I'm mounting a rack to the roof of my LJ's hard top without drilling (Surco crossbars & Yakima LocknLoad rack). I've run out of space for the gear required to camp (in a way that my wife finds tolerable), so the roof is the best option, and the total weight will be around 50-70 pounds
As long as I have it, I'm considering mounting some camp lights onto the underside rack. Nothing huge, just enough to light up the surrounding area, especially for when we need to make or break camp in the dark.
What are the best options to route wires into the cab without drilling through the hard top? I'm planning to connect the wires in a way that will let me plug the lights into the Jeep's electrical system or a spare battery behind the front passenger seat. The options I've thought of are these:
1. Through the top of the tailgate glass, where the weather stripping is near the hinge. This risks a leak in the rain, but it's a very short run.
2. Through the bottom of the tailgate glass, where the weather stripping from the glass and tailgate meet. This risks a leak in the rain, but it's a short run.
3. Down the body on the outside, up the inside of the body to where the taillight wires are, and then run all the way to the front of the Jeep, up into the engine compartment (and potentially back into the tub through the firewall). This is a long run and will require thicker wires, though it is certainly doable. The only downside, other than the length of the run, is the wires on the outside.
4. Down the body on the outside, up the inside of the body to where the taillight wires are, and then somehow inside the tub (I think there may be a pass-through there, or I guess I could make one).
5. In through a front door seal. This risks a leak in the rain, and it'll be annoying.
6. Down the exterior of the windshield, then in through the bottom of the windshield or through the cowl (like A-pillar lights).
I am dead-set against drilling the hard top. That just invites problems that I don't want. Wires will be further insulated inside a shrink-tube sleeve.
I'm leaning toward running them into the engine compartment (options 3 / 6). Am I not thinking of something obvious? I'm sure someone has done this before, and I'm hoping to benefit from your wisdom (or warning).
As long as I have it, I'm considering mounting some camp lights onto the underside rack. Nothing huge, just enough to light up the surrounding area, especially for when we need to make or break camp in the dark.
What are the best options to route wires into the cab without drilling through the hard top? I'm planning to connect the wires in a way that will let me plug the lights into the Jeep's electrical system or a spare battery behind the front passenger seat. The options I've thought of are these:
1. Through the top of the tailgate glass, where the weather stripping is near the hinge. This risks a leak in the rain, but it's a very short run.
2. Through the bottom of the tailgate glass, where the weather stripping from the glass and tailgate meet. This risks a leak in the rain, but it's a short run.
3. Down the body on the outside, up the inside of the body to where the taillight wires are, and then run all the way to the front of the Jeep, up into the engine compartment (and potentially back into the tub through the firewall). This is a long run and will require thicker wires, though it is certainly doable. The only downside, other than the length of the run, is the wires on the outside.
4. Down the body on the outside, up the inside of the body to where the taillight wires are, and then somehow inside the tub (I think there may be a pass-through there, or I guess I could make one).
5. In through a front door seal. This risks a leak in the rain, and it'll be annoying.
6. Down the exterior of the windshield, then in through the bottom of the windshield or through the cowl (like A-pillar lights).
I am dead-set against drilling the hard top. That just invites problems that I don't want. Wires will be further insulated inside a shrink-tube sleeve.
I'm leaning toward running them into the engine compartment (options 3 / 6). Am I not thinking of something obvious? I'm sure someone has done this before, and I'm hoping to benefit from your wisdom (or warning).