ksneubec,
Great job on the truck!

Where did you order your strobes from? I have been looking at some of the set-ups at http://www.strobesnmore.com/

Momo.75,

www.strobesnmore.com is a great website. It is in RI, fairly close to me, so I took a trip there one weekend and all the guys are great. It is run by a bunch of firefighters who are always willing to go out of there way to help out and get special order stuff, plus they are pretty good with prices. What are you looking to do? I'd be happy to make some recommendations if you tell me what you are planning.

Karl

PS- Yeah, too bad about Salsa Red coming out a year later

Great looking 4runner! Looks like you could use a lift parked next to your fire truck.

I occasionally have to use my truck for escorting people during race week and it would be nice to have some extra flashers. We usually have a police escort, but we just run hazard lights, which don't stand out enough. I had thought about just having them installed in the headlights, fogs, and tail lights, but have changed my mind to one of the more mobile kits, since we will switch vehicles from tim to time.

Sounds like it would look great. My two cents-
It will look "more professional" if you hide the strobe lights in the headlights, brakelights, etc, but if mobility is important, I would recommend items such as the following:

http://strobeguy.safeshopper.com/80/2181.htm?17
Wheelen Slimlighter LED. light, suction cups to all the windows, draws less than one amp. Something like this can be suction-cuped to both the windshield as well as the rear window.


http://strobeguy.safeshopper.com/66/2031.htm?834
Tomar dual strobe. This should also suction cup to the window surfaces, but will be heavier. Draws about 2 amps.

http://strobeguy.safeshopper.com/86/cat86.htm?976
Mini strobe light bar for the roof. If you want to be seen in all directions, this is a cheaper, easier way to do it. The magnets have anti-scratch pads on them so you don't scratch the roof. This is what I have on my roof.

If you do decide to drill and mount strobe bulbs, realize that they must be linked to a strobe-pack. This recieves the power from the battery and then divides it to the strobe heads (bulbs). High watts, brighter lights. Remember to divide the total wattage of the strobe power pack by the number of lights. i.e. 60 watt power pack, 4 bulbs = 15 watts per bulb- not too bright.

Strobes that come with cigarette lighter plugs have internal power suppllies and don't need a seperate power pack- i.e. the Tomar roof light and windshield lights above.

Most LEDs are clear when they are off (most come with clear lenses- the individual bulbs are what are colored)- kinda nice if you want subtly when they are off. - In my photos, the small lights mounted under the PIAAs and the Slimlighter mounted on the inside of the windshield, high up by the passenger sun visor, are LEDs.


If you do decide to permanently mount hidden strobes, I installed them into the back brake lights fairly easily. Let me know and I will explain how. There was room to put them into the back up lights as well. There is probably space to get them into the headlights, but it would be tight. No room up in the fog lights. But, probably enough room in the DRLs. Otherwise, you can always mount LEDs light I did on the front- they are clear when off, look like accessory fog or driving lights.

Hopefully this helps. Remember, wherever you are, you always need permits for blue, clear and red lights. Most state even require permits for amber lights, but I've never heard of a cop actually asking to see an amber light permit.

If you only use the lights for escort purposes, you could probably get away with amber and clear without problem. And they look nice for show too

If anyone wants photos/explinations on how I mounted these lights, let me know and I will post.

I like the rear flashers mounted inside. That is a nice approach to solving a safety issue.

Did you buy purpose-built lights? They look like the units from Galls. I just made my lights from a cheap set of fog lights and a dual-output flasher relay. Translucent enamel paint works very well to color the lenses.
(yep, little underfunded VFD, we do things cheap when we can!)

I do a fair amount of driving on the highway and I am always coming across accidents so that is when the rear lights come in handy, in addition to driving to the scene and parking on the road while on duty in my town. I just removed the light mounted on the rear cargo cover, since it is right in your eyes when you open the hatch, plus I have the four strobes (two mounted high, two in the brake lights) anyway. Plus, in a week or two, I should have LEDs in the fog lights in the back, which will hopefully work as brake-turn signals in addition to flash patterns like strobes when the rear strobes are turned on. Too much free time. And yes, they are all purpose-built lights. Most from www.strobesnmore.com

HOLY CRAP! A FELLOW RESCUER!!!

Hell yeah to the ride, and triple hell yeah to the job!

Keep up the good work and stay safe!

ksneubec,
Great pics! How about some with all the emergency LIGHTS ON?

Thanks Bryancos, any suggestions on how to take good shots of the truck with the lights on??? Not too good with digital camera type stuff yet.

PICS? NAH!!! we need a VIDEO!!! WHOO WHOO!!! :bugeye:

Tripod? I have taken some of my lights that way. Bryancos has taken some at night too, so I wonder what he did. I agree a video would be incredible. Even if it is just one of those little ones from a digital camera. I've never posted one, but have always wanted too and never knew how.

Hell yea.....we need a video of you responding to an emergency.

I started a seperate threat with the photos at night . . . the site wouldn't let me post a small video, so PM or e-mail me and I will send you two.

Great pics! Here is the link for future use when the threads might not be located as close together:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...&threadid=9382