One of our great customers from Abbotsford recently brought a 2018 Freightliner crane truck to Certified Autosound and Security for a safety lighting and audio system upgrade. We have recently worked on several of the client’s vehicles and he wanted us to give one of his company trucks an upgrade so that his employees would be safe while working and have some great tunes to enjoy while traveling between worksites.
Freightliner Audio System Upgrades
The client chose an impressive upgrade for the vehicle. We started by installing a Pioneer DEH-S5010BT single-DIN CD receiver in the dash and connecting it to a four-channel Rockford Fosgate Prime-Series R300-4 amp. The front channels of the amp power a set of Punch 5.25-inch coaxial speakers in the front of the truck and a Punch-Series P3 10-inch subwoofer that is mounted in a custom center console that our fabrication team created for the vehicle. The console includes cup holders and a place to store paperwork. We also installed an iPad mounting bracket with a charging port and a CB radio.
The guys put together a storage tray for the remote control for the crane arm that places it between the console and the transmission gear selector. As you’d expect from a modern commercial vehicle, the controller is wireless and allows the operators to move freely around the vehicle while loading or unloading.
Commercial Vehicle Safety Lighting Installation
The lighting upgrades started with a pair of Heise LED lightbars on the front bumper of the truck. Together, the lights are aimed to serve as auxiliary driving lights. Protective covers are provided for each of the lights to prevent damage from stones, gravel and sand.
We added a pair of Grote strobe beacons to the front fenders, and a second set to the sides of the crane platform to act as warning beacons for oncoming drivers or equipment operators. The strobe lights have a dedicated switch in the center console. We also added a pair of 17-inch Grote programmable LED Mini Light Bars to the top of the headache rack for additional coverage.
To light up the work area around the vehicle, we added four Grote LED work lights to the headache rack, with two lights facing forward and two pointing back. Each offers a floodlight pattern to make sure everything is illuminated. We also added a set of LED work lights to the crane boom. We used high-strength magnets so that the operators can fine-tune their output for whatever project they are working on.
The last step was to add strips of LED lighting to the inside of the toolboxes. We used compact pin switches so that the lights would turn on automatically when the doors are opened. We also added a 12V universal power outlet for a little extra convenience.
Dash Camera Video Recording System
To protect himself and his team from fraud and false accusations, we installed a Thinkware F770 dash camera system on the front windshield of the truck and added the optional F770R rear-facing camera to the back window. This camera system starts to record audio and video as soon as the truck is started. The system also stores vehicle location and speed.
Expert Installation Services
While mounting the lights correctly was the most visible part of this project, running and securing the wiring for nearly 20 lights took some time to execute safely. We concealed and protected the wiring as much as possible to ensure that everything would operate flawlessly and provide the operators with a safe environment.
Heavy-Duty Vehicle Accessory Experts
After we had spent a few days working on his truck, the owner returned to Certified Autosound and Security in Chilliwack to inspect the project. He was thrilled with the way everything was executed and decided that he’d bring two more identical trucks to us for the same upgrades.
If you are interested in adding safety lighting, camera systems or an audio upgrade to your commercial vehicle, we invite you to contact the mobile enhancement experts at any of our four convenient locations in the Lower Mainland. We have stores in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Langley to serve you. You can also reach us by e-mail using our online contact page to schedule a consultation or to receive more information about our products and services.
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