. I guess my bronco is next.

those side lights look to be filled with water.
It's an optical illusion. :toothless

I put a layer of packing tape on each lens to prevent rock chips/cracks.

good idea

those side lights look to be filled with water.It's an optical illusion. :toothlessI might have been born at night, but I wasn't born LAST night! :histerica I know water when I see it. ;) And this is WATER.

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Rock_Lights/Rock_Lights_05.JPG

I might have been born at night, but I wasn't born LAST night! :histerica I know water when I see it. ;) And this is WATER.
Dear Mr. Water Expert,
What you think is water is a bump in the tape. There is condensation on the lens, but no water.

Feel free to come do a visual inspection at your liesure. :goodfinge

good idea
Ya, my buddy did it on his CJ as his light is mounted on the rear axle firing forward:

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Trip_Reports/2006/November_12-06_@_Hut_Lakes_33.JPG


Three years later and it is still alive! :thumbup