An "Enlightening" Idea for your Bronco!

By Todd Zuercher

We all like multipurpose items for our Broncos, right? Well, how about an interior light that can double as a light to be used anywhere on the vehicle and even used as a light to set up camp if needed? Like many of you, I had a nice interior light in my Bronco for many years. It turned on when I wanted to and it was adequately bright. Unfortunately, if I wanted to work on something in the engine compartment or look at something on the undercarriage, I had to dig out a flashlight or use some other method of illumination

A few years ago Mike McCarthy and I were looking at his '94 Chevy pickup and he showed me a neat underhood light that came on the truck. The light was a small handheld unit with an integral reel and cord assembly that allowed the light to be detached from from its base and be used anywhere within a 12-14' radius. Mike and I both bought them with the intent of mounting them under the hoods of our Broncos for nighttime trail repairs and other after-dark tasks.

About a year ago I was looking at one of Ivan Stewart's ProTrucks and got a great idea. Stewart had mounted the exact same light as an interior light in the ProTruck. The light went on! I could kill two birds with one stone-as both an interior light and a light to be used elsewhere around the truck. I mounted mine on an existing aluminum panel which resides between the two overhead crossbars on my rollcage. The light assembly is small and unobtrusive. It mounted such that it functions great as an interior light but doesn't threaten to bonk your head when you're thrashing around in the rough stuff

I don't have a part number for the light anymore, but you can buy them at your local Chevy dealer for about $25. There's an optional wiring harness that goes with it or you can wire it yourself. The lights were optional on Chevy trucks from the early '90s on. The photos show the light mounted in my truck and how far it extends away from the vehicle at the limit of its travel.

Feel free to email with any further questions. toddz69@juno.com