mounting lights on windshield frame (1 Viewer)

[BrianSanDiego]

Hi Guys,
I picked up some confer light mounting brackets from Mark. I'm not sure if I should mount them at the top of the windshield or down low at the hinge. I think up high would give better lighting by shining down into dips on the trail, and also give better clearance when the windshield is folded down.

But I think mounting them down by the hinge looks better, and I'm concerned about glare off the hood.

So any of you guys with lights have a suggestion?

Thanks,
B.

 

[Poser]

Had them on for a couple years back in the 80’s, and hated them.

Removed them, and will not ever put lights on a windshield frame again.

 

[D'Animal]

Where ever you put them on your windshiled frame, you can never wax your hood again.




Glare

 

[TLCHopII]

THere's nothing wrong with a little patina!
If you do put it on the windshield frame, do not install a backer plate. That way when you lay it over or "post it" against a rock or tree the light bracket will pull out rather than bend the frame and possibly damage the glass

 

[fieldsken1]

i say mount them everywhere

 

[Weedhopper]

Mine are mounted near the top. There is no glare on the hood, but stray light illuminates the hood, but not uncomfortably so. I have pencil beams and I bet floodlights would cause more glare.

I can jusssssst put the windshield flat down on the hood but I wouldn't want to leave it that way during a rough ride.

 

[slickrock]

I made my own brackets and when I use the lights, they are at a 45* angle so I can see to the sides. I do not like them lighing up the hood when they are straight.

 

[Godwin]

i say mount them everywhere

I've found that lights need to be mounted below the hoodline otherwise you get a nasty, irritating halo effect around the visible outer portion of the light. Cutting out the center of the plastic light cover and converting it to a hood will eliminate the halo.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Thats great information dudes!
Thanks much.

I was thinking the higher the better when mounting them, but from the feedback maybe I will try to make a spot for them up front on the bumper.


'preciate it

B.

 

[mr_manny]

zero issues w/wide up high, and spots on the bumper.
Don't know if the earlier hoods provide for additional clearance?

 

[D'Animal]

A few things to think about.

Thats great information dudes!
Thanks much.

I was thinking the higher the better when mounting them, but from the feedback maybe I will try to make a spot for them up front on the bumper.


'preciate it

B.

Are these lights going to be for show or for practical use?


If you do a lot of desert racing type stuff at night time, mount them high. This is also the case if you do alot of stuff like setting up camp in the dark.

If you do trails at night time, the higher you have them, the less you will see the trail. This is really a concern when going up hill. I have spotted for many rigs on trails, such as the Rubicon, at night. The high mounted lights do not allow you to see the 15' in front of the rig. They also blind the spotter.

I use headlights for the trail stuff and have a few trail lights mounted under my rig for the trails. The one I use the most is the 25 watt one mounted under my bib. The spotter cannot even see the light bulb so there is no glare, just the light coming from under the rig.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Thats good info D, thanks.

I do mostly faster stuff in the desert dunes, washes and trails. So I think up high would probably be best. My silverstar headlights do a pretty go job of lighting up close. No sure if my KC lights will clear the hood though when the windshield is folded down. We'll see...

Thanks a bunch, B.

 

[grant5127]

Here's a idea a buddy of mine went with..........

 

[Combat Chuck]

Here's a idea a buddy of mine went with..........

Wow... There's no kill like overkill...
I like the horns, I was thinking about burying some of deep within my hood to frighten Prius and Volvo drivers putting along at ten under, but the lights, though sleek looking, are just- too much.

 

[grant5127]

horn & lights.......

Wow... There's no kill like overkill...

Yeah....... hell of a wind drag........

 

[dargreg]

He must have an alternator out of a Kenworth,I go for the low lights for the trails .

 

[Combat Chuck]

...I go for the low lights for the trails .

I agree, spots on the bumper can be angled to illuminate the road bed, buying much needed visibility on winding trails. If I passed someone head-on with higher up lights, I wouldn't like being blinded.

 

[octavio62]

I had a fj40 a few years back and hated the windshield mounted lights, too much glare from the dust, if you are behind someone , bumper mounted lights are best imo.

 

[TLCHopII]

He must have an alternator out of a Kenworth,I go for the low lights for the trails .

Would seem likely as he has the air horns from three!

 

[Brian in Oregon]

The air horns are to warn the drivers he's blinding that they're veering into his lane.