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Apologies in advance to anyone who makes one of these, sells in on a four year old web site, for too much money, and doesn't list that it fits the current generation of Xterra's in advance.
Bought a little 16 watt fluorescent RV light from J.C. Whitney and mounted in above the first aid kit on the back hatch. I painted the fixture's ends tactical black to match my rifle stocks and body armor.
Just remove the rubber parts of the pull handle and expose two screws and remove them. Pull out the first aid kit if so equipped and remove the 1/4" screws there. Pull the plastic out of the typical interior fasteners.
I ran the wire up/down the inside of the hatch frame, through the rubber flex conduit and into the rear of the roof area. Soldier to the two wires that run the rear stock light and you're done. When the hatch is opened power will be supplied the light. If the local on/off switch on the light fixture is on the tubes illuminate and put out a whole bunch of light.
I mounted it above the first aid kit to avoid smacking the thing with junk in the trunk. I went to bend some aluminum into a "U" shape but my darn bending brake isn't strong enough to bend the thickness I wanted. I'll retro fit the thing if I have to later.
J.C. Whitney sells bigger ones and smaller ones. The stock wires aren't "that" big so you really should use either LED's or fluorescent tubes vice halogen or other incandescent lights.
16W is a bit of light. Enought to play cards by but not enough to drain the battery or do surgery by.
Bought a little 16 watt fluorescent RV light from J.C. Whitney and mounted in above the first aid kit on the back hatch. I painted the fixture's ends tactical black to match my rifle stocks and body armor.
Just remove the rubber parts of the pull handle and expose two screws and remove them. Pull out the first aid kit if so equipped and remove the 1/4" screws there. Pull the plastic out of the typical interior fasteners.
I ran the wire up/down the inside of the hatch frame, through the rubber flex conduit and into the rear of the roof area. Soldier to the two wires that run the rear stock light and you're done. When the hatch is opened power will be supplied the light. If the local on/off switch on the light fixture is on the tubes illuminate and put out a whole bunch of light.
I mounted it above the first aid kit to avoid smacking the thing with junk in the trunk. I went to bend some aluminum into a "U" shape but my darn bending brake isn't strong enough to bend the thickness I wanted. I'll retro fit the thing if I have to later.
J.C. Whitney sells bigger ones and smaller ones. The stock wires aren't "that" big so you really should use either LED's or fluorescent tubes vice halogen or other incandescent lights.
16W is a bit of light. Enought to play cards by but not enough to drain the battery or do surgery by.