Calling all Off-Roaders! I'm trying to get a discussion here about off road lights. I used to have some 6" ones on my Wrangler and they were great, but times and Jeeps "are a changing". I started another thread about LED lights, and although they look awesome, they are way too freaking expensive. I ultimately would like to put a set of "X" amount of lights on top of my WK. I personally have some ideas, but wanted to poll the crowd, get some pictures and experiences with different types of lights, sizes and where there mounted. Anyone care to discuss? Thanks!!
I'll kick it off:
I was thinking about some type of light bar that can attach to our factory roof rails - maybe with 4 or 5 (6") lights on top. The wiring will be another issue. I'm trying to research HID vs regular bulb, size of light etc....my goal is to see almost all angles and FAR. Let the ideas and experiences flow...
I have this light bar. It was custom made by a member on here, I mounted three 7" HID lights on it, it was awesome. The bar needs to be repowdercoated then i'm gonna post it for sale on here, it mounts through the tow hook holes retaining the tow hooks.
I saw yours and they looked great! How do you like the light output - far? I'm thinking of something on the top, cuz i go through brush and I need my light to be up higher. About how much were those lights running?
Thanks man!!! I get good light. I you go to PIAAs website it'll show you the distance. They're between a fog and driving light. Both distance and width
It's brand new. They just came out with it a month or two ago. It doesn't come with any lights, so the $224 price tag isnt exactly cheap, but it IS the best looking light bar out there for the WK. And it being designed specifically for the WK makes it that much better. Plus Saguaro is awesome.
sorry I am off topic, but I have to ask...JLewis you say you go through brush alot which is why you need the lights up top and to see far. Your rig is so pristine! How do you do it, seriously. How do you go through trails full of branches and brush and not have a crap a$$ paint job?
Thanks and - Well, I would love to say I owe it to the countless hours detailing it, BUT i go through light brush - high grass mostly (fields). I actually havent had this Jeep in "those" kinds of woods yet. This one goes on more (cut)trails.....now my old TJ was a different story
I was looking around at lights and started gravitating towards Hella - specifically looking at the Ralleye 4000 and 4000i's(I did like this option as the ballast is self-contained). Does anyone have experience with these? I'm looking for a good/far pencil light that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.....somewhere around ~$100 a light. I think I would like a bigger light, to get more distance.......are there any considerations(difficulties) for wiring and/or ballasts? Not going with HID's to start....too much for now. Here's a vid with Hella comparisons.
I know LEDs are more expensive, but I'm sold on them. The rigid lights are much lower profile (around 2" tall) than 6" lights, and compared to halogen they are much more efficient, longer lasting, draw less current, more durable, etc. You can submerge Rigid's in fishtanks while lit and beat them with baseball bats-check out their youtube product dev videos. I can't compare the LEDs to HIDs in any other way than size because I haven't owned any HIDs before. I just know when I began shopping for aftermarket lights that I wasn't too excited about the look of a bunch of round lights that could have yellow smiley face covers running across my roof-(just my opinion).
Whichever direction you choose, I would recommend going with a quality product. Make sure you combine spots and floods to get good coverage. Throwing something like Hella 500's up there is just going to give you massive bright spots wherever you point them (I've owned several pairs of them on multiple vehicles. I currently have a pair behind the grill. They also won't last too long under hard use, such as getting smacked by tree branches. I like Acid's idea of the 7" trucklights getting slapped in a stock housing. If I had money to throw around I'd try it. Here are a few pics of my setup:
Nikates: have you wired those up yet? I dont think i've seen pics with light output from lights on top of the WK - i'd be curious to see some. What types are those?
Very cool! If you have ANY pics of them at night - I'd greatly appreciate it......like you need an excuse to go out and get some (time off-road, i mean...) pics
Just lurk all the jeep forums, eBay, and craigslist and they come up here and there. I bought my first one off craigslist and my new 30" off of jeepforum.com classified section. The 30" is even new in box that a guy bought but never installed. I might end up putting my 20" up for sale if I decide not to use both.