Ute cab roof bar

[jamesnedtaylor]

G'day all looking at putting a roof bar on top of loti for extra lights just wondered if anyone else has done the same or even thought about it


Cheers James

[Ozdunc]

I'd upgrade the standard headlights to halogens first and put a couple of relays in. Makes a big difference to the standard lighting.

[debruiser]

I'll 2nd that one... a couple of relays makes a big difference. I'm planning on putting a LED bar over the roof of my softtop to 'overdo' it a bit :D

[damiane]

I'd upgrade the standard headlights to halogens first and put a couple of relays in. Makes a big difference to the standard lighting.

Realize this thread is a bit old but what gear did people use in doing a headlight swap to halogens for a Ser IIa, e.g. Lucas, Cibie, other? Is it a standard size and fit arrangement? My headlights are barely visible

[Ozdunc]

You can get complete Wipac headlights with replaceable H4 bulb to replace the sealed units - standard 7" size.
Then is just some relays and fuses to cobble together to allow more juice to the bulb

[JDNSW]

Headlights are a standard 7" size and mount, but you will have to replace the plugs on the end of the wiring if you replace the Lucas bulbs with H4 type. But you will be fitting new wiring anyway if fitting relays. (Series 3 the plug on the sealed beam is the same as the H4.)

I fitted a dual relay, made for the purpose, inside the radiator mount behind the grille. very short lead to the battery. Make sure the earth lead for the lights has a direct link to the battery pole as well. If your reflectors are good you will probably be astounded at the improvement, and fitting new bulbs will probably be even better, as the filaments in your existing ones are probably sagged. Although H4 halogens will be even better. For that matter, you can get halogens to fit the Lucas lamps, although not readily.

I would do any of these before even considering extra lights, the most important being the relay and earthing.

John

[damiane]

Headlights are a standard 7" size and mount, but you will have to replace the plugs on the end of the wiring if you replace the Lucas bulbs with H4 type. But you will be fitting new wiring anyway if fitting relays. (Series 3 the plug on the sealed beam is the same as the H4.)

I fitted a dual relay, made for the purpose, inside the radiator mount behind the grille. very short lead to the battery. Make sure the earth lead for the lights has a direct link to the battery pole as well. If your reflectors are good you will probably be astounded at the improvement, and fitting new bulbs will probably be even better, as the filaments in your existing ones are probably sagged. Although H4 halogens will be even better. For that matter, you can get halogens to fit the Lucas lamps, although not readily.

I would do any of these before even considering extra lights, the most important being the relay and earthing.


John

When you say a "dual relay" John do you mean that you have one relay for each side. I have seen some people on LR forums talk about fitting separate relays for each side of the vehicle when doing the conversion. I am happy to do that if people think it is appropriate. We used to fit relays to headlights AND driving lights (huge bloody Cibie units) on the team Cooper S rally cars in the 70's but I can't for the life of me remember whether we relayed each side and each unit, i.e. 4 relays in total, or not.

As for being astounded at the change I will see on the conversion I can only say that my Dolphin everready torch throws more light than does the current Lucas units so anything will be an improvement ;)

Damian

[JDNSW]

Dual relays = one for high and one for low beam. You can fit separate ones for each light, but there does not seem to be much to be gained except redundancy. New Era make a double relay with fuses for exactly this purpose, and they should be available from any auto place. I think mine came from Repco, or perhaps Supercheap.

John