Anyone else have problems with vibration from their light bar??

I have a 50" RC LED light bar mounted on my roof with N-FAB mounting brackets. I read in reviews that with N-FAB brackets they tend to vibrate and make more noise then other brackets? Don't know if this is true or not but it's pretty bad and get's annoyingly loud when it's windy and driving down the highway..

Anyone know of a solution for this???

 

rubber bushings?

 

Beat me to it.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/358279-how-use-zip-ties-install-30-led-bar.html

 

Mmmmmm Broccoli. For some reason that made me think of steamed Artichoke hearts with a Port wine reduction and bacon crumbles. Must go get supplies and libation.

 

I have the same problem that I have been fighting with. I have the same setup as you. The only fix that I have found renders the light bar useless, in my opinion. If I angle the light upward it stops the vibes, but then what's the point of the light bar when the light is focused up?

I am going to attempt to mount my light bar on a Yakima Q tower system so that it will be further back and I can bring it closer to the roof of the cab. I don't know if this will be any better, but I know I can't deal with my current setup.

Has anyone had success with mounting 50" LED on round bars?

Good luck with yours and I'll post to let you know if my idea works.

 

My guess would be that the mounts are not thick enough. Heavier duty brackets would do the trick.. But seeing as you've already got those, not sure what would fix it.

 

One option is to run a round bar in between the two brackets. This would give you another brace point right behind the bar.

 

This is actually a good idea and one that won't take too much time and effort to test.

OP is your vibration issue coming mostly from the passenger side?

 

I can run a round bar directly behind the 50" light about 1-1.5" behind it... Would you have any suggestions on what type of mounts that I could use to reinforce? I would like to have 3 points ( both sides as close to original mounts and in the middle) or were you thinking along the lines of a threaded round bar, so I could essentially pull the outer brackets together for additional reinforcement? Thanks in advance!

 

If you can rotate your light bar up and the vibrations stop and noise stops it's no the mount it's the light bar. Rigid sells rubber grommet type of deals that slide in between the fins on the back of the bar. That's what causes the nouse.

 

Hey dirtymike, I agree with you on that. I actually have 3 of those rubber thingies with the fingers that you shove in between the fins plus automotive rubber door trim on the exposed fins and when I did that it stopped the whistling that I was experiencing. However, when the light is positioned correctly it catches a lot of wind and it causes a vibration on my passenger side...

I started to look at the mounts and noticed that the driver side mount has the wiring zip tied and running down the side of the bracket. It makes that bracket have a wider profile. The passenger side is thin with more of a blade like profile ( not sure if this is making any sense), so using various methods I beefed up the passenger side bracket and took it for a test drive. Unfortunately it was very windy last night so I will have to take another test run, but after my initial run I would say it was roughly 75% effective. I will keep everyone posted, if their is an interest.

On a side note, I wish the wouldn't have cut out N-Fab on the side of the brackets.. It seems that that would affect the integrity of the mount. Just seems that it would be stronger if it was solid with only holes for mounting. Makes me wonder if the NFab cutout may be catching some wind and creating a vibe?!?

 

I don't have the Nfab mounts, but all I did was layer some heavy duty sticky door insulation on itself and jam it between the bar and my cab right at the back of the fins. The noise is gone and the insulation in in so tight it holds itself there. Since it's black no on notices and even if they do it almost looks like it belongs there.

 

Sterdog,

Would you happen to have pics? Thanks!

 

I'll try to get some later today

 

Thanks man! Be nice if it works for me!

 

As you can see in the first picture, I layered the heavy duty rubber foam weatherstripping until I could barely squish it under the back of the bar. I took me almost and hour to get it to fit right. Make sure you leave clearance for you windshield wipers.

 

You will want something more rigid than a threaded rod. one of those will easly "give/flex" at that type of the length. potentionaly cause you even more vibration.

Not sure what you have acces to or your skill set is... but a steel or aluminium tube would be a better choice. it will give a bigger foot print at the mounting points. this will help spread out the load and add rigity.

 

Thank you sir! I'm betting that the extra support will help. Sherdog, Did you get the foam weatherstripping at Home Depot or at a specialty hardware store?

 

Just at Home Hardware. They are like a Home Depot but I don't know if they exist in the USA. Any place that sells doors should have this kind of weather stripping. Just make sure you buy the heavy rubberized version or it'll tear when you wash it.

 

Oh ok I gotcha I have custom mounts made they are alot thicker of steel than any others I have seen