I picked up an extra stock roof rack cross bar at the junk yard and was thinking of making it into a light bar. Was wondering if anyone has done this?

 

Reply #7 https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/ro...ar-pics-97258/

 

Yes, it has been done. I have been looking into this myself, but need a good write up.

 

Yup, both myself on my XJ and my brother-in-law on his GC. It works and was cheap.

 

You can make your rear sway bar into one. Are you talking about a light bar for your bumper, or one for your roof?

 

Roof. it I add 6 200 watt lights do I need to upgrade my alternator?

 

I will make a write up for this soon.

 

Possibly upgrade alternators and look into a dual battery setup. What kinda lights? Why 6? Why 200w?

 

6?! 200w?! Jesus! Are you trying to burn everything out of your way?

 

Lol if thats not the case then all the wiring will burn up real quick if the quage isnt big enough. Make sure you atleast add an extra chassis ground to the battery. And make sure you use a relay. No switch within a resonable price range will be able to handle that. 1200w is a CRAZY amount of light. I got me a 220 amp alt and a yellow top optima with the big 3 upgrade all done with 1awg pure copper welding cable. Im talking no voltage drop at all.

 

Sry I ment 100 watt I'm putting 4 onto the roof rack going forward and I plan on cutting 2 into the rear stock bumper for reverse lights only; the stock ones suck I can't see anything. And I'm an electrician so wiring w relays is what I had planned to do anyway

 

this is my set up

 

ive got 6 130w lights and im running 8ga power wire with a 136amp alt and 2ga cables

 

Drill thru the stock roof crossover bar. Use stainless fasteners, for longevity, and nyloc nuts. I use a cheap lite set with plastic housing, on almost four years with no rust and cheap so I don't get upset when some have been broken, easy to replace. Run lots and stunn em with volume. Run 10 - 12 power and ground wires. Supply power from relay and use your switches to control the relay. I use tow relays and power in line fused back to battery. The switch runs the relays, low power thru switch, all the amps handled by the relay. you'll pul almost 5 amps per light. I run tow 10 ga grounds and screw directly into the B pillar both sides. I bring the power wires up the the inside of the door seal. Next plan is to switch out the lights for 5 of all the Silverstars I've accumulated over the years. The low are shot but the high beams work. Aim your lights for a spread. I do run clear pencil beams and yellow wide beams. There are set of fogs down low for misty applications. Ive built the rack secured to additional crossovers and have the roof rails secured by replaceing some of the grommet screws with butterfly expansion anchors. Recommend stainless fasteners if you run your rig in all seasons.

 

I just drilled into mine as well.