LED Light Bar - Rigid or Bust?

[mrtifftiff]

Does anybody run a non Rigid light bar? I can't bring myself to spend $1500 on a light bar that I will use once a month. I started looking into other options and I was surprised to see options for less than $100 bucks. I don't have any illusions that a $50 light bar from Amazon isn't anything but a giant POS, and the way this forum preaches Rigid, I have no doubt that they are top of the line. I was curious about some of your experiences with some of the budget/middle of the road oriented light bars.

Edit: At some point I want to put a 40"+ on a Gobi, 25"+ on top of the Shrockworks, and 6" on the sides/back. That many lights from Rigid isn't even an option from a financial point of view.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

You will get varied answers on this. I am in the same boat as you, I have more important things to spend money on, like hookers and black tar heroin. That being said, I am super happy with my Aurora light bar. Look into water resistance, type of led bulbs used, and balance the cost versus what your budget is.

 

[Mistaken]

I typically run with the thought of "you get what you pay for". Doesn't mean you need to buy the most expensive option but same goes for the cheapest. Also depends on the part. For wheels, tires, suspension etc I dont like to be cheap but for a part that doesn't affect safety I will glady go with a middle of the pack option.

 

[Antman]

I love my Rigids! I use them EVERY morning on the way to work on dark country roads. They never miss a beat.

 

[YodaPride]

I went with a Bulldog 40" dual function. At $700 is it definitely below the $1500 middle of the road.

<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TDDNpKAMR4Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I am very pleased with it. The only thing that sucked was it started to collect condensation on the inside. Bulldog paid for all the shipping and repaired it. For $700 it comes with a life time warranty which ain't bad!:guitar3:

 

[barryhiram]

Love my Baja Designs.....................friggin daytime when I fire these puppies up :reddance:



Not everybody runs Rigid...........:fencing:

 

[tristero]

I have more important things to spend money on, like hookers and black tar heroin.

I couldn't agree more with the statement just made by this gentleman.

 

[Range]

Does anybody run a non Rigid light bar? I can't bring myself to spend $1500 on a light bar that I will use once a month. I started looking into other options and I was surprised to see options for less than $100 bucks. I don't have any illusions that a $50 light bar from Amazon isn't anything but a giant POS, and the way this forum preaches Rigid, I have no doubt that they are top of the line. I was curious about some of your experiences with some of the budget/middle of the road oriented light bars.

Edit: At some point I want to put a 40"+ on a Gobi, 25"+ on top of the Shrockworks, and 6" on the sides/back. That many lights from Rigid isn't even an option from a financial point of view.

Take a look at ProComp. 4Wheel Parts has them on sale for 50% off. They're made in the same factory as Rigid, not like that means anything, but I have a pair of 6 inchers for the rear and they are very well made. Nothing is cheap about them in terms of build quality except the price. The price is amazing. Tons of other great makers out there but not in the $100 and below range. You should spend about $400-$600 on a quality 40" bar and be very happy. Rigids are amazing quality and so is there CS but like you said........once a week.

 

[Mmikey]

Take a look at the Opt7 bars on Amazon. It's the one I have and love it. Great light output. Great quality (I don't think I'll be able to break it). The optics won't be as good as Rigid, but it still turns light into day.

 

[TRD4runnin]

PIAA has great stuff!

 

[jrob]

Zero Dark lighting from explorationoutfitters.com

I have their 40" curved on the front of my rack, cost a shade over $400 and it has done very well for me thus far, about a year on the clock, use through winter and summer.
Poly carb lens, CREE LEDs, combo pattern, cast aluminum housing.
Basically everything you get with a rigid except maybe some lens tech, and the extruded aluminum housing.
I challenge anyone to explain first off, what extruded aluminum is (I know) And more importantly the benefit in it's use in the application of a light housing.

I just ordered 4 more of their rocket pods (d2 equivalent) for $60 ea. for the back.

Happy shopping.

 

[Hellamatic]

I've had experience with several different brands, and I have yet to find anything better than Rigid. The difference is in the optics; the cheap brands just tend to scatter light everywhere. I had a 52" cheapie curved bar on my F250 (before some crackheads stole it) and it didn't even hold a candle to even my 20" Rigid bar. I have a 40" E-series on the 4Runner and couldn't be happier. I always justify cost by telling myself that it's worth it if it saves me from hitting a moose at night.

 

[marshal]

read this

WILD BILLS LAST STAND ? This is why we Forge Overland

if you're not going to use it but once a month, whats the point in even buying it in the first place? looks? you'd be better off getting a traditional set of lighting at a considerably cheaper price

 

[alia176]

I haven't bought into the led bar hype but they do look cool on the front.

 

[alexb]

I tried a few different bars from Amazon and got some good results. The first bar was one of the extremely common cheap Chinese knockoffs that has the same basic optics all around. It worked well and put off a lot of light but it scattered light everywhere and eventually got condensation in it.

I returned that one and got another cheap Chinese bar off Amazon but that claimed to have better optics and waterproofing. A few months now and its been outstanding. Extremely bright and great focus on the beam. NO issues with water either. I blast this thing at the car wash all the time without worry.

I go into pretty good detail in my build thread here and the next page.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/176284-alexbs-2014-te-build-photo-thread-6.html

For $250 on Amazon and the amount I use it I can't see any way to justify the $1500 cost of the rigids. I used it up in the CO mountains a few weeks ago and it was perfect. For the price, I can go through 6 of these before I get to the price of a Rigid.

As always, YMMV.

 

[jrandom]

I have had exactly one truck with an above cab light bar. I personally think after that experience for any kind of practical usage it is f'n stupid. Sure you can light up the front side of a mountain with it, it is what happens when you need to turn them off that is the issue. Hood glare is the worst, you flip the lights off an you might as well have taken a flash photo selfie of yourself.

IMHO You are better off adding a couple of extra candlepower in your grill to boost your high beams if you need it. If anything they are at least a little bit harder to steal too.

 

[RiDE]

I had a Rigid SR40 on the front of my Gobi for about 2.5 years. I loved the setup but decided to sell it and use the money elsewhere. I got a cheap Chinese knockoff 20" bar for the front hoop instead and a fridge with the extra money. I'm definitely sold on the Chinese knockoffs. They will do their job. The build quality is pretty nice on this cheap bar and I really like my new fridge.

 

[jdtaylor42]

I haven't bought into the led bar hype but they do look cool on the front.

I am in the same boat. I know people on this forum probably put them to use but people are slapping light bars on everything these days. I see Honda Accords driving around with light bars. I mean come on!

But if you actually plan to off-road at night or would like them for camping or something I can definitely see the use. I just couldn't bring myself to spend the same amount on a light bar as I do on a lift kit.

 

[shepster]

I have a 20" I ordered off eBay. Works great with no issues and only paid $43 shipped.

 

[barryhiram]

I have had exactly one truck with an above cab light bar. I personally think after that experience for any kind of practical usage it is f'n stupid. Sure you can light up the front side of a mountain with it, it is what happens when you need to turn them off that is the issue. Hood glare is the worst, you flip the lights off an you might as well have taken a flash photo selfie of yourself.

IMHO You are better off adding a couple of extra candlepower in your grill to boost your high beams if you need it. If anything they are at least a little bit harder to steal too.

:iagree: