Overwhelmed by choice

[DCPHOENIX]

After a few years of owning the Gladiator it’s time to do something about the terrible lighting situation.

Rubicon, non-led, NO AUX SWITCHES.

I’m not wanting to add 12 different lights to the front and back, just looking at either cowl lighting, a clamp on light bar that will sit on the brush bar on the bumper or taking off the brush bar and using those holes to add a couple of lights.
The last option is my least favorite.

I have never done car wiring so coming into this as a complete newb (that doesn’t want to burn his vehicle to the ground).

I have looked at the Voswitch but since I'm looking at only adding 1 light source, not entirely sure that i need it.

Rough country have some options for $150 which mount on the cowl, but i cant fond any specs on the lights…

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[GWolgamott]

If not going to do more then a few lights can get away with just running with the wiring they send. A reputable light company will come or is able to be purchased a wire kit that will have a decent fuse and relay with it.

I have a rough country MLC unit, does make it nice as I add things as I go. My unit uses 40amp relays and I can switch out the fuses to match what the inline fuse was that came with whatever I wire into it. Plus has an extra relay from the unit to the power source and a low voltage cutoff incase I accidentally leave a light on (Which I have done and it saved my ass from having the battery being drained.).

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Hella's come with really nice/sturdy wiring kits. I felt halfway bad butchering one up to connect into my aux switches when I did the install. Highly recommend their valuefit LED series lights.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Good advice above.

If you've never run wiring, then be ready for the absolute PITA that is getting it through the firewall. That may be reason enough to run a switch controller of some sort- you only have one line to push through the firewall while keeping the door open to further electrical doodads and gizmos. I really like Voswitch's oh shit handle switch plates, and their OEM location replacement.

Always remember - the snowball effect on mods is real. Don't resist it, you'll only wind up tired and broke instead of just broke.

 

[Ragbagger]

You can get away without the Voswitch if you’re truly only doing a couple lights, but…. One leads to two, leads to 4…. Plus you’ll still have to run a wire into the cab for whatever switch your lights come with. If you’re pulling a wire anyway, might as well give yourself some growing room.

I installed a Voswitch JL800 in my wife’s Wrangler last week. It’s not really hard to do, and there are a couple decent install videos on YouTube you can follow. She’s already got 4 of the switches filled up with all her lights (she loves her RBG stuff), and more planned.

But I‘m a glutton for punishment, so I’ll be tearing into the dash and installing the OEM kit in my Gladiator as soon as all this rain in the south ends. Thanks Francine.

A buddy of mine has this thing called a Trigger Six Shooter and overall he likes it. The neat thing about it is the controller is wireless, so you don’t have to install anything in the cab. But the connection gets dodgy for him sometimes. And it gets mixed reviews. Since it’s the just about the same price as OEM I went that route.

What brand lights are you looking at? Your thread caught my eye because I was watching a video during lunch today where a guy was installing the Harbor Freight ones on his cowls, using some mounts from Amazon. Thought you might want to check it out:

 

[Jefe1018]

Pick a light company and make it your personality.

I have so much money in Baja designs and Oracle you’d think I’m sponsored, it’s really just Capital One’s money.

The new harbor freight line of premium lights has me impressed for a not so premium price.

 

[DCPHOENIX]

I actually looked at the harbor freight ones in store yesterday. They’re certainly a contender.

I have no problem I’m spending money, it’s why my gun safe became multiple gun safes but I’m trying to be more financially responsible

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Pick a light company and make it your personality.

I have so much money in Baja designs and Oracle you’d think I’m sponsored, it’s really just Capital One’s money.

The new harbor freight line of premium lights has me impressed for a not so premium price.

I'm a KC HiLites guy myself. for Switches I started with the AUXbeam 8 button and a light bar ordered from Amazon.
Quality was somewhere between acceptable and good. For the price I got a little more than I paid for. Since then I've gone and done a custom set up with manual toggle switches and old school relays, ditched the light bar and rekindled my obsession with KC with a mixture of their halogens and Gravity LEDs. KC has tube clamps that work nicely so you don't have to drill. there are a TON of different cowl light brackets out there.

 

[Lowcaljeepin]

After a few years of owning the Gladiator it’s time to do something about the terrible lighting situation.

Rubicon, non-led, NO AUX SWITCHES.

I’m not wanting to add 12 different lights to the front and back, just looking at either cowl lighting, a clamp on light bar that will sit on the brush bar on the bumper or taking off the brush bar and using those holes to add a couple of lights.
The last option is my least favorite.

I have never done car wiring so coming into this as a complete newb (that doesn’t want to burn his vehicle to the ground).

I have looked at the Voswitch but since I'm looking at only adding 1 light source, not entirely sure that i need it.

Rough country have some options for $150 which mount on the cowl, but i cant fond any specs on the lights…

Man if you’ve got some pocket change I’d love to run something like this https://www.extremeterrain.com/trig...wireless-accessory-controller-kit-3001jl.html it would make things so much easier in these trucks. It’s the biggest PITA in the world to pull wires through this dash since there’s no space or gaps between…

 

[Lowcaljeepin]

Pick a light company and make it your personality.

I have so much money in Baja designs and Oracle you’d think I’m sponsored, it’s really just Capital One’s money.

The new harbor freight line of premium lights has me impressed for a not so premium price.

Man I finally caved on some BD’s I refused at first but then I got some disposable money and buckled. No regrets these things are badass!

BD dual s1 rear bumper lights kit (pic 2)

 

[DCPHOENIX]

Ok think you guys have sold me on being able to expand in the future if I need to.

Out of curiosity, I’m looking on the harbor freight website. They have a wiring harness and a wiring kit. Ones $29, the other is $69.

Looking at them, it seems like I’d only need the wiring kit if I went for the JL400?

 

[ORACLE Terry]

After a few years of owning the Gladiator it’s time to do something about the terrible lighting situation.

Rubicon, non-led, NO AUX SWITCHES.

I’m not wanting to add 12 different lights to the front and back, just looking at either cowl lighting, a clamp on light bar that will sit on the brush bar on the bumper or taking off the brush bar and using those holes to add a couple of lights.
The last option is my least favorite.

I have never done car wiring so coming into this as a complete newb (that doesn’t want to burn his vehicle to the ground).

I have looked at the Voswitch but since I'm looking at only adding 1 light source, not entirely sure that i need it.

Rough country have some options for $150 which mount on the cowl, but i cant fond any specs on the lights…

Check out the Trigger Controller System by Oracle. Spectacular switches with wireless capabilities.

 

[Silverator]

I was in the same boat. Halogen's - which were horrible - and a need (want) to upgrade.

This is what I eventually did.

LED bulbs into the Halogen housings. Approx $200.
Baja Designs into the fog positions of the bumper (cause that's what the dealer had)
Voswitch on the A pillar handle. (I went with the 8 position, but the 4 position might suit you)
Harbor Freight 6 LED on the bull bar
Harbor Freight 4 LED on the A Pillars

Went slow, did it all myself, and used NONE of the bogus wiring packages that HF had. The Voswitch under the hood control box is killer. Also, I love the A pillar controls. Really nice.

PS - having the 8 switches allows for a lot of options in the aftermarket lights that have flood, high beam, and halo style backlighting.

Oh yeah, and I did the Oracle Pre-Runner lights for the grill. Hooked up to the marker side lights.

 

[DCPHOENIX]

I was in the same boat. Halogen's - which were horrible - and a need (want) to upgrade.

This is what I eventually did.

LED bulbs into the Halogen housings. Approx $200.
Baja Designs into the fog positions of the bumper (cause that's what the dealer had)
Voswitch on the A pillar handle. (I went with the 8 position, but the 4 position might suit you)
Harbor Freight 6 LED on the bull bar
Harbor Freight 4 LED on the A Pillars

Went slow, did it all myself, and used NONE of the bogus wiring packages that HF had. The Voswitch under the hood control box is killer. Also, I love the A pillar controls. Really nice.

PS - having the 8 switches allows for a lot of options in the aftermarket lights that have flood, high beam, and halo style backlighting.

Oh yeah, and I did the Oracle Pre-Runner lights for the grill. Hooked up to the marker side lights.

You really said “let there be light!” Haha looks good!

What did you use to wire them all into the voswitch box? Just bought a few lengths of wire?

 

[Badweather]

Morimoto lights have held up very well for me and are extremely bright with excellent wiring, including an on/off switch if needed

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