Custom 28" Mini-Liberty with LR11 Intersection Sweeps

[Storm4200]

I wanted a new mini bar for my plow truck. After looking at a few options, the price i was gonna end up paying for a mini bar with no options, i could get a full sized, full loaded liberty, for not much more.

So that's what i did. Went with the full sized liberty.

I started out with a 48" Liberty SX. It was Red/blue with an amber TA

I wanted to use this as a "throw light" that i can use in whatever plow truck I'm assigned to. The "Dual Purpose" part is that im also FF/EMT and wanted something to respond to calls with, if i had to.

I cut the frame of the Libby down to 28" and moved all of the rear amber modules around. I have it set up to run blue/white to front for Fire/Ems responses, and have amber/red for plowing. I added 4 LR11s to use as work lights.

The front two corner modules are blue LIN12 extended corners. Im currently depopulating them to 6, and adding 6 amber LEDs. the idea here is to essentially create "DUO" heads, that will run blue OR amber. Wilson is doing the conversion.

I have it all wired to a Brooking Industries 6-switch box, and have that wired to a 12V Cigarette plug. (ive ran the entire bar and switch box off of a cordless drill battery for hours, so im not concerned with current draw.)

The lenses have been wet sanded, polished, and turned out pretty good.

For the bar itself i have (4) 200lb pull magnets. Still not sure if i wanna do 3 magnets in-line with the bar, or do 4 on all 4 corners? What do you think?

this switch box is set up as follows:

1: Ambers

2: Flashing TDs and Allys, also single rear amber pod

3: Rear Red

4: Front Blue

5: Work lights

6: Cruise lights. 


After the cut, there's enough left to build another mini Liberty, if anyone's interested.

Here are some pics and a current video.

Custom Whelen Liberty: http://youtu.be/683q9zAeqxI

 

[wilsonbr90]

I hope those corners come out nice. Cant wait to get my hands on them.

 

[Eric1249]

Nice job. It's cool.

 

[rescue567]

Looks very nice !!

 

[pdk9]

Looks great. I always wished whelen offered a mini Libby with 4-6 inboards (without having to pay a fortune for a custom job)

 

[Storm4200]

Thanks guys, i appreciate the thumbs up. Its a welcomed upgrade to my L32 beacon i was using.


Do you have any input on how i should mount the magnets?


I have to drill 4 holes and if i do them on the 4 corners, the bolts will interfere with the way the modules slide and they'll be visible in front of the corner lights.


If i do the magnets inline down the center, the bolts could interfere with the IO board.


It's gonna be easier to do them Inline, and im sure i can avoid the IO board.


With the 200lb pull magnets, do you think the bar will mount sturdy enough?


Remember, plow truck, so i wont be driving 100mph, but that being said, i will be banging it around.


Wilson, im boxing up the corners as we speak. Next stop, USPS.

200lb pull magnets and the left over mini libby

Afte opening it up again, 4 corners may be the best bet.

 

[OTFD122]

Looks awesome! Do you just have one side of the top of the bar screwed into the "dummy" box? Or did you drill more holes in the top to secure the top better? 

 

[Storm4200]

I have nothing screwed into the dummy box. I'm not even using it. I was just gonna silicone the top holes. The top is held on just fine with the lenses and endcaps. I guess if it becomes an issue ill just drill a hole through the bottom and secure it with a long bolt.

 

[chucksorce]

Nice little project, I'm kicking around the idea of picking up one of those liberties myself ( can't beat that price)

 

[MEVS06]

Use the liberty feet and bolt the magnets to that, that's the best bet.

 

[Storm4200]

I got it done without the feet. I wanted it hug the roof line

 

[hfdemt4095]

I got it done without the feet. I wanted it hug the roof line

If you were to build another mini liberty, how much do you think you would sell that for

 

[Storm4200]

If you were to build another mini liberty, how much do you think you would sell that for

PM sent

 

[firebuff17]

Thanks guys, i appreciate the thumbs up. Its a welcomed upgrade to my L32 beacon i was using.

What are you doing with that L32?

 

[Storm4200]

It sold a while ago. Sorry.

 

[firebuff17]

It sold a while ago. Sorry.

Thanks. Worth a shot.

 

[Storm4200]

this is what i built with what was left over after i cut my 28" bar. This bar is 18" .


I added a pair of LR11s, a pair of LIN6s i had, and bought a new pair of endcaps.

http://youtu.be/sRrQltNkBEg

 

[tsquale]

That is really neat, Storm! I would love it with colored lenses. :yes:

 

[Storm4200]

Yeah me too. Colored lenses are my favorite.

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

 

[Storm4200]

If you were to build another mini liberty, how much do you think you would sell that for

Im building one now if you're interested.

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

Im building one now if you're interested.

yes yes i am

 

[5309]

Awesome work

 

[Storm4200]

That is really neat, Storm! I would love it with colored lenses. :yes:

Building one with colored lenses now.

 

[I'mabeast]

I might be interested in one if you could do this set up and depends on how much. Front Corners: A Front: AWA Side: W Rear Corners: A Rear: AAA

 

[Storm4200]

*Update*


The LR11 TDs were working so well as extra white plow lighting, because i aimed them down a few degrees. They threw tons of extra light in front of the plow blade, right where i wanted it. They worked so well in fact, i decided to upgrade them to a SXTDLED takedown. Its currently on order and will be here shortly.


And then i saw Boulder's mini MX.


(


Custom Flat-Top MX/2100 )


It was all down hill from there. Lol. His build utilized a MX7000 lower section, and intersection sweeps that he mounted a Feniex Apollo to. Well that got me thinking. I decided i wanted to copy his idea, however, i wanted to try to integrate LED sweep lights, into a Liberty bar.


So i went on ebay and was able to score a pair of Intersection Sweeps out of a Code3 Excalibur, for $5ea. My plan is to send the pair of LR11s i was using as TDs to Wilson, and having him convert them to amber. I then want to take the new AMBER LR11s, and mount them to the Excalibur Intersection Sweeps, and fit them in the front corner positions on the Libby. This will give me a tight, focused beam of amber light, oscilating over 180°.


Thoughts, suggestions, concerns?

 

[Storm4200]

View attachment 132924


View attachment 132927

 

[Storm4200]

 

[Marc M]

Can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[lotsofbars]

Oh damn, this is gonna be awesome . . .

 

[Storm4200]

I just hope i have the clearance without too much modification.

i wonder in theres room on the reflector to mount 2 LR11s....i could have one amber, and one blue and maintain the DUO mode that i was originally going for....

i cant test it until the sweeps get here. 

The new one piece endcaps

 

[wilsonbr90]

I have blue xp diodes in stock

 

[TritonBoulder47]

I'm glad I can be of some inspiration...  lol  Can't wait to see this progress!!!

 

[acala91]

Awesome idea! Can't wait to see the finished product. 

 

[Storm4200]

Yeah Wilson, i think i may try to go that route. Ill try to mount (2) LR11s to each sweep reflector. One switch would activate a pair of amber LR11 sweeps, and another would do a pair of blue LR11 sweeps.

 

[TritonBoulder47]

This thread needs to be updated...  lol

 

[wilsonbr90]

Got the lr-11s today. Hopefully if I don't have to pull anyone else out of my driveway today(thank you UPS guy for thinking you had a pair, thank goodness for my truck) I will have them done.

 

[Storm4200]

 

[CrownVic97]

Now that looks really cool! Kind of like a homebrew Pierce-Alert, but with LEDs instead of halogens. Plus, they are on the ends and not in the center.

It'd look really good if you put blue Edge lenses to the front and with the clear endcaps, you'd have a blue/clear signal with the sweeps. Uh-oh.......I think I may have given you another idea :crazy:  .

Looking good so far, man!

 

[lotsofbars]

Now that looks really cool! Kind of like a homebrew Pierce-Alert, but with LEDs instead of halogens. Plus, they are on the ends and not in the center.

It'd look really good if you put blue Edge lenses to the front and with the clear endcaps, you'd have a blue/clear signal with the sweeps. Uh-oh.......I think I may have given you another idea :crazy:  .

Looking good so far, man!

That would look really cool in theory, but the white LED's brightness may be cut by the blue lense. I know that quite frequently people make the mistake of putting say a white LAW behind their red taillight lense and then wonder why it's so dim.