TheRealTone21
Junior Member
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2015
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- Ram Year
- 2009
- Engine
- Hemi 5.7
So I've seen this pop up on this forum recently and I figured I would share my experience - highly recommend doing this it looks sweet!
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport - seems like the earlier 4th gen Rams have the molding on the bottom of the bumper, it's roughly 43.5 inches long.
Step #1. Remove the black molding by sliding under the truck and applying pressure to the tabs that hold the molding in place. It's easy, just start on the drivers side, hold the tabs on the end of the molding with one hand - then apply pressure pushing the molding out towards the front of the truck. Continue to work your way towards the passenger side until you can push the entire piece out. Once its out you'll notice there's plastic "pillars" (I think four or five) in between the the space where the molding was. These need to be cut out in order for the light bar to be recessed in the bumper. I used a small SawZall, carefully cut them out 1,2,3. You'll be left with a long space in the bumper where the bar will fit perfectly.
Step #2 - I ordered the light bar off eBay, it's a generic Chinese brand w/ Phillips 5 Watt LEDs. This one in particular is 42.5" - CURVED- LED light bar. I paid $130.00 for the bar and the wiring harness. No need to be too picky with what brand or seller you use. I ordered 4 light bars in total, all from different sellers, all apparently different brands and they all shipped from the same location LOL - looked exactly the same too! The eBay Specials are all the same, just make sure it's curved and 40 - 42 inches.
Mounting the bar is very simple, you don't have to be a fabricator to make them. If you look under the truck right above the space where the molding used to be there are two frame bolts on each side that you can tie into. I took a piece of 5 Inch metal (I think it was 3/8 aluminum) about 2 inches wide and used that. Drill a hole in the top of the metal that will fit over the frame bolt once it's removed. Slide the metal bracket over the frame bolt and hand tighten, do this for both sides. Now this is where it may help to ask someone for assistance. Go to the front of the truck and line up the light bar and it's brackets with the metal brackets you've just mounted. Mark the spot where you need to drill a hole in your metal bracket - remove your metal brackets w/ the marked spot and drill your holes. Put everything back together and you should have a perfect fit! I drilled "slots" instead of holes so I can move the bar left or right after it's mounted.
Step #3 - Wiring is the easy part. These harnesses come fully assembled - relay, fuse and switch all included. I ran my wire through the black wire boot in the cabin, through the firewall and towards the battery. Drill a small hole where you have room in the engine compartment to mount your relay. Red to Red black to black - find a good ground and your all set.
Total job time was 4.5 hours, majority was making those brackets line up. Finished product is great, I can spot deer from miles away and the truck looks bad ass! Total cost - $130.00. Any questions feel free to ask, wish I had more pictures of the install. Good luck boys, this is worth it.
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport - seems like the earlier 4th gen Rams have the molding on the bottom of the bumper, it's roughly 43.5 inches long.
Step #1. Remove the black molding by sliding under the truck and applying pressure to the tabs that hold the molding in place. It's easy, just start on the drivers side, hold the tabs on the end of the molding with one hand - then apply pressure pushing the molding out towards the front of the truck. Continue to work your way towards the passenger side until you can push the entire piece out. Once its out you'll notice there's plastic "pillars" (I think four or five) in between the the space where the molding was. These need to be cut out in order for the light bar to be recessed in the bumper. I used a small SawZall, carefully cut them out 1,2,3. You'll be left with a long space in the bumper where the bar will fit perfectly.
Step #2 - I ordered the light bar off eBay, it's a generic Chinese brand w/ Phillips 5 Watt LEDs. This one in particular is 42.5" - CURVED- LED light bar. I paid $130.00 for the bar and the wiring harness. No need to be too picky with what brand or seller you use. I ordered 4 light bars in total, all from different sellers, all apparently different brands and they all shipped from the same location LOL - looked exactly the same too! The eBay Specials are all the same, just make sure it's curved and 40 - 42 inches.
Mounting the bar is very simple, you don't have to be a fabricator to make them. If you look under the truck right above the space where the molding used to be there are two frame bolts on each side that you can tie into. I took a piece of 5 Inch metal (I think it was 3/8 aluminum) about 2 inches wide and used that. Drill a hole in the top of the metal that will fit over the frame bolt once it's removed. Slide the metal bracket over the frame bolt and hand tighten, do this for both sides. Now this is where it may help to ask someone for assistance. Go to the front of the truck and line up the light bar and it's brackets with the metal brackets you've just mounted. Mark the spot where you need to drill a hole in your metal bracket - remove your metal brackets w/ the marked spot and drill your holes. Put everything back together and you should have a perfect fit! I drilled "slots" instead of holes so I can move the bar left or right after it's mounted.
Step #3 - Wiring is the easy part. These harnesses come fully assembled - relay, fuse and switch all included. I ran my wire through the black wire boot in the cabin, through the firewall and towards the battery. Drill a small hole where you have room in the engine compartment to mount your relay. Red to Red black to black - find a good ground and your all set.
Total job time was 4.5 hours, majority was making those brackets line up. Finished product is great, I can spot deer from miles away and the truck looks bad ass! Total cost - $130.00. Any questions feel free to ask, wish I had more pictures of the install. Good luck boys, this is worth it.
