Truck Tow Mirror Pod Ditch Light Mount System

In looking for options for where and how to mount my LED Ditch Lights on my truck, I wasn't happy with the look fit of the more common A-Pillar Hood Mount Systems.  I wanted something a little more sleek, and felt that the area between the articulating arms on many modern trucks towing mirrors would be a good place to fit a smaller light, particularly the shorter and more rectangular variants.  

 

I was provided a set of these particular lights for free on amazon and is what I used as they fit very well in the area.  There a several different variations of this light and its mounting points all over amazon if you don't like this exact one. 

 

Then based on the size, shape, and mounting type of this light set, I designed a highly adaptable articulating/rotating mounting system.  Most of the system, other than 2 bolts/nuts and the light, is completely 3d-printed, and requires very little modification to vehicle to install. 

I personally installed this on a 2022 Ford F250 Super Duty, but this can be adapted to just about any truck that has similar tow mirrors.

Power was supplied to each light by tapping into the wiring harness connected to mirrors and attaching to same wires that power the tiny integrated spotlights in mirrors.  On my application, this was pins 22 and 15 on the mirror harness.

 

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General Installation Steps and Required additional items are as follows:

 

1.  Insert M8 x 16mm hex bolt into bottom of base piece so hex head seats flush into the recessed slot.  
2. Take note of the tapered width of base and install in proper orientation.  This taper was designed to compensate for slightly unlevel nature of the Ford tow mirrors, and compensates for slope in order to ensure mount is level. 
3. Affix base with hex bolt installed to desired location on mirror, paying special attention to premeasure for ideal position and clearance of lights.  Once you've located the ideal location affixing the base is recommended using a strong adhesive.  I used black windshield adhesive, and it cured VERY strong.  Let it cure for 24hrs before proceeding.
4. Seat top mounting section over hex bolt and secure with Flanged Nut.
5. Attach led light pod to mount.
6. Locate ideal access point for running wire to power point.  Drilling through mirror housing was required for my application, and approximate location can be seen in pictures.  Removal of the mirror from vehicle is likely required to identify ideal drilling point and wiring routing.
7. Use small amount of adhesive to seat printed grommet into drilled hole, and run led power wires to desired location.

8. Reinstall mirrors

    

Recommended Print Settings/Material:

 

Bambu ASA-CF was used in design and printing of all parts and highly recommended.

PA-CF would also work well and considered using for even more strength, but the ASA-CF seems to be plenty strong enough and has good UV resistance.

 

Use provided profile and default orientations/support settings in profile for ideal print settings.

 

Additional Parts List:

3 Inch LED Light Pods

2 - Black M8 x 16mm hex bolt  

2 - Black Flanged M8 Nuts

Black windshield adhesive