Thanks Steve! Its coming along. A few more things to add and the interior will be close to being finished.
Ok, I got the lights on the roof rack wired up. When I installed the switch panel, I pre-wired all the switches to 30 amp BOSCH relays, so all I would have to do is hook up the loads (lights, compressor fridge etc. etc) I used 30 amp BOSCH relays that I got at the local junk yard from the multitude of scrapped BMW's ( I do live in Germany....). They are very good relays, as proved from my Tacoma days, as I used the same type relays. I was debating for days on how to get the wires neatly from the roof rack, to inside the engine compartment where the relays where located. I mentioned it to my wife (who is an engineer, and often provides a great second opinion/alternative way of looking at things), and she suggested hiding them behind the snorkel, which is due here any day now. I took her advice, and ran them down the drivers side A-Pillar. The beauty of this is that 90% of the wiring will be hidden by the snorkel when it gets install in a couple days. As the pictures show, I made a small notch in the drivers side fender to accomodate the two wire bundles that power the 4 HID Hella 4000's, the 2 euro dim city lights, and the 3 Hella 550 that I use on the rear of the rack. Each wire bundle has 3/ 12 guage stranded wires inside. I used the same 3 stranded 12 guage wires to pre-wire the swicth panel and the relays.
I used simple wire looms (2 each per wire bundle) and stainless steel screws insulated/coated with silicone to protect the raw metal after drilling pilot holes. The pictures also show where the wire bundles come out under the hood. On to the pics.
Showing how the wires get run on the A-Pillar
Showing the wires on the bottom half of the A-pillar
Showing the notch made by my dremel on the passenger side fender. This pic does not show the rubber grommet I put on the sharp edge to protect the wire. Just used a large wire grommet, split down the middle.
This shows where it comes into the engine compartment. You can also see the extra holes in the firewall (to the right of the brake booster) drilled for the wires coming from in the cab for the switches. I have also added rubber grommets to these holes.
Here you see where I ran the wire bundles (5 total) along the OEM wire harness close to the firewall using zip-ties.
Here you can see the Delrin plate that I machined in my mill to accept 8 of the Bosch Relays. I have 2 spare relays on the left for any future wiring deeds. This is all mounted on the OEM Relay box cover. It provides a nice sturdy place for the relays and wiring to be mounting, and also hides the wiring well, and is close to the stock battery position. (It was naturally black, but I sprayed it with grey primer so I could write on each relay so I knew which one does what.
Just a test run of the HID's lit up with the covers on. I am going out to the field tonight for the initial aiming. Until then, thats all folks.
I have a Snorkel coming any day, and that will most likely be the next addition. After that, I will be installing and or building a kitchen pull-out, depending on how the emails go with the Drifta company (trying to figure out if shipping to me is possible). My Buddy Vince (SEREVince) is also coming to the area this weekend for some training classes for about a month, so we will be working on a Toyota Taco I am asure somewhere along the way. He is buying my old Snorkel and shocks off of the old truck, so I am also sure we will plan a wheeling trip in the time he is down. Not sure if I will wheel the taco (it is semi stripped down at this point) or if I will take the Jeep with the stock suspension and street tires. :sombrero: :sombrero: :safari-rig:
~James