Behind the grille light bar, anyone done it?

Hello all!
I'm going to put in a light bar behind my grille, and am wondering who has done it.

If you were to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Did you encounter any interesting situations or troubles?

I'm planning on going with the Cali Raised LED, Hidden Grill brackets.

 

I LOVE my Cali Raised hidden brackets. When I installed my Pro grille, I did have to trim the four mounting points at the top of the grille a little, but it was easy. No issues with engine running hotter due to the LED bars blocking most incoming air flow. Actually offers radiator protection. I did NOT go with the Cali Raised LED curved bars that you can buy with the hidden brackets because I am a cheap bastard The curved LED bars I bought from Amazon are just fine; been on about a year and no condensation issues. I hope this helps you.

 

Ohhhh, that looks real nice!
Is that a SDHQ, or maybe an SSO winch?

 

So, I'm going to be doing it myself, in the Cali Raised install video, they took out the moulding along the side of radiator, I haven't actually had a chance to look at the lay out, but did you do that, too?

 

SDHQ. Love the SDHQ hidden winch mount. Paired with a Warn EVO 10K.

 

If you're talking about those two side flaps by the radiator ends, yes, I removed them.

 

That is awesome on the SDHQ. I'm actually having mine put on today, about to go pick it up, even.
How long is the light bar in your bumper?

 

37”:

$58 Nilight LED Light Bar 37" 780W Triple Row Flood Spot Combo 78000LM Driving Work Light Off-Road Lighting for Trucks Pickup Car Golf Cart SUV ATV UTV 4x4 Van Camper Boat

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VR9VM5R?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Link to the two behind my grille:

42"" LED Light Bar AUTOSAVER88 Triple Row 540W Flood Spot Combo Beam Driving Road Lights with Harness Wiring for Trucks SUV, ATV, UTV, Vehicle, Pickup, White (42" led Light bar)

https://www.amazon.com/AUTOSAVER88-Triple-Driving-Harness-Vehicle/dp/B07LBQKYSQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_24_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=42+inch+curved+led+light+bar&qid=1591398938&sr=8-24-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUFRPMUJEOUVNMEhHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDM0MDMwMlM5QzZEMlY5SEhWViZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDkxNTgwVUY2VjRYMjI4Rk02JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU%3D

 

Install looks good. Very pleased.

 

Make sure your gaps look good between the top of the bumper, and the panel in between the top of the bumper and the headlight housing. The gaps can be a pain when reinstalling the bumper. Took me like 45 minutes to get the bumper realigned well.

 

Oh I see, that’s the Warn semi-hidden mount from SDHQ. I was thinking about that one, but liked the fully hidden one SDHQ makes a little more, and it was about $250 cheaper than the Warn mount. Looks awesome, gaps look great, congrats!!

 

I like yours too, I debated for almost a full year between the two SDHQs and the SSO.
But, the bull bar tipped me to the semi, as opposed to the full.
Yours is a really nice clean look. I actually thought the semi hidden would be a bit more discreet, but I'm very happy with it.

 

Now I just have to be patient and wait for the Cali Raised brackets.
Do you know if the flaps you took out serve any practical purpose?

 

I have a 42" Arsenal behind the grille and I had a 32 in bumper until the bottom row went out in it. I put a Nilight in and will never buy another. I about to pull the Nilight and throw it in the trash can. The 42" Arsenal has been fine

 

How did you mount the Arsenal?
Did you do it yourself or have it done?

I got a quite for having it done, and it was over 1k with a Rigid bar.
They're really nice, but it would literally get used once or twice a month, at most.

 

No clue. Maybe incoming air deflection, to protect the radiator, dunno.

We like getting other people to spend money on this forum Check out the Warn Sidewinder to replace your hook. Badass.

 

Well, geez.
That looks absolutely wonderful. Guess I'll start setting aside for it...

 

I mounted it. The one in the grille is easy once you get grille off. Mounts to support bar. You will see it when you remove grille. It probably took longer to run wire and switch. Relay is energized off my low beam fuse under the hood with add a tap. I got a switch to fit blank left of the steering wheel. I illuminated off the switch next to it. Switch is either a CH4x4 or a MicTuning

 

I have a 32” (measures ~31”) Rigid Industries Radiance plus light bar behind the Platinum grill. It’s just mounted to the support bar that goes across with the standard light bar feet. And I’m running a 32” Headlight Revolution 32” bar in the bumper with the CaliRaisedLED brackets. Really like my setup, had a difficult time figuring where I wanted to mount it with the billet Platinum grill.


Also ran a 32” light bar same mounting behind the TRD Pro grill on my old 2014.



Will say, I like the CaliRaisedLED brackets. I used it on our 2014 4Runner also and it calls to remove the wind deflectors but I was able to cut slots into the deflectors and reinstall them on the 4Runner. No idea if it’s possible on the Tundras. Best photo I got on my phone, gives you an idea kind of.

 

That looks great!

I swapped out the Platinum grille for a Pro, so it has the nice gaps that the light will be able to shine through.

 

I used the Cali Raised Brackets as well. Easy install. Wired them to a voswitch.

 

I think they route the air onto the radiator as opposed to passing around it.

 

No brackets needed on either one of my light bars tapped right into the bumper support for the bottom and the there’s a support in the grill you can screw into

 

That is what I did and used the ones that came with the bar. In the bumper I had to cut the top off and drill new holes.

 

Ya I did the same but didn’t cut the bracket just drilled new holes.

 

I had to cut the top off the bracket otherwise they interfered with the bar above the bumper

 

What bumper light bar is that?

 

32” Eyourlife is the brand it’s about 7 years old now got it off
eBay still works and looks awesome. No issues.

 

Has anyone placed thin LED light bars in the middle of the 2020 Platinum grille on both sides of the Toyota badge? I do not like the blank row and think light bars would look nice. However, they would need to be really thin (about 1 1/8 inch) to fit the space.

 

Is that the NSV in the bulge? Thinking I'm going to have to get BD S8 for mine.