Use magnets to mount a tailgate lightbar

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Chetperk

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I found a simple solution to mount a tailgate lightbar without removing the tailgate, and making it removable and fully adjustable. I bought round strong magnets from Home Depot and depending on the light bar I either cut the backing off the 3M tape on the bar and stuck the magnet to the exposed tape.
If the bar doesn't have the 3M tape already installed, such as the Putco Blade bar, I added the tape to the magnet and then stuck it to the bar.
I did remove the grommet from the spare tire access hole so the bar would sit flat. But to access the spare tire you can either slide the bar up or down or completely remove it.
The magnets also offset the bar a bit so it stands off the welds at both ends of bed frame.
I hope this helps those having difficulty mounting the tailgate bar.
 
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Chetperk

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Surprised they haven't thought of this. Would probably sell more tailgate bars that way.
 

Jarhead67

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You can bet my new Plasmaglow Night Raider will be held in place with magnets. Thanks for the great tech idea.
 

Nick@GotExhaust

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Great idea

For anyone interested the newer PUTCO switch blade comes with brackets that allow you to mount it but also easily remove it and re-mount as needed and to make it easier to get to the spare tire access hole
 

norton333

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Great idea

For anyone interested the newer PUTCO switch blade comes with brackets that allow you to mount it but also easily remove it and re-mount as needed and to make it easier to get to the spare tire access hole
Do you sell them? I am interested in adding one to my 2016 Ram 1500 sport and am looking and pricing them.
 

daveray9

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Pics??

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Nick@GotExhaust

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Do you sell them? I am interested in adding one to my 2016 Ram 1500 sport and am looking and pricing them.
Yes we do. Shoot me a PM with your zip and I'll get you a quote shipped to your door

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norton333

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Yes we do. Shoot me a PM with your zip and I'll get you a quote shipped to your door

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Nick, I sent you an email, seems they fail to send, how do I pm you here? nothing I click seems to work .thanks, Steve
 
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jinxface

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I'm sure glad I saw this, I've been wanting a tailgate light bar but saw the hole for the spare tire and thought no way getting a light bar on there. Magnets are a great idea. I'll also check out the PUTCO bar
 

tma777

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Does the bar move at all with the magnets? Normal driving, car wash etc... I have a Recon light bar to put on mine but waiting for it to warm up a bit before I put it on. I have to hard wire it too.
 

Nick@GotExhaust

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Nick, I sent you an email, seems they fail to send, how do I pm you here? nothing I click seems to work .thanks, Steve

Pm responded to, thanks!

I'm sure glad I saw this, I've been wanting a tailgate light bar but saw the hole for the spare tire and thought no way getting a light bar on there. Magnets are a great idea. I'll also check out the PUTCO bar

Message me if you would like a discounted quote!
 

jinxface

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sorry Nick, I went to OPT7 site and ordered the Redline Tailgate light before I saw your message. I guess I'm getting slow in my old age (66). I got the tailgate light and the 5 pin connector for behind the bumper.
 

unxpctd

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Hows does the Putco LED light attach to the electronics? Is there any wire cutting involved?
 

JB1

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Hows does the Putco LED light attach to the electronics? Is there any wire cutting involved?
instructions aren't the best (see attached), theres a few installs on youtube
 

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  • putco_blade.pdf
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blackbetty14

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Interesting to see if it holds. I had the redline triple and loved it. The bars are light so the magnets don’t have to be insane but they still need to be strong.

It’s a good idea tho!

I guess all those aluminum fords can’t do it tho! Ha
 

Nick@GotExhaust

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Hows does the Putco LED light attach to the electronics? Is there any wire cutting involved?

You can use the harness to plug into the trailer plug and then use the supplied wire tap on the reverse light wire on the back of the round trailer plug or just use all the supplied wire taps for the back of the round trailer plug for a cleaner install. its a very easy install either way. NO cutting other than cutting the plug of the Putco light.

these are the wire taps
mmm06129-1.jpg
 

JB1

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crash68

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My plan was to use the curt wiring harness that goes in behind the bumper, then cut off the putco 4 way end and wire on a 5-way end to match the curt harness 5-way, this would make it a plug-n-play.

The 4 pin will plug into the 5 pin and work correctly. The fifth pin is just for reverse.
Curt also makes a 4 pin version of that wiring harness for behind the bumper.

Put dielectric grease on the connections to protect them.
 

JB1

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The 4 pin will plug into the 5 pin and work correctly. The fifth pin is just for reverse.
Curt also makes a 4 pin version of that wiring harness for behind the bumper.

Put dielectric grease on the connections to protect them.

Exactly, if you do it like I suggest with a 5 pin it will be plug-n-play with reverse, if not you’ll plug in 4 wires and still have one loose white wire for reverse spliced in or scotch locked
 
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