Light bar location on d4 roof platform

[wombathole]

For best function and look, should I mount the light bar above, in front or below the pioneer platform?
I’m thinking in front. Platform and light bar are both 40mm high.
Thanks for your opinions.

[DiscoJeffster]

So there’s some pictures of them mounted hard under the platform that looks good. What I can’t say is what wind noise that may generate, if any.

[Jkwark]

Hello all, first post.

For me, I much prefer the look and practicality of mounting the light bar under the rack. If my picture works, you'll see my setup on the Rhino rack, albeit with a double row LED bar.

I mounted the light just behind the front crossbar as the double row light sat very close to the roof. This allows the fram of the light to sit slightly higher while not interfering with light spread. Also, my supplied mounts were too long to fit under the rack in any position so I fashioned some custom mounts out of alloy angle that I shaped to suit - these bolt through the front crossbar and next crossbar which utilises the sliding rhino track plates to bolt into.

This position, whilst noisy in a strong headwind at freeway speeds provides the following benefits for me:
1) Good light throw
2) Being lower and close to roof causes the front edge of the roof to cast a shadow over my bonnet and bull bar, reducing glare and reflection when using the light
3) The light, and mounts, cause little impediment on using the rack to it's potential. (I often carry large fibreglass boards/ surfskis on the rack that would be damaged easily by a lightbar jutting up). Even less of a problem when my barrel bolts arrive with flat heads to replace the ugly nyloc arrangement i currently have.
4) Saved me $90 on the original Rhino mounts that sit the light ahead of the rack (and taller than in my case). The Rhino mount also bolts above the rack so point 3 applies to some degree. My mounts cost me about $35.
5) My light bar is also protected to some degree from branches etc be the rack above and the backbone mounts either side which sit forward of the light.
6) I think it looks neater.

Whichever way you go should work well. Hope my 5c helps in some way.

Jkwark

[wombathole]

Firstly, welcome Jkwark.
Picture looks good and points all make sense. Nice job with the custom mounts. If my lights were double row, I’d definitely follow your lead.

I’ve decided I’ll start with mine out front using the rhino mounts (pricey as they are, for what they are).

With the single row light bar;
1. I think it will look great (something like omadaadventure seen on instagram)
2. Being thinner profile than yours , I think it won’t impede loads on the rack. TBC.
3. I rarely do bush bashing any more where I’ll be hitting branches etc.
4. Minimising the wind noise is a common use case I’d like to avoid as much as possible.
5. If I don’t like it or it’s not functional out front, I believe I will be able to slide the mounts backward and invert the light bar, achieving a position very similar to yours.

Much appreciated.

[shanegtr]

Light bar on the rack would be cop bait in WA

[drivesafe]

2) Being lower and close to roof causes the front edge of the roof to cast a shadow over my bonnet and bull bar, reducing glare and reflection when using the light

Hi Jkwark and welcome to the forum.

All good points raised and your second point is the most important.

I've been running roof lights for more than 30 years now and I learnt very early that allowing roof mounted lights to light up a bonnet just about defeats the very purpose of having them in the first place.

If the bonnet is lite up, because of the distraction it causes, it DRAMATICALLY reduces your long range vision.



Hi shanegtr, roof mount lights are now legal in all east coast states, not sure about SA.

[kelvo]

Light bar on the rack would be cop bait in WA

I don’t know why, as it is perfectly legal to mount on a roofrack in WA.

See page three https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/medi..._VS_IB_132.pdf

[shanegtr]

I don’t know why, as it is perfectly legal to mount on a roofrack in WA.

See page three https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/medi..._VS_IB_132.pdf

Well Im sure thats changed since the last time I seen it. I was sure that anything above the bonnet height was a no go a while ago (last time I looked was before the august 2017 update thats on that link)

[wombathole]

Noted re glare. Will ensure the beams clear the bonnet. Great advice.

[DiscoJeffster]

Well Im sure thats changed since the last time I seen it. I was sure that anything above the bonnet height was a no go a while ago (last time I looked was before the august 2017 update thats on that link)

As the sun rises, the world moves on. WA has adopted standard from other states for once in its life.