Installing the Lobo Off-Road Overhead Mount System

[Dusty]

I recently installed the Overhead Mount system from @Lobo Off-Road in our 2-door Base Bronco. This installation was fairly easy but I went ahead and shot a video of the process for anyone wondering what the process entails.



I've been impressed with this mount. Chris from Lobo put a lot of thought into the system to give it virtually limitless versatility for mounting just about anything you can think of up high, out of the way. I of course used it primarily to hard mount a mobile radio, in my case an ICOM 2370A dual band unit. I also installed the ICOM remote speaker so I could hear it very well even with the top off and traveling at speed. While I was at it I added a fire extinguisher on a quick-release mount, behind the driver's seat where it's fast and easy to get to with the top on or off and without having to open other doors to get to it. I also mounted a big LED flashlight up there.

I already had the top off for the season which made the installation even easier for me, but you would have to at least remove the front top panels to install it if you had the top on. On a 4-door you would also remove the middle panel, and on a 2-door you would need to remove the back shell or just unbolt it and lift the front a few inches to install the mount system. Lobo supplies all of the stainless steel hardware you need to install the mount, but I recommend getting a supply of nuts and bolts to have on hand for attaching things to it. I found that M6x16mm stainless button head cap screws, M6 stainless nyloc nuts and M6 flat washers work great for attaching everything. Just order about a 50-pack of each from Amazon or wherever to have them on hand.

I love that the components are made entirely out of aluminum and it's super-lightweight. But the box-bends and angles give it some impressive structural rigidity despite it's light weight. I like that the surfaces that expose toward the driver's and passenger's heads are angled rather than flat corners, even though it sits quite far from any chance of contact with your head.

I got it installed just in time for Big Bear Bronco Bash a couple of weekends ago, where I put the system and the radio to good use as a trail leader for several runs during the event. Everything worked great and everyone who saw it loved the OMS kit. Here's a link to it on Lobo's website if anyone wants to check it out for themselves: https://lobooffroad.com/product/lobo-overhead-mount-system-front-kit-bronco/

Good job Chris, very nice product!

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[Arokcrwlr]

Hey Dusty, looks great! I dropped mine off at the powder coater after seeing yours...
Did you do the MARS mod to your Icom to be able to tx/rx on GMRS freqs? I have a Kenwood TM-V71 with MARS mod for search and rescue - works great.

 

[Dusty]

Hey Dusty, looks great! I dropped mine off at the powder coater after seeing yours...
Did you do the MARS mod to your Icom to be able to tx/rx on GMRS freqs? I have a Kenwood TM-V71 with MARS mod for search and rescue - works great.

No mods to the radio yet. It receives on the GMRS freq's but it doesn't transmit on them. I'll need to look into that for non-So Cal Broncos runs where everyone else uses the Girlie-Man Radio System LOL.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

I'll need to look into that for non-So Cal Broncos runs where everyone else uses the Girlie-Man Radio System LOL.

LMAO - Did the MARS mod on my Yaesu, totally worth it!

 

[Dusty]

I forgot to mention that I wired the radio to AUX switch 2, using the factory pre-run wires in the Bronco. That made powering it super easy. There is a pre-run wire up in the top of the passenger side A-pillar area. You have to go behind the glove box to connect it to a wire going out to the engine compartment, and hook the other end of that wire up to the AUX switch wire of your choice. Switch 2 is on a 15-amp circuit and that's what the radio wants.

 

[SierraBronco]

When you say other overhead mounts are flimsy, what are you basing that on? After watching the install it seems the DV8 mount will provide significantly more “rigidity” based on how theirs mounts compared to this being held together with one 8mm bolt on the side. It’s not a bad design or anything but that comment doesn’t seem based in reality.

 

[Dusty]

When you say other overhead mounts are flimsy, what are you basing that on? After watching the install it seems the DV8 mount will provide significantly more “rigidity” based on how theirs mounts compared to this being held together with one 8mm bolt on the side. It’s not a bad design or anything but that comment doesn’t seem based in reality.

Take it easy, I wasn't referring specifically to that one. There are other reasons I'm not crazy about DV8 one, but I don't think it's flimsy.

 

[SierraBronco]

Didn’t mean come off as harsh-was legitimately curious.

 

[Lobo Off-Road]

I recently installed the Overhead Mount system from @Lobo Off-Road in our 2-door Base Bronco. This installation was fairly easy but I went ahead and shot a video of the process for anyone wondering what the process entails.



I've been impressed with this mount. Chris from Lobo put a lot of thought into the system to give it virtually limitless versatility for mounting just about anything you can think of up high, out of the way. I of course used it primarily to hard mount a mobile radio, in my case an ICOM 2370A dual band unit. I also installed the ICOM remote speaker so I could hear it very well even with the top off and traveling at speed. While I was at it I added a fire extinguisher on a quick-release mount, behind the driver's seat where it's fast and easy to get to with the top on or off and without having to open other doors to get to it. I also mounted a big LED flashlight up there.

I already had the top off for the season which made the installation even easier for me, but you would have to at least remove the front top panels to install it if you had the top on. On a 4-door you would also remove the middle panel, and on a 2-door you would need to remove the back shell or just unbolt it and lift the front a few inches to install the mount system. Lobo supplies all of the stainless steel hardware you need to install the mount, but I recommend getting a supply of nuts and bolts to have on hand for attaching things to it. I found that M6x16mm stainless button head cap screws, M6 stainless nyloc nuts and M6 flat washers work great for attaching everything. Just order about a 50-pack of each from Amazon or wherever to have them on hand.

I love that the components are made entirely out of aluminum and it's super-lightweight. But the box-bends and angles give it some impressive structural rigidity despite it's light weight. I like that the surfaces that expose toward the driver's and passenger's heads are angled rather than flat corners, even though it sits quite far from any chance of contact with your head.

I got it installed just in time for Big Bear Bronco Bash a couple of weekends ago, where I put the system and the radio to good use as a trail leader for several runs during the event. Everything worked great and everyone who saw it loved the OMS kit. Here's a link to it on Lobo's website if anyone wants to check it out for themselves: https://lobooffroad.com/product/lobo-overhead-mount-system-front-kit-bronco/

Good job Chris, very nice product!

View attachment 648636

Thanks Dusty for the write up/video!!! We'll add a link to it on our product page for OMS. Thanks for trusting our products on your Bronco

 

[ksdon]

Thank you for the video. That is a good addition. A radio we are looking at does not have a removable face and as you mentioned so many other possible mounting locations might be less than ideal. I enjoyed this!

 

[Dusty]

Thank you for the video. That is a good addition. A radio we are looking at does not have a removable face and as you mentioned so many other possible mounting locations might be less than ideal. I enjoyed this!

Which radio are you looking at? My only complaint about this iCOM is that the screen on it is hard to see when you're not looking straight at it. It does have nice big characters but the contrast almost disappears when viewing it from an angle.

 

[618TRVLWILD]

This is awesome. Tell that wife I said Hi. Miss y’all’s faces!!

 

[Dusty]

This is awesome. Tell that wife I said Hi. Miss y’all’s faces!!

Hey there Ashley! Where have you been hiding? It's been a while since I've seen you around

 

[618TRVLWILD]

Hey there Ashley! Where have you been hiding? It's been a while since I've seen you around

Staying in IL for awhile. Nurse a sick dog, new job, saving money. Hoping to come out to Big Bear or least NV SC. One of these summers or falls! Def wanna see y’all!

 

[SROC3]

nice!!! so where'd ya get the flashlight??? Very cool! I want one!

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