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Installing convoy light on M35A2

rfischba1

Member
419
1
16
Location
Fort Meade MD
Where can I find detailed instruction on installing a single convoy light on my M35a duce? Does the convoy kit come with everything needed, wires, switch...??
Where is the best place to purchase a complete light kit?
Thanks,
Randy
 

tklm539

New member
423
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0
Location
Bolton Landing NY
not sure where to get one. I got mine from acetomato (forum name). I do not think he has any full kits left.

My kit came with everything needed. Instructions were there as well. Not a real tough install. That said, make sure your ground is really solid. (ask me how I know)

Good luck finding a kit .
 

maddawg308

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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749
113
Location
Front Royal, VA
A complete light kit is for sale from TNJ Murray for about $200. This includes two lights, posts, etc. If you need only one, you can order the whole kit and sell off what you don't want, or build it yourself from parts. Saturn Surplus sells the lights for $39 each.
 

Mike_Pop

New member
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6
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Location
NJ
I've got some convoy light parts for sale, mostly just one pole, clamps, and the light base. The rest got sheared off by a vicious pine tree.
 

ida34

Well-known member
4,120
33
48
Location
Dexter, MI
I still have the wiring on my truck but the GIs took the lights and the poles. I also have the switch and I am going to wire my 12 converter into it.
 

CGarbee

Well-known member
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552
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Location
Raleigh, NC
Ordnance Unlimited still shows the complete kits on thier website, but they said yesterday that they are actually out of stock...
 

saddamsnightmare

Well-known member
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Location
Abilene, Texas
February 27th, 2007.

SATURN SURPLUS HAS THE LIGHTS AND POLE (3') complete for $49.50, but I suspect that the decuce needs like a 5' or 6' pole to mount properlyto the cab back wall, but you could cut the top plate off their pole and weld it to a new ne made up to get the right appearance.

Sincerely,

Kyle F. McGrogan
1963 Swiss Mercedes Benz S404114 Unimog
1971 Kaiser Jeep Wo/W "Saddam's Nightmare" Desert Storm and Vietnam Veteran Deuce (suffering from the cold this A.M.-Won't Start at 28*F!!!). rofl
 

CGarbee

Well-known member
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552
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Location
Raleigh, NC
I'd have to go outside and look at the kit mounted to my M35A2C to see how high the lights should be. There are actually a couple of standard pin locations for adjusting the altitude of the lights, one position for non-use "storage", another for when in use on a 2.5 ton truck and one for when in use on a 5 ton truck... Bassically, you have a larger diameter pipe that is clamped to the back of the cab using u-bolts with a smaller diameter pipe sliding inside it to adjust the height with the cables running inside the pipe sections...

When using one light, put it on the driver's side so you get increased visibility both with vehicles approaching from the front and rear and to minimize confusion with lights mounted on the shoulder (school zone signs or steep grade warnings that have a warning beacon on them for instance). Also, if you happen to have a gun ring mounted, putting the light on the driver's side keeps it away from the gunner...

A couple photos of the dual light kit used on the M35's (the "M35 convoy light kit) that I snagged off TnJ Murray's and Ordnance Unlimited's websites show that they have a lot of pieces to them, more than just a pole with a light...

The suggestion to fabricate a light from the pole mount setup that Saturn has available is a good one, especially if you can't source the full kit or don't need it to be "perfect" and/or only want one light. It also keeps you from having to source extra switches and wire if you got a big kit and used it to mount a single light on two trucks (or having spare parts to sell if you only installed a single light on a single truck).
 

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Armada

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Location
Buick City, MI
Here's a pic of the light kit mounted on my deuce. As for height, they are set below the lowest pin locating hole. The light platform attached to the inner pipe, rests right on top of the outer pipe. This puts it at the right location with a cargo cover on. I recently picked up another kit to mount on my 818.
 

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mangus580

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Location
Western NY
I actually moved my poles down from the stock location. I think the passenger side is maybe 1" above the fuel tank, if that. I did this, to keep them as low as possible in their lowest position, but it still allows to raise them above canvas height when needed. I like how they look when the rear canvas isnt on, and it keeps them much safer from tree branches.

Sorry about the poor pics... but its what I have handy....
 

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Uglyranger

In Memorial
In Memorial
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1
0
Location
Waverly Hall, Georgia
Airbornebandsman pulled into the Hooch yesterday with both lights working....I was impressed. He got the complete kit from TNJ Murray...lights, poles, wiring and switch. I asked him how long he had them. He looked at his watch and said, "about an hour". I was still impressed.
 

Gamagoat1

Active member
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44
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Location
Kiowa, Colorado
Here's a pic of the light kit mounted on my deuce. As for height, they are set below the lowest pin locating hole. The light platform attached to the inner pipe, rests right on top of the outer pipe. This puts it at the right location with a cargo cover on. I recently picked up another kit to mount on my 818.
How did you adjust for the canvas top, where it fits between the post and cab back?? That's a tight fit.
 
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nchittendon

Active member
544
28
28
Location
La Crosse, Wisconsin
How did you adjust for the canvas top, where it fits between the post and cab back?? That's a tight fit.
It is a tight fit. Mounted mine up a while ago, just getting around to hooking them up electrically.

13729177_10157338871660657_2207829566115299223_n.jpg20160527_131514.jpg

Removed my flame heater switch because I am removing the system entirely. Found a nice little hole for my light switch to go! Low and behold, it has a nice power wire right there too. I hope to get everything wired and hooked up tomorrow.
13669111_10157322034270657_8876452675310130029_n.jpg
 
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