KC Lights or led light bar?

Rock_Rat said:
To be fair, you never really mentioned how you planned on using your lights or what your expectations from your lights would be. How often do you plan on running off road in the dark? What other lights do you plan on adding; rock lights, back-up lights, utility lights etc. Are you running a winch? etc...

You need to be little bit more clearer on your expectations. This will allow folks to provide better insight to your question.

My own .02. If you're looking for quality and functionality you can't limit your budget. It's better to hold off until you can afford the light (s) that will perform the best for you. I personally think the 20"" hybrid flood/spot from Rigid Industries is your benchmark for an LED bar.

My vehicle is for overland expeditions and I will be running a dual battery setup with additional lights. I'm concerned about current/amp draw and the ability to run the lights with a winch as needed etc. Light bars are becoming the industry standard for off road vehicles.

I'm also considering "hiding" my EDS-light bar behind my "future" modified satoshi grill instead of on the bumper.

You could run KC's, PIAA, ARB, Squadron or other after market lights as well. If you're looking for symmetry then go with the KC lights since you already have them. They're a proven performer.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YlczOwWMwjo
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I need them for trail riding in the dark...I like piaa but would it be tacky if I had the kc lights in the bumper and piaa lights on top
 
Kyle Reese said:
Why would you care in the first place if I did only want it for looks? LIke all I wanted to know which would perform better and lok better? If you're just gonna go on about I only want it for looks than just don't respond to the thread
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When did I "go on" about how you only wanted it for looks? You asked for lighting advice, I gave my 2 cents. Another forum member commented that you may be interested in form over function, so I re-read the OP and saw the word "looks" about 19 times, so I conceded that they may be right. I believe you meant to quote someone else.
 
Kyle Reese said:
I need them for trail riding in the dark...I like piaa but would it be tacky if I had the kc lights in the bumper and piaa lights on top
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Since that's an aesthetics question, I wouldn't think about mixing PIAA with KC. I would go with either all KC or all PIAA. Your truck would look tacky. I have PIAA fogs that came with my bumper. All I would consider if I went that route is PIAA. Again, it's all about symmetry and what you want your 4runner to look like. Your decison.
 
absalom said:
When did I "go on" about how you only wanted it for looks? You asked for lighting advice, I gave my 2 cents. Another forum member commented that you may be interested in form over function, so I re-read the OP and saw the word "looks" about 19 times, so I conceded that they may be right. I believe you meant to quote someone else.
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No all yall lthat always say oh youre only doing it for looks like who cares yoy didn't even have to say tha...that is so annoying
 
Kyle Reese said:
No all yall lthat always say oh youre only doing it for looks like who cares yoy didn't even have to say tha...that is so annoying
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Wat-Meme-Face-19.jpg
 
Rock_Rat said:
Since that's an aesthetics question, I wouldn't think about mixing PIAA with KC. I would go with either all KC or all PIAA. Your truck would look tacky. I have PIAA fogs that came with my bumper. All I would consider if I went that route is PIAA. Again, it's all about symmetry and what you want your 4runner to look like. Your decison.
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Yeah I have already bought KC as you can see in the picture but like I said I'm leaning towards a light bar but I don't think I'm gonna make a thread like this again because if I mention that I want it to look good all these lame people get mad and comment on here unnecessarily. Like why does it matter either way?
 
One other option if you mix and match...you could always remove the guards/light covers unless you think you need them and/or you specifically like the look...I removed all of mine last time I gave her a good bath and never reinstalled...much cleaner look IMO but depending on where you live I have heard cops sometimes mandate you keep your off-road lights covered unless off road.
 
papabeach said:
One other option if you mix and match...you could always remove the guards/light covers unless you think you need them and/or you specifically like the look...I removed all of mine last time I gave her a good bath and never reinstalled...much cleaner look IMO but depending on where you live I have heard cops sometimes mandate you keep your off-road lights covered unless off road.
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Oh yeah true that's a good idea
 
I think that'd lightbars look tacky as hell, and unless you spend way too much money, seem to under perform. (My headlights out-shined a 50" ebay spot/flood lightbar. However, a 21" Rigid (not exactly sure on the beam) put them to shame.)


If those KC's you have don't perform to your standard I would replace them instead of adding additional lights. I have not once felt I needed more light between my FX-R Projector Headlights and IPF 968s. Also keep in mind that if you double stack light bars on the bumper you'll be covering up a VERY large percentage of your radiator. Not something I'd want to do in Alabama. I hear it gets hot.

That said- if I lived in close vicinity to Pismo or something and wanted to go dunebashing in the middle of the night, yeah, I'd have 4 big ass HID Light Forces on a detachable roof rack of some sort. Or perhaps some sort of mechanism that allowed them to be folded down.

Allll of THAT said, I do plan on retrofitting some HIDs into my IPFs someday. Probably with a 3000k temp.
 
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A.Wilson013 said:
I think that'd lightbars look tacky as hell, and unless you spend way too much money, seem to under perform. (My headlights out-shined a 50" ebay spot/flood lightbar. However, a 21" Rigid (not exactly sure on the beam) put them to shame.)


If those KC's you have don't perform to your standard I would replace them instead of adding additional lights. I have not once felt I needed more light between my FX-R Projector Headlights and IPF 968s. Also keep in mind that if you double stack light bars on the bumper you'll be covering up a VERY large percentage of your radiator. Not something I'd want to do in Alabama. I hear it gets hot.

That said- if I lived in close vicinity to Pismo or something and wanted to go dunebashing in the middle of the night, yeah, I'd have 4 big ass HID Light Forces on a detachable roof rack of some sort. Or perhaps some sort of mechanism that allowed them to be folded down.

Allll of THAT said, I do plan on retrofitting some HIDs into my IPFs someday. Probably with a 3000k temp.
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You have a point but I have no idea how to retrofit kc lights at all I do some more research about led light bars probably would not end up stacking but I could always watch some videos and see how it performs compared to kc lights. And what kind of kc lights should I have in between the grille guard? Driving lights?
 
I challenge anyone to find a LED bar that has this much range:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1BDhbrVgMuw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
If you're looking for looks then go with the lightbar. They're great for flood lighting compared to "kc" style lights but suck when it comes to range. If you were to go with the round lights I say go big or go home, ipfs are great. The cheaper lights suck unless you hid convert them.
 
Zombie thread! Since it came back to life after 10 years, I'll add that modern pod lights are so freakin powerful these days that they are more than you need to see the trail at night. Heck you can get 4000 lumen Baja Designs Infra Red light pods so you can see and not be seen. Suitable eye wear NOT included. Some funny comments in that thread, though, and a couple of characters that were still here in the later Teens. I used to read the threads before I got a 2nd Gen T4R and wasn't a registered user....... time flies.
 
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