1st Gen Light Bar Placement

Trying to find a good spot to put a light bar. My last truck I just attached to the top of the front bumper and it worked fine, but I'd prefer a more stealth install this time. What have you all done?

I've thought about installing it in this gap, but do you know if it's a critical airflow area?

 

That an ideal spot for stealth. Its also a critical area for air flow. How critical and how much would your light reduce the flow? Nobody knows.

 

Loads of people put them in that spot on all makes and models of vehicles. I highly doubt it's going to cause any issues with airflow. I'll be putting a lightbar in there myself next summer.

 

Ill do one one day.....
No money any time soon

 

Prior owners of my trk had brackets for a light bar permanently attached within upper front grill. The light bar would attach to the brackets that extended out from the grill by an inch or so. The light bar itself was easily put on the bracket for going out in the woods and easily removed by 2 screws. Nice setup by not mounting it permanently, but instead using the light bar as a removable attachment. A good move when being in populated parts of Central FL and down.

Without the light attached, the brackets were not noticeable from a short distance and didn't stick out like a sore thumb when right up close to the hood.
The prior owner did a good job.

Or, cut out or drill a line of 2" or larger circular holes across the upper portion of the skid plate. That should replenish the lost air intake from bumper.

 

Mine was already installed under the bumper. I've never had any problem with it but, it is, without question, low hanging fruit. The opening you reference is blocked in the middle by the license plate on my truck. I've thought about putting light bars on each side, though. For now, my current bar has worked well enough and I've yet to encounter any problems.

 

Luckily, our trucks come with a temperature gauge, so we can know if they overheating or not.

I read somewhere that most vehicles have something like 600% more cooling capacity then they generally need, because they have to be able to cope with cruising at 60 on a nice fall day, and pulling a load up a hill when its 120º outside and the AC is running equally as well.

Most likely, the reduction in cooling is trivial compared to what you actually need. But like I said....we have a gauge. If you are worried, make a cardboard model of your light bar, tape it in place, drive, observer the results.

 

I've had my 32" light bar on my tundra for 3yrs with no problems with overheating and it is low so it projects light out very well.

 

The bumper should be fine. I’m looking at a slim 30” to put there myself. Most of your cooling comes from the grill

 

For this instance the concern (albeit small) would be for the A/C coil air flow reduction. The A/C coil is the first rad coil in front before the the actual engine radiator.

FYI, I have a required front license plate covering about 1/3 of that lower opening. Wish I could move it, but laws. My A/C works fine.

 

HAdn't thought of that, but it's a great idea. Have to wait for summer though for it to really make a difference, right now in 17 degree weather I don't think overheating would be a problem

I think what I'll most likely do is put it where you have yours, but I"m going to cut out the bumper and recess the light bar. As others have mentioned lower and the license plate blocks out part of the light bar, I was just going to deal with it, but up higher I don't have any concerns with airflow or the license plate.

 

I mounted my light bar that exact spot and it doesn't cause any issues. My front license plate bracket was already missing/broken so I just mounted my plate directly to the bumper. There is enough room around the light bar that is not going to cause any air flow restriction so don't let that stop you lol. I'm all about hiding stuff and there was no way I was going to mount it outside of the truck. I made some 'brackets' and used existing mount points so I did not have to drill any new holes. It can all be removed and you would never know it was there.

 

I have mine here.

 

That's a pretty precarious location with it sticking out like that. I'd be worried some jabroni would take it out when parallel parking in front of me.

 

Just mounted my two fog lights to the brush guard I got for Xmas. Wife bought me the Tyger Brush Bar and it is amazing.
Then found out you can't run 6 lights at one time....lol....after local PD pulled me over on the way home from the gym at 1:30 am. So I run stock fogs OR my new fogs, not both...LOL..

 

I haven't had it hit yet,but that's not to say it won't happen.It seems like it doesn't matter any more where you park someone isn't paying attention to what they are doing!!

 

Wanting to do this to my 06 Tundra…anyone have a how-to thread for this?

 

I am also interested in placing a light bar in this area. Any install advice/tips?

 

I used some stuff similar to this:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-6-ft-x-1-625-in-Steel-Perforated/3059257

I used some existing bolts there attach to the bumper. Measured once, cut twice and got the placement right. You can use a stack of washers or a spacer or some kind to raise it up if you need to.

 

Unfortunately this is the best picture I have of the light bar placement. As stated above i didn't want to mount it in the existing space for air flow reasons. So I cut my bumper and mounted it behind, made brackets and welded them on. It's still low enough, and recessed into the bumper so it's a little more protected, hidden, and cleaner

 

Thank you!!

 

Looks good!

 

Here a pic of the brush guard installed. Has a mounting point on the plate above the stars. Wiring was pretty easy, except for trying to find a place to run the wire into the cab. Hit a live wire and bare metal with the screwdriver I was using, and lost my electronic throttle for a few. Otherwise, mounted the switch in a blank space next to my heated mirror button.

 

Reviving old thread. Looking for something like this I found on FB. Anyone install one of these? Owner says he bought it with the truck and doesn't know who made it.

 

I've been looking for something similar without much success. I think you can find those for the tacoma and newer tundras but I haven't wanted it bad enough to try and see if any others will fit.