08TxRunner
Member
Much appreciated guys. Rage, I assume you also needed a wiring harness, relay, and interior switch? Edit - never mind, found them. Thanks again.
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How to choose light bar?
- Thread starter czgunner
- Start date
rageandlove
Member
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.
[MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] 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.
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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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97BlackAckCL
Elite Member
Caliraisedled.com has everything
Too Stroked
Member
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.
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
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
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mrblah
Senior Member
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)
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!
mrblah
Senior Member
i switched out the light bars to lasfit 20, 30, 40 inch light bars, since that post. Basically, i got those cheap sunbeam/mctuning lightbars in 2016, and while they have held up great since then, the output is now poor compared to current technology though. I decided to upgrade my lightbars after i bought my lasfit pods. I was pretty impressed with the lasfit pods but more on that later.
Why did i change out the DD pods? The DD2SC didn't put out enough light in the ditch light area, and I felt they are better suited as chase lights or roof rack camp lights / side lights. I still have 2 pairs of them and use them in those areas still. MY buddy has the 3inch DD pods, and the light is comparable to other mid tier products, which is expected.
At the time, lasfit just came out with their pods and they were pre-selling them for cheap all over social media, with similar tech to DD. Midtier performance at entry level pricing, is what sold me on them. I,'m cheap as Fck when it comes to lighting, because I rather buy suspension, lockers, armor first, so i'm not wasting my money on lights.
FYI, DD and lasfit performance is SO SIMILAR i would buy whatever is cheapest. So then lasfit came out with the lightbars, they were selling them for dirt cheap at pre-sale. At that point, I knew those light bars will perform, so I bought a bunch of them.
I will buy whatever lights suits my budget and my needs. So if DD, Baja, Lasfit come up with a light that fulfills a certain need within a certain budget, I'll buy it.
Food for thought, I have never out run my lights offroad at night going up to 40-60 mph mobbing it in the desert with even the cheapest lightbars. You will more likely destroy your suspension and steering rack before you outrun your lights.
Current lighting is:
- lasfit 20 light bar (upper grill)
- lasfit 30 light bar (lower grill)
- lasfit 40 light bar (roof rack)
- Lasfit 3 inch pods HD (ditch lights)
- Diode dynamics ssc2 amber/white (rear roof rack)
- diode dynamics ssc2 red/white (rear bumper)
- Morimoto headlights
- AUER 2 in 1 fog lights
Future upgrades considered for front bumper on order:
- Diode dynamics 3 inch pods for fog light w/ backlight (amber/white) (if i cant retrofit my AUER fog lights)
- Baja LP6 (if i can't fit the lasfit lightbars onto the bumper).
Anyways, thats what my ADHD/OCD inflicted logic led me to purchase for my lighting needs...cheers.
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mrblah
Senior Member
Yeah the lasfit light bars are new since the last time i posted on this thread. Yeah pretty happy with them and would recommend them.
Billyrides
New member
Diode Dynamics had an open house at their HQ last weekend. It was a no brainer for me to go, since it is only about 5 miles from my house. They gave tours of the facility including shipping, manufacturing, engineering, testing, the whole enchilada. It was interesting to see their heat, humidity and water testing cabinets as well as lights set up to test their longevity. They also have essentially a long black tunnel with lasers and all other kinds of fun engineer type stuff, to check for light pattern and to help make sure they are headed down the right path in regards to SAE and other compliance issues. After seeing all of this, it made me feel pretty good knowing that the DD lights I have on my 4Runner, weren't just a bunch of components tossed together to look good. I am sure other manufacturers also do this, but I am also certain that other sellers don't. Might be something to keep in mind as you are searching.
NB17Limited
New member
Was this their new facility? I wanted to pick up my order when I was out there last and tour their facility if I could, but I was told they were moving and I could not visit
