Lighting advice

[smeagol]

Looking for some input on my lighting needs. I'm no expert, so appreciate any informed feedback.

Some background:

2007 4Runner with V8
Addicted Offroad front bumper (factory foglights removed, but has accommodations for up to 24" LED light bar)
Lot of cross country towing trips (20' travel trailer) with family
Lifted, plan on light offroading
Expedition style trips are in my bucketlist (Alaska roadtrip being high on that list)

I've done ~10k miles in road trips this past year. Plan on lots more in future, and I've found the lighting needs some help in rural areas, especially during bad weather. I rarely drive faster than 65 mph, especially on long trips where I'm towing.

From everything I've read the LED's are bright, but between the short range brightness and lack of focus/cutoff, aren't well suited to on road usage. They are very popular of course, but I'm curious if there have been improvements in this area.

Questions:
Are any LED lightbars suitable for on road needs?
Is the HID projector swap the absolute best solution?
Given my bumper has some room for other headlight installations, are there any good mountable solutions as alternatives?

I have the ability to do an HID swap myself, but no time. I've gotten quotes around $1k for a D2S 4.0 swap, which sounds like the best solution currently.

IF I was confident that good bulbs in the factory headlights + a good quality LED light bar would be sufficient, I might go that route. The HID projector route worries me a bit, due to budget, and long term maintenance (replacing bulbs, ballasts, non OEM wiring, etc). I hate the thought of a ballast or bulb going out and I can't stop in the local parts shop to pick up replacements.

Right now my gut is telling me I should do the HID projector swap, and get a budget/decent quality 12-24" light bar at the bumper for offroad utility (and as backup in case of HID failure).

 

[wadle5]

Looking for some input on my lighting needs. I'm no expert, so appreciate any informed feedback.

Some background:

2007 4Runner with V8
Addicted Offroad front bumper (factory foglights removed, but has accommodations for up to 24" LED light bar)
Lot of cross country towing trips (20' travel trailer) with family
Lifted, plan on light offroading
Expedition style trips are in my bucketlist (Alaska roadtrip being high on that list)

I've done ~10k miles in road trips this past year. Plan on lots more in future, and I've found the lighting needs some help in rural areas, especially during bad weather. I rarely drive faster than 65 mph, especially on long trips where I'm towing.

From everything I've read the LED's are bright, but between the short range brightness and lack of focus/cutoff, aren't well suited to on road usage. They are very popular of course, but I'm curious if there have been improvements in this area.

Questions:
Are any LED lightbars suitable for on road needs?
Is the HID projector swap the absolute best solution?
Given my bumper has some room for other headlight installations, are there any good mountable solutions as alternatives?

I have the ability to do an HID swap myself, but no time. I've gotten quotes around $1k for a D2S 4.0 swap, which sounds like the best solution currently.

IF I was confident that good bulbs in the factory headlights + a good quality LED light bar would be sufficient, I might go that route. The HID projector route worries me a bit, due to budget, and long term maintenance (replacing bulbs, ballasts, non OEM wiring, etc). I hate the thought of a ballast or bulb going out and I can't stop in the local parts shop to pick up replacements.

Right now my gut is telling me I should do the HID projector swap, and get a budget/decent quality 12-24" light bar at the bumper for offroad utility (and as backup in case of HID failure).

Only road legal LED light CUBES are the rigid ones that I am aware of. I personally run a knock off brand that accepts Rigid covers, and run amber lights in inclement weather. The HID swap is a possibility, but I know with my rural driving I prefer the lightbar/led cubes in my fog lights/and running my brights. I think since you do already have the front bumper this is a great chance to mount some more offroad designated lighting as opposed to just modifying your headlamps. The other benefit is if and when you go to sell you can always take the offroad lights/bars with you to your next vehicle. I know my buddy on his Tundra runs some aftermarket lamps on his bull bar that are a combo spot/flood led and he uses them on construction sites all the time and to get through the sites at night where there is no proper street lighting. It really just comes down to budget I think. Good luck and let us know what you end up doing.

 

[wadle5]

Heres maybe a good start on some gear:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-...-run-d-led-pods-rotopax-dometic-tred-pro.html

 

[alia176]

From everything I've read the LED's are bright, but between the short range brightness and lack of focus/cutoff, aren't well suited to on road usage. They are very popular of course, but I'm curious if there have been improvements in this area.

You're very correct, LED bars aren't suitable for the hwy where you need to see something far away. This is due to simply physics, there is no focal length when you have a tiny bulb housing. However, I have to admit, they're great for an immediate in front of the vehicle flood light. I often wish I had this feature when I roll into camp at midnight. I may have to break down and get a short LED bar for the front.

 

[NinjaOne]

There are a ton of great LED products out there, only a couple that are "legal" for road use. The ones that are legal for road use are largely fogs

Rigid and Baja Designs both offer road-legal fog bars (~6"?)

Most of the good quality LED lights offer good down-road performance in their spot/driving lights. Look at some videos of Rigid lights to get an idea of downrange performance

I have a 32" OPT7 combo lightbar (mid-grade off-brand) that I use when I use my brights on back roads. For $70, I can't complain. Usable light is about ~100' further than my brights.

 

[kevinpt]

check out auxbeam 4d light bars. im running the 4d pods and they are a great spot beam

 

[cloudrunner]

Having both HID's and LED cubes I can offer some insight that might make your decision a bit easier. You are correct about the HID bulbs/ballasts going out all of the time. I have them in my low beams, high beams and fog lights and it seems like I am constantly replacing either a bulb or ballast every 6 months. The light output of the HID is decent, but no where near as bright as my LED's.

I think a great, cost effective upgrade for you is to purchase the CBI ditch light brackets and then mount the Rigid Industries Dually D2 in driving light pattern. I have these and switch them on anytime I need them. The duallys are incredibly bright and the driving pattern offers a beam that is both wide and far reaching. They are so bright that they completely drown out my HID's in brilliant white light. I promise you will not be dissapointed.

Just my .02.

 

[smeagol]

Thanks for all the feedback thus far.

I definitely have seen some bright lights mentioned in this thread, but I haven't seen any reviews/videos of the LED products that display a strong cut off giving me confidence in using them on road. Used as offroad or as auxiliary, very good options.

I've seen some LED light products that look like they have some good projectors that could offer the cut off I'm looking for, but I haven't seen video/picture evidence of that.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Thanks for all the feedback thus far.

I definitely have seen some bright lights mentioned in this thread, but I haven't seen any reviews/videos of the LED products that display a strong cut off giving me confidence in using them on road. Used as offroad or as auxiliary, very good options.

I've seen some LED light products that look like they have some good projectors that could offer the cut off I'm looking for, but I haven't seen video/picture evidence of that.

Rigid SAE Compliant Fog Light Set

I'm getting these for my front bumper once I build mine. Should be good for on-road use if adjust properly of course.

I will probably keep my headlights stock, I just don't want to worry or have to deal with any unreliability with those. These lights coupled with some wide angle Baja Designs cubes or a cheap light bar will be more than enough for me. I don't need the 2 XL-80's my brother has on his FJ, complete overkill for anything other than the apocalypse.