County, Defender Hi-Lift mount and work lights

[rijidij]

I've had this Hi-Lift jack and work light mounting bracket sitting around half finished for ages, but I finally got it finished and electroplated just before xmas.
With a couple more days off, I've managed to get it all fitted up.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/31.jpg


I designed it to fit neatly over the 75x50 beam of my wheel carrier. It clamps on using two high tensile bolts at the bottom.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/32.jpg


I made a bracket to allow fitment of two Led lights to my standard telescopic light pole.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/33.jpg


The Hi-Lift jack sits over a couple of locating pins at the bottom and clamps on with two 12mm wing nuts.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/34.jpg


I allowed for a padlock and split pins in case anything rattles loose.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/35.jpg


The lights at full extension.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/36.jpg


The switch on the light pole is waterproof. It's also a two way switch allowing the lights to come on automatically with reverse, or simply switched on manually for camping etc.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/37.jpg


It's a bit hard to see in this picture, but I've also fitted an inline switch so I can turn one of the lights off if not needed and to save power.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/38.jpg


Even though the bracket is quite solid, I positioned it so it touches the tyre. This will help eliminate any movement or vibration.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/39.jpg


Finally I refitted my jerry can holder. That's a fair bit of weight on the wheel carrier, but the Hi-Lift / Light bracket is as close to the main pivot point as possible, so I'm confident it will not be too much. I've had the jerry on this carrier for over a year now without a problem.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/12/40.jpg


Just gotta wire up the lights.

Cheers, Murray

[Didge]

Very professional work - what did you use to do the cutting so neatly and how did you bend the steel so well?

[LowRanger]

If only all these things would fit with my 35" tyre fitted:(

[rijidij]

Very professional work - what did you use to do the cutting so neatly and how did you bend the steel so well?

I had some of the plate parts laser cut and I do the bending and pressing on a small hydraulic 20T workshop press. I can bend a 350mm wide piece of 5mm steel and I have done smaller pieces of 6mm.
Any of the flat parts that I made myself, I cut with a super thin (1mm) angle grinder cutting wheel and clean up the edges with a linishing belt and a flap disk which gives a much smoother finish than a grinding wheel.

Cheers, Murray

[land864]

Hi Murray

I probably asked before but what are the 2 small louvers in the rear of your roof for?

PS. You Geelong crew keen on another County /Defender day in June

[rijidij]

Hi Murray

I probably asked before but what are the 2 small louvers in the rear of your roof for?

PS. You Geelong crew keen on another County /Defender day in June

G'day Pete,
The '88 model with A/C had those little louvers to vent through, but now that mine's a non-A/C they're only good for letting water and dirt in when pressure washing :D

Always keen for a County / Defender day. Actually, I was having thoughts of running one myself down this way, but I'm flat out getting stuff ready for the Vic 4WD Show so haven't had time to think much about organising anything. I'll be sharing a stand at the show with Daniel from Mulgo, so come and say G'day.

Cheers, Murray