I have a bumper which blocks the center light with the tire sitting on it.

So I want to get one that will fit. There is square tubing with the hole on the top - so I need a mount that goes into the tube, then a 90° with the light on it. LED preferred as I'm going to just tap into existing brake light power. It would also help if I had a wiring diagram to know which one to tap into so it only comes on when the brake is depressed.

I have found the hitch ones but that would leave the light pointing straight up.

Some people have just gotten a round brake light, and put it right in the hole in the center of the spare's rim...and wired a QD to behind it...as you don't need it off road anyway, etc.

If the back plate of the spare mount is solid, drilling a hole there is all that's required.

A simple circuit tester touched to the wires while a bud taps the brakes will tell you if you have the right wire, etc. (Its the same two wires as used for the oem brake light...all you do is splice extensions on)

:D

I have other plans for the center of the tire - it's threaded, and I plan on making a mount for my shovel for there somehow.

So I need to figure out the top.

I have other plans for the center of the tire - it's threaded, and I plan on making a mount for my shovel for there somehow.

So I need to figure out the top.

OK, so you'd need to remove the shovel to get the spare off?

Use a shovel clamp with a light on the end.

:D

I wouldn't mind removing a shovel to get the tire off. How often do you really need the spare? And if you have to swap it on the trail, you're already going to have some work to do - so a little shovel mount won't add much time to that.

What I'm trying to do is get the shovel/hi-lift off the roof basket, get rid of the roof basket and do a custom basket.

I wouldn't mind removing a shovel to get the tire off. How often do you really need the spare? And if you have to swap it on the trail, you're already going to have some work to do - so a little shovel mount won't add much time to that.

What I'm trying to do is get the shovel/hi-lift off the roof basket, get rid of the roof basket and do a custom basket.

Good explanation...I see where you're going now.

Well, maybe the hi-lift is what you'd want if you want the spare, more than the shovel...but, Yakima and so forth make all sorts of clamps and adapters...and all you'd need to do is find a good way to mount them where it would work for you.

Some people have drilled mounts to the top of the bumper, so the hi-lift lays flat there. They do it so when not needed, the hi-lift comes off for storage/doesn't block opening the hatch, etc.

I've been carrying around a shovel and pick axe since the '70's, and, I think in all that time, I used them both once, and just the shovel maybe half dozen times total. I also carry boards, and some other stuff, but I don't use them that often either.

The hi-lift I think gets used almost every time out, someone always needs to change a tire, re-set a blown bead, jack off of a high centering, etc.

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I was in PepBoys a few days ago (Truck Porn) and saw they have JEEP Tail Lights. I too have my brake light hidden by the spare...but, I always remove the tire before going through inspection...so they never say anything.

So - anyway - I was thinking those tail lights are an easy way to add a third brake light, plus it would add an aux back-up light too, and they plug into a stock harness, are stamped with the DOT numbers, etc.

You might want to look at an option like that. They are a bit bulky though.

I also looked at the LED options, which are also very impact and water resistant.

:D

I think I will get one of Creepy's lights, and then mod up some sort of bracket to make it work.

The hi-lift will get moved to the bumper too - it's got a spot for it already, just need to do it and maybe fab up a way to lock it.

I'm not concerned about inspections - they really don't care here lol. But more for extra safety on the road - e.g. one more light for the blonde on her cell phone to miss.

I've been toying with the idea of getting something like THIS (http://www.awdirect.com/stop-tail-turn-led-bars-pf4rc/directional-body-lights/) and maybe mounting it over the rear washer thing on the hatch, running the wiring inside the body to one of the break lights and tapping into the OE wiring there. I haven't really figured it all out yet; maybe we all can figure it out?

I've been toying with the idea of getting something like THIS (http://www.awdirect.com/stop-tail-turn-led-bars-pf4rc/directional-body-lights/) and maybe mounting it over the rear washer thing on the hatch, running the wiring inside the body to one of the break lights and tapping into the OE wiring there. I haven't really figured it all out yet; maybe we all can figure it out?

Yeah that would be cool. I have a "spoiler" thing there so that wouldn't work. And I'm not getting rid of it. I like it.

I've been toying with the idea of getting something like THIS (http://www.awdirect.com/stop-tail-turn-led-bars-pf4rc/directional-body-lights/) and maybe mounting it over the rear washer thing on the hatch, running the wiring inside the body to one of the break lights and tapping into the OE wiring there. I haven't really figured it all out yet; maybe we all can figure it out?

Yeah that would be cool. I have a "spoiler" thing there so that wouldn't work. And I'm not getting rid of it. I like it.

You DON'T have to put it on the hatch where the spoiler is....you could put it on the crossbar on the roof rack. Check this out, I have red LED clearance marker mounted on my basket to ward off tailgaters and often, police don't bother because from a distance, they think its a truck so they don't come after me which is good lol.

Check this out:

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm247/samonett21/xterra/xterrafullpasslightscroppedblocked.jpg

Trust me, it works very well and is HELLA BRIGHT! I'm sure you can have it come on when you hit your brakes instead of having it on with parking lights.

Here's a somewhat closer pic of how its mounted to the LW...just zipties pretty much.
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm247/samonett21/xterra/100_1063.jpg