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Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper

BroncoAZ

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I wanted to add some rear lights, but I didn’t want to have anything hanging off the spare tire or under the bumper. After copious measurements and consideration I decided I wanted the @Diode Dynamics SS1 PRO flood flush mount with the red backlight. The lights arrived today and I decided to go ahead and cut it tonight before I got cold feet.

After measuring 16 different ways over the course of probably an hour I was ready to cut. I decided to start with a 2” hole saw then switch to the Milwaukee die grinder with a carbide bit to finish out the squares. It took about 30 minutes to do both holes start to finish. I haven’t wired the lights yet, but I’m pleased with the fit. The curve of the bumper leaves the bottom of the light sitting out maybe 1-2mm, so I may add a thin bead of black silicon prior to final assembly. If I thought I could make it look decent I’d consider trying to trim the gasket to match the contour of the bumper curve, but I think I’d ruin it.
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper C75B831B-7EE5-4904-8691-8C306DE794DA
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 0246AE5F-8672-4EC7-BDB3-693C97328F0A
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 3DFB086E-16D4-4E4D-81C2-ECB44712C8AA
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 9666468C-1C7D-42D8-AEE6-D70CBED39DB7
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 9E3A4842-424A-4C83-915D-FD7CFDFC2EDF
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 964A7E51-F56C-4BEC-B317-923AE8F75165
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 0639931C-3BC6-459B-84DA-5E4AF558A0CC
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper D44ECCBF-58A3-4436-B5A5-907DA3FB88F6
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper image
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 6B9CA54F-FD49-4919-9A4B-52A46D74E765
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BroncoAZ

BroncoAZ

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For those wondering about clearance behind the bumper, there is plenty in the spots I chose.

Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 3E5A8B49-BBA9-4C2B-A8C2-2C58792CF629


Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper FF629D5D-54E3-4519-9F45-58200DBFC719
 

Bschurr

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Nice work! Can you post some pics of the entire rear including with the lights on (red backlight & flood)?
 
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BroncoAZ

BroncoAZ

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Nice work! Can you post some pics of the entire rear including with the lights on (red backlight & flood)?
Thanks. I will post up some pics, but I need to get the lights wired first. I didn’t have any black spray paint to paint the raw steel, so I didn’t complete the install last night.
 

JohnnyBoots

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Super interested in this one. I did this with a set of Bajas on my XJ in a beefy steel rear bumper.
 

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BroncoAZ

BroncoAZ

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I painted the cut holes with primer and texture black spray paint yesterday and finished everything up tonight. I used the Hotshot Offroad 7 pin adapter that allowed me to tap the trailer wiring without cutting anything. Their adapter is made for a Baja Designs S1 light, so I had to add another lead on the green wire to get the running lights. I made my own harness to the lights using 18 gauge wire (matching the size on the Hotshot OR adapter). Special thanks to my wife for assisting in getting the hardware installed on the back of the bumper, there is no way my big hands fit up in there. I did end up adding black silicone between the gasket and the bumper to fill the gap from the curvature of the bumper. I didn’t make any provisions to wire the white lights to an upfitter switch, but it would be easy enough to do so later if I ran the extra wire to the back. One unexpected surprise, the white lights do function with the zone lighting controls, so I can turn on the lights from the 12” screen in the truck or my phone through the FordPass app.

Here is a link to the Hotshot Offroad adapter. I just ordered another to use with my Lightning when it shows up.

https://hotshotoffroad.com/collections/custom-products/products/universal-hitchpod-s1-harness

Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper E9ADD1CC-5C11-4D4E-9A10-EF3DF39D99DB
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper D766806F-85B1-4FC9-8EFC-8BC36529D2D0
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 78312D47-9B96-42F5-8A3A-18F14B3738B6
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper B9AB248C-AE3E-4521-A4F1-3FDF124739C1
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 504AFEC5-C333-4A74-8C14-05752007DE7A
 
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iamcris

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Please post a daytime photo of your awesome work. Great links, photos and info. There seems to be a great amount of light now behind the Bronco. Excellent job!
 
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BroncoAZ

BroncoAZ

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Please post a daytime photo of your awesome work. Great links, photos and info. There seems to be a great amount of light now behind the Bronco. Excellent job!
Daytime pics. I might black out that stainless hardware.

Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper E4823B15-2D3D-4DB9-BBC9-B78F41443C31
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 439ED9BC-6348-45DE-801E-39BD3B6D7A35
Ford Bronco Diode Dynamics SS1 flush mounted in steel rear bumper 675AFB70-E78C-42E5-8CCE-1A9BD2B177FA
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iamcris

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Thank you. This is a pro installation. Looks really good.
 

Murph914

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I hate it when I see a project that looks so good I have to do it on my own. Jerk. 🙃

So are you in AZ, or on the cape?
 

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BroncoAZ

BroncoAZ

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I hate it when I see a project that looks so good I have to do it on my own. Jerk. 🙃

So are you in AZ, or on the cape?
I lived in AZ for 41 of my 46 years. We moved to the cape in late 2020.
 

Murph914

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Is there enough light to keep the rear cam in color with good resolution like in daytime?
 
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BroncoAZ

BroncoAZ

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Is there enough light to keep the rear cam in color with good resolution like in daytime?
I will have to check after dark, I was actually concerned about there being too much light and blowing out the camera image like the old Pioneer Avic unit in my Dodge 2500 when I added a set of Rigid Dually lights under the bumper. In initial testing the camera image seemed ok, not blown out when the lights went on and off, but I wasn’t scrutinizing it. There is enough light to cast a decent amount onto my neighbor’s garage door about 90’ away.
 

bytheway

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I painted the cut holes with primer and texture black spray paint yesterday and finished everything up tonight. I used the Hotshot Offroad 7 pin adapter that allowed me to tap the trailer wiring without cutting anything. Their adapter is made for a Baja Designs S1 light, so I had to add another lead on the green wire to get the running lights. I made my own harness to the lights using 18 gauge wire (matching the size on the Hotshot OR adapter). Special thanks to my wife for assisting in getting the hardware installed on the back of the bumper, there is no way my big hands fit up in there. I did end up adding black silicone between the gasket and the bumper to fill the gap from the curvature of the bumper. I didn’t make any provisions to wire the white lights to an upfitter switch, but it would be easy enough to do so later if I ran the extra wire to the back. One unexpected surprise, the white lights do function with the zone lighting controls, so I can turn on the lights from the 12” screen in the truck or my phone through the FordPass app.

Here is a link to the Hotshot Offroad adapter. I just ordered another to use with my Lightning when it shows up.

https://hotshotoffroad.com/collections/custom-products/products/universal-hitchpod-s1-harness

E9ADD1CC-5C11-4D4E-9A10-EF3DF39D99DB.jpeg
D766806F-85B1-4FC9-8EFC-8BC36529D2D0.jpeg
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B9AB248C-AE3E-4521-A4F1-3FDF124739C1.jpeg
504AFEC5-C333-4A74-8C14-05752007DE7A.jpeg
I have the hotshot adapter on my hitchpod, it works great. I towed with it for the first time this week and had no issues with the trailer connected either. I was going to post a write up once I got the final harness because mine was a prototype. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to wire up rear lighting.
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