Auxiliary Light Project

Mark_in_NH · Apr 10, 2003

TD,
The bracket / extension are approx. 30" long or so. By design they already have a hole on each end. They are bolted to the canopy support arms, using the front canopy bolt (had to drill a hole in light bracket) and I fastened the back end of the bracket using the exhisting hole and a heavy duty self drilling screw up into the canopy support arm.
The self drilling screws are called Tek Screws, the came with my garage and are what holds / locks all the pipe section together. Awesome heavy duty screws.

tdenny · Apr 10, 2003

Mark,

I guessing they are a little more stable that way as well, since the front ends of those canopies tend to vibrate a little (at least mine does). I like your new and improved brackets and the mirrors just kind of piggy back along.

Mark_in_NH · Apr 10, 2003

TD,
Yup. Everything seems nice and stable and rugged, but there's a tiny amount of vibration at idle, which completly goes away when I throttle up. and there's a little bit of wiggling / jiggling as you drive around. That, in my opinion can't be heped.

tdenny · Apr 10, 2003

Agreed, you just can't stop the vibration. I put rubber washers her there and everywhere in my mirror project and I hope it helps but................

Anonymous Poster · Apr 10, 2003

That looks like a real proffessional job!

May I drift a bit off course & ask you if that cloth building in the background is yours? You seem to have some snow around, and you have it fairly close to some trees. Living in Minnesota, I always wondered how those things hold up, esp with trees around. I would think any falling branches would be a problem.

--->Paul

Mark_in_NH · Apr 10, 2003

Paul,
Yes the garage is mine. It is a 26'W x 24"L Classic Plus garage from Clear Span / Farm Tek
The covering is actually quite heavy duty. I am sure that the right branch at the right angle etc. etc. would and could go through it. But, what in life ISN'T a gamble.
I can say that it is the Best $1500.00 S & H included, I Ever spent.
If I can give you any more info on it I would be more than happy to. Ask away. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Apr 11, 2003

I love the idea of snowplow lights, too. You might even have yourself something with high and low beams there. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Mark_in_NH · Apr 11, 2003

Gary,
Yes, they do have high & low beam. I was thinking of just switching the high beam, but if I can replace one of the switchs in the box with a single pole, double throw. Then I can have a center position for off, and then switch both beams. I don't know if such a switch is available. I could always switch the high and low beams from seperate switchs if necessary. I would most likely have them on the high beam side MOST of the time, so truly needing the low's is a ???
They also have parking lamps and of course the brighter hazard lamp. I will probably just use the hazard lamp portion of them.
I picked them up on eBay from a man in PA for $83 S&H included. This is the Company that makes these particular ones Grote They are incredibly light weight. I almost thought the box was empty when it arrived. I have seen them at this site Grote Perlux for $105.99
I can't wait to get everything hooked up and running /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anonymous Poster · Apr 11, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Gary,
Yes, they do have high & low beam. I was thinking of just switching the high beam, but if I can replace one of the switchs in the box with a single pole, double throw. Then I can have a center position for off, and then switch both beams. I don't know if such a switch is available. )</font>

I took a quick look over at the Whelen site but didn't see any options for "spdt" switches. The other thought I had was you sometimes see split switches in these type of boxes but I didn't see this option either. The switches used are probably pretty standard size so you might have luck at your local NAPA dealer finding the switch you want. It would be a shame not to utilize the full potential of your new lights! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

billfires · Apr 12, 2003

Mark, although I'm not positive I believe the headlight part of those lights will tend to send light up in the air and cutoff the light towards the ground because they are mounted opposite of their design. If you could rotate the headlight sealed beam 180 degrees you would get a better light pattern toward the ground. Maybe someone else will chime in. Bill C