Rough Country Light Bar with DRL install.

[mike12193]

I had a issue with my front grill (I think a rock
kicked up and cracked the grill). So I decided it would be a good time to install a Rough Country Light bar I had from my other truck. It is a 20” Rough Country with Amber LED’s. I have worked on a few Ram 4.5 and 5 gens that I needed to remove the grilland I will say this was the hardest one to remove the grill. The left front trim piece fought me the whole way. The right side that was damaged by the rock was easy because of the crack. I wired the main light to Aux 1 and the DRL to Aux 2.

Took some pics of the install:

 

[MattH89]

Looks great

 

[sheepoppa]

I had a issue with my front grill (I think a rock
kicked up and cracked the grill). So I decided it would be a good time to install a Rough Country Light bar I had from my other truck. It is a 20” Rough Country with Amber LED’s. I have worked on a few Ram 4.5 and 5 gens that I needed to remove the grilland I will say this was the hardest one to remove the grill. The left front trim piece fought me the whole way. The right side that was damaged by the rock was easy because of the crack. I wired the main light to Aux 1 and the DRL to Aux 2.

Took some pics of the install:
View attachment 4270

Came out great!

 

[tbolts10]

Looks awesome - how long did it take you? did you just use plastic pry bars to remove the trim?

 

[mike12193]

About 2 hours, for the trim pieces I did use a few plastic pry bars. I also used rivnuts for the bumper mounting and upgraded the hardware to stainless steel.

 

[RADA]

About 2 hours, for the trim pieces I did use a few plastic pry bars. I also used rivnuts for the bumper mounting and upgraded the hardware to stainless steel.

NICE WORK!!

N00b question: Yellow when "Offf", white when "ON"? Y/N?

 

[mike12193]

Two separate power leads. White is DRL, Red is main light. Independently controlled via the aux switches

 

[RADA]

Two separate power leads. White is DRL, Red is main light. Independently controlled via the aux switches

Got it...
Thanks!

*Thinking out loud here*

It might be kinda cool to have the red come on with the hood intake lights....

 

[ShayI072]

I tried to remove trim and fought me the whole time. Finally gave up. Any suggestions?

 

[Mikey Swift]

I tried to remove trim and fought me the whole time. Finally gave up. Any suggestions?

Watch the M&R video on how to remove the grill.

 

[Dickmars10]

I had a issue with my front grill (I think a rock
kicked up and cracked the grill). So I decided it would be a good time to install a Rough Country Light bar I had from my other truck. It is a 20” Rough Country with Amber LED’s. I have worked on a few Ram 4.5 and 5 gens that I needed to remove the grilland I will say this was the hardest one to remove the grill. The left front trim piece fought me the whole way. The right side that was damaged by the rock was easy because of the crack. I wired the main light to Aux 1 and the DRL to Aux 2.

Took some pics of the install:
View attachment 4270

Maybe its the dimensions of the lighbar but it seems like that opening is larger without the grill. WDYT?

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

Reviving this thread as I'm about to install 20 inch lightbar in this position, maybe the same rough country, debating. My question is: instead of taking the whole grill out in order to drill 2 holes for the lightbar mounts/rivnuts ( which is a huge pain in the ass) , could you instead remove the front bumper for this install? i get this may not work with M&R lightbar because it mounts to the grill but any 20 inch that mounts to the bumper could work this way? Removing bumper seems alot easier than the grill but i could be wrong. Might still need to remove the easy to remove plastic panel above radiator/grill to run wiring but this bypasses the whole grill removal. For this idea to work you would have to position the lightbar where you want it, mark out where the holes need to be before removing bumper in order to get the position correct. what are your thoughts after doing this?

Bumper removal instructions: seem pretty easy.

 

[Dickmars10]

Reviving this thread as I'm about to install 20 inch lightbar in this position, maybe the same rough country, debating. My question is: instead of taking the whole grill out in order to drill 2 holes for the lightbar mounts/rivnuts ( which is a huge pain in the ass) , could you instead remove the front bumper for this install? i get this may not work with M&R lightbar because it mounts to the grill but any 20 inch that mounts to the bumper could work this way? Removing bumper seems alot easier than the grill but i could be wrong. Might still need to remove the easy to remove plastic panel above radiator/grill to run wiring but this bypasses the whole grill removal. For this idea to work you would have to position the lightbar where you want it, mark out where the holes need to be before removing bumper in order to get the position correct. what are your thoughts after doing this?

Bumper removal instructions: seem pretty easy.
View attachment 23245
View attachment 23246
View attachment 23247

Removing the grill was really easy, did it multiple times. Only thing you'll need is patience for the tabs on the bumper right underneath the headlights. the grill method also has no need to disconnect so many harnesses and deal with the weight of the bumper over the weight of the grill. You also have the convenience of checking fitment exactly where the bumper will be (for bumper mounted lights) since it never moves.

 

[Mikey Swift]

Reviving this thread as I'm about to install 20 inch lightbar in this position, maybe the same rough country, debating. My question is: instead of taking the whole grill out in order to drill 2 holes for the lightbar mounts/rivnuts ( which is a huge pain in the ass) , could you instead remove the front bumper for this install? i get this may not work with M&R lightbar because it mounts to the grill but any 20 inch that mounts to the bumper could work this way? Removing bumper seems alot easier than the grill but i could be wrong. Might still need to remove the easy to remove plastic panel above radiator/grill to run wiring but this bypasses the whole grill removal. For this idea to work you would have to position the lightbar where you want it, mark out where the holes need to be before removing bumper in order to get the position correct. what are your thoughts after doing this?

Bumper removal instructions: seem pretty easy.
View attachment 23245
View attachment 23246
View attachment 23247

Rivnuts not needed, I drilled right through and had enough room under the bumper for a socket wrench and hand.

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

i wonder if you could skip the grill removal if you just drill the holes with one of these right angle drills

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

Rivnuts not needed, I drilled right through and had enough room under the bumper for a socket wrench and hand.

For sure, they are just nice so you don't have to Jenga a socket. either is good to go! i will see what i feel like doing when i install mine.

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

Removing the grill was really easy, did it multiple times. Only thing you'll need is patience for the tabs on the bumper right underneath the headlights. the grill method also has no need to disconnect so many harnesses and deal with the weight of the bumper over the weight of the grill. You also have the convenience of checking fitment exactly where the bumper will be (for bumper mounted lights) since it never moves.

makes total sense man, thanks for the input!

 

[Mikey Swift]

For sure, they are just nice so you don't have to Jenga a socket. either is good to go! i will see what i feel like doing when i install mine.

Unfortunately, grill removal is mandatory...and those side panels under the headlights will have you mother-effing the whole thing.