HD Bison Lighting Upgrades

[CMB]

New to the forum but I am a long time lurker.

I had been searching for months trying to find brackets or hardware to install some Baja Designs lighting and never saw anything so went at it myself. Still need to mount my Squadrons in the front bumper openings but it’s wired and ready. Ordered truck with factory upfitter switches and made some custom tweaks that have worked out well.

Enjoy.

 

[CMB]

Some other photos

 

[GATORB8]

What front brackets did you use for the bar?

Some other photos

 

[CMB]

What front brackets did you use for the bar?

Actually ended up using the Baja designs brackets that came with the bar. Removed the winch steel cover plate and notched the factory trim around the footprint of the bracket feet.

 

[CMB]

What front brackets did you use for the bar?

 

[securityguy]

I think he wants a link to what you bought.

 

[GATORB8]

I think he wants a link to what you bought.

All good, was hoping they mounted similar to the $$$$ Wescotts.

 

[GATORB8]

Very clean, nice work.

 

[CMB]

All good, was hoping they mounted similar to the $$$$ Wescotts.

I looked at the Westcott several times but couldn’t justify the price tag. I had started fabricating something similar but didn’t like the look.

 

[Busa Dave]

For the non-Bison people forget it. The thin metal in the top layer of the bumper will pull down into the thicker layer underneath when the lights are tightened not to mention the bumper metal id far from flat. It will look like azz and not be stable. Looked into it in finite detail. This is one of the big reasons why I am getting the ADD bumper and BD lights installed tomorrow.

 

[GATORB8]

For the non-Bison people forget it. The thin metal in the top layer of the bumper will pull down into the thicker layer underneath when the lights are tightened not to mention the bumper metal id far from flat. It will look like azz and not be stable. Looked into it in finite detail. This is one of the big reasons why I am getting the ADD bumper and BD lights installed tomorrow.

That sounds like a challenge….

 

[CMB]

For the non-Bison people forget it. The thin metal in the top layer of the bumper will pull down into the thicker layer underneath when the lights are tightened not to mention the bumper metal id far from flat. It will look like azz and not be stable. Looked into it in finite detail. This is one of the big reasons why I am getting the ADD bumper and BD lights installed tomorrow.

I can see that for sure. My neighbor has a 2500 AT4. I’ll have to look at this and see. I do know there are lots of possibilities depending on fabrication skill. If I see a straight forward option for the non-AEV trucks I’ll post a new thread.

 

[GATORB8]

I can see that for sure. My neighbor has a 2500 AT4. I’ll have to look at this and see. I do know there are lots of possibilities depending on fabrication skill. If I see a straight forward option for the non-AEV trucks I’ll post a new thread.

Bumper projection is really short in the non-bison. I’m thinking the only good look is going to be flush/frenched.

 

[CMB]

Bumper projection is really short in the non-bison. I’m thinking the only good look is going to be flush/frenched.

Definitely. I think an BD S8 light bar would tuck nicely between the lower grill and bumper.

 

[R2Z2]

Did you wire the upfitter switches yourself? Debating whether to wire them up myself or not.

 

[CMB]

Yessir but I did it with some modifications. Added a secondary relay block under the hood to be able to use all 5 switches for lighting. Removed the relays under the dash and used negative triggers to the relay block under hood using a 6 strand jacketed wire. The grommet to run the wiring through is a pain in the ass and I didn’t want to drill a hole in the firewall to pass 5 primary wires through. I also added a hi/low foot switch to a 200 amp relay so I can instantly kill all the lights with my left foot if there is oncoming traffic.

 

[AXE]

Yessir but I did it with some modifications. Added a secondary relay block under the hood to be able to use all 5 switches for lighting. Removed the relays under the dash and used negative triggers to the relay block under hood using a 6 strand jacketed wire. The grommet to run the wiring through is a pain in the ass and I didn’t want to drill a hole in the firewall to pass 5 primary wires through. I also added a hi/low foot switch to a 200 amp relay so I can instantly kill all the lights with my left foot if there is oncoming traffic.

Best place to run wires is up through the plastic plug below your left foot. I have some pictures posted. You come down the wheel well and pass through the gap between the cab and frame and it's a short distance from there to the plug.

 

[CMB]

I saw that plug but I was using the factory upfitter switches so the wiring path is pretty specific as all the cables are precut and terminated.

 

[AXE]

I saw that plug but I was using the factory upfitter switches so the wiring path is pretty specific as all the cables are precut and terminated.

Yep, mine was all custom cut harness, so I didn't have any limitations. You'd think these dum bastards would put a grommet or plug in the firewall. There's room for 20 of them.

 

[Bison 650]

Damn, what did you use to make those cuts in the plastic? Very clean!