Offroad lights behind grille

tyhuck · February 9, 2014

Im thinking of putting some offroad lights behind the grille of my 07 Classic Silverado, but Im not sure how to mount them. Anyone done this, and how did you mount them?

tbhuge · February 10, 2014

I'm currently working on this as well, just haven't had the time to work on it. I'm putting 2 hella rally lights behind the grill. I'm going to mount a plate about the same level as the top of the bumper using those 2 holes central on the bumper as my front mounting point. I'm going to make 2 L brackets to drop down off where each side bolt is for the transmission cooler is as my back mounting points. I have my template made for this plate, but haven't had the time to transfer it to the sheet metal yet. I purchased the wiring kit also and am going to mount the switch where the cigarette lighter outlet is. I never use that outlet, so I'm just gonna get rid of it. I still have a few logistics to figure out, but that is where I am at so far.

tyhuck · February 11, 2014

Your bracket sounds like a pretty good plan. I might "borrow" that idea.

ONe concern I had was that the lights may get hot enough to melt the plastic grille if run for long periods of time. Any risk of this with a 100w or 130w driving light?

kstruckcountry · February 11, 2014

Do you have a particular light in mind?

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tbhuge · February 11, 2014

Mine are gonna be the hella rally 4000. I think they are 100 watt. I'm not too worried about it. I live in Alaska so temperature is low most of the year. There are a ton of people that run lights behind the grill up here on these models. Another LED light bar that I just found out about this weekend is Seward off-road lights. A buddy of mine has a 20" on his jeep. He has been running it for a while now with no complaints.

tyhuck · February 11, 2014

Do you have a particular light in mind? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not particularly. Probably a Hella or KC of some kind. something that I can get a pair of for around $100. Price is the main reason Im not going with an LED bar. Ide love to have a light bar, but I cant swing the $250+ price of all the ones Ive found.

tbhuge · February 12, 2014

HELLA H12560021 Rallye 4000 Series 12V/100W Halogen Euro Beam Lamp - Black Housing

I paid $113.61 ea on Amazon. Wiring kit was $55. So right there I am just shy of $300. These are tried and true lights though. You get what you pay for. So an LED bar for $250 is around the same price. Thatst he first one I have seen around that price that someone had a positive review of. Most in that price range are junk and the good ones in that size are $400+ If that is over your budget right now, then I would wait and save a little bit more and get something that will last and be able to light up the road.

tyhuck · February 13, 2014

What about the old tried-&-true KC Daylighters. I can get a pair of those for around $100 all day long. Are those not any good anymore?

tyhuck · February 13, 2014

Here is the bumper Im gonna be running on the truck. Its go about 9" of real-estate that I can mount stuff to, so it got me to thinking. Can I mount the lights on the bumper in front of the grille without a light hoop and it look OK. Im concerned it might look odd without a light bar.

tbhuge · February 14, 2014

My opinion is I would think it would look silly with a light hoop and that sweet bumper. I would just mount straight to the top of the bumper. If you are worried about the lights being damaged during any off road excursions, you could add a hoop going over top of the lights to surround them and a step beyond that would be to add a mesh in front of the lights.