Installing the Lobo Off-Road Overhead Mount System

[ironmike]

Nice install! If only the OMS fit the BRaptor…🥲

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[Dusty]

Staying in IL for awhile. Nurse a sick dog, new job, saving money. Hoping to come out to Big Bear or least NV SC. One of these summers or falls! Def wanna see y’all!

We'd love to see you out this way!

 

[Dusty]

nice!!! so where'd ya get the flashlight??? Very cool! I want one!

It's from Amazon. There's a link to the exact one in the description of the install video on YouTube, along with the mounts/holders I used.

 

[Sparkherd]

LMAO - Did the MARS mod on my Yaesu, totally worth it!

I've had my amateur license since '91 when I was stationed at Edwards...where there's a woman behind every tree.
Someone on B6G asked "why amateur radio?", so I posted a short primer for Ham radio, mentioning that some amateur radios can be modded for GMRS use...BAD IDEA!!!
A herd of nannies came out of the woodwork to inform me that amateur radios are not FCC type-certified for GMRS use, yada/yada/etc/etc/blah/blah/blah.
Well I've got my GMRS license, and it's amazing the people I hear on 462 MHz using all kinds of chicom junk, which are not FCC type-certified either!!!
On a lighter note, I usedta hang out a bit on the Big Bear 2m repeater...that thang has/had great coverage!!!

 

[Cobrafang]

I really wish I would have had this video before I installed mine. I was disappointed there was no instructions with the kit and I could not find anything on the Lobo website. I am mechanically inclined so I decided to tackle it. I found a site that talked about a way to get after the front mounting bolts near the aux switches. That really was the hardest part of the install. Of course now I need to relook and see if I need to trim the trim (lol). I like what you have put on it as well. I am looking for a gun mount to go along the rear cross bar if anyone has hints and ideas let me know. Great idea on the flashlight. I am probably going to go with the element fire extinguishers just from a bulk stand point. But the regular ones look very off roady. Thanks for sharing.

 

[helifino16]

I like the added utility - to be sure, but I'd end up with a dent in my skull after hitting one of our famous potholes here.

 

[murphtron]

I recently installed the Overhead Mount system from @Lobo Off-Road in our 2-door Base Bronco. This installation was fairly easy but I went ahead and shot a video of the process for anyone wondering what the process entails.



I've been impressed with this mount. Chris from Lobo put a lot of thought into the system to give it virtually limitless versatility for mounting just about anything you can think of up high, out of the way. I of course used it primarily to hard mount a mobile radio, in my case an ICOM 2370A dual band unit. I also installed the ICOM remote speaker so I could hear it very well even with the top off and traveling at speed. While I was at it I added a fire extinguisher on a quick-release mount, behind the driver's seat where it's fast and easy to get to with the top on or off and without having to open other doors to get to it. I also mounted a big LED flashlight up there.

I already had the top off for the season which made the installation even easier for me, but you would have to at least remove the front top panels to install it if you had the top on. On a 4-door you would also remove the middle panel, and on a 2-door you would need to remove the back shell or just unbolt it and lift the front a few inches to install the mount system. Lobo supplies all of the stainless steel hardware you need to install the mount, but I recommend getting a supply of nuts and bolts to have on hand for attaching things to it. I found that M6x16mm stainless button head cap screws, M6 stainless nyloc nuts and M6 flat washers work great for attaching everything. Just order about a 50-pack of each from Amazon or wherever to have them on hand.

I love that the components are made entirely out of aluminum and it's super-lightweight. But the box-bends and angles give it some impressive structural rigidity despite it's light weight. I like that the surfaces that expose toward the driver's and passenger's heads are angled rather than flat corners, even though it sits quite far from any chance of contact with your head.

I got it installed just in time for Big Bear Bronco Bash a couple of weekends ago, where I put the system and the radio to good use as a trail leader for several runs during the event. Everything worked great and everyone who saw it loved the OMS kit. Here's a link to it on Lobo's website if anyone wants to check it out for themselves: https://lobooffroad.com/product/lobo-overhead-mount-system-front-kit-bronco/

Good job Chris, very nice product!

Great install video. So cool to see it with the Jtops. That was my main question, will it work? Yes! Seems to work because the opening points down, vs the DV8 is more of an upper basket style that won’t work as well with a Bimini.
The MARS radio mod is interesting. Would be great to have only one radio serving two functions.

Would love to drive down and join one of your rides sometime. Love the SoCal deserts.

 

[Dusty]

Great install video. So cool to see it with the Jtops. That was my main question, will it work? Yes! Seems to work because the opening points down, vs the DV8 is more of an upper basket style that won’t work as well with a Bimini.
The MARS radio mod is interesting. Would be great to have only one radio serving two functions.

Would love to drive down and join one of your rides sometime. Love the SoCal deserts.

Thanks! yeah the upside-down-U shape does work well with the mesh top. But you might notice the outboard sections of the crossmember have upturned edges which may potentially be a problem in the long term. That should be easily mitigated with some short lengths of fuel line or vacuum line, split lengthwise and fitted along those edges. I haven't done that but I might.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

The MARS radio mod is interesting. Would be great to have only one radio serving two functions.

It really is fantastic.

I use my A-Band to scan known HAM frequencies and my B-Band to scan either known repeaters or known GMRS channels. My wheeling buddies all have Yaesu 400s so we all chat over digital. Clear as day. If you use the FTM-400 programmer it actually steps the wattages down for you when you import the GMRS channels so you're transmitting much closer to what the guidelines expect, though you can override it.

I also bring along two handhelds, a Baofeng BF-F8HP which is also unlocked and programmed for both, and a Wouxon thats GMRS only. This allows me to leave the vehicle and coach another driver, or enable one other vehicle with a HAM radio, or two vehicles with GMRS.

 

[beetle]

I recently installed the Overhead Mount system from @Lobo Off-Road in our 2-door Base Bronco. This installation was fairly easy but I went ahead and shot a video of the process for anyone wondering what the process entails.



I've been impressed with this mount. Chris from Lobo put a lot of thought into the system to give it virtually limitless versatility for mounting just about anything you can think of up high, out of the way. I of course used it primarily to hard mount a mobile radio, in my case an ICOM 2370A dual band unit. I also installed the ICOM remote speaker so I could hear it very well even with the top off and traveling at speed. While I was at it I added a fire extinguisher on a quick-release mount, behind the driver's seat where it's fast and easy to get to with the top on or off and without having to open other doors to get to it. I also mounted a big LED flashlight up there.

I already had the top off for the season which made the installation even easier for me, but you would have to at least remove the front top panels to install it if you had the top on. On a 4-door you would also remove the middle panel, and on a 2-door you would need to remove the back shell or just unbolt it and lift the front a few inches to install the mount system. Lobo supplies all of the stainless steel hardware you need to install the mount, but I recommend getting a supply of nuts and bolts to have on hand for attaching things to it. I found that M6x16mm stainless button head cap screws, M6 stainless nyloc nuts and M6 flat washers work great for attaching everything. Just order about a 50-pack of each from Amazon or wherever to have them on hand.

I love that the components are made entirely out of aluminum and it's super-lightweight. But the box-bends and angles give it some impressive structural rigidity despite it's light weight. I like that the surfaces that expose toward the driver's and passenger's heads are angled rather than flat corners, even though it sits quite far from any chance of contact with your head.

I got it installed just in time for Big Bear Bronco Bash a couple of weekends ago, where I put the system and the radio to good use as a trail leader for several runs during the event. Everything worked great and everyone who saw it loved the OMS kit. Here's a link to it on Lobo's website if anyone wants to check it out for themselves: https://lobooffroad.com/product/lobo-overhead-mount-system-front-kit-bronco/

Good job Chris, very nice product!

Is that a black powder coat or the Mica finish?

 

[Dusty]

Is that a black powder coat or the Mica finish?

Mine is Black Powder Coat. The Mica is too nice for me

 

[beetle]

Mine is Black Powder Coat. The Mica is too nice for me

I think the Mica might be too nice for me too

 

[gerby151]

When you say other overhead mounts are flimsy, what are you basing that on? After watching the install it seems the DV8 mount will provide significantly more “rigidity” based on how theirs mounts compared to this being held together with one 8mm bolt on the side. It’s not a bad design or anything but that comment doesn’t seem based in reality.

The DV8 says it is not compatible with 2-Door models so a moot point on this install.

When you say other overhead mounts are flimsy, what are you basing that on? After watching the install it seems the DV8 mount will provide significantly more “rigidity” based on how theirs mounts compared to this being held together with one 8mm bolt on the side. It’s not a bad design or anything but that comment doesn’t seem based in reality.

Wish they made this for a 2 door!

 

[JerryG]

Take it easy, I wasn't referring specifically to that one. There are other reasons I'm not crazy about DV8 one, but I don't think it's flimsy.

You can't get more un-American than buying asian manufactured parts for which there are equivalent parts manufactured by American workers. Nothing quite like looking at vehicles with American flags and foreign parts.

 

[rayofsi]

i have the raptor and it seems like i might lose some rigidity if i took my middle off for this?
anyway to do a raptor version where it gets tied in the same way at the factory piece?

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