Are you looking to soup up your truck, SUV, or ORV by mounting a light bar without the hassle or risks inherent in drilling holes through your vehicle? You’ve come to the right place.
LED lights are bright and powerful, and more affordable than ever. There are various aftermarket options available for installing a light bar to your vehicle that will light your path.
Installing a light bar on your vehicle can help shine a light on where you’re going. And you can mount them without the hassle of drilling into your car.
The simplest way of mounting a light bar is through the power of magnets. Purchase a light bar with magnetic feet; you can place it anywhere on your vehicle’s hood or roof. You’ll still need to figure out the wiring, however.
Several bracket systems can mount to your truck. These can mount in several locations, including your roof gutter, a roof-mounted cargo rack, and your truck’s third brake light.
Light bars can also be affixed to your vehicle’s hood, grill, bumper, and guard. Figuring out how much light you need to be projected and where to project that illumination will help guide your choice when selecting the appropriate mounting option.
Make sure you find a light bar that is compatible with the make and model of your vehicle.
Let’s walk through each option and find the best solution for your vehicle.
Put that drill away. Many ways to mount a light bar to your truck or SUV without screwing it on.
Let’s look at the various ways to mount a light bar and discover which option works best for you – depending on your vehicle’s make and model.
Why You Should Add a Light Bar
There are a few reasons why a light bar might make sense for you. If you take your truck or SUV off-roading, light bars throw off additional light to help brighten your path.
Light bars also look cool. LED lights can change color, are extremely bright, and don’t require much energy to run.
And there are so many ways to install light bars without drilling into your vehicle, so you can have your light bar installed in no time.
Drilling holes in your vehicle can be a recipe for disaster. It will likely hurt the resale value of your truck or SUV.
If you mess up and drill holes in the wrong spot, you’ll have to deal with the holes. Even if you get the holes in the right location, the next owner of your vehicle may not want a light bar.
Ditch the screws, mount your light bar to a bracket, or use a magnetic one.
Ways To Mount a Light Bar Without Drilling
If you’re adding a light bar to your truck, SUV, or ORV, you’re probably taking it off-roading. Off-roading is an extreme activity that can stress your vehicle (and your light bar).
Different makes and models of vehicles add another layer of complexity when choosing the right light bar for you.
Modern vehicles have to meet fuel emission standards. This means they are more aerodynamic than ever. The upside of this is that they are more fuel efficient – the downside is that there are fewer extra places to clamp a light.
Check your vehicle’s make and model and ensure the light bar you purchase is compatible with your car.
1. Magnetic Mounts
Magnetic light bars are compatible with almost every vehicle made and installed virtually instantly. Just place one on the hood or roof of your car where desired, and bam – you’ve got more lighting.
Often these plug directly into your car’s auxiliary power outlet, making installation painless.
Please note that while these are powerful magnets, if you’re going through rugged terrain, a stiff branch or other obstacles may be capable of displacing the light from your vehicle.
The other mounts on this list clamp to your vehicle, so their connection to the vehicle is stronger.
2. Roof Gutter Mounts
Roof gutter mounts are popular if you have an older truck or SUV. If your vehicle has a “drip edge gutter,” the light bar can clamp to this. Use the necessary spacers and adapters to ensure a snug, proper fit.
These style mounts are a terrific option because they are both fast to install and create a sturdy, secure connection to your vehicle when the installation instructions are followed.
The drawback is that almost no new cars have a roof gutter, so there is nowhere for this style of the mount to attach to newer vehicles.
Some roof gutter mounts are specific to certain makes of vehicles, so do your research and buy one that’s intended for yours.
3. Grill Guard Mounts
If you’re serious about off-roading, your vehicle might already have an aftermarket grill guard. If so, you can clamp a light bar to it. Better yet, the grill guard might have holes pre-drilled in it that are intended for a light bar.
There are a couple of downsides to grill guard mounts. First, because they won’t be mounted as high as a hood or roof-mounted light, the light they project won’t be as useful to you as a light bar that’s mounted higher.
And, because they are mounted on the front of your vehicle, they are exposed to additional damage.
4. Hood Mount
Depending on your model, these clamps can be mounted to your vehicle’s hood.
They mount towards the rear of the hood and sit low on the windshield.
Although they are low profile, they may impact your view from your windshield.
5. Grill Mount
Another great option is grill mounts. They attach the roof light to the grill of your vehicle. Different setups depend on the make and model of your truck or SUV.
Some grill mounts use the same screw holes that hold your grill in place. Remove the screws, attach the light bar, and run the screws through the light bar and vehicle grill.
Other grill mounts can be clamped to the grill (if your grill can support it). Not all grills are compatible with grill mounts, so make it an appropriate option for your vehicle.
6. Third Brake Light Mount
If you’ve got a newer truck, there’s a good chance there’s a third light on the back of the cab. Some companies make mounts that will convert this light into a light bar.
You’ll need to replace the existing housing with a unit your light bar can mount.
One benefit of these light mounts is that you’ll use an existing wiring harness to power the LED lights. So your LED light bar will be powered without drilling holes for wiring.
A drawback of this mounting style is that the light is mounted on the back of the vehicle – the front of your truck (and your forward view) won’t benefit much from the increased lighting.
7. Roof Rack Mounts
Roof rack mounts might be the most popular style for SUVs and ORVs. Since most of these vehicles have cargo racks, this makes sense.
This type of mount clamps to the tubing of the roof rack. A round or square clamp attaches to the roof rack, and the spacing is adjustable according to the length of the light bar. These mounts adjust the angle of your lightbar so that light can shine where you need it most.
Roof rack mounts that fit almost all light bars and roof racks are available. If your vehicle has square roof rack tubing, some clamps work with it. Roof rack mounts might be the most adaptable mount available to consumers.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks. The location of roof-mounted racks often sits further back on the vehicle, so the lightbar isn’t at the front. This can degrade illumination.
Check your vehicle and see where the roof rack is and if you think its location will provide ample light. Consider purchasing a brighter light if you’re concerned about illumination levels.
If you’ve got a truck, a roof rack mount probably isn’t right for you – most trucks don’t have roof racks.
Let Your Light Shine
Many great options are available today for mounting a light bar to your vehicle (and you can leave your drill in the garage).
Magnetically mounted light bars may be the simplest way to get more light from your car, while roof gutter mounts, grill guard mounts, and hood mounts are all good choices. Grill mounts, third light mounts, and roof rack mounts are also worth considering.
Take a look at this list, then look at your vehicle to see what option best suits your need. Confirm the specifications when you order the mount you choose to ensure it’s compatible with your vehicle. Happy off-roading.
