Installing a dome light in the headliner of the B3030

[WaxMan]

I have looked at that exact lamp assy myself, as well as the similar one from an F-SuperDuty. Bought a flat, flush fit LED powered by 2 AA batts that has a automatic 15 min cutoff, but the beam is too concentrated; center of headliner = a 12" circle on floor. Local wrecking yard has several similar lamps, but all the trucks have a tan/beige interior; no gray. The Ranger up level trims use a lamp shaped like that one, but it uses a lens that covers all the way to the headliner, no trim bezel. I'm not sure if it requires a larger hole/more backspace or not though. Those installs look factory, and would work better than what Kubota most likely would have installed if they had installed one, most Japanese cars and trucks have some of the wimpiest interior lighting around, even some of the high end models.

There is hardly any clearance above the headliner and you want a little air space.
The lights you mention with all lens are from Rangers and Explorer's and don't have great spots.
I didn't look but since they are a lower profile I would think too much of the light is above the headliner.
Once you do get the right light you have to cut out the clips that hold the reflector on so you can rewire it , I also drilled holes in all four corners of the lamp to insure a tight fit. Then one screw in the center of the reflector to hold in on, see first picture.

 

[LRH]

The least amount of intrusion into the headliner is best, since the space between the roof panel and h/liner is the air return path to the HVAC system.

 

[WaxMan]

The least amount of intrusion into the headliner is best, since the space between the roof panel and h/liner is the air return path to the HVAC system.

Yes thats right, but even if the light blocked the air flow it would have no affect on the fresh air system. There is just too much room around the light for the air to travel.

With the Ford light that I used, If I was doing it again, I don't think it is necessary to cut a hole in the liner at all.
I would try it first , with the mounting holes drilled in all four corners of the light and the three in the middle it should just bend the headliner up enough to make room.
You can see from the pictures that very little cutout if any is needed.
What you see in black is what I cut out on mine, using the gray part of the light as a templet, as you can see a lot more was cut then was necessary.

 

[LRH]

I knew that particular lamp did not intrude much into the HVAC return space; I guess I was just making generalization for those (very recent owners, and anyone who has not removed the headliner for a peek) who might not realize that the space can't be blocked with an excess of items.

You are right about that lamp; as long as it did not get extremely hot on the darker sections, a hole may not be needed, the liner will just conform. I have in the past replaced the 906 or 912 bulbs with 921's, and they get hot, so a 5/8 or 3/4" hole would be ok also.

 

[LRH]

Scored a good deal, was given a high end Hella EuroLEDTouch surface mount lamp assy. Has 3 levels of both red and white light via touch sensitive switches, comes with 2.5m of jacketed marine cable; 3 strands; +, -, and a third wire that can be used to operate via remote momentary switch, or use to daisy chain multiple lamps, or both. Remembers last setting if power is interrupted, so can be used with a standard off-on switch as a room light. Very bright with ~3 watts of white light, 1.5 watts of red, and the white is white, not too blueish as some white LED's are. Don't have a pic, but search for Hella Marine # 959950121. YachtLights: Marine Boat Lighting shows a good shot.