Intended aiming of aftermarket lights

[patkelly4370]

So with OEM lights, fog lights are mounted and aimed low and wide and close in, for low speed, low visibility.
Low beams are aimed farther out and a bit more centered, for up to highway speeds.
High beams are focused centered and farther out (and marginally brighter) for highway speeds and no oncoming traffic.
So (being new to offroading) a light bar is mounted high and illuminate the same as low and high beams combined, but much brighter?
And ditch lights are aimed more to the sides and downwards (thus the name)?
Being as they are almost exclusively LED, is the stock alternator (2017 SR5) sufficient to run these lights simultaneously?
Just trying to educate myself here.

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[patkelly4370]

Another semi-related question.
With a light bar, where/how do you run the wire to the inside?

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[UrbanRunner651]

Bars and pods can be mounted wherever you like.. lower mounts can be fed through trim, under the hood, along the frame or through any existing pathway you can find. Some people start drilling holes but again it just depends on how clean you want the install to look. The location will dictate/limit how the wiring can be run.
The stock alternator is sufficient to run a few accessories. Some people run a secondary battery to help but that is more for when you start running a fridge cooler, air compressor, etc.. I have a 32" spot/flood in the lower grille on my 08' and a 10" spot in the hood scoop. I also have two 12" subs in the back, an ultragauge and radar and have never noticed any dimming or issues with battery drain with them all on simultaneously.

 

[Cymon]

Another semi-related question.
With a light bar, where/how do you run the wire to the inside?

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Here is how I did it. For me I aimed the light bar to intersect with the high beam cutoff, but as you stated in the OP, just much brighter. I installed a combo (spot/flood) light bar so that it also has a wider range than the OEM lights project.

"If I can do It You Can" Behind Grill Light Bar Install - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

 

[patkelly4370]

I've always aimed my lights by real world parameters. Just did it again tonight with the 4runner.
I parked our car, 05 Dodge Magnum, facing a flat wall.
I then parked the 4runner behind it about 5 car-lengths back.
The (OEM) headlight cutoff was higher than the roof of the car. I was blinding everyone I followed. The high beams were useless because they were aimed 15 feet in the air, well above the horizon.
I reaimed the low cutoff to just at the bottom of the Magnums rear window.
Test drove it on our pitch black rural roads.
OEM headlights and I can see much better.
So can everyone else.

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[patkelly4370]

This thread was for off road lighting, ditch and roof lights.
Guess I got a little off track with my own thread, lol.

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