Forward Auxiliary Light Mount Ideas?

I'd like to find some place to mount a few sets of long range lights for my off roading adventures, and all I can see to find are those silly bull bars -- at a variety of different price points. What have you all done for auxiliary forward lights mounting? Please see attached photo for reference. What I don't like about the bull bar style is if someone in a parking lot backs into the front of my truck it will heavily dent my front bumper (I've seen it happen on other vehicles with the bull bar), but I am open to ideas.

I wish the forum would allow me to search within just the 2000-2006 group instead of a site wide search. Would make narrowing down my search less time consuming.

 

Start with the first gen sub-forum, then you can narrow down your search like this:

https://www.tundras.com/forums/1st-gen-tundras-2000-2006.2/



Sometimes mods move stuff over to the "Lighting" sub-forum, but this trick will work there as well.

 

Do your own brackets that attach to bumper's crash bar and go over plastic bumper skin?

 

Either way, I think there's a few people that have done light bars on the crash bar in the front.

Forward facing ditch lights with nice Baja Designs will put out good output, obviously not as much as a full light bar though. I run Rago ditch lights, plus a piece of flat stock from Tractor supply to run two ditch lights on each side, plus holes to mount radio antennas. Vibration isn't bad at all, neither is hood glare. Here's what I originally did for testing with Chinese lights before upgrading to BD Squadrons. Squadrons put out a bunch more light.

 

There's one user on here (sorry i forget his screen name) who has some pics. of mounting a curved LED light bar that fit inside of that lower grill.
It required removing the front bumper etc. . . . but I thought it looked very clean and the light output from what I remember was very good.
The truck was a crew cab in metallic red w/ a shell . . . . he had done a LOT of upgrades to it . . . I think he even re-painted it.
Really nice rig . . . I know there's a build page on it.

 

I don’t know if diode dynamics makes fog lights for that year but I have a set of their pro ss3 fog lights and holy crap they’re bright, they have a good “cut off” line so depending on how you angle/adjust them you could light up a lot.

 

I distinctly remember the curved bar install, mounted to the steel crash bar support or whatever, using an Amazon-sourced curved LED bar but for the life of me, I cannot find it. EDIT: It was one of our Cali members! I'm quite sure.

Straight bar, early 1GT, @NickB_01TRD's setup: https://www.tundras.com/threads/bumper-cutout-light-bar-install-early-1st-gen.100198/

@Voss also did one, different: https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...t-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-743#post-1922209

@Afkouki who I haven't seen since I enrolled went a little higher up: https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...st-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-104#post-944714

 

I installed 2 20" light bars on the crash bar support back in June. I went with 2 straight 20s over a curved 50 because it was cheaper, and figured why pay to shoot light at the back of my license plate??

I used these on an offroad trip this summer and the difference was really impressive. I highly recommend them, especially if you want something more incognito. It's almost like that gap in the bumper cover is made for it.

 

Some other options:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-light-bar-placement.58668/#post-1539149

https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-light-bar-placement.58668/#post-2468623

https://www.tundras.com/threads/first-tundra-build-superwhite-2006-4x4-trd.132516/#post-3446412

 

I've seen some universal front light mounts but I haven't been motivated enough to try one out. I like the low profile look.
I'd like to try something like this

 

It's really kicking my ass I can't remember who the hell did the curved bar. I remember it so vividly, and how well the curve of the light bar matched where it was mounting perfectly.

But hey, on a related note, looking at @Kimosabe's bumper pic right above this post. The black mesh insert in the bumper. Is that thing melted in at key points? I'd been trying to find back shots of a newer-style plastic bumper to understand how it's fastened but came up empty.

I assume guys installing a light bar there could be cutting it out. I just want to pull mine for a bit to template it for future stuff eventually coming down the pipe.

 

This looks super cool but I feel like it would make getting to the hood latch impossible.

 

Yeah . . . that's him . . I actually reached out out him on a couple things & he offered to help me if I decided to copy his install.
Cool dude.
It was a (salsa red?) crew cab . . . yep, from CA . . . it had a shell, lift, nice wheels & tires, and was repainted.

Last I remember he was mentioning selling it if my memory serves me.
I looked through my DM's and couldn't find his name . . . . now I'm stymied too ! LOL.

EDIT. . . . FOUND IT.
@2006Tundra is his username . . .

Here's a link to a lot of his build . . . . https://www.tundras.com/threads/2006-double-cab-tundra.67978/

 

You’re probably right. You could probably space them out somehow to allow easier access. Ideally I’d just like to add 2 of the LP6 or 9s.

 

That's the guy! I remembered seeing something in the build threads and was spying it there, here's the front view:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2006-double-cab-tundra.67978/page-6#post-2536502

Here's @ 1stgentundradriver with his, and an on/off shot:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2006-double-cab-tundra.67978/page-6#post-2520002

And finally, here's the install post with links to purchase:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/2006-double-cab-tundra.67978/page-2#post-2086376

 

Thank you all for your helpful information! I truly appreciate it!

 

I picked up a single row curved 20" light bar and mounted it on the bumper

Edit: it's a 32"

 

Damn, you could of at least sprayed over that rust while the bumper was off.

 

Nahhhh this is Florida, that's not real rust

 

$190 AngelMa 50" 240W 30000LM Single Row Curved LED Light Bar Flood Spot Combo Offroad for Boat ATV UTV 4x4 Pickup Trucks UTE SUV Golf Car Fog Lamp 12V Wiring Harness

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046R3Z9G/?coliid=I1M02SBS3OU0HA&colid=3VH1WPIU614J8&th=1