Fog Lights!

[PhantomMidget]

Hey Folks,

I'm currently in the market for some new fog lights for the FJ, and I'm hoping to source some knowledge off the valuable knowledge you all possess! I'm buying them to run offroad, but primarily on streets in addition to my very weak headlights (which are hopefully going to be replaced soon). I'm in a little bit of a time crunch, because I have to drive to Seattle a week from Saturday, and I'd very much like to be as safe as possible and have these lights.

As of right now, I'm thinking that I'm going to go with Rigid Industries 3"x3" amber cubes with a flood light pattern wired to my control panel so I can choose whether I want them running or not. My big question to all of you is would you stick with this choice, or go with something else? I'm leaning more towards an amber light because of possible visibility in the weather zone we live in, as well as vehicle laws in all of the surrounding states regarding aftermarket fog lights.

If any of you have some previous experience with either these lights, or another type that you think would be valuable, please let me know! I'm definitely trying to gather all of the info I can, whether it be from forums from 3 years ago, or from the awesome members of this club! If you have any input as well on the differences in everyday driving/traveling with amber or white lights, I'd love to hear it. Anything I can use to further my decision before spending even more money on my rig would be much appreciated!

Thanks!!!

 

[80 Sack]

Calling @NyNomad......

 

[NyNomad]

I'm guessing you have the oem front bumper.. what's your budget ( )? I don't know how much coverage those 3x3 Rigid's throw out. I use either the Hood light bar or the 2 on the Trailworx tubed winch bumper as my high beams. If I were to get the Rigid's I would have to get the grill insertss that those 3x3's fit right into. I also recommend the Switch Pro's Plug and play power system.

 

[PhantomMidget]

@NyNomad I'm actually running a bumper very similar to yours. It's the Trail Gear front bumper with that over the hood raised stinger. I'm considering mounting them quite low on the bumper, right about where the bottom of the winch mounting area sits. How do those lights, either on the hood or on the front bumper do in situations of lack of vision? Especially fog or heavy blizzarding situations?

Thanks for the response!

 

[Hack]

The Jack-O-Lantern Snorkel really looks good!!!! Might have to steal that idea.... Don't think you have to worry about seeing down the road/trail either.

 

[NyNomad]

I'm very familiar with the Trail Gears. It was high on my list at one point. Snow and rain is snow and rain. Any bright lights such as all of mine just reflect off the precipitation falling. Amber covers could help.

 

[PhantomMidget]

It's number one on this graphic, and I was planning on mounting them horizontally from the TG logos on each side of the winch partition.

I'm thinking as of now that an amber covered flood system should work fairly well.

 

[NyNomad]

The Jack-O-Lantern Snorkel really looks good!!!! Might have to steal that idea.... Don't think you have to worry about seeing down the road/trail either.

By all means! Go for it! I started a mini Pumpkin Snorkel Head cult following last year. Plastic Pumpkin is about $10 at home depot or get creative with something different. For Christmas some guy did a blue light bulb lol, I'm still looking for a snowman

 

[NyNomad]

I think you'll be fine. Lights aren't permanent, you can always replace them later. The other bumper renditions were ideas I had to customize the trail gears had I gone that route. At $500 it's the least expensive aftermarket bumper that's modifiable for less than everyone else.

 

[NyNomad]

Google search: Trail Gears bumper FJ Cruiser
You'll find a thread or two on the Blue room (fjcruiserforums.com)

 

[Hack]

By all means! Go for it! I'm still looking for a snowman

Oh, Yeah! The snowman would rock!

 

[NyNomad]

Baja Designs make good lights too

 

[3rdGenTRD]

I might chime in. I own a pair of the rigid flood duallys in amber along with a pair of spots in white. I have the floods wired to the key and to a switch so I can use them as a DRL light. They are very nice and bright and the amber is very nice but with a 29° pattern and the amber being a color that doesn't throw light super far you won't get a lot of distance out of them. But when in thick fog or heavy snow and all that where driving fast isnt a concern they are very nice as they cut down on glare very nicely. I have driving with my lights off and only the amber on at times so i can actually see. The thing with getting expensive lights from companies like rigid or bajadesigns, is that they are really good at making long range spot lights. The floods however are still very good quality and all that but the light output is going to BWW very close to those Chinese eBay ones just because of the beam pattern.

It's not lumens or the brightness that matters much, it's the beam pattern and angle. Example: I used to have a 13.5" and a 40.5" double row Chinese light bar that had a 30° spot and a 60° flood. Very good at lighting my surroundings up but I hardly had light .2 miles down the road. Now I have rigid spot duallys and a 30" single row rigid combo with a 10° spot and a 20° flood. With those two I technically have about half the lumens or brightness but I have light about a half mile out in a much more controlled beam pattern. So that's why if you want flood lights I would say cheaper lights could be used, but if you ever want distance the the better brands are a must. I would recommend the amber rigid because the beam and color is what they say it is. But you could get away with any brand with a flood beam in amber, it just won't be as quality. Hope this helps and ask if you have any questions or if something doesn't make sense. I am writing this on my phone as I am going to school so it might not all male sense hehe.

 

[PhantomMidget]

@3rdGenTRD
That is so awesome! Thank you so much for the input! I've been looking around a lot because, for the most part, because the aftermarket projector headlights the previous owner installed on the "Banana Unicorn" are weird and are aimed way too high. I've tried adjusting them down, but to no great avail. Now, since I can't find anyone to trade me their headlights, and I have no great light within the first 20 meters of my front end, I'm thinking of doing the floods mounted quite low just for some extra light, and some more amber on the front of the vehicle. From the experience you've had with yours, would it be worth it for a little added value like that?

Thanks again for the reply!

 

[3rdGenTRD]

@3rdGenTRD
That is so awesome! Thank you so much for the input! I've been looking around a lot because, for the most part, because the aftermarket projector headlights the previous owner installed on the "Banana Unicorn" are weird and are aimed way too high. I've tried adjusting them down, but to no great avail. Now, since I can't find anyone to trade me their headlights, and I have no great light within the first 20 meters of my front end, I'm thinking of doing the floods mounted quite low just for some extra light, and some more amber on the front of the vehicle. From the experience you've had with yours, would it be worth it for a little added value like that?

Thanks again for the reply!

I think that if you have the budget for the rigid ones first then I'd say go for it. The build quality is much better, the lens will actually stay clear, I have seen alot of cheapo ones hat have a yellow lens and fogging so the light output is decreased. So therefore if you feel good about spending the rigid cash do it. And it comes with a nice wiring harness.