• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Need Help Installing Lightbar

R

RefugioAvalanche

Full Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2003
Messages
102
Location
Austin, Tx
Long time no post :)

Well I am back in search of assistance from someone who knows more than i do about this truck. ???

The truck in question is a 2003 Z66 with Rear Seat Entertainment, OnStar, Bose, etc...

I am a volunteer Fireman and will be mounting a Whelen Edge 9000 lightbar on my truck to assist in responding to emergency calls.

My question is involving drilling through the roof..I want to mount the lightbar centered just above the hinge of the rear door. On the roof obviously..

First of all how to get headliner down, secondly which side do RSE wires run on. thirdly can i run the wire down the B-pillar inside to under the seat and then into the center console where control box will be mounted vertically. :D

plan on starting this tommorow and be done by thrusday at the latest. Please advise with any info that you might be able to provide.

I greatly appreciate the assitance.

Billy Clay Myers
Volunteer Firefighter :B:
 
You may look at Galls's a few of the other Public Safety catalogs. They may have a clamp mount so you wouldn't have to drill the roof, unless you really want. Our Fire Chief has some sort of rail mount on his Tahoe for a full LED bar that he has. I will try to take a closer look at it when I get a chance.
 
RefugioAvalanche

To remove the headliner, you need to remove the visors, handles, B pillar and center pillar covers.. sunroof edging if equipped, overhead console, DVD console if equipped, and dome light...
Might have to pull back on some of the door rubber moulding as well... The headliner I believe is secured by velcro...
Don't think I missed any thing.... :cautious:

Once you have the headliner out, you should be able to see where all the cables run... Don't see a problem with running the wires down the center door pillar...
I know the cab mount clearance lamps on the front of the wiring harness runs down the front passengers side B pillar... Can't remember if the factory installed wiring for the roof light on the 2500 is run up the drivers side B pillar or the center door pillar on the driver side!

dichris
 
did not see any wiring in the manual that would carry the current of a light bar. if the light bar wiring harness exits the light bar near the end of the light bar drill a hole in the roof and run the wires down the left "B" pillar, under the drivers door sill plate, under the dash, get power from the body relay block (near the drivers left foot on the firewall) then continue to the center console for the switches. you dont have to remove the headliner. will try to get more info before the end of the day.

rod
 
I would really consider a standard lightbar mount for two reasons, 1st you only have to drill into the door frame under the rubber seal to attach the brackets. 2nd by mounting to the door frame you will need to have rubber feet on the lightbar legs that will also provide 4 points of stability plus the brackets holding it down. As you may know there is a lot of wind push at speeds that you may travel and the roof metal is very thin on these new trucks. I think if you just bolt it down from the leg points it will bend the roof metal in time and start to come free.

If you look at a local PD car you will see there are specific methods for mounting the full size bars. I am sure this has come from experience. Not to mention resale, I don't think you could ever seal those holes from water with or without the bar on with the amount of force the wind will push your bar.

With regard to wiring, an external switch box is required. I used a low profile electronic model (xl200) from Galls with backlit buttons and it fits nice below the dash in the center.

I could provide a pic if needed. it was well worth the extra money.

When you get done post a pic of your truck, maybe we could start a "Emergency lighting for the Av topic"
 
I am sorry that I confused everyone, I did indeed use a standard Lightbar mount. I would never dream of simply bolting it to the roof.

I pulled the headliner back and drilled the hole in the roof (5/:cool: and snaked the wire down the B pillar out at the bottom and along the bottom of the door past the Hood release handle and it is coiled up in the floorboard right now.

My question is, is there an easy way to run this under the carpet from behind the drivers seat under the center console and up into it, of course drilling in a hole in the black piece that is the actual console...

My plan is to use a piece of aluminum bent at a 90 to mount in the front of the console with my switches. it will be totally hidden until you push the button to raise the console and then it will open up James Bond style ;D :cool:

I really appreciate the help so far, and would like any ideas on running the wire under the carpet behind the drivers seat.

Thanks,
Billy Clay Myers
 
Hey remember to take some pics of the pop up switches. ;)
Sounds like it may be a new project for Rescue 1... >:D

Come to think of it post some pics of the final install, maybe I can convince the wife I need a full light bar. :0: :0:
 
RefugioAvalanche said:
I pulled the headliner back and drilled the hole in the roof (5/:cool: and snaked the wire down the B pillar out at the bottom and along the bottom of the door past the Hood release handle and it is coiled up in the floorboard right now.

My question is, is there an easy way to run this under the carpet from behind the drivers seat under the center console and up into it, of course drilling in a hole in the black piece that is the actual console...
Click to expand...
If I understand you correctly, the wire is basically up under the dash at this point. If so, why do you want to run it under the carpet and behind the driver's seat?

I think it will be a lot easier to just run the wire under the dash to the center, then down under the console from the front. This is what I did on my truck when I installed my MP3 player in my console.

I don't know if you have an '02 or '03, but it is real easy to do on an '02. (I have no experience with an '03 console.) On the '02, there is plenty of room to pull wires. Pull out the cup holder, and you can push a coathanger wire up to the area under the dash. Tape off the wires, and pull it back, and you're halfway there. Then take out the small screws around the perimeter of of the black storage bucket, remove the four bolts on the floor of the bucket, and it will pop right out.You can then easily pull the wires the rest of the way and mount your switches.

Or am I misunderstanding you and I'm completely off base?

-- SS
 
mo you are totally on target..It is just that I am not sure if I have enough wire to make it back down the center from under the dash...I know that I could make it from behind the drives seat, because from the B-Pillar it would be a straight shot. I will try your idea though. Like I said, I appreciate all input

I will post some pics, install has to be done tommorow for use friday...It was too late today to take a pic of it up there, but I will get that tommorow as well as some of the switches and also with it on at dusk ;) Can't help on the convincing the wife though, because my girlfriend was all for it..she thinks it is cool. I was totally shocked :eek: ;D

Any more ideas of info would be great, i get to start back up on the project tommorow at 4:00pm Central.

Thanks
Billy Clay
 
I'm glad that the girlfriend was cool with it but I would be careful trying to convince the wife by telling her the girlfriend was cool with it >:D
 
Well the lightbar is installed...Not pretty on the wirirng yet..Hopefully I can get that fixed this weekend, but I need the lightbar for an escort today so I had to have it working.

If anyone has any good ideas for mounting the switches I would appreciate the info. I saw an idea where they put them in the upper cubby, but I do not understand how they did it. If anyone knows please let me know or even give me a link to the thread.

I appreciate all the help

Billy Clay
 
RefugioAvalanche said:
If anyone knows please let me know or even give me a link to the thread.
Click to expand...
Maybe these will get you started:
  • http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=16;action=display;threadid=5808
  • http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=16;action=display;threadid=6212
  • http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=5069
Good luck, and post pics, please. (y)

-- SS
 
Quick question:
Why are you guys concerned about mounting the light bar to the roof (bolting it down)?
Isn't this the same principal as the roof rack?
It's bolted down, and if you had something up there (suitecae) tied to the roof rack it would hold up to the windspeed/pressure. Correct?

Rob
 
PFF, I don't think it's the same. I'm not an Engineer but Reason being is that the roof rack is made to bolt down to the support bars under the sheat metal where the lightbar is not designed for a specific vehicle and in most cases all 4 legs will not line-up with a support member. Also, most people won't drive at speeds over 60-70 with something strapped down to their roof, and with Fire/EMS sometimes it is expected.

I had a magnet mount 28" low profile strobe lightbar on my 97 Dodge PU that never moved even at speeds greater than 80mph, but when I transfered it to the 2003 Av it decided to depart from the fire service at 70mph. The bar had 4 90pound magnets. I was told by the mfg of the lightbar that newer vehicles now have even thinner metal and thicker paint. Bye, Bye, $600 strobe lightbar...

I now have hide-away strobes in my Avalanche :cool:

 
The roof rack lines up with nothing......I installed mine.....it just uses special crimp type bolts to stop horizontal forces and spreads the load out on the roof sheetmetal for gravity forces.........

HTH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top