How Mounting Brackets Are Used

Mounting brackets are essential to mounting your lights, sirens, and vehicle controllers appropriately in your car or truck. Proper installation and layout of your lights are important when outfitting your vehicle. We offer a range of options, so no matter your installation type, one of our brackets will work for you.

Controllers are the central command point for your emergency vehicle lighting setup. These controllers let you control how the lights flash, the flash patterns, the siren, and any other technology used at the same time. Our control boxes include built-in mounting plates or holes for mounting, so you can use these mounting brackets to build the right setup and control everything from one central location.

As you're searching for the right LED warning lights for your vehicle, you'll find that we offer a wide variety of mounting brackets to choose from. Mounting brackets can be used for permanent installation or for temporary mounting, depending on the vehicle light bar mounting application. Feel free to contact us if you need any help choosing the appropriate light bar mounts for your vehicle.

Light Bar Mounting Bracket Types

Our LED light bar brackets are categorized based on where the light mounts and how permanent the installation needs to be.

• Suction cup brackets: 90-degree and 360-degree suction mounts with L brackets, sold individually or in 2- and 3-packs. These hold a dash or stick bar against the glass with no drilling and no adhesive.
• Headliner brackets: Static and adjustable versions that mount a stick bar to the headliner above the windshield.
• Headrest brackets: Mount a rear-facing light to the headrest posts, giving rear warning output through the back glass without drilling the parcel shelf.
• Static brackets: Single, dual horizontal, and dual vertical strobe light mounting brackets for surface-mount heads, plus a hood mount version for fitting along the hood edge.
• License plate bracket: Positions surface-mount heads above or below the plate, which is the standard rear position on an unmarked vehicle.
• Windshield visors: Glare shields for 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-head stick bars that stop the flash reflecting back into the cabin at night.

Static brackets are universal hardware rather than vehicle-specific, so they bolt anywhere you can place a fixing: a push bar, a headache rack on a tow truck or utility bed, a bumper face, or a flat panel.

Headliner Brackets: Static vs. Adjustable

Headliner brackets mount a stick bar to the roof lining above the windshield, which keeps the dash clear and raises the output higher in the driver's field of view. Both versions are sold individually and in 2- and 3-packs.

• Static headliner bracket: Holds the bar at a fixed angle. This is the simpler and lower-cost option, and the right choice for a vehicle with a shallow windshield rake.
• Adjustable headliner bracket: Lets you set the angle after the bracket is fitted. This design is ideal for a steeply raked windshield, where a fixed angle can aim output too high or leave part of the beam blocked by the headliner.

Mount the bar far enough back from the glass that the flash does not catch the windshield, or pair it with a windshield visor.

Universal vs. Vehicle-Specific Light Bar Brackets

We offer two types of brackets for a visor light bar:

• Universal light bar brackets: A single bracket set for platforms outside the vehicle-specific list, with built-in adjustment to suit a range of windshield shapes.
• Vehicle-specific brackets: Raptor brackets cut for one windshield and A-pillar shape, so the bar sits flush against the glass with no gap and no flex.

Vehicle-specific coverage includes:

• Ford: F-150 (2015+), Super Duty (2017+), Explorer (2011-2019 and 2020+), Expedition (2018+), and Taurus (2011+).
• GM: Chevy Tahoe and Silverado, plus GMC Sierra and Yukon, each in 2007-2014 and 2015+ fitments.
• Dodge: Charger (2011+), Durango (2015+), Ram (2012-2018), Ram 1500 (2019+), and Ram 2500 and up (2019+).

Several GM platforms share one bracket within a generation, since the windshield geometry is common across the Tahoe, Silverado, Sierra, and Yukon.

Drill-Free Roof Mounting

ACARI roof mounts attach through the vehicle's third brake light opening using a clamp-and-gasket system, so the roof stays sealed because there is no need for drilling. Wiring routes through the same opening, which means the headliner does not need to come out.

• No roof drilling: The mount comes off, and the vehicle returns to stock condition, which matters on a leased vehicle or one headed for resale.
• Steel and aluminum versions: Steel models suit newer trucks with aluminum bodies, where magnetic mounting is not an option.
• Platform sizes: 22, 28, and 34-inch platforms provide a flat mounting surface for a mini light bar, beacon, traffic advisor, or antenna.

Browse ACARI drill-free roof mounts for current vehicle fitments.

Permanent vs. Temporary Mounting

• Permanent: Static brackets, headliner brackets, and vehicle-specific visor brackets bolt to the vehicle and stay there. These are the right choice for a marked unit or any vehicle in continuous service.
• Temporary: Suction cup brackets and headrest brackets install and remove in seconds with no tools needed. These are ideal for unmarked vehicles, shared pool cars, volunteer responders in personal vehicles, and anyone who needs the light gone at the end of a shift.

Suction cups can lose grip over time and in cold weather, so if temporary mounts are carrying your primary warning light, always check them before each shift. Additional rubber suction cups are stocked separately as a replacement part.

Finishing Parts and Accessories

• Surface mount flanges: Black and silver trim flanges that finish the edge of a Flare surface-mount head where it meets the body panel.
• End caps: Replacement caps for stick bar ends, which protect the housing and keep the bar sealed.
• Windshield extenders: Spacers for Raptor and Raptor-X visor bars that give the bar more clearance to fill from the glass.

Shop In-Stock Mounting Brackets

SpeedTech Lights is a US emergency vehicle lighting manufacturer in Buda, Texas. For over 21 years, we have supplied police, fire, EMS, tow, and municipal fleets with warning light bars, sirens, and LED light mounting brackets to fit them. Every product carries a 5-year warranty, and government purchase orders are accepted.

🛒 Shop Mounting Brackets at SpeedTech Lights

SpeedTech Lights carries a full range of mounting hardware for emergency vehicle lights: suction cup brackets, static and adjustable headliner brackets, headrest brackets, static and hood mounts, license plate brackets, windshield visors, universal and vehicle-specific visor bar brackets, and drill-free roof mounts. All products are stocked in-house for 1-2 day processing. BBB A+ Rated. Free shipping on orders $100+. Government purchase orders accepted.

Call (800) 757-2581  |  Mon-Fri, 9:00am-4:00pm CST  |  [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions About Mounting Brackets

Which light bar mounting bracket do I need?

The bracket you need depends on three things: the light you are mounting, where it goes on the vehicle, and whether the installation is permanent. Stick bars and dash bars can be mounted with suction cups, headliner brackets, or windshield visors. Surface-mount and strobe heads use static brackets, hood mounts, or the license plate bracket. Visor light bars use universal or vehicle-specific Raptor brackets.

Can I mount a light bar without drilling into the roof?

Yes, several options are available to mount a light without drilling. ACARI roof mounts clamp through the third brake light opening, suction cup brackets hold stick bars against the glass, and headrest brackets mount rear-facing lights to the headrest posts. Each type is removable without leaving a mark on the vehicle.

What is the difference between static and adjustable headliner brackets?

Static headliner brackets hold the bar at a fixed angle, while adjustable versions let you set the angle after the bracket is fitted. The adjustable bracket is worth the extra cost on a steeply raked windshield, where a fixed angle can aim the output too high or leave part of the beam blocked by the headliner.

Do universal light bar brackets fit any vehicle?

Universal light bar brackets fit a wide range of platforms, but there are a few exceptions. They carry built-in adjustment to suit different windshield shapes, which makes them a good option when your vehicle isn’t on the vehicle-specific list. For platforms that are listed, a vehicle-specific bracket gives a closer fit with no gap at the glass.

Can I mount emergency lights to a push bar or headache rack?

Yes. Static brackets are universal hardware rather than vehicle-specific, so they can be fitted to a push bar, a headache rack, a bumper face, or any flat panel where you can place a fixing. Single, dual horizontal, and dual vertical versions cover most surface-mount head layouts.

Do mounting brackets come with the light?

Some lights include a bracket, and some do not, depending on the product. Mini light bars generally ship with magnet mounts, while stick bars, surface mounts, and visor bars usually need a bracket matched to the mounting position you choose. Check the product description before ordering so you don't end up waiting on hardware.