Baja S8 light bars and fogs in winter

[SnowYeti]

So I am thinking about a Blitz or LoPro bumper. That is another subject

I have a 20” driving S8 and a 30” Amber combo behind the grill.

I have used the 30” amber a lot in winter conditions and it works great. It has allowed me to see two deer and one fox that where running in a collision path with me in poor conditions. I never would have seen them in time with just my headlights and Baja fogs

Behind the grill I have had zero issues with build up.

My concern is in the bumper it might pack with snow and ice due to not enough heat.

I like the idea that either would throw more light not behind the grill.

So if they do freeze up then I would want to keep my amber behind the grill (Victory Blitz). But if they don’t then the C4 LoPro

I have searched with nothing other than a thread on a Ford forum that said behind the grill no issues but in the bumper major ice and snow pack problems

Thanks in advance

 

[SnowYeti]

So I did an test today. Snowy and cold outside, 21 degrees. Can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. But obviously it does not take into account wind chill from driving.

Everything ambient temp. Inside of grill, headlights with Morimoto LED, Baja Sport fogs, 30” Baja light bar

Let them warm up 30 mins

Headlights 33 degrees
Fogs 110 degrees
Light-bar 71 degrees
Inside of grill opening 50-55 degrees

So the head lights gain of 12 degrees is not great. I do use Rain-X for plastic on them and keep the spray bottle and a micro fiber towel in the car to reapply as need. Like after skiing to drive home. You can see there is zero melt on the low beams, but it is beginning to melt in front of the Switch Back LEDs

Fogs, this explains why I have never had an issue with them. Warm to the touch. Also notice how they not only melted the snow on the lens but in the entire fog light recess

Light bar not bad. But it is also in a warmer environment. Really not warm to the touch. Plus better protection behind the grill and snow and ice can’t get trapped like it would in a bumper recess.

Didn’t test the 20” driving Baja S8 since it is not used in these conditions

So for me at least the Victory bumper is the one with the 20” cutout. Then a SDHQ behind the grill light mount (use the Rago behind the grill mount now for the 30” and a SDHQ upper grill mount for the 20”)

First photo is pre warmup

 

[Ogre75]

It would be interesting to repeat this test, then without clearing lights. Drive at normal road speeds for 10 minutes to allow airflow around the heat sinc bodies of the lights, then immediately hit them with the thermo gun to see how much they cooled from the air flow throught he sincs

 

[SnowYeti]

As requested I took before, after 30 min warm and after driving (snowing and heavy slush at 55mph for 20 mins). Snowy and cold outside, 27 degrees.

Everything ambient temp. Inside of grill, headlights with Morimoto LED, Baja Sport fogs, 30” Baja light bar

Let them warm up 30 mins

Headlights 35 degrees
Fogs 126 degrees
Light-bar 60 degrees
S2 side lights 133 degrees

After driving, pulled over and turned off all lights then took temp



Headlights did okay until I drove through heavy slush then they had a film of ice/slush on the entire surface

Fogs did great, no slush or ice on the surface

Light bar started to get ice/slush on surface. Given that I am and keeping behind the grill I will be moving it up under the Toyota bar. This will lower the amount of snow coming up and over the bumper. Plus will be in a better location for light. Where it is right now blocks lights going down but blocks nothing going up, opposite of what I want. Being under the bar will minimize light going up causing reflections off of snow and fog.

Tested the S2 just because some people use them up front

Really don’t get why any of the aftermarket headlights don’t offer automatic heating elements. Or even integrated washers. Easy to get on Jeeps. ???

I have a list of parts for doing heated headlight washers. Think I will have to try it before next winter since we will be skiing more now that my daughter will be able to after tearing her ACL in soccer.

Baja light bars. I have a design for heating elements. Need to decide what I want to do with it. Do it myself or contact Baja. Sorry no more info on that yet. IP

 

[SnowYeti]

Light bar after driving, basically ambient temp