Finally! I bought it at the Carlisle show, tried to install it Friday and realized the 3m tape was not going to work on the rhino liner. So off to Home Depot on Saturday to pick up the materials for Plan B: angle brackets, #8-32 machine screws, #8 drill bit, #8-32 tap, #8 washers, #8-32 nuts and removable grade loc-tite. Of course the freaking yahoos at home depot didn't even know what loc-tite was (they kept leading me to the Krazy Glue) and I got led on a wild goose chase before finally finding it in the paint section (which makes no sense). That all out of the way I had too much to do Saturday which left today to actually install it.

After letting it cool down a bit in the afternoon I went out and measured the bar then drilled holes in the bottom of the tailgate at the proper spots with the #8 drill bit and tapped them with the #8 tap. Once that was done it was a matter of attaching the angle brackets to the bar with some of the screws washers and nuts, then screwing the brackets to the tailgate for a test fit. Ended up adding some washers to one to even it out as it drifted up a bit while drilling. Once I was happy with it everything came back apart and then put back together with loc-tite on the threads (prevents the screws/nuts from loosening over time and also prevents rust). If you're still reading after that small essay here is a piece of cake:

Also some pictures :

LEDbarinstall001-400.jpg

LEDbarinstall002-400.jpg

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LEDbarinstall007-400.jpg

LEDbarinstall009-400.jpg

While I was working on it the guy that lives in the apartment next to mine came down with his girlfriend and they took off to the liquor store, when they got back he gave me this beer and said you need a beer for working on your car, was actually a pretty good beer too, he just picked that one because the can was funny.

LEDbarinstall006-400.jpg

And a crappy video (my camera royally sucks at low lighting, lol):

http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...install011.flv

 

Interesting, innovative, way to mount that. I have one but its mounted to the bed. Yeah, not much room there, but it works.

 

Looks really good!
How thick is the metal you drill and tap?

 

I hope they didn't drink that. I tried it at a bar in Buffalo and it was pretty awful. The only reason i got it cuz of how funny the name was

 

Good work son!

 

That looks awesome! I always wanted one. How much did you pay for it?

They had it at www.Stylingtrucks.com a couple of weeks ago for $19.99
and i missed the sale because i didn't see the email on time!

I guess i got to keep an eye on it!!!!

I don't know if i'm allowed to do this, but here it goes!!!

Here is the pic of the email:




home pageNew Exterior Interior Lighting Performance Towing Suspension Accessories Restoration Clearance

 

looks good altair nice way to mount it on the truck

 

Thanks guys!

To answer a few questions, the metal isn't extremely thick but I gave the screws a solid yank and I don't expect to have any issues with them holding, the bar is extremely lightweight as well.

Cork, when it is still 86 degrees out in the late afternoon sun with almost 90% humidity you will drink anything cold and it will be good, lol.

I thought about painting the brackets but they are almost never seen, plus I have nowhere I can paint where I currently live and all four of them only cost $2 at Home Depot. Easily cheap enough to buy new ones and paint them later if I wanted.

Don't know much about the bar stylin is selling, looks like they branded one from somebody. Not that an LED bar is an extremely complicated setup in the first place (Though the firestorm bar is getting there). Mine is a StreetGlow brand I picked up for $40 at the Carlisle show. I think it has a 1 or 2 year warranty on it, forget which it is.

Once I realized I wasn't going to get the nice easy "peel the backing off the tape and slap it on there" mounting I figured I might as well do a bit of extra work and snug it right up against the gate. Right now it's plugged into the trailer harness, I'm going to order some actual good quality T-taps and hardwire it later. Anyone remember the ones that were thrown up awhile back, I think it was mikset or graythang that posted them?

 

IS yours the one that has turn signals as well?