i dont know about the 3rd gens but for the 2nd gens you dont need a template. once you drop the headliner the the roof is already marked...i guess so they can do em in the factory. i have put lights on my 95 and my dads 98 they were both like that.

 

there is no predetermined hole locator on my 05, they all go right in the flat unsupported part of the roof

 

I guess I just dont want to put them in wrong... I suppose I will just get some white crayon (black truck) and measure it all out...

 

Well for an update! DO NOT ORDER CAB LIGHTS FROM RECONACCESORIES.COM!
I can't tell you that enough. What a joke... I ordered over 2 months ago and JUST got the lights and not only did they look like **** there was also no wires with them like it alluded to on the website. To me it was far from a complete kit.
So I sent them back lost everything but $7. Went to my dealer had them in stock paid 80 and they included everything you need!
So the install looks fairly straight forward but as was mentioned they are stock... so what can I do to fix'em up?
Can you cover them with window tint?
How would you smoke them out? (Black truck)
Also is there a cheap place to get LED bulbs for them?
After all of this I am so excited to finally get them on. But I would like them smoked at least.

 

Forgive what may seem like a dumb question, but this seemed like the perfect thread in which to ask it.

"What purpose do the cab-mounted clearance lights serve, on Rams or even OTR semis?"

Most trailers are taller than the semis pulling them, so the clearance lights don't really convey anything useful there. Even chassis trucks often have equipment taller than the cab. Light pickups might have their cabs as their highest point occasionally, but since the driver can't see them, what's the point?

As far as I can tell, they appear to be a potential source of leaks, bulb maintenance, and road grime collection in trade for... well, I don't know. I was thrilled when they stopped being a stock item on the 2006 3500's and even happier whem my off-the-lot truck didn't have them.

Please help me understand!

 

Because it looks cool

 

I did my own lights about 3-4 months ago. Not hared at all. I had the Factory Mopar kit, and everything is pretty easy. Dropping the headliner is just as everyone else said. The hardest part is drilling through the roof of your truck! Underneath the passenger side a pillar, there is two wires that come up into a plug type connector. I am pretty sure they are a brown and black wire. This is the factory overhead light wiring. The stock kit doesnt plug directly into it, but obviously black is ground and the brown is power. I tested it out on the lights before installing them. I just cut the brown wire right behind the connector, and splice in the power wire for the lights. I grounded it by screwing it into the roof as directed. I used a bead of silicone around the gaskets, just a a second chance against leaks, and have had no problems even in heavy rain and car washing. Pretty easy job, about 2 hours if you take your time. Let me know if you have any more questions.

M Sandt

 

As far as needing the lights, I understand that they are required on trucks over 80 inches wide. I.e. dual rear wheels

Beyond that , I've always liked them so my truck had to have them...

Anyway, I installed mine about a month ago and it was fairly easy like mjsandt said. Used the factory lights as I've heard about leaking problems with the Recon ones and so far everything is fine.

Mine didnt have the connector so I had to run the power wire into the engine compartment but that was pretty easy and all the instruction and template came with the kit.

 

>>As far as needing the lights, I understand that they are required on trucks over 80 inches wide. I.e. dual rear wheels<<

OK, but why? What advantage do they convey, particularly based on vehicle width?

Just trying to understand....

 

This may be a long one...
Well you got my curiosity up. I went and waded through the Federal Regulations for Motor Vehicles ( boy is that stuff dense ) and learned a few things.

Of the five lights we call Clearance Lights, the outside two are the Clearance lights(shows the overall width of the vehicle) and the inner three are the Identification lights (shows the overall height).

It looks like the basic intent is to allow someone to identify the overall height and width of the vehicle without being able to see it. i.e. dead of night, dark highway and you have crappy headlights..
It essentially outlines the truck, tractor or any vehicle over 80 inches wide.

Trailers also appear to have the same basic requirement for lighting.
Top front amber, top rear red, lights down the right and left side at the top and bottom at certain intervals.

If you are pulling a trailer taller than the truck, the trailers lights essentially show the overall height.

Come to think of it, when I took the late evening pics of my lights on the truck, I couldnt see the truck in the picutre at all but I could see its overall size by the placement of the lights.

Anyway, that my 2 cents.

 

Extra light source to be seen at night, and heck, on my '97 they were ALMOST bright enough to see under the hood with at night...
As far as leaks, if you do a good install you shouldnt have a problem, the kit on my '97 was a factory kit, no leaks. A lot of people have problems from not cleaning the area first, using silicone to seal around the holes, etc...

Personally I like the looks, and doesnt hurt to have an extra light source up top, ive actually found it handy pulling into low areas at night with low branches, parking garages, etc

 

At least we have some understanding now!

 

Got'em on there I smoked them myself and it looks really good I was a little worried about them not being bright enough after smoking them but they look really nice and are plenty bright. I put some LED's in there but they were to directional and didn't light the whole light so for now it is just a regular bulb. I will post some pics soon. The headliner is a PITA! And the instructions are not very clear which wire to tap into on the 06's but I got it done. YEAH! And I like'em...

 

Here's a picture of the Recon Smoked lights. I think the only diffrence is the bases are black instead of chrome.

 

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...G%5D%5B/URL%5D



It is raining i will try to get a better picture when it is clear out and oh yeah they DON'T leak!