Camp Lights

V8eR_Runner

V8eR_Runner

New member
I have wanting to mount some aux lighting for camping off the back of my Gobi rack. What are people running and are you running the wiring so it is hidden? Thanks. Pic for attention
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+1 for external lighting.

I use a combination of lanterns from Black Diamond and Luci, and strip lights from ENO.

The Luci is solar charged and inflatable. When I break camp it goes on the dash to collect sunlight and it's ready to go when I arrive at that night's campsite.
 
+1 with external lights. I use Goal Zero, Coleman and various other products I've picked up.

Truck mounted lights are cool and all but in the end they never put the light were you need it. Best is to have something portable.

If you are dead set on area lights mounted to your rack, I would check out online-led-store. I have 6in light bars on my F250 truck camper for backup lights and my BMW1200GS for driving lights. They work very well and won't brake the bank.

https://www.online-led-store.com/led-auxiliary-driving-work-lights?limit=48

180-180-led-light-bars-cti.jpg




The next person I'm sure will say Rigid or Baja or Clearwater is the only light to get. At the end of day they all put out light. Is spending 4-5 times as much going to get you 4-5 time better light .... thats your call.
 
Streamlight the Siege LED lanterns and extra batteries. http://www.streamlight.com/en/products/detail/index/the-siege If you really need to be out a long time you can get a solar recharging panel and rechargeable Eneloop pro batteries if you get the 3AA model. I've had the D-cell model for a while and it's plenty bright for a camp unless you're wanting sun equivalent light and the batteries have lasted several trips already. I have a couple of the 3AA lights too as I've tried to standardize all gear to an AA cell platform.

This and a good headlamp like the Zebralight H52F https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HBYSCWG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and you're good for light anywhere you go.
 
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My advice would be to get a diffused lens pattern for maximum spread. I like the lights in my CBI bumper, usually When I'm camping my liftgate is up so lights on the rack would be worthless. I have rigid dually but plenty of cheaper options.
 
One of my friends used some of that flexible led strip light run along the inside of his awning, it's pretty slick. Personally I don't like to have a bunch of lights on all the time, but I get the practical need for it if you're setting up camp after dark. I use headlamps and these inflatable solar charged lanterns: https://mpowerd.com

When collapsed the fit perfectly between the sunroof and sunroof slide so you can charge them during the day and not have them in the way.
 
JSparky said:
One of my friends used some of that flexible led strip light run along the inside of his awning, it's pretty slick. Personally I don't like to have a bunch of lights on all the time, but I get the practical need for it if you're setting up camp after dark. I use headlamps and these inflatable solar charged lanterns: https://mpowerd.com

When collapsed the fit perfectly between the sunroof and sunroof slide so you can charge them during the day and not have them in the way.
Click to expand...

I agree, whenever I pull into camp, typically in the day time. I am typically away from my rig setting up a tent or something. I find headlamps to be the best bet for most everything. I mounted a flexible led strip in my awning and enjoy the diffuse light that comes off of the awning for cooking but thats about it. I prefer lights out when im roughing it.
 
I run one diffused Rigid SR-Q2 on each side of my Gobi Stealth rack. They're each fastened by one of the bolts on the foremost rack bracket, and the wiring runs down the weather stripping to my sPOD, each light having its own switch to control independently, which is attached to my Optima YellowTop auxiliary battery, which is isolated from the starter battery by my Blue Sea ML-ACR.

Works great for me, but I agree that a portable light is probably a better/more affordable option for many situations. Seriously. My setup is unnecessary. I just love that it's there and provides area lighting for camping setup and mucking about in the woods.

With the exception of my Rigid grille and grille light and rear bumper lights, I've bought all of my Rigid lights over time through the Buy/Sell/Trade on this forum. Don't forget about secondhand stuff

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for the input! I already have numerous portable lights from Goal Zero along with a solar charger which work well so I think i may just keep running those. I was too keen on spending more $$ on lights that would be used only a couple of times a month. I think some rock lights might do the trick of providing lights around the truck.
 
get a portable light that has a dimmer, pick the light that can get the dimmest

most camping lanterns are way too bright even on low, it was a little bit of a problem when fluorescent lights replaced gas lanterns but its a huge problem now that everything is LED. Most manufacturers throw the brightest LED lights they can for buyers who are just comparing specs, but you really don't need that much light for camp lighting.

After your eyes adjust, with a dim light you can still see everything and can move around but your night vision isn't totally killed so you can still see beyond your camp some. A head lamp or flashlight should be used for tasks that require more light, or just turn up your lantern for a bit, but for everything else around camp i've found that most lights are too bright.

i got a goal zero lighthouse 250 for christmas, on the lowest setting if you turn the light away from you its tolerable, but something a little less bright with light a little warmer in color would be better
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i can't even imagine how terrible a campsite must be with loads of truck mounted led lights making everything look like daylight
 
e60ral said:
i got a goal zero lighthouse 250 for christmas, on the lowest setting if you turn the light away from you its tolerable, but something a little less bright with light a little warmer in color would be better
lighthouse250-pdp-1000x667.jpg


i can't even imagine how terrible a campsite must be with loads of truck mounted led lights making everything look like daylight
Click to expand...

I have that same lantern as well as a couple of those inflatable solar lanterns, all are awesome and perfect for camping. Unfortunately I have a bad habit of rolling into camp spots at dusk or just after dark (maximizing daylight fun???), when I roll in and need to get dinner cooked and the RTT open, the LEDs are awesome and speed that process up. I originally put the rears in for when I'm on a trail after dark and need to reverse, not just camping. It sounds like most of you guys are much better planners than me!
 
I haven't gotten into lighting mods yet, have some planned though. HOWEVER- I come from a firefighting/EMS background and currently military, A good handheld flashlight is worth more than its weight in gold! I always recommend Coast flashlights. I have never found anything comparable at even close to the same price range, I don't know the exact model of mine but have owned a few, generally powered by AAA batteries and bright as hell! The optics are amazing, the battery life is great and they take a beating and then some! My last one was stolen but lasted through multiple fires (while also not being rated for them) tons of camping and hiking, used one time to signal and direct a search and rescue helicopter and lasted the first 4 years of my military career, worked great all the way up till it was stolen :(
 
I have a lot of different light sources for camping, all play a different role.
Rear LED flood lights mounted on welded tabs on my Gobi rack for backing up my trailer at night
Red/white combo led in the tailgate to unload the car…Red helps with bugs and night vision
A Fenix headlamp with 6 different brightness settings plus red for all my camp tasks
An old white gas Coleman lantern and a campfire for eating and drinking. Love the lantern but replacing mantles gets old.


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I actually made a decent camp light out of 2 LED fogs i pulled from the junkyard, a dewalt 20v battery and a wireless relay. I 3D printed the housing for the electronics and the adapter for the battery so it snaps in like it was a standard dewalt tool. The idea is to hoist it up over a tree limb or similar and then wirelessly turn it on/off. It worked pretty well as an area light during my last trip. I'll try to get some pics tonight and post them up.
 
Do you prefer to have camp lights built on the 4Runner? If you also need something that’s more external,

Harbor freight has these rope lights that illuminate the camping area really well. You can even attach more light sets to them. They’re not super bright lights, they’re on the dimmer side which really help when it’s pitch dark at night on the eyes

18 ft. LED Linkable Rope Light, Warm White
 
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