[Bills_Fan]

I haven't posted in awhile and not sure if this is the right location for this. However over the weekend I took a splurge and purchased a 20" light bar. I wanted to go with a 30" however I couldn't locate one. So Here goes. A friend of mine is a volunteer fireman and installed for me. I kept reading how everyone had to remove the entire bumper however he didn't. All he did was remove the grill and screwed it in. He took all the measurements to verify accurate centering etc. Cut three or four slats from the middle. and wired everything. I did forget the to take a picture of the switch we wired and I will try to get it up soon.

 

[optimus29]

Very nice job.. Fast and not taking whole bumper off saves a lot of time!!!!

 

[Bills_Fan]

Very nice job.. Fast and not taking whole bumper off saves a lot of time!!!!

I couldn't believe how quick he had the job done. Took him an hour! :smile:

 

[bulwnkl]

Very cool!

 

[S.T.U.V]

Im curious on what he screwed it to....Dont remember there being any metal behind there...

 

[Bills_Fan]

Im curious on what he screwed it to....Dont remember there being any metal behind there...

There us a metal bar behind the main part of the bumper. I was not paying attention as to where he screwed in I believe it was the top but again i could be wrong

 

[S.T.U.V]

There us a metal bar behind the main part of the bumper. I was not paying attention as to where he screwed in I believe it was the top but again i could be wrong

The bumper reinforcement is behind the license plate. Which is below the light bar. Should get us a close up picture.

 

[OhSix]

There us a metal bar behind the main part of the bumper. I was not paying attention as to where he screwed in I believe it was the top but again i could be wrong

There is metal behind the cover but the cover is pure plastic and "floats" in front of the *real* bumper behind it. If the LED bar is mounted to metal, it would mean the installation was pretty precise, with brackets fashioned in a way that places it in alignement with the cover, not attached to the cover. Unless the installer is quite skilled, its doubtful the LED bar is actually mounted to metal - that is - unless the brackets are pliable (like generic strapping) allowing them to be bent into position as and after the cover is put in place. And if thats the way the bar is mounted, the metal bumper we don't see is pretty robust, thick and folded over muli-layered - meaning no fun to drill into.

Easy way to know if the LED bar is attached to the plastic cover is grab it and lightly wiggle. If wiggling the bar moves the cover - thats what its mounted to - and I would suggest if it is - that is less than optimal as simply driving will cause the weight of the bar to flex the plastic, eventually stressing it into weakness even IF the bar is backed up with strapping behind the plastic. Take the RL rough roading and the stress is amplified.

If I were you, I'd make sure you know how the bar is attached to the vehicle - because - it matters.