Alright people, the X needs some better traffic warning power. I will be receiving a Code 3 MX 7000, 48" long. My question is what to do with the 1/2" cable bundle that must be routed inside. Any ideas? I figured I would ask here since some of you guys have roof mounted offroad lights that have hefty cables running to them.

And yes this is for true emergency calls. The X is run on all Search and Rescue calls. Hence my name.

If you want a better idea of the bar I am talking about look here: http://www.code3pse.com/productdtl.asp?grp=cd3&familyid=1&id=2

Nice lightbar - is it the incandescent or LED version? Where do you want to mount the switch panel? Did you say you do have a sunroof?

I have not installed an external lightbar on my Xterra, but currently have Whelen strobes mounted all over. Four internal Dashmisers mounted facing out the rear on top, two hide-a-way strobes in the rear turn signal lights and a brake/reverse light flasher. On the front I have two hide-a-ways in the corner lights, two strobes mounted behind the grill, dashking above the rear-view mirror and LED slim-lighter mounted on the upper part of the passenger side front window. Also wig-way headlights and two Talon LED lights facing out both sides of the rear cargo area windows. You can't miss me with all those lights! Expensive setup, but I pieced it together over the past few years little by little. I wanted something that did not stand out when I did not need them, and most people don't even notice the lights when they are off which is nice. Not sure if you made the purchase yet, but Whelen has their new Patriot LED lightbar which looks really sweet... http://www.whelen.com/ll1428.htm

I'm sure some other guys (and gals) will post with some tips. Good luck and have fun with the install and keep us updated.

TLV

Why are you using an X for SAR? Where is this? Is the X your personal vehicle?

WOW! Visser I bet you cannot be missed at an intersection. I had single deck blaster on the dash and a dual in the rear window. But I happened to come across this MX 7000 for real cheap and figured what the heck, it will be diffrent. It is the halogen version with 4 rotators, 2 intersection sweeps, 2 flashers, 2 alleys and 2 take downs. I figured on making a switch panel to custom fit inside the center console. That is the only realistic place. Yeah I have a sunroof so I think this bar is going to be customed mounted behind it. Well see, i will post pictures of it once I am done. How did you make out with the rear tail light flasher? Did you just buy one of the ones you see in Galls or something?

Suspect 2: I am one of the founders for SCPASAR or South Central PA Search and Rescue. The X is a really good equipment/command vechicle. ALso I am Fire Fighter for a York County Fire Company.

Well if you want a clean look to your X on the install then you should run the wires thru the roof racks tubes and tap a small hole thru the roof for the wires to run thru and then in between the headliner to the dash.....

Thats how I'm gonna re-route the wires for my lightbar...

RI: I considered drilling into the side of the tube and then running the wires down to the forward feet. My question is, what is directly below the feet of the Rack? And will the gasket around the feet seal the hole?

When I researched the tail light flasher I became a bit nervous when reading some of the problems with them on Crown Vics so I decided to go a different route. I purchased a Whelen UFM8 Halogen flasher (looks like a strobe power supply) with eight outlets. Then, I purchased four hide-a-way halogen bulbs and drilled new holes into the reverse and brake light housings. I have the halogens in the brake light housing alternating with the halogens in the reverse light housing. This kept the stock reverse and brake lights untouched. They are really bright, however, I have not had any problems with melting plastic, etc. I'm not sure if they still make the UFM8 as I wasn't able to locate it on their website. (I purchased my unit in December of 2000) If you are interested in going this route at some point, let me know and I'll check into it a little more. The only problem is you have to run a lot of wires to the back of the truck!

As far as my control switch panel, I have a 4X2 automatic tranny so I used the area right in front of (above) the trans shifter to mount my switchs. I used some standard radio shack toggle switches and small led lights so I can tell which lights are activated. All the relays, etc are stuffed inside. It was a total pain in the butt to sodder everything under such tight spaces, but I managed to do it with A LOT of patience. I also messed up drilling my first plastic piece so I had to order a replacement from Nissan for ~$20. I have a total of six switches with leds mounted on there so I can control which lights I turn on. (If I only need rear warning, for example)

TLV

Any pics of Xterras decked out with strobes, roof lights, etc???

My question Exactly...

Sounds like one hell of an impressive set up !!!

As usual we want to see how it looks !!!

Visser: Thats cool idea....The way you did your switches sounds cool...I figured that I could take 6 micro heavy duty switches from Rad Shack and take a peice of alumin cut holes and mount a little shelf inside the center console. Thay way I could run the wires from the battery completly under the console. My only concern is bar length..I hope it does not overhang to much or it will look horable. Any way, I just rigged a Fire Beam to a 5 flash mirror. I think I may mount that up side down in the back window.

BigE515: Man, let me get the bar on and all the wiring in place an I will even upload a small video of the setup.

video would be better, the EMS xterra's I have tried to photograph with lights on haven't come out so great.

For those of you with the 1din steros that some trucks came with there is a really nice siren/swichbox from England that I'll post a link to tomorrow.

-Mike

I dont know man... in most states its illegal to outfit a civilian vehicle with emergency equipment. I don't know the rules since this is voluntary and all. I am guessing you don't have state/local funding?

Actually it is not Suspect. Most states have a provision for volunteer firefighters and such to have a certain color light In Illinois all they can have is blue with no siren. Others can have blue with siren. Some red and blue.

It is more common than you think.

I have two deckblasters in my back window and two hideaway strobes in my front turn signal lights. And a dashking in my front window behind the mirror. I will try and take video of it and post it.

The gasket probably won't seal the hole well enough, so I would use some silicone caulking around the wires...

Suspect: The law states for PA that Volunteers can run blue on blue lights with no head light flashers. You need 1 360* light and then you can get away with usually anything. Now Cheifs of both fire and EMS are allowed to run Red/Red, Red/Clear with any lighting they choose, since a cheif vehicle is registered in the state as a emergency vehicle. I have run both, but now since we are a small SAR group, I only run blue since I volunteer as a fire fighter and do Search and Rescue as well.

Usually the State police do not bother you unless you are driving like a dick and causing more danger to traffic then is nesscary.

austinbrtndr:

I figured that the gasket would not seal the hole...Trying not to make this a permant attachment, but going down thru the tube, even if I take the bar off would be better cause the hole would be covered and easlily concealed.

Thats pretty much what I was thinking of using..

Ok people you asked for the pictures, here is the test fit stage of the MX7000 on my roof...Let me know what you think.

If looks matter to you, I think it would look much better if it was more forward on the rack. Just my .00000000002.

LOL That was my first thought as well... just a little too far back, I would look at moving it forward !!!

Emergency equipment must be 360 visable.

I would reccommend getting rid of the light bar and strobing the X out along with some blue/red strobes in the front and rear window.

Then again... I would never outfit my own X with emergency equipment. Just seems like a bad idea for insurance reasons and all.

Then again... I am in a big ass city and not in a rural setting. That may make a difference.

Well thanks people for your input, the reason that I have it sitting back on first cross bar is becasuse in the winter I put the gear basket and defelctor back on. The bar sits directly behind where the gear basket sits. And also I have the sunroof to take into consideration when mounting this.

Suspect2: are you in Baltimore? The reason I have emergency lights on my peronsal vehicle is because PA emergency services are not state funded so we don't have the funds to purchase 'company' vehicles as of yet but we are working towards that. You are correct in worrying about insurance issues, but my insurance is aware of what the X gets used for and also the company is insured against personal vehicle damage if responding to an emergency call and I am not at fault.

Thanks again guys for your input.

DC

We have the fully functional LED version of the lightbar on our new fire truck that we took delivery of last month. It's very sweet.

On a second note, SAR that light bar looks like shit on the X. I think any lightbar looks light shit on an Xterra.
It also makes you look like a squirrel (you FOs and POs know what I mean).

I have hide away strobes in all corners of my Xterra, LEDs hidden away in the roof line of the rear window, and wig wag headlights. All not visible when off and highly visible 360 degree protection when on.
I would reccomend something like that.