08-10-2021, 05:09 PM
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#16
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I'm a flashlight guy, and while I don't have experience with different truck lightbars, I'll put my 2 cents in regarding cheap lighting in general.
Generally speaking, as another poster mentioned - you do get what you pay for.
There are a few key items that separate those $10 cheap 'zoomie' lights from even $40-$50 dollar lights. We could probably apply this to lightbars as tech and methods of production aren't all that dissimilar.
- better LEDs: better bins, better color temp
- better reflectors: no artifacts, better beam patterns, reduced or eliminated hotspots and other weirdness. This means that the direction of light, spread and reach is far better defined and controller
- more efficient drivers: this can mean lower power draw and far better thermal regulation
- Better fit and finish: anodizing is often more durable, chamfered edges (less important on a light bar, I realize), better waterproofing due to closer tolerances and better manufacturing processes. I've a friend I was wheeling with last weekend who has an amazon set of ditch lights. They were full of water.
It's not unreasonable to expect that there are benefits to paying more, but there's a limit. There are lights out there for $200 that don't do anything better (actually, they are arguable worse in some respects) than a $70 light. Same theory can probably apply to the light bars. At least that's my theory but I am only speculating.
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Last edited by ahtoxa11; 08-10-2021 at 05:11 PM.
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08-10-2021, 05:27 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2014
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Check this out... Comparison
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08-10-2021, 05:36 PM
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#18
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Texas
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Curious about where you guys are shopping for setups that include everything - light bar, mounts, wiring, interior switch. I see several places with individual components but not a "kit" that's ready to go.
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08-10-2021, 05:54 PM
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#19
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Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Denver, CO
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 08TxRunner
Curious about where you guys are shopping for setups that include everything - light bar, mounts, wiring, interior switch. I see several places with individual components but not a "kit" that's ready to go.
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Most of the light bars should come with wiring. Baja Design, Diode Dynamics, Cali Raised LED, etc all have complete kits with wiring, switch, and mounts. You should search by vehicle on their sites.
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CaliRaisedLED Ditch Lights & Light Bar
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08-10-2021, 06:36 PM
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#20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 08TxRunner
Curious about where you guys are shopping for setups that include everything - light bar, mounts, wiring, interior switch. I see several places with individual components but not a "kit" that's ready to go.
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I bought the mount from SDHQ and the light from BD. That's all that was required for the "in the grill" setup. Easy install.
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08-10-2021, 06:51 PM
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#21
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Location: Texas
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Much appreciated guys. Rage, I assume you also needed a wiring harness, relay, and interior switch? Edit - never mind, found them. Thanks again.
Last edited by 08TxRunner; 08-10-2021 at 07:11 PM.
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08-10-2021, 07:10 PM
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#22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 08TxRunner
Much appreciated guys. Rage, I assume you also needed a wiring harness, relay, and interior switch?
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Good question. Baja Designs sells extensions for their lights (in this case it was a two-plug with a third wire for some optional backlighting) that was plug-and-play, waterproof, etc., so I just had them throw one of them in.
I already had a Switch Pros mounted in the engine compartment, so I just wired it to that.
Else yes you would want a switch ( these ones fit perfectly in the blank spots in your dash) and a relay.
@ Saker
documented his here including a relay harness he used for a clean install. He's also a super helpful person who will answer questions here when he is around.
PS I did NOT hook mine up to turn on with high beams. The Switch Pros allows it, but I prefer a separate button. There are a lot of times I want to use high beams but light bar would be overkill so I like them separate. To each their own.
PSS The backlighting is kinda pointless, but I like it. I have it wired so that it comes on whenever the engine is on.
Last edited by rageandlove; 08-10-2021 at 07:49 PM.
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08-10-2021, 07:54 PM
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#23
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I like my extreme led single row. Very bright she was only a few hundred dollars of I recall.
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08-10-2021, 09:13 PM
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#24
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Join Date: Jul 2017
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I agree with the camp that you get what you pay for, and I don't really think that I paid too much for the Diode Dynamics product, Stage Series upper mounted units I just put in, even with the Canuck Buck exchange, still worth it to me for quality designed brackets and lighting modules that are impressively constructed and wired in a very tight package, super easy to install as well with a made for my vehicle application so to speak. In the end I was also looking to ensure that the color temp matches & I think the DD fits the bill in that respect with the rest of the front end. Just some extra spot lighting was all I was looking for out front on the cottage roads, don't need a full lower light bar so these really work for me and not that I've needed their warranty with other products I've bought but its there in that respect too. Literally just put them in on the weekend - find they project a fair distance forward (spot lens), there's no way you could drive with them on like normal fog lamps I think without seriously pi$$ing people off from road glare.
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Last edited by 17KT4R; 08-10-2021 at 09:20 PM.
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08-11-2021, 11:48 AM
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#25
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Elite Member
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Real Name: Chris
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 08TxRunner
Curious about where you guys are shopping for setups that include everything - light bar, mounts, wiring, interior switch. I see several places with individual components but not a "kit" that's ready to go.
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Caliraisedled.com has everything
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08-11-2021, 12:00 PM
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#26
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Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Rochester, NY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97BlackAckCL
Caliraisedled.com has everything
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I started with a 32" CaliRaised dual row light bar. I replaced it with a 30" single row Diode Dynamics bar that absolutely blows it away. Both were all driving / spot pattern bars. Again, you get what you pay for.
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10-28-2021, 03:30 PM
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#27
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Cville
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It looks like the two options for the upper grille are the Diode Dynamics SS6 or the Baja Designs S8. They are two vastly different light bars yet I can’t seem to decide between the two as an auxiliary driving lights!!
Has anyone been able to compare the two in that capacity?
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10-28-2021, 07:38 PM
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#28
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Location: WA
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Before purchasing I HIGHLY suggest learning the difference between LUMENS and CANDELA/LUX.
To keep it short it's essentially crank horsepower vs wheel horsepower
Just because one option has more lumens doesn't mean it automatically translates to light output to the road.
Diode Dynamics 42" White and Amber Light Bar Review on 4Runner
For this reason I chose the Diode Dynamics 42 inch light bar
Last edited by ?????; 10-28-2021 at 07:42 PM.
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10-29-2021, 12:20 AM
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#29
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Don't go dirt cheap, but don't go uber expensive.
I stick to the 150 to 200 dollar range and those light bars have served me well.
I don't mob in the desert at night, so I don't need anything with massive amounts of throw or a pencil beam, spotlight.
Typically, i need lights because my dumbass didn't bother to find camp until it was dark, so i actually need a lot of flood lights (not spotlights) so I can find camp, and avoid holes that will swallow my ride, so i'm driving slow.
The thing with cheap lights is they don't throw very far and the light they produce is very scattered (like a flood light), which is perfect for most of us.
I do tend to change out my ditch lights pretty often, because as technology advances, they get cheaper and cheaper.
I have never changed out my light bars. I've been rocking the same ones for last 5 years. Although I have been eyeing KC Hilites lately.
If you are going to run a ton of lights, you need to invest in a way to manage your wires and power (spod, trigger, etc). This is where you should spend your money.
42 inch mc-tuning, dual row LED light bar (covered up on the roof).
3 inch Lasfit pods (previously had aux-beam and diode dynamics)
21 inch mc-tuning single row LED light bar ( upper grill area)
30 inch auxbeam single row LED light bar (SSO bumper)
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Last edited by mrblah; 10-29-2021 at 02:42 AM.
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03-23-2022, 02:07 PM
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#30
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Member
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Cville
Posts: 299
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblah
Don't go dirt cheap, but don't go uber expensive.
I stick to the 150 to 200 dollar range and those light bars have served me well.
I don't mob in the desert at night, so I don't need anything with massive amounts of throw or a pencil beam, spotlight.
Typically, i need lights because my dumbass didn't bother to find camp until it was dark, so i actually need a lot of flood lights (not spotlights) so I can find camp, and avoid holes that will swallow my ride, so i'm driving slow.
The thing with cheap lights is they don't throw very far and the light they produce is very scattered (like a flood light), which is perfect for most of us.
I do tend to change out my ditch lights pretty often, because as technology advances, they get cheaper and cheaper.
I have never changed out my light bars. I've been rocking the same ones for last 5 years. Although I have been eyeing KC Hilites lately.
If you are going to run a ton of lights, you need to invest in a way to manage your wires and power (spod, trigger, etc). This is where you should spend your money.
42 inch mc-tuning, dual row LED light bar (covered up on the roof).
3 inch Lasfit pods (previously had aux-beam and diode dynamics)
21 inch mc-tuning single row LED light bar ( upper grill area)
30 inch auxbeam single row LED light bar (SSO bumper)
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Bringing this one back from the dead…
How are your light bars and pods holding up? Is there anything you would do differently?
Lastly, why did you change out the Diode Dynamics pods for the Lasfit?
Thanks in advance! 👍
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