LED Light Bar Mounting Without Bull/Nudge Bar

[Troutman]

I'm wanting to mount a 20" light bar which is around 2.7kg's weight on the front of my WK2 using one of those alloy light bar brackets that use the license plate mounting holes. My question is will this work over the long term? How tough is the plasting bumper on the WK2 if using 4 self tappers to mount the alloy license plate bar? Any suggestions of a more solid mount appreciated but i'm not interested in a bull bar or nunge bar at this time.

[nicjak]

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[nrb1748]

Hello Troutman,

I think you will find the plastic bar is not strong enough to stop the mounting bar from vibrating up and down, and with that weight (plus the mount bracket) the screws may eventually strip in the plastic. Maybe brace from behind using washers or a strip of steel etc and use nuts and bolts. The bumper is curved so you may find the mounting bracket, if flat, may not be an easy fit. I've just pop riveted my number plate to the bumper and the plastic is not very thick.

Regards

nrb1748

[Troutman]

Yeah thanks mate, that's what I'm thinking too that the plastic bumper doesn't have enough meat for screws to get a good bite and hold a few kilos of weight. Some reinforcing from behind the bumper and using machine screws & nuts would be an option. Is there an easy way to get a hand behind the front facia without removing the whole nose?

nicjak,
Cool looking install, but does having the bar behind the grille cut down much light and what about cleaning it from time to time?

[nicjak]

Stays clean as i use a pressure washer behind the grill doesnt seem to effect it i do lose a couple of led though from the bars.

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[GCDingo]

I reckon a plate behind the bumper and bolt it would be ok. Not sure how much vibration/movement you would get though once the light is installed as I have never used one of those license plate brackets.

[Troutman]

Originally Posted by GCDingo

I reckon a plate behind the bumper and bolt it would be ok. Not sure how much vibration/movement you would get though once the light is installed as I have never used one of those license plate brackets.

Reckon I'll give that a go as I had this exact mount on my WJ since 2001 holding up a pair of Lightforce 170's without any issues or vibration probs. Only thing on the WK2 I will have to solve is the curved bumper.