Flashing light removal...

[Funkpirate]

O.K., getting ready to remove the overhead red and yellow lights,would like to patch the holes and finish it off smooth,any photos or tips on what has been done,or shouldn't be done? Thinking about welding a patch from the inside,then grinding and painting.

[jkindt]

Originally Posted by Funkpirate

O.K., getting ready to remove the overhead red and yellow lights,would like to patch the holes and finish it off smooth,any photos or tips on what has been done,or shouldn't be done? Thinking about welding a patch from the inside,then grinding and painting.

That is exactly what I did. I intalled a standard RV vent in the roof and used the metal that I cut out to cover my light holes. I welded them to the inside of the front/rear cap and then used fiberglass reinforced body filler to smooth it all in. I haven't finished the final puttying, but it is close and worked well. Can hardly tell there were ever any lights there.

[Funkpirate]

Thanks for the photos,sometimes I overthink things..........

[cdemaris]

Has anybody used the light connections for flood lighting or some other use? Seems like a waste to just cover a valid electrical connection with bondo and paint.

Craig

[jkindt]

Originally Posted by cdemaris

Has anybody used the light connections for flood lighting or some other use? Seems like a waste to just cover a valid electrical connection with bondo and paint.

Craig

I pulled the wire out to reuse elsewhere. It is some nice thick 12 gauge wire going to those lights. Too bad it is ALL green wires. No color coding at all on my bus.

[dentedvw]

Originally Posted by jkindt

I pulled the wire out to reuse elsewhere. It is some nice thick 12 gauge wire going to those lights. Too bad it is ALL green wires. No color coding at all on my bus.

What? No way it was 12 gauge wire! I would bet it was 16 gauge, max. Are you sure?

And you could use the opening for a spot, maybe, but it's probably not worth it. I think I saw once on someone's bus they covered the hole with Lexan, and put a spot behind it, but the light wasn't that useful. Besides, it would require different wiring, as the wire that's there is not really up to the task of any powerful lights.

I have started the welding/filling process on our bus as well. Looks pretty much as shown above. Some people will just glue a patch on, or rivet it, or screw it on. All depends on what you can live with, it's your ride after all. I have material from where I am cutting in the under belly storage hatches. Just had to remove all the undercoating before welding, because it catches on fire if you don't. Oops. Smelly too.

[jkindt]

Originally Posted by dentedvw

What? No way it was 12 gauge wire! I would bet it was 16 gauge, max. Are you sure?

Absolutely. I am sure it is 12 gauge. And it sure had come in handy wiring up things like my trailer plug, which I just realized I haven't finished yet.