Adding a lightbar- help needed!

Evening all. I will soon be buying a 42-inch Auxbeam light bar (posted below) that I will be mounting to the roof of my 02 4Runner. I have a write-up on pulling the headliner in order to tighten bolts on the other side. If I have to do this I am putting a rubber washer on the bolt and also some sort of material to seal the hole.

The main question- do I absolutely need to pull the headliner, or is there some sort of self-tapping hardware I can use? I want to do this right and get it right the first time.

Cheers boys.






$105 Auxbeam 42" LED Light Bar 240W Spot Flood Combo Off road Lights Driving Lights LED Work Lights 5D Lens with Wiring Harness for Car SUV UTV ATV Pickup Truck
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZEYQAS8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AFLE0NKKTARYW&psc=1

 

what about a magnetic mount?

 

Dougy,
From your avatar pic it looks like you've got a moon roof, yes? If so, you've probably got all the access you'd need to attach your inner fasteners just in removing the C-channel trim that goes around the roof opening, with maybe also pulling the map/courtesy light and trims above the driver & passenger doors. I have a '98, and was able to do some front/center overhead work from there without having to go further with dropping the liner. Just need to be sure not to over-pressure any concentrated spot, especially in narrow areas (e.g. between moonroof and doors).

 

You are correct I do have a moonroof which actually doesn't work. I hear the motor tun, but it never happens. So all I need to do is pull the rubber from around it, and then I can reach the mount? Thats nice. Now I'm also not sure whether or not to get a straight or curved bar

 

That sounds like the drive cable for the roof has either stripped at one end or become disconnected. If disconnected at the motor end it will be easy to see. (I often have my T4R service manuals with me, but this evening they're at home and I'm not, but I can get them tomorrow and pass along the direct manual details (there's not going to be much different between the two).

The C-channel trim around my moonroof opening is a felt covered cushion material, like a rubber of some kind, color-matched to the roof liner, and has a lightweight metal base inside which can be 'pinched' a little while it's removed to help give it a tighter grip going back up if needed. Once it's removed you'll also want to drop the overhead maplight/roof control trim. This will begin to get you some access to your moonroof motor, which is at the front and just off to the driver's side from the maplight trim. If you're planning to mount your light bar just forward of the moonroof wind visor, you'll definitely be able to look in and check for any wiring, roof drain lines, or other obstructions, and would likely have just enough room to slide a slender arm/hand in just far enough to reach fasteners. Pulling the trims at the top of the windshield, front pillars and above the doors is really very easy; just be sure if you pull them all (around the front of the cabin) that you maintain some type of bracing close to the two front corners or you risk the weight of the liner causing the front to drop clear down, creasing across the thin sides between the roof opening and the door edges. (I used a medium nylon cord with a sleeve of foam pipe insulation tied off part way down each front pillar and up through the roof, leaving them slack enough to let the liner hang down a few inches for access but not drop farther).

Straight vs. curved.... I'd look at the total bar length and whether the curve was close to matching the roof line at the windshield, which it likely would be if it was designed well, and if that posed any mounting point issues on the inside. If you're going to make holes in the roof for something, you sure don't want to find out after the fact that it's got to move half an inch to work out!

 

my 2c...anything over 30" gives better illumination when curved.

 

Very true; glad you pointed that out- my head was all wrapped up with how the bar would look, when function is the more important factor.

 

Dougy,
Sorry to be so long- actually didn't get back home until this morning. Pulled out my shop manuals and photographed the mechanical and electrical info on the moonroof. Should be enough to help you get started anyway. I've also got the full electrical schematic book and can get you that , too, if you want, but knew right now the issue wasn't electrical but mechanical. Photos have been optimized to keep the file size down, but left them as large and hi-res as possible to keep them easy to read. Just let me know if you need others or better shots of the moonroof pages. Knew you weren't going as far with it as the shop manual takes it, but always good to have the full-blown details anyway.

Hope these will be of help. As I said, just let me know if you need more. (Also remember my shop manuals are for the '98, so there will likely be some minor differences, but overall this will be very close. Any wiring references, wire color in particular, will be correct since wire coding doesn't change.

ABOVE: PAGE 1 & 2 SLIDING ROOF MECHANICAL DETAIL / PARTS LOCATIONS

ABOVE: PAGE 3 & 4 SLIDING ROOF MECHANICAL DETAIL / DISASSEMBLY STEPS

ABOVE: PAGE 3 & 4 SLIDING ROOF MECHANICAL DETAIL / ADJUSTMENT DETAIL

ABOVE: PAGE 1 & 2 SLIDING ROOF ELECTRICAL DETAIL / TROUBLESHOOTING

ABOVE: PAGE 3 SLIDING ROOF ELECTRICAL DETAIL / TROUBLESHOOTING

 

Hey guys! Sorry for being MIA, but I was able to find a 42-inch curved Auxbeam light for $90 shipped, plus $40 shipped for side mounts. Will try to post pics below. Thank you for all the help and advice. Cheers!!

 

Rig looks good!

can you add a link for both items?

Thank you

 

looks grr8! any wind noise coming off of the bar? if so a moonroof deflector might could help.

 

Chase,
Like the side mounts alternative. Where does that put your wiring connection coming in at?

 

Looks really good - where did you get the side mounts?
Thanks.

 

Hey, How is the light from this setup? My concern is light bouncing off the hood and windshield? Thanks.