4th Gen DIY How to mount lights behind the grill with no brackets
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Now that I took off my bullbar, I wanted to do something with ...
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11-19-2011, 06:29 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northern PA
Age: 32
Posts: 272
Ram Year: 2009
Engine: 5.7L Hemi
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How to mount lights behind the grill with no brackets
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Now that I took off my bullbar, I wanted to do something with my KC lights. They're 130W Stainless 6" Daylighters. I did not use any brackets. There may be other ways of doing this but this was the easiest way for me to mount my sized lights.
I measured across the metal support rail in front of the radiator and drilled holes to fit the 1/2" mounting bolt on the bottom of the KCs. I measured 6" on the drivers and 5-7/8" on the passenger side. The reason the measurements are different is I kept setting the lights where I thought they should be, put my grill back on, and measured from the center of the grill openings. I drilled about 1/2" in front of the metal rib running across the center like in the pictures.
Once drilled, I deburred and painted the bare metal with some black paint. Then mounted the lights using a large washer to hold the light in place. If you look in the pics, there is not alot of room to tighten the nuts underneath so you need to use an angled rachet wrench, not much else will fit under there. The passenger side is by far the hardest to tighten up.
Then I ran my wires to the lights and they worked! There is clearance between the radiator and the back of the lights and about 1/2" or more between the lenses and back of the grill. I'm going to keep an eye on them for a little while and make sure they are not rubbing anywhere else.
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2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi Big Horn
-6" BDS lift, Bilstein 5100s @ 2.1", Kumho 37x13.50-20, Eagle Alloy 079 20x9, AEM Brute Force CAI, 18" Mufflex, Predator tuner, PW flares, TRX grill, G2 Bakflip, KCs behind grill, 5K HIDS, Recon White Lightning bar & 3rd Brakelight, Painted Heads, Tinted Fogs & Tails
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11-19-2011, 06:30 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: We live in Blue Springs Mo.
Name: Scott
Age: 37
Posts: 4,155
Ram Year: 2010
Engine: 5.7 Hemi
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Nice read Brad!! Thanks bud!! Got any pics of it done???
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2010 Ram 1500 HEMI
6" BDS Lift 4th Gen 1500 8"+ lift Club #1
Bilstein 5100's set at max 2.8" total of 8" Lift 37x12.50x20 Black Truck Club #36
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11-19-2011, 06:31 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northern PA
Age: 32
Posts: 272
Ram Year: 2009
Engine: 5.7L Hemi
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Continued...
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2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi Big Horn
-6" BDS lift, Bilstein 5100s @ 2.1", Kumho 37x13.50-20, Eagle Alloy 079 20x9, AEM Brute Force CAI, 18" Mufflex, Predator tuner, PW flares, TRX grill, G2 Bakflip, KCs behind grill, 5K HIDS, Recon White Lightning bar & 3rd Brakelight, Painted Heads, Tinted Fogs & Tails
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11-19-2011, 06:32 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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4th Gen / Site Mod
Join Date: Jul 2010
Name: Butch
Posts: 9,611
Ram Year: 2011 1500 Sport Quad Cab 4x4
Engine: Hemi 5.7
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very nice.
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RamForum.com Moderator
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11-19-2011, 06:34 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northern PA
Age: 32
Posts: 272
Ram Year: 2009
Engine: 5.7L Hemi
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Night shots!
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__________________
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi Big Horn
-6" BDS lift, Bilstein 5100s @ 2.1", Kumho 37x13.50-20, Eagle Alloy 079 20x9, AEM Brute Force CAI, 18" Mufflex, Predator tuner, PW flares, TRX grill, G2 Bakflip, KCs behind grill, 5K HIDS, Recon White Lightning bar & 3rd Brakelight, Painted Heads, Tinted Fogs & Tails
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11-19-2011, 06:40 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Supporting Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: CT
Name: Erik
Age: 20
Posts: 5,450
Ram Year: 2010
Engine: Hemi 5.7
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Awesome! I still need to mount my lights behind the grille. Awesome write up!
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Dodge Ram Forum | Ram Forum | Ram 1500 Forum | Dodge Truck Forum | Dodge Ram Parts | Dodge Ram Accessories | Dodge Ram Performance
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11-19-2011, 06:55 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northern PA
Age: 32
Posts: 272
Ram Year: 2009
Engine: 5.7L Hemi
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Thanks! It would have been alot quicker if I didn't make 2 trips to AutoZone....which meant re-bolting my grill back on each time, then off, then on, etc...I'm sure all lights are different but the only hard part was tightening those nuts, esp the pass side
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__________________
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi Big Horn
-6" BDS lift, Bilstein 5100s @ 2.1", Kumho 37x13.50-20, Eagle Alloy 079 20x9, AEM Brute Force CAI, 18" Mufflex, Predator tuner, PW flares, TRX grill, G2 Bakflip, KCs behind grill, 5K HIDS, Recon White Lightning bar & 3rd Brakelight, Painted Heads, Tinted Fogs & Tails
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11-19-2011, 06:57 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Supporting Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: CT
Name: Erik
Age: 20
Posts: 5,450
Ram Year: 2010
Engine: Hemi 5.7
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Where did you put your switch? Got any pics?
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Dodge Ram Forum | Ram Forum | Ram 1500 Forum | Dodge Truck Forum | Dodge Ram Parts | Dodge Ram Accessories | Dodge Ram Performance
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11-19-2011, 07:22 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Site Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florissant, MO
Name: JJ
Age: 33
Posts: 15,614
Ram Year: 2010 1500 Crew
Engine: 5.7L
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very nice!
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11-19-2011, 07:30 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northern PA
Age: 32
Posts: 272
Ram Year: 2009
Engine: 5.7L Hemi
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My switch is mounted under my dash underneath the steering wheel. I'll snap a pic for you tomorrow
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__________________
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi Big Horn
-6" BDS lift, Bilstein 5100s @ 2.1", Kumho 37x13.50-20, Eagle Alloy 079 20x9, AEM Brute Force CAI, 18" Mufflex, Predator tuner, PW flares, TRX grill, G2 Bakflip, KCs behind grill, 5K HIDS, Recon White Lightning bar & 3rd Brakelight, Painted Heads, Tinted Fogs & Tails
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