LED light bars - used how often and when?

[Cymon]

Installed behind the grill for a fun 1st mod. It has been about 9 months since install and I've used it twice while camping or driving through the Everglades at night.

I don't regret doing it as it was something to make the truck "different from stock" for about $150.

Honestly the best part of the whole thing is having a "Sasquatch Light" AOB switch in the cabin.:boink:

 

[Jetboy]

Once upon a time, when I was a mere lad, I learned a valuable lesson regarding aftermarket lighting.

I had skimped and saved up money for the better part of four months, enough to equal two whole week's pay, so I could buy my dream lights. "These lights would help me immeasurably off road!" I said. "These lights are a must for seeing deer further away!" I said. "These lights will make driving the dark back roads safer!" I said. Basically, I justified and convinced myself I just couldn't live without six, count 'em, SIX, top of the line KC HiLighters. Remember, this was early '80's lol. Four on the roll bar and two on the push bar! All those smiley faces! A whole family!

I remember tears came to my eyes when, after toiling away for hours installing the lights and switches, darkness came and I could try out my new lights! BOOM! I swear I heard angels sing when I flipped the switches! Night turned into day in front of my truck! I hurriedly scurried around, making minute adjustments to get the beams aimed correctly. I then climbed up into the bed, leaned over the roll bar and basked in the goodness of light badass-ery.

I stayed like that for about five minutes. I then turned off the lights and, after giving them time to cool down, I put those precious smiley face covers on my new lights.



...and I think I turned them on twice (one week's pay each time) over the next three years.


I have not bought aftermarket lights since. Lesson learned.

...and I probably am off road more than the majority of you. Factory lights are fine.

I'd swear you were telling my story from about 1995... lol.

Show of hands - how many people have leveled their 4runner and NOT adjusted the headlights properly? IMO the stock lights are pretty good. If they're aimed correctly.

I have had one situation since owning my 4runner I wish I had better lights. Basically I was out late on a backroad near Moab during a stopover on a trip to Arizona and wanted to makeup some time. I could not go faster than 30mph without outrunning my headlights ability to identify the washouts fast enough. So as a result... I had to drive a little slower. If I were running the baja - I'd put better lights on. Also if I could find a light bar that fit nicely in the hood scoop - I might do it just because I like to waste money and time.

 

[Diver Deuce]

I use mine at night while on the access roads on base while on duty... lots of deer roam around at night so the ditch lights spot them well in advance.

Other than that I use them on dark stretches of NC highway when no one is around... or if an oncoming driver has a light bar and doesn't turn it off when I flash him with my brights. 32" + 20" + 2x ditch lights they get the hint real quick.

 

[barryhiram]

Mine are connected to high beam circuit............so every time I hit the high beams :dancin:

 

[CF_Machete]

Mine are connected to high beam circuit............so every time I hit the high beams :dancin:

I'm about to try the same thing. I have mine on its own switch currently and plan to tap in to the high beam hot wire between the stock hb plug and my LED ballast.

How did you wire yours?

Regarding the OPs question. El Cheapo $65 ebay special ($50 on Amazon) yielded a 42" lightbar + $25 rigid harness + $10 switches= quick way to turn back roads to day time.

 

[Antman]

I'm not exaggerating when I say I use mine almost every day. Coming home late at night on 2 lane country roads I see all kinds of critters on the side of the road. Makes me feel better, at least, seeing them...lol.

The rear lights and bumper LED's I use to hook up my boat at night- hell I even light up the side of the house when taking the trash out on Thursday nights.


All the time i use them. But then again, I'm not normal (well documented).

 

[1engineer]

I'm not exaggerating when I say I use mine almost every day. Coming home late at night on 2 lane country roads I see all kinds of critters on the side of the road. Makes me feel better, at least, seeing them...lol.

The rear lights and bumper LED's I use to hook up my boat at night- hell I even light up the side of the house when taking the trash out on Thursday nights.


All the time i use them. But then again, I'm not normal (well documented).

And the fish you caught was 40 lb.
And your daughter will never marry
And your uncle was in Rush
And Pat is good looking
And you race your 4runner in the Mint 400
And....

 

[Antman]

And the fish you caught was 40 lb.
And your daughter will never marry
And your uncle was in Rush
And Pat is good looking
And you race your 4runner in the Mint 400
And....

I don't care if you don't believe me. Why would I lie?


I.
use.
them.
almost.
every.
day.

It is what it is.

PS- None of the crap you posted is true, BTW. (Pat's looks are subjective...). AND- I have caught SEVERAL fish over 40 lb.

 

[Throwback]

Before buying my 4Runner my only personal vehicle for off road use and general screwing around is my 1966 Jeep CJ5 with +3" leaf springs, 31" cheap MT tires, and original 1966 headlights.

If anyone thinks driving a dirt road in a 5th Gen 4Runner with OEM lights is spooky try it in a fifty year old Jeep. At least in the Jeep you don't have to remember to push the hi-beam foot pedal for oncoming traffic because even the high beams are so dim.

 

[Jeremy556]

I use mine fairly often in the winter, off road and on very remote back roads. My roof rack light bar is only installed December to April. The front bumper light bar stays on all of the time as it isn't as noticeable (tacky) and doesn't produce any audible wind noise.

I mount my roof bar 4-6 inches back from the front of my roof rack, which eliminates the glare issues for me.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

I use my current cheap 20 inch bar and two cubes 2-4 times a week.

I can't justify the Rigid cost, but I came across another company called Black Oak LED. Looks to have good reviews and half or less of Rigid.

Got two of their cubes showing up on Monday, and I'm going to see how they look compared to the $15 cubes.

 

[clweathers]

I use my ditch lights fairly often and will be adding a few more at some point. Way too much wildlife out here and I'd rather not hit another hog or deer on these backroads.

 

[WEAK_E90]

i want one for trips up to the UP. Someone told me mounting them in Wisconsin above your windshield is illegal to drive on roads with it on (havent looked into it yet).

But figure a 42" in front for midnight drives on roads you dont see anyone for 60 miles and then some small 6" in the back for loading sleds at night should do the trick!

 

[MTN4RNR]

Mine is on almost all of the time when I am on trail. Day time included. During the day it's a safety tool making sure that the rigs in front can see me behind them, and that any oncoming traffic (trucks, side by sides, dirt bikes, etc) can see me that much sooner. It was a must in Death Valley because dust makes traveling on the roads very sketchy at times. On the road, I use it the same way that I would use my high-beams. No one around, light on. Coming up to a car in my lane, or any oncoming traffic, light off. There is definitely such a thing as too many LED bars/pods, but they do have their uses when installed strategically.

 

[adaml]

Once upon a time, when I was a mere lad, I learned a valuable lesson regarding aftermarket lighting.

I had skimped and saved up money for the better part of four months, enough to equal two whole week's pay, so I could buy my dream lights. "These lights would help me immeasurably off road!" I said. "These lights are a must for seeing deer further away!" I said. "These lights will make driving the dark back roads safer!" I said. Basically, I justified and convinced myself I just couldn't live without six, count 'em, SIX, top of the line KC HiLighters. Remember, this was early '80's lol. Four on the roll bar and two on the push bar! All those smiley faces! A whole family!

I remember tears came to my eyes when, after toiling away for hours installing the lights and switches, darkness came and I could try out my new lights! BOOM! I swear I heard angels sing when I flipped the switches! Night turned into day in front of my truck! I hurriedly scurried around, making minute adjustments to get the beams aimed correctly. I then climbed up into the bed, leaned over the roll bar and basked in the goodness of light badass-ery.

I stayed like that for about five minutes. I then turned off the lights and, after giving them time to cool down, I put those precious smiley face covers on my new lights.



...and I think I turned them on twice (one week's pay each time) over the next three years.


I have not bought aftermarket lights since. Lesson learned.

...and I probably am off road more than the majority of you. Factory lights are fine.

I loved the story but I think you're not quite being fair enough.

I drive off-road as much as I can. I had my car on the forest roads around Mt Rainier less than 24 hours after I drove it off the lot. That being said, I've been caught out in the dark a few times. When I'm out in the dark, I do regularly find myself wishing I had more light BUT it's never been in front of the car (what a light bar would do). What I find myself looking for is more light to my sides. If I ever get lighting, it'll be some sort of ditch lights.

You see these massive 180 inch, quad LED collapsed Sun light bars in advertising and maybe they have a place on a desert racer where you're going 50, 60, or 70+ through the wilderness at night, but me? .. I'm going maybe 10 or 15 if it's dark. I've either got wildlife to contend with or washed out roads or snow.

 

[1engineer]

I loved the story but I think you're not quite being fair enough.

I drive off-road as much as I can. I had my car on the forest roads around Mt Rainier less than 24 hours after I drove it off the lot. That being said, I've been caught out in the dark a few times. When I'm out in the dark, I do regularly find myself wishing I had more light BUT it's never been in front of the car (what a light bar would do). What I find myself looking for is more light to my sides. If I ever get lighting, it'll be some sort of ditch lights.

You see these massive 180 inch, quad LED collapsed Sun light bars in advertising and maybe they have a place on a desert racer where you're going 50, 60, or 70+ through the wilderness at night, but me? .. I'm going maybe 10 or 15 if it's dark. I've either got wildlife to contend with or washed out roads or snow.

Actually I have several head (fits on your, you guessed it, head) lamps that I use around the house or when doing night rides on my mountain bike. I keep one in the 4Runner and have used it a time or two when off road after dark, usually when reaching a sketchy portion (deep mud hole usually) and need to get out and take a closer look before venturing forward.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

You asked. Out here in booney N. Nevada there is no light at all at night except moon and stars. The stock incandescents that came on the truck are more than adequate. You guys must all be blind from having your noses in a smart phone all day long.

If all these LEDs were so necessary don't you think the local ranchers would have them all over their trucks? Never seen even ONE.

 

[barryhiram]

I'm about to try the same thing. I have mine on its own switch currently and plan to tap in to the high beam hot wire between the stock hb plug and my LED ballast.

How did you wire yours?

Regarding the OPs question. El Cheapo $65 ebay special ($50 on Amazon) yielded a 42" lightbar + $25 rigid harness + $10 switches= quick way to turn back roads to day time.

Check out my sig

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/159174-factory-style-fog-light-switch-fits-knock-out.html

 

[barryhiram]

I'm not exaggerating when I say I use mine almost every day. Coming home late at night on 2 lane country roads I see all kinds of critters on the side of the road. Makes me feel better, at least, seeing them...lol.

The rear lights and bumper LED's I use to hook up my boat at night- hell I even light up the side of the house when taking the trash out on Thursday nights.


All the time i use them. But then again, I'm not normal (well documented).

^^^^ Ditto :naughty:, except for the trash comment. For that I mount a big arss LED on the house with a motion sensor............



7700 Lumens High-Output LED Floodlight E-HL7 Series | 5000K | Dark Bronze

 

[rtinniste]

Mine is on almost all of the time when I am on trail. Day time included. During the day it's a safety tool making sure that the rigs in front can see me behind them, and that any oncoming traffic (trucks, side by sides, dirt bikes, etc) can see me that much sooner. It was a must in Death Valley because dust makes traveling on the roads very sketchy at times. On the road, I use it the same way that I would use my high-beams. No one around, light on. Coming up to a car in my lane, or any oncoming traffic, light off. There is definitely such a thing as too many LED bars/pods, but they do have their uses when installed strategically.

Same if I hit dirt the lightbar is on day or night I still need to figure out a rear facing amber or chase light setup. I want it to be known exactly where I'm at in the dust. Last time we did miller jeep trail we took the fire road out the dust was horrible, 8 trucks with lockers and spools, about a minute gap will get rid of visibility real quick.

Can't agree more with being noticed to oncoming riders/vehicles. With how the side by side kooks ride, I can't even give a count of how many times I've almost been clipped on my bike. Those tools will barrel past you without slowing down or giving a group count.


I feel like I use my light bar alot for random things lighting up our campsite, lighting up the hillside when we go shooting at night. I guess if you live in the city there's no need for extra lights, but being that I live less then a mile from the closest trail we are out there every weekend exploring I get my use out of them.

My last dodge 42" bumper mounted, 2 6" ambers behind the grille and a 6" rear facing amber.
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I run 2 rigid dually spots wired to my highbeam and my head light tinted amber for dust light. Bike see's maybe 50 road miles at most a year and that's when its setup for supermoto.
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