Andy Shane
So, you’re finally ready to head out into the wilderness when it gets dark. Driving into the night is quite a challenge and will boost the adrenaline. Besides, it’s only gonna be you and the Jeep – no campers, fellow drivers, none of that. You will need the right equipment for this to work, however. And I’m not even talking about big tires of beefed-up suspensions.
To make sure you don’t crash the Wrangler, proper lighting is a must. Now, headlights and fog lights are pretty great, but they won’t get the job done. For night travels, a light bar is the way to go. It looks cool, won’t cost a fortune, and can turn night into day. So, join me in this Light Bar Installation on Jeep Wrangler guide, and let’s get to mounting!
Getting Started
The first thing that we’re gonna do is find a safe location where we can park the vehicle. The garage will do just fine. Or, if you’ve got a spot outside, you can go with that. As always, make sure you’ve disconnected the battery. Remember: we’ll be dealing with electricity here! Next, put on your protective gloves. I would also recommend protecting your eyes with a set of goggles.
Now, most likely, the Jeep light bar will come with a user manual and a diagram. If you’re lucky, they will be detailed, straightforward, and helpful. However, that’s not always the case. So, check the instructions out, but don’t rely on them solely to guide you. The good news is – to install a light bar on the Wrangler you won’t have to get any expensive equipment. Just grab your favorite tools from the garage, and that’s pretty much it. Here’s a full list:
- Protective gloves
- Eye goggles
- T40 Torx bit
- An Allen Key
- Wiring (preferably 12-gauge)
Step #1: Making Way for the LED Bar
Ok, so, even if you have the Best Light Bar for Jeep Wrangler, you’ll still have to know what you’re doing to make this work. Begin by removing the hardware sitting alongside the windshield. Grab the Torx bit for this. We need something to hold those LEDs in place, right? Well, the package will include a set of mounting brackets. Make sure they’re nice and tight and have a strong grip. Use the factory hardware to secure it.
Carefully lift the lights and place them right into the brackets. The best thing about bars – they’re very easy to mount. If it was a series of separate light bulbs, the whole process would’ve been a lot more complicated and time-consuming. You might have to angle the LEDs a couple of times until they are “aimed” at the road.
Sometimes, folks skip this part and the bar ends up lighting up the sky or the Jeep’s hood. You can always fix it later, though. Oh, and keep in mind that the LEDs are going to be pretty heavy. If you’re got a buddy to help with this, that’d be great. See the hex bolts on each side? They have to be tightened. Use an Allen key for that. But don’t overdo it.
Step #2: Taking Care of the Wiring
The battery’s disconnected, right? Many experts recommend leaving it on during the mounting and turning it off only when you move on to the wires. In any case, for a light bar for Jeep Wrangler, you’ll need 12-gauge wiring. Don’t worry – it won’t cost you much. Secure it to the windshield. The lights will include a loom and wire harness. For this to work, just “sneak” through the wiper cowl. Do your best not to damage the wiper wires in any way.
Where do the connections need to go, exactly? Follow the stock Wrangler harness. The 12-gauge wiring I mentioned earlier should be connected to the power supply. When working with wires do it slowly and don’t rush yourself. Plus, make sure all the separate parts are secured with conduits. You can also try to install the light bar on the Jeep’s hood. For that, remove the bolts from the hood hinges instead and mount the brackets in their place.
Step #3: Firing the Lights Up
Alright, that’s pretty much it for my “How to install LED Light Bar” guide! All that’s left to do is reconnect the battery unit, put the key in the ignition, and start the engine. Depending on the system, the lights will either come up right that second or wait for your “command”. Go ahead and give it a try. Everything’s working the way it should? Great, enjoy your LED bar, and I’ll see you next time!
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