installing cab lights on 01 truck

[attwood]

i am thinking about putting cab lights on my 3/4 ton CTD has anyone donr this before and how hard is it to do.

[83K30]

If you are set on installing cab lights.... there was an article awhile back on www.turbodieselregistry.com
From what I remember, it seemed like a pain in the azz. I personally was relieved my truck did not have them. I dont really like the look, nor do I want to have to worry about them leaking or rusting around the holes.

[BillyBronco]

I did it to my 98 Dodge. It was really easy, nerveracking but easy. Total time was around 2 hours but I definitely took my time. Take the headliner off or at least back to the interior light, don't bend it. Take the A pillar cover off. Dodge convienetly puts a second layer of sheetmetal on the roof that has holes for the cab lights in the correct spacing, eliminates measuring. Drill as best as you can in the middle of each of the 5 holes. It doesn't matter too much since that is the spot where the wires will run through. Place each light on top of where you think it is best. A buddy to help you with the eyeball from the front will help. Then drill holes for the screws to go into the roof. Now these holes are the important ones since this is where they will go. Use clear silicon to seal water out. Don't be afraid to use plenty.

Wiring them:
I put all of the positive wires in a chain with the wire that was supplied. I wired that one into the parking lights for the truck. Take the guage bezel off, It pops off but there is one or two screws holding it on by the 12v outlet. So don't just rip it off. The wire for the parking lights I believe is a black one with a yellow stripe that runs to the headlight knob. run the positive wire down the A pillar and connect it to the parking light wire. Ground: You can do what you think is best but here is what I did. I scraped the paint off around one of the holes I drilled to hold down each light. I then cut the O at the end of the ground wire to open it up a bit to fit the screw through it. Then I screwed it down through the roof and was done with it. I have never had a problem with this wiring. It looks factory since it comes on with the parking lights and the headlights.

I bought mine from JCWhitney for around 30 bucks. The screws in the package suck so get some other ones. If you buy self drilling screws then it prevents pre-drilling for the screws.

Unlike popular belief including mine before my install they don't leak. Mine has never leaked and I had a buddy do it to his 97 and he has never had it leak. Just use enough silicon and don't worry about it. I think I covered everything, but if I was unclear or left something out let me know.
-Billy

[Mechanos]

I personally don't like them, but they have to be tolerated on a dually, or anything else wide enough that the lights are required by law. Putting them on a SRW truck looks hick IMO, not to mention misleading..... if you know what they're there for in the first place. Again... this is just my opinion!

[jackedupjimmy]

mine were really easy 2500hd duramax, i rolled it over and had the body shop put a visor and lights when they replaced the roof

[BigDan]

i am thinking about putting cab lights on my 3/4 ton CTD has anyone donr this before and how hard is it to do.

I have a set of Recon clear cab light's for 94-01 Dodge Ram's that I never used, which I will sell you for $65. It includes 5 clear lens, housings, gaskets, bulbs, sockets, pigtails. It is the exact kit that they sell on ebay from Recon.

I never got around to installing it on my 99 before it was totalled.

$65 up for grabs

[MudTJ]

i guess i'm just ignorant but what are clearance lights for up top anyways, i can see why u need them on the fenders of a dually but are you afraid a low fying plane is gonna take ur roof off, or that that low bridge might not see u coming and get out of the way in time?

Sorry for being a smartass but i honestly don't know what they are for, although on some trucks they do look good, mine doesn't have them and i will not be bothering to put them on in anycase.

[Mechanos]

These 5 lights across the top of the cab are generally lumped together under the term "clearance lights", but that's not entirely correct. The outside 2 lights are the Front Clearance Lights and are required on vehicles over 80 inches wide, a minimum of 2, yellow, at the widest point, symetrical, facing forward, at or near the front and as high as practicable. The 3 lights in the center are called Front Identification Lights and are required on vehicles over 80 incehs wide, they indicate the presence of a wide vehicle, there needs to be exactly 3 lights, yellow, on the front, centered and spaced horizontally 6-in. to 12-in. apart and mounted as high as practicable or on top of cab.

[MudTJ]

gotcha