LED light bars - used how often and when?

[e60ral]

I'm not a fan of lightbars on during the day on trail rides, they are too bright and unnecessary. i've been distracted a few times having a bright lightbar behind me on trailrides and i've seen spotters get blinded by lightbars.

they just aren't necessary on trailrides, the only reason anyone turns them on is to look cool. having your parking lights or regular lights is plenty to locate the convoy.

 

[SierraMare]

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.

Much simpler solution for those looking for increased visibility in dusty conditions without the cost of light bars...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UIB6BT0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3E2DWSR0BCUHD&coliid=I13SA7TX0H1V4I

 

[stphnman20]

I have it behind the grill. It's what the cool guys are doing nowadays. Never know if you're ever going on a night run.

 

[jwkilgore]

Back in the day I was more into sports cars, but my brother has an experience similar to 1engineer's above. He spent way too much money on a set of four KC's for his old Landcruiser (two straight ahead, two toward the ditch). We did use them on our very rural local roads (deer were a real problem crossing the swamp), but honestly could have easily lived without them.

Long-throw central lightbars are useless unless you're doing high-speed driving in the desert. Maybe if you're one of those people who drive waaaay too fast down isolated 2-lane roads with no oncoming traffic.

If you want to get extra lights, get some that are more useful. If a light-bar get a wide-angle model that helps light up to the sides. Or a-pillar ditch lights. Or supplimental back-up lights. Or side-throw floods for camping. Or rock lights if you traverse rough terrain after dark.

 

[Simpleman74]

I run a 40" RIGID radiance... only time I ever use it is to light a campsite if we get there after sundown or when people cut me off:target:

 

[ColoradoToyota]

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.

aka get off my lawn!

Lolololol. Very insightful contribution. Surprised you even know how to work a computer out there! And so glad you evidently still have excellent vision. Not sure why you even turn your headlights on when you could keep it old school and operate by moonlight.

The stock lights on my 2016 truck are pretty damn dim/disappointing in my opinion- significantly worse than the Autozone Silverstar replacement bulbs I used to put in my old Tacoma.

Light output is especially disappointing in the winter when they are glazed over with dirt/dust/snow, which is half the year here. In the boonies where it's very dark, they're obviously going to work better and feel brighter when there isn't ambient light everywhere.

I regularly drive to remote parts of Colorado (it's no Northern Nevada but areas that are remote by all other standards) and see plenty of local ranch trucks with cubes and light bars.

Anyway, I use my 30" bar pretty regularly (obviously not with oncoming traffic or when following anyone), it's a spot/flood combo and it greatly improves lighting to the sides and down the road. I got it after totaling my first 2016 4runner after hitting an elk in the dark on a remote Montana highway. Would the lightbar prevent the same incident? Probably not, but I'm more comfortable with better visibility. I'd prefer to have more lighting to the sides frankly, but not sure I want to add anything to the exterior of my truck (my lightbar is mounted behind the grill) - just like Ron here, I wouldn't want to look too fashionable.

Edit: BTW [MENTION=118209]Ron4RNevada[/MENTION] , I'm just giving you a hard time :lmao:

 

[mthrtrkr]

It's killing me not to put a $100 light bar on the front of my rack. But, since I don't drive at night in the desert, I am having a hard time thinking of when I would use it here in So Cal.

For those who have them, how often and when do you use them?

Thanks

When that guy blocks the intersection... you melt his eyes. :laser:

Plenty of places to go see right out of the city. Lightbar might give you a reason to go see them.

 

[fbksurferjoe]

I have an amazon special behind the grill, and i just picked up some baja design fog lights. I love the amber baja designs lights for just about everything. The lightbar doesnt go much further out than my headlights but it sure does light up everything in its path.... unless there is dust then I cant see anything. They are definitely not something used often, I often tell people to not get lights until they encounter an instance where they didn't have enough light. Then only buy the light needed to do what you needed in that instance.

 

[Paragon1]

They make a compelling argument to someone in the opposite lane with their high beams on.

 

[humbertx2]

I find that the stock headlights do well in areas with little ambient light. It makes sense that the light output attributed to them is not as noticeable in areas where there is more ambient light, less individual need for forward vehicle lighting, and a need to balance forward lighting so as not to impact other drivers.


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[V8eR_Runner]

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).

Anything above your headlights in illegal in Wisconsin. I found out the hard way during my summers spent in Door County driving my Jeep with ditch lights. Couldn't get to the switch in time and the Sheriff saw me and gave me a hefty ticket.

 

[Mariner]

Anything above your headlights in illegal in Wisconsin. I found out the hard way during my summers spent in Door County driving my Jeep with ditch lights. Couldn't get to the switch in time and the Sheriff saw me and gave me a hefty ticket.

Same in Virginia. In fact in VA, all offroad lights in general have to be off and covered. Mine were off, but not covered.

I got a $99 illegal tint ticket instead :/

But on my past truck, I had several offroad lights. I found out personally it was the biggest waste of money as I wasn't able to hit the dirt as often as I had hoped. If my 4Runner ever sees offroad lighting, they'll be smaller, cheaper additions.

 

[fbksurferjoe]

Same in Virginia. In fact in VA, all offroad lights in general have to be off and covered. Mine were off, but not covered.

I got a $99 illegal tint ticket instead :/

But on my past truck, I had several offroad lights. I found out personally it was the biggest waste of money as I wasn't able to hit the dirt as often as I had hoped. If my 4Runner ever sees offroad lighting, they'll be smaller, cheaper additions.

Not sure if this is a California thing or not but my friend got pulled over by a ranger and was told that he either needed to cover his lightbar or turn it down towards the ground. For some reason I thought LED bars were exempt from that rule but I guess not.

 

[MattAK]

I spent < $200 for my light bar, brackets, and switch. I used it more than a few times on various trips last year, both on trails and just flooding potential camping spots (since we always seem to set up when it's pitch dark for some reason). Plus it gives me an edge in the fight for the front of the line at night. So far I've been really happy with it and haven't felt like my money was wasted.

 

[WEAK_E90]

Anything above your headlights in illegal in Wisconsin. I found out the hard way during my summers spent in Door County driving my Jeep with ditch lights. Couldn't get to the switch in time and the Sheriff saw me and gave me a hefty ticket.

yea i was already aware of that. I still plan on throwing it up there.

Do you remember what the ticket was for?

not surprised at all that a sheriff in DC gave you a ticket... lol hell would have to freeze over for them to write a warning

 

[barryhiram]

Anything above your headlights in illegal in Wisconsin. I found out the hard way during my summers spent in Door County driving my Jeep with ditch lights. Couldn't get to the switch in time and the Sheriff saw me and gave me a hefty ticket.

Guess I'm good in Wisconsin........................ :eyebrows:

 

[Saker]

Guess I'm good in Wisconsin........................ :eyebrows:

NOPE, they are illegal, send them to me now! :faint: :whip: