What to do with roof rack light wiring??

[badmix]

Getting ready to add a roof rack to my K5 (will do a write up, not your normal setup )

I want to add 4 front facing lights, but Im wondering about running wire thru the roof, Is there any way to do it cleanly and not leak, any kind of adaptor or connections or something better than just grommets? Any other ideas on how to do a clean professional setup? One idea was to get a fake shark fin ( short stubby radio antenna) and run wire under it thru the roof.

any other ideas.

 

[dfl701]

what kind of rack do you have? i would want to run the wires through the tubing then come out as close to the roof as possible.

 

[badmix]

Its going to be a surco rack, cheapest and lightest (aluminum) ive found. This is going to be a cab over design, not on the topper. Im trying to find the least evasive way to get wires down into the cab.

 

[dfl701]

i guess it depends on how you mount it to the cab. i would try running it through the tubing for the cleanest look and then come down in the middle somewhere.

 

[lak2004]

when i bought my blazer it had a karr light rack on it and they had run the wires for the lights through the roof and then used silicone sealant to seal the hole. it has never leaked and my blazer is tall enough to not see it. but it isnt pretty.

 

[Fordum]

Man, just do like I did one time when mounting a base loaded CB antenna on the roof.
.22LR solid straight up.
Made a perfect hole once we ground down the little lips.

He said he was in a hurry.......

If thats a little quick for you, you could check into some bulkhead fittings for boats.
Or, probably cheaper, some waterproof compression type fittings for a NEMA 4 electrical box.

They sell some that go through an electrical box, have a rubber compression fitting inside with a hole that is a snug fit for the size wire you are using.
You mount the body, run the wire through the body, the compression fitting and the cap.

When you get enough wire through, you tighten the cap, and the rubber compresses down on the inside of the body and the wire.

Any good electrical supply house should have them. Tell them its for a NEMA 4 box.
Unless you are running a pretty good size wire, don't let them sell you one for a full sized knockout.
They make smaller ones.
If it will go through, I will post a picture of one so you can get the idea.

J.

 

[Fordum]

That was from an outfit called Sealcon http://www.sealconusa.com/

Never done business with them, they were the first picture that popped up on the web.
If you go plastic, be sure its black so its UV protected.
They have them in any material you can imagine.

BTW, that one is rated to 150ft under water.
If you are driving around lower than that be warned it may leak........

J.

 

[bot0611]

Why not use a grommet size depending on the # of wires you will run through it and then seal it good with silicone

 

[four_by_ken]

Its still on my list to add lights to my rack too, just havent done it yet. I plan on drilling through the fiberglass top and use a rubber grommet with silicone.

 

[lak2004]

Why not use a grommet size depending on the # of wires you will run through it and then seal it good with silicone

Thats how mine was done. Only problem with that is if you ever need to pull or add wires.

 

[mudbuggy]

Is that rack a full depth rack or just over the hard cab. I mean does the rear shell come off?

 

[badmix]

just over the cab. top will still be able to come off and ill still have my roof rack.

 

[mr.smartass]

The wire for the dome light in my blazer runs up under the cab to top seal. Maybe you could just run them up the other side if yours is like that.

 

[badmix]

Well ive got an idea, I think itll work. Ill do a write up on my install w/ pics and all that. Should be pretty cool once Im done.

 

[gotblazers]

Well ive got an idea, I think itll work. Ill do a write up on my install w/ pics and all that. Should be pretty cool once Im done.

grommets work well i used em back when i used to run 2Gauge power wire for my subwoofers to the rear. Never leaked a drop

 

[cybrfire]

I'd look into some sort of through bulkhead connection, like a trailer plug or something like that.

Or wireless wire.

 

[Fordum]

I'd look into some sort of through bulkhead connection, like a trailer plug or something like that.

Or wireless wire.

Thats an idea. Wireless power transmitting.

Oh, Nickola, are you still out there?<G>.