Has any body mounted lights on roof racks

Just blowing the dust off this one

I am building a roof rack with four square spotties on for my Disco 1 . The idea is that it will be able to move forwards and backwards on lower roof section to find best spot (least bonnet glare)
I have wired up two relays behind the glove box (along with a second fuse box fed from second battery-yet to be bought- which will feed most of my accessories) and have routed the (15A) wiring up the A pillar on the inside of the cabin to a four pin plug (2 live 2 earths) that just pokes out above the A pillar trim. The light bar will then plug into this when fitted (actual cable from roof bar to the A pillar connector will be trimmed when best site for bar has been determined) and will just be shut in the door
Will hopefully be posting pictures of newly acquired Disco 1 soon and will include some pitures of completed bar.
As light bar will be removed in day to day traffic the boys in blue should be happy (......but haven't they got lights on their roofs!!!!.....)

Jason7001
'99 Disco 1
Bog Standard (at the moment)

Legality - didn't the Jeep Cherokee have them as an option or maybe standard on one of their models in the last few years?? They had one additional light on each roof rail. My understanding is they can be fitted but not used if within 200m of and approaching or receding vehicle - same regulations as additional driving lights and use of high beam. That's for NSW anyway. You could have a nitesun searchlight stuck on your roof if you wanted to, but use it on an on-coming vehicle and thats when you break the law.

with the Fender I found that no matter how far I mounted them back on the sloping part of the roof I still got glare off the bonnet.The new light bar places them in front of the windscreen and is the best system yet, although I think using rectangular lights would help.Mine are all actually pointed outwards to the roadside, not far in front of the vehicle, and I find the extra illumination helpfull on long night runs out west when there's heaps of hoppityhoopers.Directing them straight ahead you just seem to lose the light into the distance with no benefit.I only ever use them when theres bugger all traffic and straight roads.

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Originally Posted by crump

Mine are all actually pointed outwards to the roadside, not far in front of the vehicle, and I find the extra illumination helpfull on long night runs out west when there's heaps of hoppityhoopers.

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Yeah, that' exactly what I wanted to do - leaving the headlights for mid-distance and the pencil beam spots for long distance.

A few years back, the Vic. Rangie club had a copper from the vehicle testing division give a talk at one of the meetings. According to him, you can only have an additional 2 pairs of forward facing lights in addition to standard.(And they must be PAIRED). In regards to lights on roofs etc, as long as they aren't wired into the high beam, if you call them WORK LIGHTS you should get away with it- as long as you don't use them on road....Used this exactly when I had a couple of those low profile lights on the gutters of a previous vehicle. (They were good for lighting up the track as you came over the crest of a hill). Anyway, got caught at a RBT station and the Senior Connie (after testing me) asked about the lights. I told him they were work lights for around camp etc. He was a bit sceptical, but I showed him they were on adjustable mounts so he was convinced, just told me I'd get pinged if caught using them on the road....just my two cents. Chris.

Having a Camel, I've got one or two roof mounted lights. :angel:

1st - Regs. In most places, the regs say that you can have them fitted, as long as you don't use them on the public highway. To help your case... Cover them up with the lens caps when not in use.

2nd - Rather than fitting 4x spots, fit 2x fog & 2x spots. That way, you'll have a much better spread of light. ;)

HTH

M

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as long as they aren't wired into the high beam, if you call them WORK LIGHTS you should get away with it

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i was told this also, but was also instructed to have 55w bulbs fitted.
was doing this anyway cos mine are for night wheeling not road work:)

cheers phil

I have a D1 Discovery with 3X roof mounted Cibie Airport (small rectangular 50W). The light type limits reflection however raised section of bonnet is painted matt black so reflection no issue.

20 amp wiring inside mounting bar (hung off/forward of factory roof bars) and through roof using (marine waterproof compression fitting) down insider piller (remove inside trim) into engine bay.

They are wired in with pair of front bar mounted Cibie spots through 70 amp relay with manual switch (fog light switch $9 on ebay) on instrument cowl. All 5 X lights operate (if switched) at high beam only.

New direct wired loom and twin 30 amp relay to headlights. Replaced factory H4 bulbs with Philips Diamondvision bulbs.

This setup works a treat.:eek::eek:

I have gone through 2 X Qld RBT's and got nothing more than some humourous jibes from Mr Plod about my lighting fettish (I also have a small 100w Hella rear work light).

OK, my last Fender....

Forget the mug infront of it....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...2007/06/49.jpg

The lights were wired up independant to the headlights.
I could turn on the 2 center spots, or the 2 outer driving, or all 4 at once. All were Cibie and running 55w bulbs.
I used trailer cable to connect them and i had a 7 pin trailer plug under the bonnet, so i could disconnect them when the Rack came off.

The only problem was they sat to far forward and they caused glare on the bonnet and windscreen, ohh and they were illegal..... to high.

Check your local transport mob 1st to see what the laws are and keep a copy in the glovebox, to keep the local boys in blue happy.

Clarkie

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Originally Posted by wmg

my understanding of the Vic Roads rules are;

you can add up to two pairs of additional driving lights (high beam only). They must be in pairs and can only work when in high beam mode and must be wired so when in use a lamp is illuminated on the dash. There is no restriction on height for additional lighting as there is for normal 'low beam lights' which I think is no more than 1300mm high. Each light in a pair of additional lights must be of the same size/watts etc.

Check out www.VicRoads.vic.gov.au

cheers

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I am back and connected girls and boys...

There was a discussion similar to this some months back. I contacted RTA and wanted them to answer the question. The above is legal (driving lights, no height restriction ... etc) as per current ADRs. However, the sticking point is the ORIENTATION. They MUST face forward. My understanding is that IF they are mounted in such a way that they cannot face any other way but forward (eg Jeep) they are fine. If they are mounted on a roll bar "Mickey Mouse ears" the boys in blue could argue they can be adjusted to face the rear as as such are illegal. Here is the reply I got:

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You have quoted Section 7.3.6, Orientation, that states:- "Towards the front"

If someone is to be defected/fined etc., for the mounting of lights it will be by the NSW Police. If you are pulled up you would need to convince the Police officer that lights that are mounted on the roof are mounted towards the front of the vehicle.

Regards
Alan Macdonald

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There. Hope it helps.

-- Irek