2nd Gen LED Light Bars, anybody?

Looking for some more info. on adding a 40-42” led light bar to the lower bumper area of my 2nd Gen. Anybody done this?

I can only find where Rago Fab offers a bracket for a hidden 40” bar and they only provide 1 pic. which sucks.

I’m wondering a few things...curved or straight bar for this application? I’d like it flush with bumper and not hidden 4” behind that plastic lower bumper piece. Cut bumper to flush it or not worth it? I’m not interested in a light bar/bull bar kinda thing or roof mounted. Want it built into truck bumper...

In any sense, just looking for more info on the subject for our second gens, I’m hoping there’s some build threads out there I’m not finding in my searches.

Thanks

 

Bump. Anyone?

Just scooped the rigid 40" from Amazon. Probably going to cut the bumper and fit it in there, though I'll try behind first to see what kind of output can be achieved.

 

I’ll be wrapping up the install of a 40” Rigid Radiance with a Rago Hidden Bumper bar today, not planning on cutting plastic bumper, but we’ll see.

Having some issues with the Rago brackets...got them in and they only sat about 1/4” above aluminum bumper, the screw to attach the Rigid sits about an 1” high. No bueno. I undid everything and reinstalled the brackets using only the top 2 holes, essentially lifting the bracket by an entire hole length. Hopefully it all goes together today. Really surprised these Rago brackets aren’t a “perfect fit” (like described to me by Mario) as $85 is a bit much to still have to modify or whatever...

 

I installed 3 smaller light bars in the bumper and liked it. I rarely used them so ended up putting them on my rzr. These were KC Hilites Flex units.

 

Not a 40-42 but:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/light-bar-install.7882/

 

I’ve noticed those 2007-2009’s have 3 equally long openings above license plate while 2010+ have a larger opening in the middle and two smaller openings on the sides...looks good

 

The middle is slightly larger, I fit 6 pods in the center and 5 on the sides. I’d like to replace this valence with the 2010+

 

Here she is, 40” Rigid Radiance LED light bar mounted with Rago Fabrication 40-42” Hidden Bumper Bar Brackets.

What I learned:
Rago brackets were not a perfect fit for me. Initial instal, using the 3 holes the brackets were too low, had to raise brackets, using only 2 of 3 holes. That raised it too much, had to drill out the hole a bit and then bend down brackets with a ratchet strap, that did the trick. Ugly and not happy to have paid $84 for them considering they weren’t a perfect, easy instal as described.

A “slim” light bar would be best, even know I have my Rigid mounted just above the aluminum bumper, like 2mm above it, the top of the LED lights are cut off by top of bumper. Nothing I can do to lower the bar any further. If it were a slim bar I don’t think anything would block the lights. I was not able to lower the aluminum bumper that it’s mounted just above as it’s as low as can go already, they do have play in mounting holes.

I see no point in ever cutting the plastic “webbing” on the plastic bumper, wouldn’t really do much or give you much more light output...this isn’t a 3rd gen., I see no way to make the LED flush with the front bumper, it’s always gonna be tucked in there an inch or two, not far, just not as neat as 3rd gens in my opinion.

All in all super stoked, especially for the price Rigid is letting these bars go for...

 

I’m a firm believer that the 2nd gen. 40”-42” light bar bracket that I have from Rago is the EXACT same product as the 30”-32” 3rd gen bumper bracket. I had to do a LOT of work to get the Rago to fit the light bar (even know they sold the exact same light bar/bumper bracket as a package)(and bolt on). I could have made my 40” (ish) brackets become 32”(ish) brackets by flipping the left side upside down and using it in the right side and vice versa with the other side. These both bolt directly on to the 3 bolts that hold on the bumper reinforcement behind our front bumper, we have the same truck (minus some small cosmetic variances) and the same bumper reinforcement, why would they be different? My theory is that Rago markets yours as 30-32” because of the small change in front bumpers between the 2nd and 3rd gen., I’ve never got to remove the front bumper from a 3rd so I can’t tell you what exactly is holding them back from marketing yours as either a 40-42” or 30-32”. Nor do I know why they don’t market the 2nd gen 40-42” as also 30-32”....

this is how my bracket looked after simply removing my bumper reinforcement, inserting the Rago brackets (essentially as a thin spacer) and then reinstalling bumper bracket. Obviously I had to do a ton of work to raise the bracket high enough for the light bar BUT...the brackets were also 2.5” WIDE for my 40” rigid radiance on each side!, so I had to deal with that...let’s say for $80 brackets I was not happy. Leads me back to believing they are basically made for the 3rd gen but can “fit” a 2nd gen. I dunno, just one mans experience...




you tell me the difference...

 

That’s what I have...

 

rigid , cant remember what model. stock brackets went right into factory bolts. hidden but still lights up the world when on

 

Any close up of how it is mounted?

 

I recently added a Cali Raised LED 43” light bar in the bumper valance. I installed insert nuts into the metal bumper so the light can be easily removed. I made some simple L brackets for mounting.

 

I wish I did that and saved myself $80 on brackets. Nice.

 

iirc, i had to open the holes on the rigid brackets to fit the larger toyota screw, but bolted right in on both sides

 

Thank you. Do you have any more photos of your light bar setup?

 

is this a curved or straight led bar?

 

Not exactly what you are looking for......but .......

I was gifted a 22" light bar. After searching the web and looking at my options, none really fit what I was looking for. My guess is my mounting won't be applicable to other than 2nd Gen Tundra's.



My light bar is 22", but, up 36" can fit in the area. Since the mounting has to be "crafted", each install can be customized to meet skill levels and the look you want. I had to buy a bracket to serve as mounting base. Found at Lowes for a few bucks.



Cut the bracket in half and you have two 5" brackets. My brackets only needed to be 4" long so I cut them again. After determining the center point of the grill / bumper, I centered the light bar and marked the bumper for drilling and mounting the brackets. (remember, measure twice, only drill once!) 5/16" hole located where pictured.....Stainless bolt and nylock nut to secure.





I secured the light bar mounting bracket with a stainless "flat head" cap screw and nylock nut. I had planned to use a spot weld to hold the screw to the bracket, but the bracket mounting holes are chamfered on one side and super glue secured the screw to the bracket


To make removal of the light bar painless, and, no additional wire cutting, the electrical connection is a weather pak connector



Don't forget to leave enough room to close hood, but, close enough you can still get to the hood latch.



Last but not least, I wanted to turn on the light bar with the high beams. Some states require that auxiliary lighting be switched. Using a 30 amp relay, I installed a fuse tap in the #24 fuse slot, (L/H high beam in the under hood fuse box) and ran it to trigger the relay.



Other than the angle bracket, all other hardware and material was laying around my shop.

 

Wow! Love the details. Looks great! Thanks for sharing!

 

Wondering where you got the grill?

 

It’s the sequoia trd pro