I’m on the hunt for affordable lightbars that I can mount with magnets. Anyone with any leads please contact me. Thanks!
One place to look would be your local auto wreckers.
There are a number of ways to mount a lightbar. Some are common for industry and service vehicles, others are common for replica vehicles.
To avoid drilling into a roof, most lightbars are mounted to a car with kits composed of metal brackets that tighten to the channels above the doors, with padded “feet” that raise the lightbar above the roof.
In the above photo you can see the padded feet (black plastic) and the metal brackets. The metal brackets provide tension to the roof and the padded feet support the lightbar.
Any lightbar products advertised as “magnetic mount” will typically be mini-bars, because the method depicted above is how most police/EMS mount bars larger than 24". The thing to remember is that we are utilizing and installing these lightbars in ways that are very NON-standard for the industry.
My two lightbars are mounted using both methods. The rear bar is mounted with metal brackets that hold it to the rear hatch, with large rubber feet that raise the bar above the roof and level it with the front lightbar. Like so:
The front lightbar is mounted only with magnets that are bolted through the feet of the lightbar where the rubber pads normally reside, like so:
The magnets that I use are the largest round-base magnets available at Ace Hardware.
I simply run a bolt up through the magnet, through a large rubber stopper (to raise the bar above the roof and provide a little flexibility so the magnet can contour to the roof of the car) and up through the feet of the lightbar.
I’ve found moderate success protecting the roof by placing 3M vinyl (clearbra) where the magnets touch the roof. I imagine you could double or even triple-layer the vinyl for added protection.
The important thing to remember is that you are utilizing and mounting your lightbar in a very NON-TRADITIONAL way, to the degree that you’ll probably get pushback or negative advice from dealers and installers that are used to selling and installing equipment on emergency vehicles in only one way.
In conclusion almost any lightbar can be mounted with magnets[/i]. The thing to look for is whether or not the lightbars have mounting feet can be adjusted along the length of the bar so that you can accommodate for luggage racks, sunroofs, etc. Every lightbar I’ve ever owned has had adjustable mounting feet, so it shouldn’t be hard to find.
That’s good advice for temporary mounting and low speed use like parades or normal everyday driving. Just don’t fly down the road at higher speeds because it’s possible for the lightbar to come off unless it’s mounted following the manufacturer’s instructions using the hardware they recommend. I have personally seen lightbars come off of vehicles and smash into a million pieces when they hit the ground. You don’t want to turn a $2000 lightbar into junk that’s only good for parts. Certain companies do not recommend installing full size lightbars with magnets and it will void the warranty.
As far as a source for light bars, eBay and Craigslist are your best bet to find affordable used lightbars. A lot of volunteer firemen dump their old equipment when they upgrade to newer ones. Police surplus auctions sometimes have them, and you can also check with local emergency vehicle outfitters to see if they have any older ones laying around. Lens kits are available to change colors. If you are looking for a modern LED lightbar, you will find several different websites that sell new ones. If you are doing a modern Ecto build, I highly recommend what Boomer has, something like a Whelen Edge 9M is good.
I am a state licensed emergency vehicle outfitter/ ambulance modifier in Michigan.
Good info on light bars! I’m still searching for mine.