A Quick couple questions about offroad lights

[Marty Moose]

I just purchased 3 of these HID lights from partsamerica.com for $119.99 each with free shiping.

I heard about them on a tread on the 80-Series Tech. https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/221129-i-love-these-new-lights.html Check out the night shots. Impressive!

I put them up againest a set of Hella 4000, which cost between $125.00 to $150.00 each and they kicked they're ASS.

They work great mounted on a roof rack with no glare to the driver and on the bumper. Using these aimed out a 100 yards or so and with your headlights on low puts out a lot of light coverage.


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[In2cruisers]

After living in two very different areas of the US (Washington state & SoCal/Mex) I have found this. You may want to run two different set-ups....depending on your terain.
1) in an open/ flat area (SoCal/Mex.) you need to pump out alot of light, the openess just suckes up the light with little to no return. So high and as powerfull and as many lights as your alt. can carry 100w-ers
2) in areas like mountains etc. with alot of vegetation, you want to run minimal lighting, the return from the trees, plants can be overwelming and sometimes blinding. I have found that low to the ground 55w bulbs work best here

Just my .02c

 

[Marty Moose]

The great thing about HID is they take alot less pour to run.

 

[Marty Moose]

That would be power not pour. Sorry

 

[PAFJ]

My next driving lights will be Light Forces. I like the option of having changeable lenses for different situations.

Lightforce Driving Lights Filter Lenses - TruckCustomizers.com

 

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Just picked up a pair of these HID's...and noticed that my set of PIAA "light locks" actually fit the mounting bolt. Inexpensive, secure, scary bright, and adds a fashionable accent to my ARB's brutishly svelte curves.

My Cruiser doesnt want to commit a fashion faux pas. Its already got me to deal with.

 

[SHERMAN FJ62]

Bigger the better

GET LIGHTS THAT MAKE PEOPLE THINK AN AIRPLANE IS TRYING TO LAND. You can never have to much lighting.

HELLA is the way to go. 2 Fog 2 driving.

I have some 65 watt lights on my 4 Runner and they work great from Hella

 

[OswaldtheBold]

I think that is the case yes. and driving lights are a more directed beam, but I don't know why a fog would cut through anything better at a low level unless as a previous post says, the refraction/reflection off the hood is counter productive.

The answer is the beam pattern. Good fog lights have a wide pattern, with a sharp cutoff on the top (and on the bottom). The result is a horizontal strip of light with very little vertical spread. (The idea is to minimize reflection off the wet road on the bottom and the fog droplets on the top). This works great if the light is mounted low and the beam is nearly parallel to the ground. If it is mounted high, the illuminated area is very limited. So, put the fogs on the bumper, as low as you can possibly mount them.

Driving lights have a much broader and taller beam pattern. Some manufacturers even make designated "cornering" lights, with an even wider horizontal spread. Driving lights on the roof have a value off-road, since they add depth to holes and gullies you're about to drive into. You might check into a specific "off-road" light like KC Daylighter (might have a more useful beam pattern designed for roof mounting, since most driving lights are intended for cars).

But the best overall choice is Cibie or IPF H4 headlamps with a wiring harness upgrade (Hella's are OK, but not as good a beam pattern). You get a flat-topped low beam the still works well in fog and snow, awesome light on high beams, and you can use them all the time.