How To: Rago Fab Ditch Light Bracket Install - 2nd Gen Xterra

This was one of those things where there was no video when I went to look for one, so I made one. Mostly sped up and not in depth at all - tried to keep it trimmed to only show what was needed.


Tools needed:
-10mm wrench
-10, 12, and 14mm sockets and ratchet
-Flathead screwdriver (for hood strut, it applicable)

Steps:
1. Open door and remove fender bolt with 10mm wrench
2. Under the hood, remove all fender bolts
3. Gently pull fender away to expose two bolts next to the hood supports
4. Remove those two bolts
5. Place ditch light bracket (push against black plastic at corner of windshield to align it with holes)
6. Place two new bolts and tighten down to barely snug
7. Once snug, gently align it into place (you can slide forward or backward) and tighten down the rest of the way
8. Slowly move hood up and down to check clearance
9. Make sure fender is aligned where it was, and replace the rest of the bolts
10. Repeat on other side

Up close of installed bracket:

So how’s it look all installed with the light? Looks like a pretty cool little mod.

Right on. I looking forward to hearing your reviews. What lights are you going with?

Added to the master list of how to’s.

XterraRising said:

So how’s it look all installed with the light? Looks like a pretty cool little mod.

Click to expand...

In my quest to be minimalist with the video, I didn’t even think I should show an “after.” I’ll see if I can edit the video after the fact to add it.

Xterrorista said:

Right on. I looking forward to hearing your reviews. What lights are you going with?

Click to expand...

I originally got Baja S2 Sport lights but the lights themselves are threaded instead of using a separate nut. In the case of one of my light pairs, the threading wasn’t quite right. More importantly though, the connector distance and thickness meant it would be pinched by the hood, and I didn’t like that their combo was spot and driving. I switched to Diode Dynamics C2 Pro lights, which have the connector directly on the light, use external hardware, and the combo is driving and flood.

ffxcores said:

In my quest to be minimalist with the video, I didn’t even think I should show an “after.” I’ll see if I can edit the video after the fact to add it.

Click to expand...

You could always just add a before and after picture to the OP.

ffxcores said:

In my quest to be minimalist with the video, I didn’t even think I should show an “after.” I’ll see if I can edit the video after the fact to add it.

View attachment 16838



I originally got Baja S2 Sport lights but the lights themselves are threaded instead of using a separate nut. In the case of one of my light pairs, the threading wasn’t quite right. More importantly though, the connector distance and thickness meant it would be pinched by the hood, and I didn’t like that their combo was spot and driving. I switched to Diode Dynamics C2 Pro lights, which have the connector directly on the light, use external hardware, and the combo is driving and flood.

Click to expand...

Ahh, I've been reading about that Baja saga of yours, I just must've had too much @CHUG style coffee or other medicinals when I wrote that.

How do ya like 'em?
How's the hood glare?
Can you reach out from driver and adjust the angle to scope the side road/ campsite, etc?

I've looked at these mounts before but assumed I could figure out/find a more affordable route.

Xterrorista said:

How do ya like 'em?
How's the hood glare?
Can you reach out from driver and adjust the angle to scope the side road/ campsite, etc?

I've looked at these mounts before but assumed I could figure out/find a more affordable route.

Click to expand...

Love them. Super sturdy and as far back as it gets I think.

Hood glare is very minimal, but I have them pointed out and down. Any glare is on the outside of the little ridge in the hood and not visible from the driver seat. It’s only visible in this pic because I had the phone up near the windshield:


In fact, the driver side light is not at all visible from my seat. The passenger side I can see half of it. This is a pic approximating what I can see when driving:


I also tried today to see if I can reach and I can, but I’d have to be stopped to do it. I’m not planning on adjusting mine though.

And if you’re looking for ultimate adjustability, there’s a guy that makes and sells these mirror ditch light mounts for Frontier and Xterra: https://imgur.com/gallery/upFrGa6

I’d be worried though that they’d just get caked with mud.

ffxcores said:

And if you’re looking for ultimate adjustability, there’s a guy that makes and sells these mirror ditch light mounts for Frontier and Xterra: https://imgur.com/gallery/upFrGa6

I’d be worried though that they’d just get caked with mud.

Click to expand...

Hmm, I kinda dig these even more. I've also talked with Unity about an adjustable "cop spot" in the drivers door pillar.. ..I might need both..