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We recently installed a Putco Luminix Light bar on Ryan’s truck and wanted to share a little step by step slide show. Check it out, it turned out really well. Now Ryan can see all the critters on the road from a mile away!

(This is not intended to replace the manufacturers instructions. Please refer to the installation instructions included with your Light Bar when installing yours.)

: The first step, as with any install, is to lay out the parts from the kit to make sure everything is there and correct. Check!

: We started by removing the sun visors, then the A-Pillars, this allows you to pull the headliner down slightly when you are drilling into the roof. You will also need to pull the weather stripping off in the area of the roof where you will be drilling the holes for the bracket to get at the area easier. Hi Jordan!

: The next step is to place masking tape in the area you will be drilling. Place the brackets in the general area of where they will go and set them back from the top of the windshield 2.25″. The shape of the bracket will locate it up and down.

: Once you have it in the correct spot, mark the holes to be drilled with a marker.

: Center punch the holes and drill. We went in steps as the directions suggested. 1/8″, 1/4″ then the final size of 19/64″ (this is the bit that we found to be a bit uncommon) It is important that the holes be exactly this size for the Rivet Nuts to be properly installed. Once the holes are drilled you can remove the tape and clean up the shavings.

: These are the rivet nuts, ready to be installed with a 5/32″ hex wrench and a 7/16″ box end wrench.

: Install the Rivet Nuts per the instructions by placing them in the holes and tightening the supplied steel bolt while holding the hex nut in place. The directions aren’t very detailed on the torque required so we kind of winged it by tightening the bolt until the Rivet nut felt secure in the holes then tightening just a bit more. I placed silicone sealer around the holes before inserting the Rivet Nuts as a precaution.

: Here are the rivet nuts installed.

: Mount the brackets with supplied pan head screws. Use a 1/8” hex bit to tighten down the screws. We Recommend sealing the rivet nut areas up with RTV Silicone and using thread locker for bracket screws.

: At this point you need to determine how you would like to route the wiring from the light bar into the cab. I chose to put the plug inside the truck and to route the wiring just in front of the bracket so that water did not directly hit it and the weather stripping would provide some protection. In order to do this you will need to de-pin the connector on the light bar wiring. There is a wedge lock located inside the plug that needs removed (green piece) once it is out you will need to insert a small screw driver or de-pin tool into the plug to unlock the terminals. They then slide out of the plug. I used masking tape around the plug to label which side the Red and Black wires went into.

: With the plug de-pinned you can now drill a 3/8″ hole in the desired location (same procedure as the bracket holes, start by center punching and then stepping up bit sizes to the final size.) At this point you should also mount the light bar to the brackets. Leave the bar loose until everything is checked for operation and you are ready to aim the bar.

: Once the hole is drilled you can apply some silicone sealer around the hole and insert the supplied rubber grommet.

: Then place the light bar harness through the grommet you installed.

: Once it is through you can install the plug back on to the terminals be reversing the de-pin procedure. You will now be ready to start laying out the main harness.

: Before starting, be sure to disconnect the battery. We used an existing grommet in the firewall to route the power cable through. I chose to cut the harness after the inline fuse to keep the fuse located inside the cab. Route the supplied power cable extension through the grommet and out into the engine bay. You can connect directly to the battery, or we chose to connect to a power post located ahead of the under hood fuse block. Then connect the power cable extension to the main harness inside the vehicle. Next remove the panel under the steering column to reach the stud used to connect the ground wire (located on the steering column support) .

: You will now have to decide on a location to install the switch. Putco recommends installing below the steering column, but I chose to install mine next to the vent on the drivers side. This puts the switch in an easily accessible spot so it can be turned on and off while driving. Note that the switch is lighted. Mounting it above the steering column so it points at your face may be a nuisance. I will have to update you on that once I have spent some time with it.

: You will need to remove the panel that you are mounting the switch to. Drill a 3/4″ hole. Once you have the hole drilled you will need to orient the switch as desired and locate the tab on the side of the switch, you will to put a corresponding notch in the hole for the tab to go into.

: Fully seat the switch in the panel and plug in the harness.

: Reinstall the trim panel with the switch installed.

: Next you will need to route the main harness plug to the light bar plug. Mine is routed up the A-pillar. Plug the harness into the light bar.

: Now you need to connect the power to your desired location, hook the battery back up and test the light bar. If everything works you can secure the wiring under the dash and up the A-pillar and reinstall the trim pieces and sun visors. Once everything was secured I placed some silicone sealer around the harness going into the grommet.