Magnetic vs Bolt-On: Mounting Rock Lights Without Drilling
Every rock light we sell arrives ready to bolt on, the holes are in the housing and the nuts and bolts are in the box. But drilling a frame is permanent, and not every build wants that. Here is how the two mounting routes compare.
Bolt-on: permanent and proven
Bolting is the traditional route: pick the spot, drill, torque it down. Once it is on, it does not move, which is exactly what you want on a truck that sees trails, vibration and pressure washing. If the truck is a keeper and you know where you want light, bolt it.
Magnetic: no holes, fully adjustable
Our magnetic mounts hold a rock light to any steel surface with no drilling, and let you reposition until the spread is exactly right. That matters more than people expect: the difference between a good underglow and a great one is usually placement, not hardware, and magnets let you experiment before you commit.
The 90, 128 and 160 LED flush mounts go a step further, each has five magnets built into the housing, so they hold to a frame rail straight out of the box, and the bolt hardware is still included if you later want them permanent.
Which one for your build?
- Leased or short-term truck: magnetic. No holes to explain later.
- Still deciding on placement: magnetic first, bolt once you love the spread.
- Hard off-road use: bolt-on. A magnet holds well, but a bolt does not care about mud, impacts or a pressure washer up close.
- Flush-mount rock lights (90/128/160): either, out of the box.
One thing that does not change
Mounting method has no effect on the rock light itself: every rock light is rated IP68, fully submersible, not just splash resistant, and covered by our limited lifetime warranty when the installation instructions are followed and the warranty is registered.
Ready to lay out your underglow? Start with the rock lights - $10 flat rate shipping, free over $150. Check current lead times before you plan the install.