Steer me towards some good basic offroad lights for my 80.

[JCruse]

I'm looking to get two driving/flood lights to mount on the brush bar or a future roof rack of my 80 but am a noob to off roading. I'd like something fairly inexpensive but not cheaply made since they will become permanent, and just enough to get me off the beach and down the access roads after the sun goes down. Thanks.

 

[gregnash]

Think the standard that everyone starts out with are the Hella 500FF in either pencil beam or flood. Not incredibly expensive, the kits can be found on Amazon for less than $100.

 

[coloradobound]

Think the standard that everyone starts out with are the Hella 500FF in either pencil beam or flood. Not incredibly expensive, the kits can be found on Amazon for less than $100.

And convert to hid relatively easy at a decent price down the road for more light.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Got mine off ebay for $75 for a total of three (driving light pattern) with a wiring harness, switch and relay. I wired them only under the hood so they are permanently wired to come on with the high beams. With the driving pattern lenses and stock bulbs they are legal in CA. Lots of other "off road" lights would need to be covered all the time.

The headlights are Hellas too. The combination works out great. If it went any faster I'd want more wattage, but it doesn't.

 

[JCruse]

Hey thanks guys. Sounds like a good deal and just about all I'll need for the foreseeable future. I like the idea of wiring them to come on with the high beams too. I've got HIR's in both headlight positions and they're pretty darn bright themselves! With both I should be able to find my way, see ruts in the sand, and tidal pools. You don't want to be driving through salt water.


Fast Eddy, love the 40. I've always wanted one. So much better looking than the Jeep.


Hey while were at it I'm gonna need at least one light in the back over the tailgate (when I get my rack) to be able to see what I'm doing while rigging the poles and baiting the lines - setting up and breaking down my little campsite. Doesn't need to be very bright, just enough to see. Maybe LED's would be best to save the battery.

 

[Mark W]

I had a set of the Hella 500s on a 4runner that I just sold. For a while, due to a wiring problem, the Hella would come on without the high beams sometimes. This let me become aware of how little they actually added to my ability to see in the dark. :-(

The hot spot was bit tighter than the high beams, but not really enough more powerful to mention. And they gave up the spread of the high beams..

They were better than no additional lighting. But just barely. A friend installed them during one of the ownership changes the rig went through. I will never spend money on any myself after seeing their performance.


Mark...

 

[coloradobound]

A few hid conversions.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general-4x4-discussion/769370-hella-500-hid-conversion-pictures.html

http://www.yotatech.com/f131/hids-hella-500s-write-up-lots-pictures-202736/

 

[skidplate]

I picked up a pair of the Hella 500's at my local auto parts store a couple of years ago for $65. I like them. For the back light, I'd just get a single utility light, Harbor freight or Tractor supply sells one for like 8-10 bucks.

 

[JCruse]

I had a set of the Hella 500s on a 4runner that I just sold. For a while, due to a wiring problem, the Hella would come on without the high beams sometimes. This let me become aware of how little they actually added to my ability to see in the dark. :-(

The hot spot was bit tighter than the high beams, but not really enough more powerful to mention. And they gave up the spread of the high beams..

They were better than no additional lighting. But just barely. A friend installed them during one of the ownership changes the rig went through. I will never spend money on any myself after seeing their performance.


Mark...

That's interesting. Since installing the HIR bulbs in my stock headlights I've noticed that the high beams don't really seem to go that far. They're more spread out. But the low beams go a freaking mile! Three or four blocks away the stop signs are lit up like daytime!

I haven't had them offroad yet but I think they'll be a big help.

So maybe I'll do the 500-HID setup as has been suggested.



Any other ideas?













.







.

 

[cody c]

light bars are getting cheaper these days, have a look at the group buys in this section, or check out trail worthy fab's website, or zeus lighting.

Havent tried them myself but they look like good "bang for the buck"

 

[gregnash]

Zeus Lighting (kinda hard to find but google Zeus Trail Lighting as they are under Olympus or something or other found them on Pirate4X4) seem like a great bang for the buck. Think I am going to try a couple of their 6" bars when I build my roof rack.

 

[JCruse]

Zeus Lighting (kinda hard to find but google Zeus Trail Lighting as they are under Olympus or something or other found them on Pirate4X4) seem like a great bang for the buck. Think I am going to try a couple of their 6" bars when I build my roof rack.

Those look pretty appealing. I may give them a shot. Thanks. I'm not quite ready to buy just yet so if you get them come back and let me know how they work out.