Re: am I being scammed? Tesla OEM lightbar from eBay

[dalton108]

I hope so, because honestly I’ll buy one right away.

I’m just going to say, once again, that this was initially touted as an FS/CB exclusive. People keep forgetting or ignoring that. I don’t know if Tesla wants to be in the business of selling light bars. They never said that they were going to be. And if this experience has done anything for them I’m sure it has made them reluctant to continue beyond the ones that were promised, which I will also remind everyone is about 3000 or so units (which is the best number anybody around here has come up with for the total number of FS/CB’s sold). Given how long it’s taken them to supply just that tiny number, I don’t think anybody should be expecting them to ramp up production, ever.

If you’re not buying one from eBay or someone you know to be selling their allocation, I would not just sit around and wait for them to become available from Tesla because, no one should expect that or has any reasonable basis to expect it. If I didn’t have it, I would be considering third-party options.

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[JCERRN]

The “Brand new” one i got from a seller on ebay has damage on the plastic housing and lens. I hesitate to install it knowing it is a Tesla Reject. That plus now that ive gotten my hands on it, it feels cheap and fragile. I would love to see how these hold up to 5-10 years of real world exposure. Im returning mine for a refund.

 

[ABILISK]

I’m just going to say, once again, that this was initially touted as an FS/CB exclusive. People keep forgetting or ignoring that. I don’t know if Tesla wants to be in the business of selling light bars. They never said that they were going to be. And if this experience has done anything for them I’m sure it has made them reluctant to continue beyond the ones that were promised, which I will also remind everyone is about 3000 or so units (which is the best number anybody around here has come up with for the total number of FS/CB’s sold). Given how long it’s taken them to supply just that tiny number, I don’t think anybody should be expecting them to ramp up production, ever.

If you’re not buying one from eBay or someone you know to be selling their allocation, I would not just sit around and wait for them to become available from Tesla because, no one should expect that or has any reasonable basis to expect it. If I didn’t have it, I would be considering third-party options.

I would totally agree… BUT! It’s still on the “Learn More” page as of tonight and it’s been featured in videos on their social media.

So who knows? Maybe they’re still figuring out how they want to go about it.

All that being said, you could still pre-order the range extender up until not too long ago lol.

Something I’ve been wondering, though: with the way the lightbar hooks up to the roof power feed, is there any way to run an OEM crossbar in that top position? I’m assuming not, unless they came up with some of their Tesla voodoo magic.

 

[JCERRN]

I would totally agree… BUT! It’s still on the “Learn More” page as of tonight and it’s been featured in videos on their social media.

So who knows? Maybe they’re still figuring out how they want to go about it.

All that being said, you could still pre-order the range extender up until not too long ago lol.

Something I’ve been wondering, though: with the way the lightbar hooks up to the roof power feed, is there any way to run an OEM crossbar in that top position? I’m assuming not, unless they came up with some of their Tesla voodoo magic.

Yes you can still mount the oem cross bar there, you just have to move the wire to the side. Theres plenty of space under the appliqué.

 

[ABILISK]

Yes you can still mount the oem cross bar there, you just have to move the wire to the side. Theres plenty of space under the appliqué.

The side being between the applique and the cantrail? Or wedged under the crossbar with the feed still coming through the door?

 

[JCERRN]

The side being between the applique and the cantrail? Or wedged under the crossbar with the feed still coming through the door?

Yes, you move the wire laterally. It can easily get pinched if put between the studs or over the mounting point so one must be careful of that, but theres lateral space to move the wire to

 

[ABILISK]

Yes, you move the wire laterally. It can easily get pinched if put between the studs or over the mounting point so one must be careful of that, but theres lateral space to move the wire to

Hmmm, I’d have to see it I guess because I can’t picture it. But good to know it can be done. If they ever release the lightbar to us NFS folks, that is. Otherwise it’s a moot point lol

 

[hemiarch]

Hmmm, I’d have to see it I guess because I can’t picture it. But good to know it can be done. If they ever release the lightbar to us NFS folks, that is. Otherwise it’s a moot point lol

When you open the little mount door on the passenger side, the cable is right there. You just have to shove it back under the appique to fully expose the space around the bolts.
Seriosuly ain’t no thang.

 

[ABILISK]

When you open the little mount door on the passenger side, the cable is right there. You just have to shove it back under the appique to fully expose the space around the bolts.
Seriosuly ain’t no thang.

Right. My concern was the fact that the crossbar covers the entire hole, so either the power feed or the cable from the lightbar would be mushed into the appliqué by the base of the crossbar.

 

[hemiarch]

Right. My concern was the fact that the crossbar covers the entire hole, so either the power feed or the cable from the lightbar would be mushed into the appliqué by the base of the crossbar.

I was able to get mine completely clear of the entire assembly mush free. I understand the theoretical concern, but in practice it really was not an issue.
The lightbar cable doesn’t come out of that hole. It comes out of the front of the appliqué by the windshield glass where it actually does get a little mushed unless you dremel a little groove for it. which I did.
Am I misunderstanding you?

 

[JCERRN]

Right. My concern was the fact that the crossbar covers the entire hole, so either the power feed or the cable from the lightbar would be mushed into the appliqué by the base of the crossbar.

The base of the cross bar sits on top of the appliqué, the only thing that goes through the hole is a small hook like apparatus. The oem cross bars come with mounts that you bolt onto the studs, making the cross bars easy to remove. The instructions for the crossbars tell the installer to tuck the accessory wire toward the outside of the truck under the appliqué so it is out of the way. It does not interfere with the cross bar even when looped and taped up as it comes from the factory. When you install the lightbar, as @hemiarch said, the wire gets straightened out and pulled out from under the front of the appliqué . Great advice on dremeling it out a bit btw.

 

[ABILISK]

Ahhh. Thanks @hemiarch and @JCERRN that was the missing piece of the puzzle. I thought a cable ran from the lightbar through the appliqué door, hence my dilemma with mounting a crossbar there. Didn’t realize the feed could be pulled out the front.

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