Everything you wanna know about the roof rack

 

Yesterday after work I started running the wiring for the additional KC lights ill be mounting to the basket (3 more total).

I opened up the trim panels inside the rear so I could run the cable inside the c-pillar. It goes from the bottom (outside the car) out the top from the hose with everything for the rear hatch.




Pretty sure these are the holes people use when installing a rear hitch mount. Basically just a rubber-like sticker inside the rear of the car. From under the car it is a rubber plug.


I just sliced a tiny hole just smaller than the gauge of the wire to slide through the sticker, and same with the plug under the car.



This was for the power cable. Ill just be tapping into the power cable I ran for the rear reflectors I did a couple weeks ago. So when I flip the switch all the lights will go on, when I have the basket on the car. These will also get a weatherpack connector so when I remove the basket, just the rear bumper lights will work.

The ground cable is mounted under one of the bolts holding the drivers side strut for the rear hatch. I cleaned the paint off the top of the strut bracket and from under the head of the bolt. Ill snag more pics of that when I continue on with the basket side of things, hoping Wed after work.

 

Didnt get to the car yesterday after work. My back has been jacked. HOPING to maybe do a bit today... but in the meantime... here are some pics I shot over the weekend.

Straight off the cellphone, zero editing.

 

 

Even tho my back was/is still bugging me, I decided to finish up the basket lights.

Made a harness to connect all 3 lights together. All joints were soldered together, individually heat shrink wrapped, then wrapped all together.


Quick test of the lights to make sure all connections were strong and working.


The finished harness. Weatherpack connection for when the basket is removed from the car. I wrapped everything with electrical tape to 1) keep all the wires together making it a bit cleaner and B) making it mostly all black to blend in better with the basket.

 

Not totally happy with the Velcro mounting that came as an option with the KC lights... I think ill be changing that up when Ive got some free time and can think of a better solution. My first thought was to drill a hole through the bars to bolt them in place... just not sure I want to put any holes in the basket or not. I could always seal it up with some black silicone, but we shall see.




Did a quick driveway test as it was just starting to get dark when I finished everything up.

 

This morning on my way to work, I made a small detour offroad to test the lighting out. Here are some shots, shot in the same spot (no flash) to see the difference.

 

Overall Im happy with how it came out. I think the main thing is changing up the mounting and thats that.

 

Reminds me of the truck from I am Legend.



I also wonder how long it will be before someone asks you why you have so many cameras on the back of your car.

 

They're small turbos..

 

I can't find a pic of it, but reminds me of the FBI truck in E.T.

 

So I removed the velcro strap from the KC lights.. for now just used some simple worm clamps. A lot more "secure" from moving around. I might end up doing something else later down the road, but for now I think this will work alright.





And obviously the rack was not on the car when I did that.. was time to remove it since I wasnt using it. Killing MPGs.

 

Nothing new to the car.. just some updates and pics coming.

Will be taking the car on its second longest drive since I bought it. The first time I drove the the bay area (2hrs or so), I had the roof basket on. This time, it will not be on and would like to see what kind of MPG I can get out of it.

Well last Sat friends and I saw The Last Jedi for the second time.



Then yesterday after work, I made a pit stop to snap some pics.

 

 

Both cars just hangin out



Washed the STi.. because it was filthy.. Crosstrek wants a bath too


For the holidays, I got a 5th wheel and then I went out and bought a tire. Now ive got the full size spare. Just in time as Im getting ready to rotate the tires for the first time, so ill throw this into the rotation.