Light Bar VS Headlight Kit (1 Viewer)

[LINUS]

I've done the full range from relays on HID's in Depos > Slee relay harness & Osram Sliverstone bulbs (not generic Sylvanias) > stock.

I've had only conventional H3's & projector H1's in a common housing (PIAA xt90) for added lights, but have a 22" Heise LED bar waiting on me in the shop.

Depending on your budget, and where/how you use your lights I'll toss 2 options:

1. Full Monte it on a set of Depos, HID retrofits & harness - stop there it's ballpark $600 IIRC (been awhile). I'd do this if you pretty much drive city & don't care about a crazy output of light like you might want on dim trails, etc. Also, nothing to get stolen/vandalized if you're a urban dweller.

2. Slee relay harness & HIR's or equiv bulb, add a specific to your needs type LED bar or pair of lights in favored pattern, but expect to either get flashed onroad or just use for trail (the LED).

Harness/bulb is ~$150, so about $450 of this left to make a even $$$ investment in lighting - I got my 22" Heise on a BestBuy screwup for $65 shipped off ebay, normally a $300 bar (commonly $200 shipped on ebay).

Or if you have the wallet, go both option 1 & a extra set/bar.
Personally the only Rigid I'll pay for is the new ones - Evolve? I forget. Aside from that, tons of other manufacturers are quality for le$$.
I like Heise - saw them in person, went to their site, then waited for a deal - I'm going to add one on the boat, they are built well enough for marine use.

 

[travcaldwell]

I've done the full range from relays on HID's in Depos > Slee relay harness & Osram Sliverstone bulbs (not generic Sylvanias) > stock.

I've had only conventional H3's & projector H1's in a common housing (PIAA xt90) for added lights, but have a 22" Heise LED bar waiting on me in the shop.

Depending on your budget, and where/how you use your lights I'll toss 2 options:

1. Full Monte it on a set of Depos, HID retrofits & harness - stop there it's ballpark $600 IIRC (been awhile). I'd do this if you pretty much drive city & don't care about a crazy output of light like you might want on dim trails, etc. Also, nothing to get stolen/vandalized if you're a urban dweller.

2. Slee relay harness & HIR's or equiv bulb, add a specific to your needs type LED bar or pair of lights in favored pattern, but expect to either get flashed onroad or just use for trail (the LED).

Harness/bulb is ~$150, so about $450 of this left to make a even $$$ investment in lighting - I got my 22" Heise on a BestBuy screwup for $65 shipped off ebay, normally a $300 bar (commonly $200 shipped on ebay).

Or if you have the wallet, go both option 1 & a extra set/bar.
Personally the only Rigid I'll pay for is the new ones - Evolve? I forget. Aside from that, tons of other manufacturers are quality for le$$.
I like Heise - saw them in person, went to their site, then waited for a deal - I'm going to add one on the boat, they are built well enough for marine use.

Thanks for this. I'm starting to feel like new Slee Light Harnesses and the Depos are the way to go now, and then I can add on a light bar as I see fit. I have limited trail use, but a lot of driving at night in Montana, so looking for better road visibility to start.

 

[RFB]

I've done the full range from relays on HID's in Depos > Slee relay harness & Osram Sliverstone bulbs (not generic Sylvanias) > stock.

I've had only conventional H3's & projector H1's in a common housing (PIAA xt90) for added lights, but have a 22" Heise LED bar waiting on me in the shop.

Depending on your budget, and where/how you use your lights I'll toss 2 options:

1. Full Monte it on a set of Depos, HID retrofits & harness - stop there it's ballpark $600 IIRC (been awhile). I'd do this if you pretty much drive city & don't care about a crazy output of light like you might want on dim trails, etc. Also, nothing to get stolen/vandalized if you're a urban dweller.

2. Slee relay harness & HIR's or equiv bulb, add a specific to your needs type LED bar or pair of lights in favored pattern, but expect to either get flashed onroad or just use for trail (the LED).

Harness/bulb is ~$150, so about $450 of this left to make a even $$$ investment in lighting - I got my 22" Heise on a BestBuy screwup for $65 shipped off ebay, normally a $300 bar (commonly $200 shipped on ebay).

Or if you have the wallet, go both option 1 & a extra set/bar.
Personally the only Rigid I'll pay for is the new ones - Evolve? I forget. Aside from that, tons of other manufacturers are quality for le$$.
I like Heise - saw them in person, went to their site, then waited for a deal - I'm going to add one on the boat, they are built well enough for marine use.

Any idea where Hiese lights are made? becuase Ive scored a few set of rigids but the price is out of hand JMO

 

[LINUS]

Any idea where Hiese lights are made? becuase Ive scored a few set of rigids but the price is out of hand JMO

I 2x-ed & no surprise, China.

I only know of them as they are the "2nd best" level of LED's that my buddy's stereo shop/all things 12v sell. They have carry 1 level even lower, but I liked the Heise bar for mounting options.

They are for the guys who see the Rigid price & chuckle. Like me.
Built well, the bar has a real extruded AL tub capped each end & quality lense gaskets / fit & finish is real good. The ones they sold have never had an issue according to the bro.

I'd call it fair for $200 shipped/ebay prices - they have a warranty, I forget the lawyerese of it, but it was OK.

 

[RFB]

I 2x-ed & no surprise, China.

I only know of them as they are the "2nd best" level of LED's that my buddy's stereo shop/all things 12v sell. They have carry 1 level even lower, but I liked the Heise bar for mounting options.

They are for the guys who see the Rigid price & chuckle. Like me.
Built well, the bar has a real extruded AL tub capped each end & quality lense gaskets / fit & finish is real good. The ones they sold have never had an issue according to the bro.

I'd call it fair for $200 shipped/ebay prices - they have a warranty, I forget the lawyerese of it, but it was OK.

Yea I scored a couple few sets of Rigids, but no way In hell Im paying 1500 or more for a 50 in light bar Im going to smash anyway

 

[LINUS]

Yea I scored a couple few sets of Rigids, but no way In hell Im paying 1500 or more for a 50 in light bar Im going to smash anyway

Me either. Only Rigid I ***may*** buy is a 30" Adapt for the Tundra (my poser/'bro' truck) - for a 50" bar, check out Heise then - the extrude "gutter" is as quality as say Alpine or Eclipse amp cases, and for $400-500 on ebay I call it a fair deal.

I've never seen one of the type that uses a cast housing, no idea the quality of those.

Best Buy vendors Heise too, so check if a local store has them & check out the build quality. They sell overstock on ebay, mine was norm ~$150 their price there, but they must have typo'ed a auction, I paid $65 for my 22".

They include all the wire, a fuse enclosure/fuse, & switch - same ones as Rigid. So price you pay will get you a working light - I bought a cheap $50/ 2" sq pair that had none of that. HTH.

 

[BILT4ME]

Me either. Only Rigid I ***may*** buy is a 30" Adapt for the Tundra (my poser/'bro' truck) - for a 50" bar, check out Heise then - the extrude "gutter" is as quality as say Alpine or Eclipse amp cases, and for $400-500 on ebay I call it a fair deal.

I've never seen one of the type that uses a cast housing, no idea the quality of those.

Best Buy vendors Heise too, so check if a local store has them & check out the build quality. They sell overstock on ebay, mine was norm ~$150 their price there, but they must have typo'ed a auction, I paid $65 for my 22".

They include all the wire, a fuse enclosure/fuse, & switch - same ones as Rigid. So price you pay will get you a working light - I bought a cheap $50/ 2" sq pair that had none of that. HTH.

The (4) 100 watt halogens I have on the front of my LC were $15 each. I spent more on relays, wire, switches, and a fuse block than I did the lights. Round lights work well and you can aim them where you need. I have (2) set for straight ahead to assist in front of me and so I can drive on the interstate with them on. The other (2) are pointing out to each side as ditch lights to watch for deer.

I also run the Sylvania ULTRA's in both the high and low beams in order to get the most light output possible. The downside is that they typically only last about a year, and I drive with my lights on ALL the time.

I need a lot of light for driving (too many eye surgeries) and these work very well. Unfortunately, the 100W lights draw a huge amount of juice at idle and the old alternator couldn't keep up and I had to replace it. I did not upgrade it yet, just replaced. With all 4 lights on, that's 34 amps draw continuous. That's the advantage of the LED light bars.

 

[ThomasMore66]

The (4) 100 watt halogens I have on the front of my LC were $15 each. I spent more on relays, wire, switches, and a fuse block than I did the lights. Round lights work well and you can aim them where you need. I have (2) set for straight ahead to assist in front of me and so I can drive on the interstate with them on. The other (2) are pointing out to each side as ditch lights to watch for deer.

I also run the Sylvania ULTRA's in both the high and low beams in order to get the most light output possible. The downside is that they typically only last about a year, and I drive with my lights on ALL the time.

I need a lot of light for driving (too many eye surgeries) and these work very well. Unfortunately, the 100W lights draw a huge amount of juice at idle and the old alternator couldn't keep up and I had to replace it. I did not upgrade it yet, just replaced. With all 4 lights on, that's 34 amps draw continuous. That's the advantage of the LED light bars.

I have LED light bars on my Tacoma and 80. You hit the switch and there is no change in idle. I think they're amazing.

 

[travcaldwell]

I've done the full range from relays on HID's in Depos > Slee relay harness & Osram Sliverstone bulbs (not generic Sylvanias) > stock.

I've had only conventional H3's & projector H1's in a common housing (PIAA xt90) for added lights, but have a 22" Heise LED bar waiting on me in the shop.

Depending on your budget, and where/how you use your lights I'll toss 2 options:

1. Full Monte it on a set of Depos, HID retrofits & harness - stop there it's ballpark $600 IIRC (been awhile). I'd do this if you pretty much drive city & don't care about a crazy output of light like you might want on dim trails, etc. Also, nothing to get stolen/vandalized if you're a urban dweller.

2. Slee relay harness & HIR's or equiv bulb, add a specific to your needs type LED bar or pair of lights in favored pattern, but expect to either get flashed onroad or just use for trail (the LED).

Harness/bulb is ~$150, so about $450 of this left to make a even $$$ investment in lighting - I got my 22" Heise on a BestBuy screwup for $65 shipped off ebay, normally a $300 bar (commonly $200 shipped on ebay).

Or if you have the wallet, go both option 1 & a extra set/bar.
Personally the only Rigid I'll pay for is the new ones - Evolve? I forget. Aside from that, tons of other manufacturers are quality for le$$.
I like Heise - saw them in person, went to their site, then waited for a deal - I'm going to add one on the boat, they are built well enough for marine use.

I just ordered the harness from Slee, and have H4 bulbs but need to figure out what HID retrofits I need to run them. Do you know?

 

[wemahfouz]

depos with a hid retrofit and offroad lights for highbeams

 

[cody c]

I have the halo (ricer) black projector headlights, they are a big enough improvement over the stock lights to not feel the need for a lightbar, but when I built my roof rack I added a 40" LED bar as well, they are very bright, in hindsight I should have gotten only spot, not the beam/spot combo as I get a little bit of light on my hood, but they brighten things up to a whole new level. I'd post a picture of it but I just have crappy cell pics and can't be motivated to upload at the moment.

 

[nigelsiam]

Have you looked to get 9011 in both low and high beams? Just a small cutting to bulb plastic to make them fit. I hear this is a cheap, nice upgrade.

 

[Dragos80]

That's how I started. With 9011 in both low and high beams.

Gave up after a while and got Depos.
OEM was just not good enough for me.

 

[LINUS]

I just ordered the harness from Slee, and have H4 bulbs but need to figure out what HID retrofits I need to run them. Do you know?

I don't - there was a prior member here who did the whole shebang - he sold turnkey Depos with HiD projectors installed for a slight surcharge.

I want to say he was using an Acura projector & getting them from a site that was either planetHID or HIDplanet - been a few yrs so I've totally forgotten the details.

I want to say there's a walk through thread here somewhere - a step by step tutorial for installing a particular projector, and there's a few other threads from when this was the 'mod of the month' with guys showing their finished products.

Sorry, best I recall there.

 

[ThomasMore66]

Rigid FTMFW! You can't go wrong.

 

[thedoughboy]

If you get the Slee Harness another option is to follow this: DEPO Lights with a Slee Harness

Get some cheap Hella halogens and enjoy the light. IF you take advantage of the dual filament H4 bulb combined with the H1 the light is more than adequate.

 

[Kaninja]

As for LED Light Bars or cubes, have a look at Black Oak. Assembled in the U.S. I just installed my 20" with 5 watt Osram LED's. IP69 rated, all mounting hardware is Stainless, has pressure equalization valve, includes relay, wiring, proper fuses, and switchgear. Lifetime warranty. As far as I can tell they are a family run business out of Florida and Veteran operated. They also offer Veteran discounts.

As for headlights, I still need to do the Slee wiring upgrade.

 

[thzpcs]

ProjectLM also makes some nice cheap lightbars, I've had good experience with them.