So my kit arrived yesterday and I couldn’t resist installing it after work. I went a different way in terms of wiring: I have amber driving/combo S2 Pros on the right and left, and a white work/scene S2 Pro in the center. I wired the ambers to Upfitter 3 and the white to Upfitter 4 (I know, I’m underutilizing the circuit, but I have more switches than I need and that’s where I wanted it). So mine only come on when I activate a switch. I didn’t want all that light every time I open a door, unlock the truck, or throw it in reverse.
A couple of notes on the install, for those who haven’t done it. Although installing it is fairly self-explanatory, the GJ instructions are total shit. They add absolutely nothing to the mix and are entirely unhelpful. No tips, no photos of parts, no advice about routing the wires, getting the panels off, using the hardware, or anything else. Garbage.
The c pillar panel came off and went back on easily and without incident, but you should refer to the picture I posted above, which is accurate and tells you where the clips are and how to pull to get them to release. I actually did not remove it; I just pulled out the top three clips and pulled the cover away from the pillar enough to gain access. Be careful to zip tie the wire so it doesn’t interfere with the seat belt or air bag.
I didn’t touch the headliner at all. I used a fish tape to pull the wires through. The first few attempts did not result in the fish tape emerging it the third brake light hole—somehow it was going somewhere else. It was helpful to have my son shine a flashlight down through the third brake light hole so I could use the light as a guide for where to feed in the fish tape. Once I did that, the fish tape was right where I needed it to be.
Honestly, the most difficult and frustrating part of the whole job was freeing the Upfitter bundle from the fuse box area. Whoever built my truck really tucked them up tight, and used lots of tape. The access was incredibly difficult and I was too scared to use a blade for fear that I would cut something I shouldn’t. Much swearing ensued, but I finally freed them from their very secure location and commenced soldering them up to the harness. I really don’t understand why Ford would make a wire bundle placed there for the express purpose of being accessed by owners so difficult to access and free. I have a similar comment about the Upfitter passthrough wires in the engine bay. This would have been so much easier if they were just six inches longer! WTF?
As for the kit itself, the light is beautiful, and I love it. However, I saw no way to use the metal clips that would not have scratched the crap out of my paint, and probably ultimately resulted in failure anyway due to the lip that is formed around the brake light hole. So, like others, I just re-used the plastic anchors. Hopefully they will hold. I applied lots of pressure on the light to snug it firmly up to the cab while I carefully tightened the screws. I was very concerned about stripping them and I didn’t want to increase the chances of that by relying on the bolts to snug the light up to the cab. Hopefully I won’t have any water intrusion. This is another criticism I have of the kit: they should include a set of plastic or metal anchors that are actually usable!
I don’t understand why the basic harness doesn’t have a ground wired into the plug for the yellow “extra” wire. Seriously WTF? So I had to cut the plug off (good luck freeing the unused pin to attach a ground wire to it—why don’t they leave it separate from the plug so you can actually use it and then pop it in place??? It does no one any good to install an empty pin that is virtually impossible to remove!). I spliced in a ground and just soldered the yellow wire to the white center to run it from Upfitter 4.
Finally, I would not order from GJ direct again. It took forever to get the light from them, and they screwed up the order. I wanted the antenna mount and mine didn’t come with it. I’d get it from one of the forum vendors here who has what you want in stock.
A couple of notes on the install, for those who haven’t done it. Although installing it is fairly self-explanatory, the GJ instructions are total shit. They add absolutely nothing to the mix and are entirely unhelpful. No tips, no photos of parts, no advice about routing the wires, getting the panels off, using the hardware, or anything else. Garbage.
The c pillar panel came off and went back on easily and without incident, but you should refer to the picture I posted above, which is accurate and tells you where the clips are and how to pull to get them to release. I actually did not remove it; I just pulled out the top three clips and pulled the cover away from the pillar enough to gain access. Be careful to zip tie the wire so it doesn’t interfere with the seat belt or air bag.
I didn’t touch the headliner at all. I used a fish tape to pull the wires through. The first few attempts did not result in the fish tape emerging it the third brake light hole—somehow it was going somewhere else. It was helpful to have my son shine a flashlight down through the third brake light hole so I could use the light as a guide for where to feed in the fish tape. Once I did that, the fish tape was right where I needed it to be.
Honestly, the most difficult and frustrating part of the whole job was freeing the Upfitter bundle from the fuse box area. Whoever built my truck really tucked them up tight, and used lots of tape. The access was incredibly difficult and I was too scared to use a blade for fear that I would cut something I shouldn’t. Much swearing ensued, but I finally freed them from their very secure location and commenced soldering them up to the harness. I really don’t understand why Ford would make a wire bundle placed there for the express purpose of being accessed by owners so difficult to access and free. I have a similar comment about the Upfitter passthrough wires in the engine bay. This would have been so much easier if they were just six inches longer! WTF?
As for the kit itself, the light is beautiful, and I love it. However, I saw no way to use the metal clips that would not have scratched the crap out of my paint, and probably ultimately resulted in failure anyway due to the lip that is formed around the brake light hole. So, like others, I just re-used the plastic anchors. Hopefully they will hold. I applied lots of pressure on the light to snug it firmly up to the cab while I carefully tightened the screws. I was very concerned about stripping them and I didn’t want to increase the chances of that by relying on the bolts to snug the light up to the cab. Hopefully I won’t have any water intrusion. This is another criticism I have of the kit: they should include a set of plastic or metal anchors that are actually usable!
I don’t understand why the basic harness doesn’t have a ground wired into the plug for the yellow “extra” wire. Seriously WTF? So I had to cut the plug off (good luck freeing the unused pin to attach a ground wire to it—why don’t they leave it separate from the plug so you can actually use it and then pop it in place??? It does no one any good to install an empty pin that is virtually impossible to remove!). I spliced in a ground and just soldered the yellow wire to the white center to run it from Upfitter 4.
Finally, I would not order from GJ direct again. It took forever to get the light from them, and they screwed up the order. I wanted the antenna mount and mine didn’t come with it. I’d get it from one of the forum vendors here who has what you want in stock.
