Roof rack & light bar install wiring

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waldo

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Getting ready to install a roof rack with some lights on my 2004 Expy. Has anyone found a good way of running the wires out to the roof or do I just man up and drill a hole?

Was considering using this from blueseas and just siliconing the hell out of it.

5636ff6895fe21a95e278702ba7d78cf.jpg
 

stamp11127

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That would be the more professional method and you will need to gain access behind the headliner to run the wiring.
 
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waldo

waldo

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I already have all the wiring above the roof console ready to go, was just checking if there was any other options before I start putting in holes.
 

JoshA77

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I already have all the wiring above the roof console ready to go, was just checking if there was any other options before I start putting in holes.

mine oddly has a plug in the roof in the center of the front part. I don't know if they all have it or not?
 
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waldo

waldo

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Was it a police truck? I've never seen that on a regular one.
 

JoshA77

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Was it a police truck? I've never seen that on a regular one.

No it wasn't... my thought is it was once a CB antenna... because there are mounting holes where there was one at some point
 
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waldo

waldo

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And you've never had any issues with water getting in through there?
 

JoshA77

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And you've never had any issues with water getting in through there?

Nope nothing... that's why it is odd. I will pull it off later and let you know what I find.

I'm getting a smittybilt defender roof rack that is for the excursion so it will take up almost the whole roof and the light cage that goes with it and I am maybe gonna run my wires through there.
 
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waldo

waldo

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Going of the top of my head here.

Rack: $500
Addin Floor Kit: $150
Light Brackets and such: $130
Awning: $80
52" LED bars: $120 each x 3
Side Led Lights: $20 a pair x 2

So around $1200
 

JoshA77

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Going of the top of my head here.

Rack: $500
Addin Floor Kit: $150
Light Brackets and such: $130
Awning: $80
52" LED bars: $120 each x 3
Side Led Lights: $20 a pair x 2

So around $1200

did it come with the mounting brackets to mount it to the roof. I just looked and the smittybilt one does not come with them and they are 85 dollars a piece! frickin ridiculous.
 
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waldo

waldo

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And i also changed all the hardware out for grade 8 but I had all that
 

JoshA77

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I gotcha! damn these are far more expensive than I was expecting hahaha... I hope we get what we pay for...
 

drewactual

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get yourself some clear epoxy and spray the bolt heads and threads (if exposed) after your're done installing.

i did mine when i put it on a couple years ago, and there is no rust or spotting on them.
 
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JoshA77

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get yourself some clear epoxy and spray the bolt heads and threads (if exposed) after your're done installing.

i did mine when i put it on a couple years ago, and there is no rust or spotting on them.

Nice setup Drew. My 99 7.3 looked like that except without the racks...
 

drewactual

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i'm a tinkerer by unsolicited nature and always have to have a project going... that truck^ is done. there is only one more thing that can be done to it, and instead of doing it i'm going to sell it and focus on the eXp i just picked up...... for a while, at least.

the rack looks good, but it is hella functional. i've had well over 1200# of lumber up there before (lumber yard is only a mile away; i wouldn't rec driving with that kind of weight so high).. i planked it with cedar boarding and installed a gorilla glass covered 300w solar panel on it to top off an aux battery in the bed. i can walk up there, and i'm #280... more to the point, I can sleep up there safely and easily. i can't express how handy that thing has been from using it as a viewing platform to carrying a WP bag (can't recall the brand name) with luggage up there and leaving the covered bed empty for the dogs on long trips. this one is a diamondrax custom made for me by that crew who are in cali- it's actually two racks- front one has front dam and no backstop, back one has rear stop with no front dam. putting one on an eXp wouldn't require that move to keep the bed flex in control... otherwise i'd have snapped the rack several times....
 
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