Driving Lights

[07runner]

Is there any way to install driving lights on a 4th generation without using a brush bar or a roof type bar? I really don't want any bars at all for the installation.

The lights i'm interested in are the Piaa driving 580 series model (5862) this is a 85 watt light, I think it's perfect for dark trails and back roads, plus it should look like the sun for those people that don't want to dim their highbeams.

 

[sharp4runr]

Check out this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6027&highlight=floating

I don't like the setup personally as someone could easily bump into you while parallel parking or while thier head's up their ass and ruin your expensive PIAAs.

I think I saw a thread that someone fabricated some brackets to position it on the same level as their headlights but he never showed any pictures.

 

[07runner]

You are right about them being in a spot for them to easily get damaged. I really want to mount them at headlight level if possible.

 

[sharp4runr]

Here is the thread I was referring to: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14347

The 580s are pretty big lights so they should wiegh considerably more than the lights used in the thread so you may have to reinforce them.

If you find out how he did, please let me know too

 

[Koz]

You could fabricate brackets that would come out between the bottom of the grill and bumper, bolted to the radiator support.

Koz

 

[07runner]

I have a bad feeling that there really is not any nice way to mount them without the bars.

Does any body make say a low front bumper guard, that the lights can be mounted on to get them at headlight level without taking away to much from the looks of the 4runner. Sort of like a a brush guard but does not come up too high, and does not mount to the front license plate bracket?

 

[sharp4runr]

I've been looking on getting these brackets so I can mount my Hella 500 driving lights on the top bar: http://www.discountjeepparts.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/16435

They'll be slight lower than the head lights.

 

[Colemanfu]

I mounted my LightForce lights directly to the bumper. I did use a backing plate to make it a bit stiffer and some large washers on top as well. I first set it up with a bracket but it stuck out too far and shook at speed. Then just drilled right into the bumper. They sit flush with the bumper so not worries about bumpeing them and they are plenty hight so no bashing on anything. Plenty of room under there to work. May not be the best solution but works for me.

 

[olliebear]

You're limited to what you can do.

without a light bar or bull bar.

SInce the cheesy bumpers are plastic and not steel, you can't just drill and mount to hte bumpers. You can either fabricate a mount as mentioned in the above links or order a light bar such as the over priced JAOS lamp stay...3 dead Benjies for one stupid piece of metal then 3 more dead benjies for the lights,

I had to resign myself to using the leastr expensive but good quality bull bar from Westin. I have a starosphere mica blue with black steps, black outsdie mirros nad black roof rack so I ordered the black Westin Safari Bar. I have used Hellas for years on two different vehicles and now I have the PIAA 580s. My whole set up looks exactly like Sharprunner's avetar, excetp for the rock black guards with "PIAA" emblem.

I also wrote a review comparing Hellas to PIAAs here.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12714&highlight=piaa+hella

DO a search on lights on Accessories. Someone mounted them behind the grill. YOu can also consider using rectabgular Hella 550 and mount them behind the lower grill nad even cut the plastic arond it. However, with the license plate up front and two lights, you basically blocked all air flow coming throuygh the lower grill and that may affect your cooling.

 

[07runner]

It is bad enough that the Piaa 580 lights are expensive, but I see no other choice then to waste about 300 dollars on the brush bar I dont want or need and I really feel it will take away from the looks of the 4Runner. Too bad Toyota could not make it simple for us to install driving lights, since I really think this is something that will improve safety.

 

[Koz]

The brackets I mentioned would locate the lights exactly where Colemanfu mounted his Lightforce's, without have to drill into the bumper.

Koz

 

[07runner]

Those brackets are meant to mount to a piece of 2 inch tubing?

 

[Koz]

Those brackets look good to me. Do you know any body that have used them?

You would have to fabricate them. When mounting my brush guard it came with simple support brackets that are mounted in this location that secure the top of the brush guard. If you would like I could take a pic to give you ideas. They would be simple to make.

Koz

 

[07runner]

Truthfully I am so frustrated, that I will just buy the brush bar that have the openings already in place for the lights. They install directly to the bar, and nothing else will need to be done. Installation is super simple, but $300 extra for the brush bar sucks.

 

[sharp4runr]

Yes those brackets are meant to wrap aroun 2" tubing. The Westin Safari Bar is 2" tubing, but already comes with mounting brackets so no need to buy. The only reason I'm thinking of getting the extra brackets is that I'd like to move the lights up higher.

I got the Westin Safari bar for around $155 shipped

 

[olliebear]

That's the most reasonable way to go.

Westin Safari bar--$150-$199.

Hellas for $80/pair. I replaced the 55w bulbs with PIAA 110w H3 and that adds a world of difference to the Hellas.

Westin Safari bars are suppoed to mount 6" light according to their wbe site. PIAAs are 6 11/16" and they do fit.

Aside from Toyota's pain in the ass lack of a good mounting bumper, they also have a PITA wiring that makes it really hard to wire them into the high beam controls.

I think most states have a 4 filament max for lights. Each light is considered one filament. Low beams and driving lights make it 4. Turn the brights on and the fog lights automatically go off. The low beams stay on so 2 low and 2 high makes 4 max. That may be why Toyota wiring tries to block wiring diriving lights to the high beams. That would make it 6 filaments. ON the other hand, low plus fog plus driving makes 6 as well.....oh well.

 

[07runner]

I mounted my LightForce lights directly to the bumper. I did use a backing plate to make it a bit stiffer and some large washers on top as well. I first set it up with a bracket but it stuck out too far and shook at speed. Then just drilled right into the bumper. They sit flush with the bumper so not worries about bumpeing them and they are plenty hight so no bashing on anything. Plenty of room under there to work. May not be the best solution but works for me.

What did you use for a backing plate? Is your installation of the lights solid. I mean is it very rigid with whatever you used for the backing plate?