Light bar functioning as a fog light? (1 Viewer)

[RandyDaytona]

Hey fellas,

Kind of a dumb question and I didn’t want to hi-Jack the other light threads…

I had the Toyota OEM fogs on my 2014 LC and they just weren’t doing it for me. So I had my local shop put in new LED bulbs and they were 100 times better.

However, when I recently had my ARB front bumper installed, the OEM lights no longer fit, so I had to use ARB’s alternative, which aren’t that great.

I also had about a 14’ lightbar installed on the bumper (on the flat portion in the center in front of the grille; not on top of the rail).

When I use the light bar, I tend to blind other drivers.

After all that long-winded backstory:

Can I simply “aim” my light bar lower and use it as a quasi-fog? Is it that simple, or is there some kind of calibration involved?

Thanks for your patience!

 

[bloc]

Generally you want your fog lights to be amber in color, which is better at reducing glare off the fog/snow in front of the vehicle. Also you’d want a sharp beam cutoff at the level of the light, in an attempt to keep the pattern low illuminating the road but preferably under the fog, again to reduce glare in front of the vehicle.

Your bar won’t have the correct pattern, even if you aim it down, but may be amber?

 

[linuxgod]

Short answer: No.

Technically you can wire it up, but DOT-approved fog lights have a sharp cutoff in order to ensure they don’t blind other drivers. Driving with the light bar on is illegal and can get you a ticket. A regular light bar sprays light everywhere and will blind incoming drivers. Don’t be that douchebag.

If you want good fog lights I highly recommend the ones by Rigid. They have SAE-stamped lights which are street legal with the correct cut off, but are also waaay brighter than the Toyota lights.

 

[gasman4u]

Short answer: No.

Technically you can wire it up, but DOT-approved fog lights have a sharp cutoff in order to ensure they don’t blind other drivers. Driving with the light bar on is illegal and can get you a ticket. A regular light bar sprays light everywhere and will blind incoming drivers. Don’t be that douchebag.

If you want good fog lights I highly recommend the ones by Rigid. They have SAE-stamped lights which are street legal with the correct cut off, but are also waaay brighter than the Toyota lights.

which Rigid fogs would fit? I can't see any for the LC on their website using the "shop by vehicle" tool. TIA.

 

[bloc]

which Rigid fogs would fit? I can't see any for the LC on their website using the "shop by vehicle" tool. TIA.

I just went through this. None bolt in directly, at least for 08-15 Landcruisers. 13-15 LX got lucky and has a smaller fog lamp housing which shares dimensions with some tacomas.

I got some Diode Dynamics fogs recently and plan to build adapter brackets to make them slot into the stock 2013 spots.. but that'll be a project for a couple months from now. They wouldn't be difficult.. some small strips of metal with two 90° bends in them. IIRC @CharlieS had a shop fab up some brackets to accomplish the same thing, if you want to do some digging for the pictures.

 

[CharlieS]

I just went through this. None bolt in directly, at least for 08-15 Landcruisers. 13-15 LX got lucky and has a smaller fog lamp housing which shares dimensions with some tacomas.

I got some Diode Dynamics fogs recently and plan to build adapter brackets to make them slot into the stock 2013 spots.. but that'll be a project for a couple months from now. They wouldn't be difficult.. some small strips of metal with two 90° bends in them. IIRC @CharlieS had a shop fab up some brackets to accomplish the same thing, if you want to do some digging for the pictures.

Yes, I did. I've posted pictures as you mentioned. I did some CAD (cardboard aided design) templates and brought them to a local metal shop and they built them out of stainless steel. They were expensive for what they were - it was all shop labor expense, and a tiny bit of materials. I sent the cardboard bracket templates to another 'mudder who was going to look into producing them. Guess that didn't work out.

 

[bloc]

Yes, I did. I've posted pictures as you mentioned. I did some CAD (cardboard aided design) templates and brought them to a local metal shop and they built them out of stainless steel. They were expensive for what they were - it was all shop labor expense, and a tiny bit of materials. I sent the cardboard bracket templates to another 'mudder who was going to look into producing them. Guess that didn't work out.

View attachment 3434371View attachment 3434372View attachment 3434373View attachment 3434374

Thanks for posting the details.

Did you strip the chrome before painting the surrounds? If so how?

 

[CharlieS]

No, just hit them with epoxy primer and Imron car paint after scuffing them with a 3M pad and degreasing.

 

[linuxgod]

None have an OEM fit. You’ll have to fab up a bracket or mounting method somehow. I would think some L brackets from Home Depot would do the trick but I don’t have a factory front bumper anymore so I can’t say exactly what would need to be done.

These are the lights though.

Rigid Industries - D-Series SAE Fog Light, Day Light Fog Light, Off Roading Fog Light for Automotive (Set of 2) https://a.co/d/7WzBw1v

which Rigid fogs would fit? I can't see any for the LC on their website using the "shop by vehicle" tool. TIA.

 

[customcruiser]

I have some Diode Dynamics Fog Lights for sale -- SS3 Pros

For Sale - Mooresville, NC -- Diode Dynamics Lights Forsale

Located in Mooresville, NC Ended up not using these -- each box has (2) lights, selling (8) lights total. IM for more pics. (2) Sets -- SS3 Pro Yellow Fog Round Kit (pair) (DD6150P) -- $225.00 Shipped box #1 -- $225.00 Shipped box #2...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[tbisaacs]

Please don’t be the guy who drives around with light bar on

 

[RandyDaytona]

Thanks for all the good info. I figured it was better to ask first and assumed that it probably wasn’t that simple. I’ve attached a photo below for reference.

Charlie - where are you in VT? I was born and raised in Montpelier. Odd to see other Vermonters. I tell people that there are so few of us outside of VT that when I die, it’s someone else’s turn to leave .

I also added some pics of the OEM lights that were removed that have the LED bulbs. They are crazy bright. If anyone wants them, let me know.

 

[NYC570]

If you can, get some STEDI led fogs to replace the ARB ones. If you get these, pick the fog pattern and not the boost pattern. Also pick the ones that fit your bumper (summit or Sahara).

 

[RandyDaytona]

A quick update and quasi-hijacking of my own thread: I just returned from another trip out west. Somewhere in WY I noticed that the passenger-side ARB turn signal light was out. It worked when the turn signal was in use, but was otherwise out.

Soon after, the OEM headlights - both high and low beams - started flickering. A little bit at first, but getting progressively worse. I was almost home when I got pulled over by a Minnesota trooper when my low beams completely died and - as he described it - my truck went into unplanned stealth mode as I was passing by. After sitting for 5 minutes and talking to the trooper, I left and the suddenly seemed to work fine….until they died again. I drove with the flickering high beams the last 60 miles.

All of the bulbs have been replaced within the last year. So I can’t help but suspect that the wiring of the ARB lights are the root of it, somehow.

Oh, and after further review, ARB’s fogs really do suck., in my opinion.

 

[Valgrind]

So I don't really want to do just fog bulbs, and because i have an 08, I don't think the pod lights would look good, even with two.

So I am thinking about getting some of these and making a custom bracket/ shroud to go around it, good thing they have a fog pattern. I will probably 3d print the shroud.

Stage Series 6" SAE Amber Light Bar (pair)

<div class="ddescr"> <div class="dcol1"> <div class="block1"> <h3>Features</h3> <ul> <li>Advanced TIR optics provide high efficiency and focus</li> <li>High-intensity automotive-type LEDs with amber color</li> <li>Available in Driving or SAE Fog/Wide beam patterns</li> <li>Slim 42mm housing for...

www.diodedynamics.com

 

[Cruisin911]

So I don't really want to do just fog bulbs, and because i have an 08, I don't think the pod lights would look good, even with two.

So I am thinking about getting some of these and making a custom bracket/ shroud to go around it, good thing they have a fog pattern. I will probably 3d print the shroud.

Stage Series 6" SAE Amber Light Bar (pair)

<div class="ddescr"> <div class="dcol1"> <div class="block1"> <h3>Features</h3> <ul> <li>Advanced TIR optics provide high efficiency and focus</li> <li>High-intensity automotive-type LEDs with amber color</li> <li>Available in Driving or SAE Fog/Wide beam patterns</li> <li>Slim 42mm housing for...

www.diodedynamics.com

Id be interested in what you come up with here. Ive got a 2011 and was thinking of putting in something like this for a fog light. Most mounting solutions that I have seen go with supports on the aluminum crash bar but mine is gone from a hidden winch install. Have 3D printer.... willing to help.

 

[Valgrind]

Id be interested in what you come up with here. Ive got a 2011 and was thinking of putting in something like this for a fog light. Most mounting solutions that I have seen go with supports on the aluminum crash bar but mine is gone from a hidden winch install. Have 3D printer.... willing to help.

Which hidden winch mount do you have? That is a great point because I was thinking about getting one as well.

 

[Cruisin911]

I run the trail tailor one. Been great so far.

 

[bloc]

In December I finally got around to the fog lamp project I teased above for 13-15 LC. Made out of 1/8" aluminum strap available at a hardware store. I did try to 3D scan these for printing out of plastic but had a lot of trouble getting a good scan.