After I installed my Lobo Shelf, I loaded it up with all kinds of goodies. Then the next problem appeared. All the goodies were blocking the Light from the Cargo Area Dome Lamp. Here is my 'How-to' for adding additional lighting for use with a Lobo Shelf.
For this Project you Need:
(2) Utility Light Fixtures. Incandescent, LED, whatever. You can pick up a pair for a couple Bucks at any AutoParts Store.
Approximately 10 feet of 2-conductor Wire. I used some spare 18-guage Speaker Wire I had laying around.
Some Ring and Spade Connectors and a couple very small machine screws and matching nuts. I picked up these supplies at Lowes:
Here is a shot of the Rear Cargo Light Fixture with the Bulb removed. Note that the Positive is Constant and the Ground is Switched by either On/Off/Door Switch. There are only two screws holding it up to the Roof:
Cut about a 40" Section of the 2-condutor Wire. Crimp a Ring Connector on each Wire on one end. Crimp one Male and one Female Spade Connector on the other end. (If you use Bullet Connectors instead of Spade, I would recommend using the Female end on the Positive Wire so it won't short to Ground accidentally when not connected). Use the small screws to connect the Ring Terminals to the Tabs that hold the Bulb ends in place. The benefit of doing it this way is that you haven't destroyed anything to make your Connections. You can always remove the screws and replace the original Bulb. Also, the Three Position Switch on the Dome Lamp Fixture still controls the new lights we are installing. Here is a shot of it assembled:
Feed that Wire up through the Dome Light opening and snake it over to the Passenger-side Forward Cargo Hook opening. There isn't much room to work in there, but you can get a little more space by removing all Four Cargo Hooks. I didn't get a good shot of it, but I drilled a hole in the little Plastic Cup that goes in the Cargo Hook hole above the Hook. Leave a couple inches of Wire and the Connectors hanging down, and then reinstall the Factory Dome Light.
Attach the new Cargo Light Fixtures to the Lobo Shelf and Wire them up with the Speaker Wire. I wired mine in Parallel, so I wouldn't lose both Lights if one Burns out. Here is the Driver-side installed:
And here is the Passenger-side. You can see the Wire leading up to the Connectors at the Shelf Hinge Point.
All the Wiring is secured to the Shelf with Zip-ties. Here is the final product wired up and turned on:
It works like a champ. The Control Switch on the Factory Dome Lamp Fixture works great to control the new Lights. Having them on both sides really adds a lot of light to the Cargo Area. And when you lean in to grab some gear, your head doesn't eclipse the single Light in the middle. If I have to remove the Lobo Shelf for some reason, I have a quick way to disconnect the Wiring at the Hinge Point instead of having to unwire things.
For this Project you Need:
(2) Utility Light Fixtures. Incandescent, LED, whatever. You can pick up a pair for a couple Bucks at any AutoParts Store.
Approximately 10 feet of 2-conductor Wire. I used some spare 18-guage Speaker Wire I had laying around.
Some Ring and Spade Connectors and a couple very small machine screws and matching nuts. I picked up these supplies at Lowes:
Here is a shot of the Rear Cargo Light Fixture with the Bulb removed. Note that the Positive is Constant and the Ground is Switched by either On/Off/Door Switch. There are only two screws holding it up to the Roof:
Cut about a 40" Section of the 2-condutor Wire. Crimp a Ring Connector on each Wire on one end. Crimp one Male and one Female Spade Connector on the other end. (If you use Bullet Connectors instead of Spade, I would recommend using the Female end on the Positive Wire so it won't short to Ground accidentally when not connected). Use the small screws to connect the Ring Terminals to the Tabs that hold the Bulb ends in place. The benefit of doing it this way is that you haven't destroyed anything to make your Connections. You can always remove the screws and replace the original Bulb. Also, the Three Position Switch on the Dome Lamp Fixture still controls the new lights we are installing. Here is a shot of it assembled:
Feed that Wire up through the Dome Light opening and snake it over to the Passenger-side Forward Cargo Hook opening. There isn't much room to work in there, but you can get a little more space by removing all Four Cargo Hooks. I didn't get a good shot of it, but I drilled a hole in the little Plastic Cup that goes in the Cargo Hook hole above the Hook. Leave a couple inches of Wire and the Connectors hanging down, and then reinstall the Factory Dome Light.
Attach the new Cargo Light Fixtures to the Lobo Shelf and Wire them up with the Speaker Wire. I wired mine in Parallel, so I wouldn't lose both Lights if one Burns out. Here is the Driver-side installed:
And here is the Passenger-side. You can see the Wire leading up to the Connectors at the Shelf Hinge Point.
All the Wiring is secured to the Shelf with Zip-ties. Here is the final product wired up and turned on:
It works like a champ. The Control Switch on the Factory Dome Lamp Fixture works great to control the new Lights. Having them on both sides really adds a lot of light to the Cargo Area. And when you lean in to grab some gear, your head doesn't eclipse the single Light in the middle. If I have to remove the Lobo Shelf for some reason, I have a quick way to disconnect the Wiring at the Hinge Point instead of having to unwire things.