Chili
New member
With this project, I was attempting to solve a number of problems. I thought some other JK owners might get some ideas from this, so I’m posting it here. Here’s what I was faced with:
A) I needed space to put “stuff”.
B) I needed to do something about the rat’s nest of wires (from added accessories) leading to my battery. Anyone with a JK probably knows that you can’t just tap into any existing circuits thanks to the can-bus electrical system.
C) I needed a place to mount a bunch of switches.
D) I still had one set of halogen off-road lights, and wanted to go all LED.
E) I needed a decent place for a CB.
This was my previous solution. It was a homemade overhead console that was also home to a switch pack and made a great place for a cb:
There were three problems with this setup:
A) It was fugly.
B) I needed to put switches where I could actually see them. With this setup, I had to turn and crane my neck to see the switches. I needed the switches to be towards the front where I could see them easily.
C) This setup did not have any storage.
So the first step was to order the Smittybilt GEAR Overhead Console. It provides storage, as well as a sturdy platform to mount a custom switch box. This thing is made of 3/16 thick steel. It comes with a bunch of MOLLE gear that allows me to clear out much of the crap that was in my center console. I added my own MOLLE holster.
Next I ordered switches and a switch mount from http://www.otrattw.com. These guys know switches. I had two already, and ordered 4 more of the Contura V Laser Etched variety. I love these switches, and now that I have seen them in person I will order more to replace the 2 Contura switches I already had. Next I had to build a box, which I did from some flat stock and 16 gauge sheet. It’s as ugly as the first overhead console I made, but it turned out to be an effective solution:
A) I needed space to put “stuff”.
B) I needed to do something about the rat’s nest of wires (from added accessories) leading to my battery. Anyone with a JK probably knows that you can’t just tap into any existing circuits thanks to the can-bus electrical system.
C) I needed a place to mount a bunch of switches.
D) I still had one set of halogen off-road lights, and wanted to go all LED.
E) I needed a decent place for a CB.
This was my previous solution. It was a homemade overhead console that was also home to a switch pack and made a great place for a cb:
There were three problems with this setup:
A) It was fugly.
B) I needed to put switches where I could actually see them. With this setup, I had to turn and crane my neck to see the switches. I needed the switches to be towards the front where I could see them easily.
C) This setup did not have any storage.
So the first step was to order the Smittybilt GEAR Overhead Console. It provides storage, as well as a sturdy platform to mount a custom switch box. This thing is made of 3/16 thick steel. It comes with a bunch of MOLLE gear that allows me to clear out much of the crap that was in my center console. I added my own MOLLE holster.
Next I ordered switches and a switch mount from http://www.otrattw.com. These guys know switches. I had two already, and ordered 4 more of the Contura V Laser Etched variety. I love these switches, and now that I have seen them in person I will order more to replace the 2 Contura switches I already had. Next I had to build a box, which I did from some flat stock and 16 gauge sheet. It’s as ugly as the first overhead console I made, but it turned out to be an effective solution:
