Light tabs bolt to your bumper to allow offroad lights to be installed. This how-to outlines how I make
them.

Safety measures should be taken during all operations pictured.

The hardest part is getting a piece of metal bent at 90 degrees. Thickness should be at least 1/4".
The length I use is 6" x 2". 5" will work also. Angle iron comes in 3"x5" and can be used if you have
the means to cut it into 1.5 - 2" strips.

Another option is to heat/bend the steel.

A local machine shop can bend a 1/4" thick, 2" wide x 8" long piece into a 2"x6". My local shop had
a machinery breakdown. They can bend it, but the 90 degrees is eyeballed. This is the solution I came up with:

1/4" thick x 2" x 8" (2 pieces) are cut at the 2" mark using a hand grinder:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/542-1/lt1.jpg


I clamp the piece to a stout angle iron with the score (cut) at the edge:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/545-1/lt2.jpg

A couple of good hits and another clamp gives you a perfect 90 degree bend:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/547-1/lt3.jpg

Weld the cut:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/549-1/lt4.jpg

Mark and drill a 1/2" hole for the light. I go 5" from the bend to the center of the hole.
This puts the hole past the bumper:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/551-1/lt5.jpg

The hole that bolts to the bumper is crucial. I go 1-5/8" from the outermost part of the tab.
This is important. I am using 1/4" metal. Any thickness greater than this should be added to the
1-5/8" measurement. As an example, 3/8" thick steel would need the hole 1-3/4" past the end.
I drill a 1/2" hole. This hole is larger than the stock bolt. This leaves a little up/down play in the tab
so the measurement can be off slightly:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/553-1/lt6.jpg
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/555-1/lt7.jpg
This shows the bolt that is factory equipped in most Rangers. It is on the "low" part of the bumper.
Removing the grill makes it VERY easy to get to. It can be done from under the truck. You can slide
the light tab between the grill and the bumper from the "high" side, then slide it over to the bolt. a 13mm
wrench is used to remove the bolt:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/557-1/lt8.jpg

This shows the tab bolted to the bumper. 2 tabs can be mounted:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/559-1/lt9.jpg

I like to make the tab dissappear so I trace the rubber mounting base of the light onto the tab:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/561-1/lt10.jpg

I turn this grinder on:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/563-1/lt11.jpg

And the product looks like this:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/565-1/lt12.jpg

Painted and installed:
http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/gallery/d/567-1/lt13.jpg

Awesome write-up. now if i could only weld :/

lol. I wish I had a torch and I could bend them, no welding needed. Welding, bending, torch- bend, start with angle iron from the start, use a prebent shelf bracket from the start- whatever gets it done. Plenty of options on that part. Welding gets me a true 90degree. Bending wouldn't allow that with my limited knowledge.

great write up!! a torch would work well too, although you are right, i think you do get a better 90 degree with the weld method. nice work!

Very nice, seems so simple with good instructions.