Sparkys HMMWV thread

[Sparky_911]

I will update this thread as changes/additions occur. 

My dept. acquired a surplus HMMWV to outfit as a brush/rescue unit that we use for mutual aid calls.   Our options for lighting are somewhat constrained by budget and mounting options.  

Link to the HMMWV mounting question thread

PHASE 1

Our particular rig has a soft top roof and mounting a full on lightbar is not an option at this point.  So we purchased some Strobesnmore EFLOOD 4200 warning heads (1red, 1blue) to mount on the "brow" of the windshield.  There were 3 mounting possibilities..

Link to the EFLOOD thread

1.

2.

3.

It was decided option 2 was best so they were installed...

 

[proudfirefighter]

Looks good so far! Excited to see the rest of the build

 

[Hoff]

Good choice! It looks a lot sleeker being in line with the top of the windshield. 

 

[fleetcomm]

Great start.

 

[justavillain]

Awesome start

 

[pdk9]

Looks good!


What's next on the plan? I'm hoping some M6's for perimeter warning (or at least for front grill lights, since I know your budget is limited)


Also, any plans to paint it, or leave it in desert tan?

 

[TritonBoulder47]

I can dig it...  Can't wait to see its progression...

 

[Sparky_911]

Thanks everyone.   We should have it "in service" in time for brush/field fire season.  Waiting on new pump motor and hose.  Leaves time til then for doing the rest of the lighting. 

Good choice! It looks a lot sleeker being in line with the top of the windshield. 

That was the thinking.  Try to keep the profile low (the bed canopy will be off during fire season) and keep things from getting torn off by low branches. 

Looks good!

What's next on the plan? I'm hoping some M6's for perimeter warning (or at least for front grill lights, since I know your budget is limited)
Also, any plans to paint it, or leave it in desert tan?

The next phase will probably be rear lights (I hope).  We were told that it is not to be lit up a lot, just enough to see it sitting on the roadside.  Was thinking a pair of R/W B/W cannons to the rear and a pair of the same on each side.  The whites would be great for puddle/work lights, but after reading this thread

http://elightbars.org/forums/topic/65182-thats-it-no-more-cannons-for-compartment-lighting-whats-next/

I have reservations using them that way.  Maybe some Titan heads or dumb T6s for work lights and probably T6s and T3s for the body since they are super cheap. 

As for the paint...tan works for us for now.  Most of our rigs are white so its close enough for us.  Full color logos and 3 color reflective stripes (whi/blue/safety green) plus rear chevrons on the gate and we should be good.  We have a vinyl guy on our dept. so those won't cost much. 

 

[justavillain]

If you are going minimal you would get more coverage with the f6 over a Cannon. The wider spread will help


I know budget is tight but 4 heads 2 red and 2 blue would do well. Same for each side

 

[Sparky_911]

Forgot about the F6...thanks.  Price is the same as the cannons we were looking at.  The plan is still go 1R/W and 1 B/W on the sides and rear and use the whites as puddle/area lights.  Does anyone know if they are designed to steady burn for long periods? I couldn't find anything on Feniex's website about it.

 

[Eric1249]

 The next phase will probably be rear lights (I hope).  We were told that it is not to be lit up a lot, just enough to see it sitting on the roadside.  Was thinking a pair of R/W B/W cannons to the rear and a pair of the same on each side.  The whites would be great for puddle/work lights, but after reading this thread

http://elightbars.org/forums/topic/65182-thats-it-no-more-cannons-for-compartment-lighting-whats-next/

I have reservations using them that way.  Maybe some Titan heads or dumb T6s for work lights and probably T6s and T3s for the body since they are super cheap. 

I mounted a white Cobra dummy head to the side o my brush guard to be used like an alley light.  I was impressed with the output.

 

[Sparky_911]

Got approval today to do F6s all the way around.  So it will be 1R/W 1B/W on each side and rear.  Now I just have to wait for them to ship....

 

[Sparky_911]

Teaser of the brow lights.  More to come when the body lights are finished.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzT5PIZ1lig

 

[tsquale]

Looks really good! 

 

[Hoff]

Damn your teasing!!! I looks great! How is the off axis? I know there prolly isn't too much being the type of optic it is but just curious. Can't wait to see it with the F6s.

 

[Sparky_911]

Thanks. I'd say it's a 20-30ish degree optic (total guess), so the off axis isn't too great but the apollos should help with that.

 

[Sparky_911]

Finished up the install yesterday.  Apollos on 3 sides.  Got it finished just before dog training so no video/pics yet.  Should have some up next week.

 

[tvsjr]

Flood + warning appears pretty much useless, but that's to be expected. IMO, slow down the flash pattern... the slower of the two speeds in that pattern is just about right.

 

[Sparky_911]

Crappy raining weather today and had some time on my hands.  Here are the final install pics and video.  Not sure on the pattern we picked.  I'm thinking leave the white flashing out of the body lights.  Or maybe front fender lights run color/white (intersection?) and do just color on rear fender and tails. Thoughts on that anyone???  (And yes I know the front drivers one is synced backward...fixing that).  As for the rest of it we will be upgrading the tank to 150 gallon, adding extrication tools, medical bag, and removing the top come 1st of April.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myfYW4hcWgc

Flood + warning appears pretty much useless, but that's to be expected. IMO, slow down the flash pattern... the slower of the two speeds in that pattern is just about right.

I agree with you on the first part.  The intent is use one or the other, mostly off road.  Not like there's a lot of traffic to warn in the woods...lol.  As for the flash pattern, the Actionflash seems to get noticed more when passing through the urban areas of the county we serve.  If it was all rural I would agree wholly.

 

[tvsjr]

Yeah, I could see that.

On your pump/tank unit, have you looked into any of the mechanical CAFS units out there (no compressor on board, typically driven off an SCBA bottle)? Such a widget would make that 150gal go a whole lot further.

 

[Sparky_911]

Yeah our state surplus has a ton of CAFS but this skid was way cheaper and we have a limited budget. We can draft 19ft with this setup so refilling from creeks, ponds, is pretty easy. We use 5/8 garden hose with bullseye nozzles for on the truck fighting and 3/4 and 1.5 inch lines for bigger stuff.

 

[ffmorris38]

Great install. probably gonna go this way with ours. We need to find another roof for ours in the summer as we have the hard roof on the back we use as an ambulance in the winter for deep snow response.

 

[Sparky_911]

The apollos work great. Easy peasy to install. The brow lights are great for off roading/scene light. Finding a soft top for the turtleback style hmmwvs is quite a challenge. You might be better off running no top or have something canvas fabbed up.