Light bar above the windshield question

[Cow_doc.308]

I'm looking at adding a 40 inch light bar above my windshield using Downpours brackets.

For those of you that have them, do they cause a lot of glare? I've seen a couple times they can reflect off the hood.

I guess is there any reason not to put one up there? Or should I put a smaller one in the bumper/grill?

 

[Bretski1]

IMHO, they look like this. Super sexy but something just isn't quite right.

 

[KidVermicious]

I guess is there any reason not to put one up there?

You mean besides glare, wind noise, and looking like a dork? Nope.

 

[JeepKiller]

Unless they're huge "racing" lights then I've always thought the general rule was to not mount any lights on the roof line (Baja wrote an article on it but I can't find it) There's no reason for it to be on the roof line, it won't throw as far, you'll get hood reflection, and if your bar whistles it's going to whistle right over your head. And you'll look like a high schooler.

 

[Cow_doc.308]

Hood reflection is what I'm most worried about. My 4runner hardly leaves the deer lease. I don't drive it daily anymore. I honestly don't care if it looks dorky. I'm going for function over form.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I just put one in my bumper a few weeks back. It's only 24" but puts out plenty of light on dark country roads like I was looking for. It projects plenty far as well, it's the beam angle that projects, not the height. The only time a bumper light has limitations is if you are rock crawling at the light is obstructed. But then one wonders why you would be rock crawling at night.

 

[JeepKiller]

Unless you mount it on a rack behind your sunroof then you're going to get hood reflection. Although if you're dead set on mounting one above the windshield I'd go with an all spot bar to try to minimize the amount of light going down and hitting the hood. Bumper mount it safe some money and it'll be more effective in most situations especially fog.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

I know you said it'll not be on the road much, but I'd check Texas law. In Missouri a light can't be mounted more than 42" from the ground. I see Jeeps with roof-mounted bars all the time, but if you get pulled over, it'll be just one more thing to get hassled about (and maybe a ticket for that if no other reason).

 

[mountain mike]

I have a 42 curved mounted above the windshield. There really isn't much glare coming off the hood. Where most of the glare comes from is the actual windshield. You get dust on the windshield and then the light reflects off of the dust.

 

[Brveagle]

I have downpours mounts and a 40.5" light bar.
No wind noise. No HOOD glare, but windshield glare is annoying. Not much one can really do about it.

I also live in MO, and while it may be illegal to have a roof light bar mounted (and on?), i just choose to roll the dice.

Now that i have typed this, i am sure i will get pulled over this week.

 

[Davy180]

I have a 42" curved bar mounted on my roof rack and I barely get any hood glare. I think its set back far enough and I am sure the wind diffuser helps block the light from hitting the windshield. I like having it that high because it lights up everything. As for wind noise I believe the diffuser helps with that too and I don't have any whistling just a light turbulence sound. Nothing major, with the sunroof shade closed I barely hear it or not at all.

Hope this helps!

 

[TXRick]

I've got dp's brackets. I like the look, no noticeable wind noise but I get lots of good glare. Going to flat black my hood and tint the top of my windshield 6" I've got spot/flood combo but am going to get just a spot.

 

[mountain mike]

I've got dp's brackets. I like the look, no noticeable wind noise but I get lots of good glare. Going to flat black my hood and tint the top of my windshield 6" I've got spot/flood combo but am going to get just a spot.

FWIW, I was able to get rid of most of the hood glare with adjusting the light up a little bit to keep the beam off the hood.

 

[TXRick]

FWIW, I was able to get rid of most of the hood glare with adjusting the light up a little bit to keep the beam off the hood.

I tried that but with the way the cord comes out the back, it won't let me adjust it up too much, I guess I could flip it over so the cord comes out the top. White hood and flood/spot combo don't do me any favors either.

 

[mountain mike]

I tried that but with the way the cord comes out the back, it won't let me adjust it up too much, I guess I could flip it over so the cord comes out the top. White hood and flood/spot combo don't do me any favors either.

I didn't think about yours being white contributing to the issue, but I can see how it could.

I am not sure how your light is wired , but if you flipped the light bar over I would guess the harness would be on the other side of the 4Runner and cause you to have to rewire it. No fun!

 

[TXRick]

I didn't think about yours being white contributing to the issue, but I can see how it could.

I am not sure how your light is wired , but if you flipped the light bar over I would guess the harness would be on the other side of the 4Runner and cause you to have to rewire it. No fun!

Nah, it comes out right in the middle. I just gotta wait for a kid to get home from school or practice or girlfriends house and I'll get em to help me.

 

[48HMSFAN]

Roof Mounted Lights are Great!

So I guess I am a dork times four, since I have roof mount lights on all sides. They are great for adding light when needed at camp -- mine are wired "hot" so I don't even need the ignition to be powered on. I also added a battery tender to the engine bay, so I can use my generator as shore power to prevent battery drain. Finally I had 20" side lights wired into my alarm so that I can hit the panic button and they will come, and stay on, great for getting rid of that pesky bear that keeps visiting my camp!

I also find them useful on the trail for seeing the "hidden" side trails, and navigating tight spots. Night trail rides are awesome, and make the trail you rode all day seem brand new! The rear lights are especially helpful when connecting my trailer at night.

P.S. -- I've never been bothered by glare...might be all the dirt on the hood that dulls the shine?!?!

I used a Thule load bar to mount my front 40" -- allowing me to reposition as needed and/or replace without worrying if the the holes I could have drilled would still work.

Hope this helps! Happy Trails!

 

[kolelt]

I have dp mounts also. They are nice quality mounts. I think the light bar looks sick on my 4runner. I do have glare on my hood, but the light is powerful and still does the job. I like how the top of the light bar is almost flush with my roof. Less things it can get caught on. It wissles once in a while. Obviously you kinda need a full lenght roofrack to mount on the roof rack and get it close to the front.


Nothing against slags mounts. But have you seen these ? This guy also makes Toyota symbol one also.
TRD Tacoma 4Runner Roof Radius Curved 40" 42" LED Light Bar Mounts Brackets | eBay

Many trucks have light bars on wind shield. If you don't want to drill holes in your truck, or afraid of little glare. Then mount it on the roof.

 

[kolelt]

I must add, it has saved me plenty of times at night from hitting a deer and seeing a human joging late at night from far away ! but the light is kinda useless when its fogy/snowy/rainy. Everything looks so close, snowflakes, rain drops. It actually sucks to have it on during rain or fog.


My back is set up on the roof rack. This was my old light before it got stollen. I now have a new one with custom metal mounts that I made. And I have the nuts, and the mounts tax welded to the roof rack. Same goes for the front. I have the Allen key bolts tac welded to the mounts them selfs !