Backing up a JK on the trail at night is already a difficult proposition when you have an AEV Fuel Caddy and 35″ spare tire taking up 95% of the rear window. Add in the fact that from the factory you’re working with reverse lights that are about as bright as Paul Revere’s lantern, and you quickly figure out it’s time for an upgrade.
While the JK was down at Forge Specialties for a much needed upfit, I tasked the team with building a rear light bar mount that would work with the AEV Spare Tire Carrier. In all fairness, AEV does sell a IPF light that is designed to mount directly to the top mounting plate, but it sits so low that a lot of the light is blocked by the tire, and who still uses a halogen bulb?
So the guys at Forge got right to it and started fabricating a custom rear light bar mount for the JK. Nathan headed up the project, and advised me that “measure 12 times and stare at it for 15 minutes” was a crucial part of the project, so keep this in mind if you try to build your own.
The AEV Spare Tire Carrier comes with a perfect base to mount accessories to, so Nathan started with a piece of 1/8″ flat stock steel and shaped it to mimic the base. He also put in 3 matching holes to secure it to it’s future home.
Next he cut a piece of 1 5/8″ OD .120 wall tubing at an angle to mount to the base. It was cut at an angle to put the light bar out over the rear tire which will allow it effectively cast more light and not be blocked by the spare tire. After the desired angle and length were achieved, the pole was tacked for mock-up.
For the rest of the process I’m going to include Nathan’s commentary not just because he’s a great fab guy and know’s more about the process than I do, but mostly because it’s hilarious.
For the light mount itself, he utilized another piece of 1/8″ flat stock steel, and “a sharpie so that you know you’re fabbing“.
After laying out your design via sharpie marker, proceed by “rounding it so that you look like you know what you’re doing, and then bending it“. After this was completed, he tacked the entire unit together and did a final test fit.
Finally after “measuring everything 12 times and staring at it for 15 minutes” proceed by “burn it in…paint it…jam a light in it…pinch the fool out of your finger getting it in there…” If you didn’t get that, finish by welding everything up and jam the light in the mount.
For the light, we chose a Rigid E-Series 6″ 60° Lens Light Bar with a diffuser. We’ll be sure to do a review on the light in a few weeks.
I’ve now been using the rear light bar for the past few months and it’s proven to be rock solid. By having the light further over the rear tire I can blind all of the ass holes that tailgate me on 495 throw much more light and see substantially more behind the back of the truck in low light conditions.
If you’re looking for a similar model, hit up the guys at Forge Specialties, I’m sure Nathan kept the measurements to recreate the mount…
Don’t forget to invest in the Rigid security nuts for the light too! Too many crack-heads out there looking for an easy few bucks will rip these lights off in broad day light and run them to the pawn shop. Security nuts are an easy preventative measure!
When we do the in-depth review, we’ll discuss the security measures in place. Right now, I’d really like to see someone attempt to pull this sucker off the truck, it would make for a great write up.