I love the mopar cab lights, but they are $550 installed. I've installed them a few times on 2nd gen rams, but I tended to go cheap, and they had condensation issues.

Since I'm planning on keeping this truck a real long time, at least 4-5 years, I thought about splurging for the mopars if they are a lot better than most the other after market ones, but I'm thrown aback by the $450 installation cost.

It took me about an hour to install them into my 2nd gen ram... should I just pony up or is this something thats reasonable to do myself?

Edit 3 mo later:
Finally did it. Had to wait until my truck wasn't so new the idea of drilling into it was unbearable: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/4th-gen...ml#post2793939

 

You've installed a set before and you are even contemplating paying STUPID MONEY for them to be installed? At a dealership that will probably have a kid who doesn't give a sh*t do it so they will probably leak???
Personally I never liked the look of the Mopar lights ($129 retail btw). I chose the Recons when I put them on my 3rd Gen. Over six years now, still work and no leaks as of yet. I am just starting now to get a hint of condensation in the lights and about all I can see "wrong" is that the o-ring seals around the screws have now dry rotted and are cracked with pieces missing. Not bad IMO for six years in the deep southern sun. I am going to get up there and either back the screws out and install new O-rings or just hit 'em with a little clear nail polish to re-seal them up.

We (DodgeForum members) have a 15% discount on Recons site (type "DODGEFORUM" in the coupon code). At least last I knew it was still good.

I paid under $100 to the door for mine. Bulbs are LEDs also, so they should last as well as draw next to no amperage.

It took me three hours to install mine, but the first hour and a half was basically re-measuring before drilling into my roof. Took me about four beers to get the courage up, LOL. Realistically it's a two hour install and not hard ONCE you get past the anxiety of drilling the roof. LMAO... Docs with the Recons are EXCELLENT - a DIY done by a former member here as a matter of fact. Only thing is the Mopar ones come with a template whereas the Recons do not - but if you can measure - you don't need it...

 

2nd gen headliners are pretty easy to drop. The 4th gen with center console... well I'm sure I can figure it out.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll check out the recons- I do like the look of them! I have no problem tearing apart a truck with 130k on it, but 130 PERIOD I'm a little more nervous

Thanks!

 

I remember reading the instructions on gorecon for the 3rd gens, and they had a plug hidden in the pillar even on trucks that didn't have the lights. I'm wondering if it's the same on the 4th gens also, let me know when you start ripping stuff apart I've been wanting to do this for a while now.

http://www.gorecon.com/downloads.php

 

Does anyone know the scoop on this? If thats the case, then heck yes I'll do it myself real quick. I'm just hesitant to start tearing apart a truck thats new, but if its just the headliner and I don't have to tap into any wiring stuff, then heck, that looks like a cinch.

I thought cab lights were a staple, and 4th gens have been around for 4 years, so I presumed this would be common knowledge but haven't seen info in the DIYs!

 

I know for a fact 2nd and 3rd Gens all had the plug in the passenger pillar. No clue on the 4th Gens but it's easy enough to take the two screws out of the pillar and look. If it's not there it's still easy enough to run the power wire down the driver pillar and go through the grommet hole for the e-brake out to the fusebox. Been there, done that too...

 

Are you serious???

On both 2nd gens I owned I ran it to the fuse box on one, the light switch with a (I can't think of the term- senses signal, closes other circuit so your not taxing the switch?) on the other. That would have saved me a LOT of hassle if I knew that!

I'm ordering the lights. I'll fill you all in when I get them!

 

Dead serious, did my old 2nd Gen and two others, a 1500 & a 2500 and all three had the plug in the pillar. Have done two 3rd Gens including my own. Hell, the 2nd Gens had marks on the underside of the roof where you need to drill. Unfortunately omitted on the 3rd Gens, so don't expect it to be THAT easy.

I had a Ford diesel didn't have lights and added them and went through the e-brake rubber grommet hole to the fuse box. All of our trucks have a similar grommet hole through the fire wall behind the e-brake as well...

 

I ordered the mopar ones because they were a lot cheaper than the Recon ones... paid $79 for them. The recon ones look good, but there are some long term reliability questions, and the Mopar ones come on most the 2500 and 3500s, so I'm hedging my bets that they will last out, but we shall see!

 

you got that one backwards. at the dealership we were constantly replacing burnt out bulbs on the mopar lights whether we put them on or they came from the factory. we started offering the recons as an upgrade and i cant remember ever having an led go out. plus with the bases the recons have that the mopar ones dont they are easier to get to seal on the roof and are less likely to leak. i've probably installed about 50 sets of mopar ones and a dozen recons while i was working at the dealership. installation is easier with the template though, we kept the mopar template to use with recon installations. recon should include a template.