ARB Bumper LED Light's

I've been getting alot of PM's about my light bar I have mounted in the open slot of my ARB bumper, so I figured a little write-up of what I did will help others. Also how I upgraded the fog lights housing in the ARB. I love how clean it turned out, and the light output is insane. Note, all LED's are from Amazon, not sure how other more expensive LED light bars are for cutting, or if you'd want to cut a Rigid for example. You can opt out of cutting, the light bar will just stick out more and you'll have to cut a slot in the rubber pads on the bumper, which hold my light in place. If you don't cut your light bar you will have to figure out mounting brackets locations in a very tight spot.

First thing is to remove the rubber bumpers (not sure exact term for these) to expose the entire opening slot. about six bolts to remove per side. You can see two 45 degree metal braces in the middle of the opening that support the winch mounting plate. Those are the braces that make he light bar protrude out beyond the face of the bumper, to suck the light bar further back into the opening this is where I cut the cooling fins on the back of my light bar to fit around those metal 45 degree supports. If you do not cut your light bar it will stick out pretty far, and to me looks goofy.



Next measure 100 times and cut once on your light bar cooling fins to wrap around those metal supports. I used a single row 30" light bar off of amazon. I used a hack saw to cut the fins, and they cut fast and easy. You can only cut so far before you actually cut into the light housing itself. These fins are just thin aluminum. Use a hand hack saw nice and slow.


Next insert light bar into opening, run your wire where you need it. Remount rubber pads and position light bar where you like it. The rubber pad holds the light bar in place like a rock. Its very solidly mounted. You'll loose a diode or two from the rubber pad blocking the ends of the light bar, but you have many to spare and I can not tell a difference.






Next mod I removed the fog light housing and mounted up an LED amber fog light off of amazon in place of the factory fog lights that came on the tacoma, not the fog light kit that is optional buy from ARB. I also removed the blinkers and replaced with a flush mount LED light off of amazon. I figured I have blinkers in my headlight housing, no need for them in my bumper. I wired my fog lights to the factory wiring, and the flush mount to my light bar, and spot lights all on one switch. It throws alot of light, and having the flush mounts in place of the blinkers throws alot of light out the the sides of the road because of the angle built into the fog light housing. Over all I am very pleased with the light output and factory look.

Amber Fog Light


Had play with where to mount. I drilled new mounting holes.


Eventually I got it to fit the way I like it. I adjusted it as far up as I could, this light is slightly bigger than factory, so not much room, but it works and fills gaps.


Mounted the flush light LED to blinker location. Drill two holes through the front of the housing to mount. Pretty straight forward, get it where you like it.


I will eventually replace the Philip screws with alen heads to match.


Head lighs only


LED's


Ambers and headlights


Hope this helps others!

 

Looks nice. I'm looking to upgrade my lights on my ARB. You have given me some ideas.

 

That slot in the bumper is made perfect a light bar, after looking at photos without, almost looks incomplete.

 

I need to find some lights for my bull bar that go into the little signal well. I wanna bring back my fogs but with that shape id be lucky to get LEDs

 

Yeah thats a different shape. Take a measurement and look over Amazon, lots of varieties.

 

Check out Baja Design S2 and Rigid Industries SR-Q. These should fit in those openings. Baja ones for sure.

 

ARB makes drop in LED replacements for that location, same as the newer recessed plastic mount ones, they're about $100 for the pair from SLEE I believe.

I've also read someone had gone to Harbor Freight and got some cheap LED side marker lights for big rigs that fit perfectly im the old style ARBs with the added benefit of being cheap to replace if they get busted on the trail too.

I went the expensive route and bought SLEE off-road brackets and some Rigid SAE fog pods from @sidetracked

 

Also check out Paranoid Fabrications.

 

all fantastic helpful hints guys/gals. Thanks! ill see what i can come up with, id like to avoid cutting into if at all possible (lacking a plasma cutter lol)

 

ARB's are nice and thin, their strength comes from better base metal material selection and from self reinforcing design, pretty easy to cut and work with. Even a jig saw with a metal blade, some cutting oil and steady pressure will go through it without much fuss.


Here's one for a 2012-15 being made to fit my '10.

 

These are what I am putting in mine. I used them on a bumper for my Vanagon and the opening in the ARB bumper is almost exactly the right size. Minimal grinding from a grinder or a dremel will allow these to slide right in. Nice thing is u can still use the blinker and DRL option, or just buy one that is white led only if you are going for lighting options.

Flush Mount Led Lights SAMLIGHTING 20w Spot Led Work Light Bar 2pcs Off Road Flush Mount Driving Lights Reverse Turn Signal White Amber Lamp Daytime Running Light For Jeep Truck Car Suv Pickup Boat

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CZDL3Y2/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=AKOSYTH7RL9G&psc=1

 

So is there any brackets holding the light or just the bumpers wedging the light into the slot? Any issue with it rotating and changing the angle while offroad?

 

How do they look after the install, adjusted straight for the angle?

 

I havent bought the pair for my bumper yet as money has been tight lately. Hopefully here in a couple weeks though I will be able to pick them up and get them installed. I will share some pics once I have put them in.

 

Hey man, finally got some time and money together and pulled the trigger to finish up my front end. I ended up picking up a set of these and they were almost perfect for mounting in that location. I had to ovalize the mounting holes ~1/8" on each side to use the factory mounting screws, but they fit really well. I pulled them apart to put laminx on the lens and then resealed them with silicone.

$34 Flush Mount LED Pods, 40W 2PCS Off Road Backup LED Light Bar Driving Lights Fog Lamp for Jeep Bumper ATV UTV SUV Truck Boat

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J4Y6JWW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1



I just got my 9" rounds yesterday's so that should finish up my front end lights

 

Now in terms of lumen projection how does it fair?

Looks like those beams are taking a hard left and right lol

 

It actually does an amazing job. The four lights on the "wings" act as ditch lights and the 24" bar in the middle shoots straight ahead and lights everything in front of you. Not sure what actual "lumen" output is, but I feel those numbers are kinda gimmicky when buying from Amazon.

 

Hey OP, you dont happen to have the link or brand name of the lightbar on there still? It looks like a very specific fit and I'd like to do the same thing to my 14. Thanks!

 

First: yes, holy thread revival batman...
Yes i just got this bar too. Did you do the cut and slee insert rout? Thats how im thinking of going. Any details or tips?
Thanks