Homemade $8 Ditch Light Brackets DIY

[not on the rug]

Looks good.

If you're sick of the Bronco tax, don't drive BMWs (especially M Cars). I wish a BMW part under $100 existed.

Sponsored

 

[Area51BS]

Nice job

 

[MFP2241]

Threaded directly into aluminum is a bad idea. The vibrations will cause the steel bolt to abrade the aluminum threads

Perhaps look into a longer light mounting bolt and add a jam nut on bottom.

If it was a smaller/finer thread I might be concerned, but 3/8-16 UNC is pretty hefty for those little lights. If it ever became an issue, I'd probably press a nutsert in from the bottom.

 

[TX_Tim]

Those look great.

 

[Daniel T]

Decided to add some ditch lights to the Bronco. My original plan was to mount a pair of KC Rally 400's directly to the accessory mounting points in front of the A-pillars. Unfortunately, on the passenger side, the light ended up interfering with the antenna.

I started looking at some of the aftermarket ditch-light brackets, but decided to make my own for a few reasons.

First, I just couldn't justify spending $70–$90 for a couple of brackets. Sick of the Bronco Tax.

Second, I wasn't really crazy about the look of most of the ones I found. Most seem to mount to the two factory holes, then step up an inch or so with the mounting hardware underneath. Just my personal preference, but I thought they looked a little unfinished. And any time you have something sticking up into the airflow, it seems like another opportunity for wind noise or whistling.

Third, at the end of the day, I just enjoy making my own stuff and being able to design it exactly the way I want it to look.

So I came up with this quick design. I went to my local metal supplier and bought a piece of 1" wide x 3/8" thick aluminum flat bar. I bought 8" of material, it ended up costing me just over $8 out the door.

After cutting the ends to the shape I wanted, I split most of the width of the bar on the bandsaw, then cleaned up everything with some files and a Dremel. I drilled the two mounting holes and tapped a 3/8" hole for the light. I used some stainless hardware I already had laying around.

The end result is pretty much exactly what I was looking for: simple and clean, with no unnecessary hardware or brackets sticking up into the airflow.

The lights still retain full adjustability both up and down and left to right, so I didn't give up any functionality compared with a conventional bracket.

For now, I just painted the brackets. At some point I'll probably pull them off powder coat them, but for now the paint will do.

All in all, this was probably about a half-day project, and for roughly $8 in material, I think it was well worth the time. Just wanted to share in case anyone else is considering ditch lights and likes the idea of making their own brackets.

They look really nice!! I found some valve handles that I’m thinking in using as brackets for lights also , just gotta take the plastic of and paint them and drill the extra 2 holes, I mean is another idea

 

[Machz963]

Looks good.

If you're sick of the Bronco tax, don't drive BMWs (especially M Cars). I wish a BMW part under $100 existed.

Yes, what tax? The oil change is <$100 at a dealer. My almost 20 year old Audi can’t even get raw materials to do an oil change wholesale for <$100.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Super Nice! Great and clean design. For $8 can you mod up some brackets for fog lights in my zero frills standard bumper!? I will send you 80's CD's and coldsnacks, heck, would even be willing to throw in 90's CD's too. In all seriousness, very cool and currently one of a kind.

 

[Steve_In_29]

They look really nice!! I found some valve handles that I’m thinking in using as brackets for lights also , just gotta take the plastic of and paint them and drill the extra 2 holes, I mean is another idea

Having just bought one of those valves. a person would be $$ ahead to simply buy a piece of flat stock and bend them up themselves.

 

[Daniel T]

That would work too just make an offset and drill the holes as long as is a sturdy piece of metal, I picked up those handles because they were going to be trashed

 

[HoosierDaddy]

@MFP2241
Love the look of the bracket!
If one could protect it, clear coat it, I'd consider keeping the aluminum look to contrast against the AMB.

Threaded directly into aluminum is a bad idea. The vibrations will cause the steel bolt to abrade the aluminum threads

Around here, my luck, the winter salt will "chemically weld" the bolt and bracket together for far longer than you will want it to be.
At that point, when you try to take it apart or just loosen it to aim the light .... the bolt will shear before it breaks loose.... or just trash the threads.
Good times.
I deal with that issue with aluminum light fixtures and light poles all the damn time. LOL!

I can put "noalox" on the fixture and pole hardware to help considerably, but it's basically a lube, so maybe not ideal in this high vibration application.

 

[MFP2241]

Super Nice! Great and clean design. For $8 can you mod up some brackets for fog lights in my zero frills standard bumper!? I will send you 80's CD's and coldsnacks, heck, would even be willing to throw in 90's CD's too. In all seriousness, very cool and currently one of a kind.

CD's? Showing my age here, but I had my old cassettes out. Def Leppard, Dokken, Ozzy, etc... love my tapes from high school!

 

[Steve_In_29]

That would work too just make an offset and drill the holes as long as is a sturdy piece of metal, I picked up those handles because they were going to be trashed

Free is good

Sponsored