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I'm thinking about having some roof lights installed on my 2017 Sierra 1500. (Like on the HD) anyone do this? Which lights did you use? What is an estimate for installation? Doesn't look too hard but I'm not doing that myself on this expensive of a truck.
If you put the 5 on the front roof, I believe to be in compliance with DOT rules, you must have the 3 red in the middle rear, and markers on the side. One thing I do know for sure is, you don't want to be on the receiving end of ANY, DOT ticket.
I'm thinking about having some roof lights installed on my 2017 Sierra 1500. (Like on the HD) anyone do this? Which lights did you use? What is an estimate for installation? Doesn't look too hard but I'm not doing that myself on this expensive of a truck.
I haven't heard of this done in a long time, and even then it was someone doing it themselves. Best thing to do in my opinion would be to find the place you want to get it done and see how much they quote.
If you put the 5 on the front roof, I believe to be in compliance with DOT rules, you must have the 3 red in the middle rear, and markers on the side. One thing I do know for sure is, you don't want to be on the receiving end of ANY, DOT ticket.
If I were you, I would look further into this.
Agreed, definitely brush up on the laws when doing ANY light modifications.
5. Every motor truck or combination of motor truck and trailer having a length in excess of thirty feet or a width in excess of eighty inches shall be equipped with three identification lights on both front and rear. Each such group shall be evenly spaced not less than six nor more than twelve inches apart along a horizontal line near the top of the vehicle.
Make sure you know the laws on both the Federal, and State level.
If you put the 5 on the front roof, I believe to be in compliance with DOT rules, you must have the 3 red in the middle rear, and markers on the side. One thing I do know for sure is, you don't want to be on the receiving end of ANY, DOT ticket.
If I were you, I would look further into this.
Interesting, what do you mean 3 in the middle rear?
The trailer I tow periodically has those but my truck is of course stock.
CathedralCub'* opinion: I agree that it'* a good idea to know the laws etc. At the same time, I've seen about a zillion half-ton vehicles with clearance markers added to the front of the cab and not the back. Suburban and Yukon 1500'* and C/K10/15'* and half-ton pickups from all of the big 3 etc. I personally believe these were all done for aesthetic purposes, and especially because they wouldn't, as a half-ton vehicle, be feasibly able to be legally carry enough weight to be required to have clearance lights. If they tow a trailer that, by dimensions and/or capacities, require clearance lighting, the trailer will need or have it installed.
The only exception I can think of . . . and find for that matter . . . is the early-2000'* GM Quadrasteer pickups and SUV'*. They were all 1500'* except for the Suburban and YukonXL versions which were only available as 2500s. For some reason they all had traditional clearance lights on the cab in front, three traditional clearance lights near center between the bumper and tailgate or on the roof forward of the third brake light on the Suburban/YukonXL, and clearance lights front and rear on the slightly-wide rear fenders. They even had an 8-lug 1500HD pickup version of this.
I just looked around for reference at 2018 models and Dodge, Chevrolet, and Ford all do not have rear clearance lights on their 3500/350 series pickups. Even the F450 doesn't.
As for the wording of https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/321.392.pdf , it would be important to know the definition of "motor truck" as it applies to this document. Very often, half-ton pickup trucks are considered cars for the purpose of many laws. Think like a 1973 Buick Estate Wagon with a 455 pulling your trailer. It wouldn't need clearance lights on the cab, but might on the trailer depending on the trailer dimensions etc.
Last edited by CathedralCub; 12-03-2018 at 07:49 PM.
Reason: Removed an excess word
I just did this to my 2012 Chevy 2500HD Jan 2019. It'* a job for sure.
I used : Pacer Performance 20-265S Hi-Five Smoke Chevy Style Cab Roof LED Light Kit, (Pack of 3) $106.00amazon.com
Have lots of drill bits and ways to extract broken bits....it took me 6 bits to drill 9 holes =/ Your drilling into a spot welded seam and some hit it at an angle. I used the windshield mirror as my center point, centering the middle light there, I went 4.5" from the top edge of the windshield...I did that for the side lights as well...4.5" from top of windshield. Some use a stick for a straight line, mine go with the very slight curve of the windshield and you can't tell it. They look pretty good and even. The side lights are aprox 4 1/4" from the edge of the door weather stripping.
and Genuine GM Harness Part# - 15846970 $36.00amazon.com I used this to wire the cab lights. It works great, plenty of length and light plugs were in the right spot. I did have to cut the plugs and hard wire to plugs. FYI, I tapped into the brown/white wire on the headlight switch, that is the parking light hot wire. Just put a 10 or 15amp fuse between your cab lights and that switch.
Lastly I siliconed all the holes I drilled from underneath. This took me, a non professional 10hrs. It was grueling but soo worth it...my 2500...actually looks like a 2500 now!
helpful guide also here:
12-02-2018, 03:36 PM
Cab roof lights
