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Old 08-14-2017, 06:34 PM   #1
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Curved LED light bar instal

After months of putting it off, I finally installed my LED light bar this weekend.

I already had a roof rack, but I haven't been a fan of the 8" overhang the rack had. Now that prices have come down, I paid $100, I purchased a curved LED light bar, who's curve matched the my fiberglass highroof's roofline curve pretty well. I also wanted to make a new header from 1-1/2" round tube, bent with a subtle radius to match the roof line, and the curved LED light bar at the same time.

I had Scott's Speed and Custom (Antioch, CA) create the new header for me, rolling the gentel curve into a length of 1-1/2" diameter x .060" wall steel tubing. Then broke out the metal fab tools, ladders, and went to work.







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Old 08-14-2017, 06:44 PM   #2
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"It'll only take a few hours" I said "measure, a little cutting, cope in the round tube to the square tube, grind, fit, weld, paint to match... I'll be done before dinner!" I told myself
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Old 08-14-2017, 06:49 PM   #3
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I wound up making my own steel brackets, for a snug, recessed back, fit. I wanted the Light bar to be protected against the occasional low hanging tree limbs and what-not, allowing shrubs to rub the new header bar.







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Old 08-14-2017, 06:52 PM   #4
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FWIW If you are doing any welding in the vicinity of a decent windshield, I highly covering any glass with a fiberglass welding blanket! Weld spatter, no matter how small, tears up wiper blades faster than you can buy and install new ones!
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Old 08-14-2017, 08:06 PM   #5
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Cool, that looks great.

I'm commissioning Mike at xtreme to make A pillar mounts to hold a curved 52" light above the windsheild.. so if anyone else is interested, let me know!
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Old 08-14-2017, 08:31 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by rallypanam View Post
Cool, that looks great.

I'm commissioning Mike at xtreme to make A pillar mounts to hold a curved 52" light above the windsheild.. so if anyone else is interested, let me know!


Mike certainly knows his craft. Good choice Rob.

Tim


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Old 08-15-2017, 07:11 AM   #7
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Any wind buffeting from the light?
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Old 08-15-2017, 08:35 AM   #8
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Any wind buffeting from the light?
A way to alleviate buffeting is attach some streamers on the back of the light and in most cases no issues.
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Old 08-15-2017, 08:59 AM   #9
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Mike certainly knows his craft. Good choice Rob.

Tim
I'd been talking to various places over the last few years, and working on ideas myself, when I found myself talking to Mike. Decided he could get it done well a lot easier and quicker than me.. I've already been on it for 2 years!

And Ray was headed his way and could bring my light, and Mike can use Ray's van as a template. Easy as pie!
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Old 08-15-2017, 11:16 AM   #10
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Mike certainly knows his craft. Good choice Rob.
I couldn't agree more. Everything I have seen of his has been top quality. Tien, how did he end up hooking up your shower drain?
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