Need Help with Driving Lights

Clemsonfan15

Clemsonfan15

New member
After searching for a while and not finding what I needed I figured I would just make a new thread.

I'm looking for a source of more light when driving. I already have the 99+ headlights and Silver Star Ultras. I'm probably going to put in some HIDs when the Silver Stars burn out, but I don't think even HIDs (without a retrofit) will give me the output I am looking for.

From what I've read, I think a pair of driving lights would really benefit me. My problem is where and how to mount them. I'm not sure if I want to drill into the stock bumper if it would leave visible holes. I have a roof rack, but don't know if it's legal to use roof lights on road.

Are the lights pretty simple to install? I want to put a switch inside so I can turn them on and off when I want to.

Questions:

1. What are the laws concerning lights on road?
2. Which lights should I get? I'm not looking to spend a lot, maybe $100-200. The Hella Black Magics look pretty nice.
3. Are there any guides to wiring the lights?
4. Where should I mount them?
5. Do the kits come with a switch or is it better to get a Toyota one?
 
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theres the hella 500s with black magic amazon has them for around 100 dollars shipped
i would throw out most of the wireing the hella's come with and run 14ga to the lights same for power and ground the rest is fine for the switch

green wire is a fused 12v source
 
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H4 HID kit in stock reflector housing is by far way to bright to drive on the road with. I love it. No retrofitting of proectors neccesary. Just bulbs and ballasts.

I'll never go back to hallogen.. :thumb3:
 
Have people been able to fit lights on their pre '99 bumpers? I was looking at it tonight and don't know if there is enough room there.
 
Clemson, haven't heard from you in a long while! how much are you looking to spend? cause the thought crossed my mind too to get HID's too but i kinda wanna keep my DRL's (kinda not) but i came across these HID driving lights you can mount in your lower grill area?
I have the PIAA 520's and from what i remember the lights arn't too hard to install, one conncetion goes to your battery one to a ground and one to an electrical source (i just hooked to one of the bults in the fuse box) but there are some smarter people that know their stuff that just hook it to a source that turns off when the truck is off but yeah check out these on amazon there about 2 bills and some change i think
 

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Thanks for the link Niles. That helped a lot. Still not sure if I want to drill into my bumper, but it's looking like that's the only option.

GottaBeTRD- Thanks for the info. I think you can install HIDs without disabling the DRL.



I just did a lot of searching and learned a lot. I started by looking at the Black Magics and that led me look into HID conversation for the driving lights. The Black Magics can't really be converted to HIDs because they are so skinny. The Hella 500s and 700s can though. I don't know if I would be happy with the output of the Black Magics or if I should buy some cheap 500s or 700s and convert them.

The Black Magics are about $100 compared to the 500s with HIDs at $100 and the 700s with HIDs at $115.

Anybody have any comments?
 
Laws vary by state

Okay first issue-your stock headlights are in your eyes-inadequate. My first thought would be to upgrade to the 99-02 version headlights. Clearer lenses and much better lighting. Many options on bulbs and so on....Guys have gone HID on those too I do believe...try them stock first you might be amazed.

Auxiliary lighting-driving lights. Until you have had a simple set of Hella 500s you might be amazed how well they perform. I got mine for like $46 on Amazon shipped. Shop around... get a deal...

Mounting options-you get a ARB bumper and voila! you have plenty of mounting options. Okay that's a bit pricey for just mounting some lights-but you get the benefit of a beefy a$$ bumper up front and people get outta the way when they see you coming....

Someone makes a light bar I have seen it somewhere around the forums-but let's face it if you're going to spend that kind of coin just to mount your lights then just save up for an ARB.

Lots of folks do drill into the OEM bumper-treat the holes so you don't encourage rust.

Hard to wire up? Well they can be-do you want them to activate automatically when you go to your brights?-that is the way Hella designs the relay wiring system.

In my mind that is complicated and cumbersome so just wire them up direct to a switch. Use a fuse...draw the power right from the battery-into the cabin to the switch-send signal back to the lights. Ground the switch...you do one pair of these and you'll be an expert my friend. As stated if you use a power source that is "switched" (instead of to the battery directly) then some fool can not accidently bump the switch and leave them on.

As Elton says-toss the wiring Hella includes with the kit and upgrade to 14 or 16 gauge . Their switches work fine-you likely have a blank "plate" to left of your steering column to use for the switch-or you can get a Toyota fog light switch if you are so inclined.

link to the switches in my ride-I actually used the Hella round switch for my rock lights under the bumper-the Toyota switch is for my Hellas.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?a...95132731#!/photo.php?pid=361234&id=1685665075

Try the 500s plain for awhile and then if you feel the need to compete with sunlight you can always upgrade them to HID ballasts. I have not found the need ...yet. Another suggestion get the $10 clear lens covers-that way you can flip them on anytime without having to remove the lens covers. Blast that fool coming at ya with the brights with your 500s-he is going to notice it more than just your brights...

Mounting on the roof? Too much reflection I read for some folks-keep the lights out front.:sleepy:
 
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Thanks for the informative reply. I already have '99+ headlights with Silver Star Ultras in them. I'm probably going to put HIDs in when the Silver Stars die (going on two years now).

There is a light bar made by Defiant. It costs over $250 before shipping. Like you said, that is a lot of money to pay to just mount lights.

I've pretty much ruled out the idea of mounting them to the rack. I actually want to use them on road and having them up there would probably attract too much attention.

I definitely want to have a switch for them so that I am in control of them. Where did you get your Toyota switch and how much was it?

Do you know how the 700s compare to the 500s?

Would adding HIDs later cause me to have to rewire everything?


I know...lots of questions. Ha.
 
Clem, your starting to sound like me buddy! Im a light output fanatic, and its getting frustrating.

the biggest issues ive run into have been legality of everything that i want to do. Im taking my sweet time, but im doing a projector retrofit with my 01 housings so i can run hid's and get the best output possible, and im looking at doing hid's in my fog lights too. in actuality i would like to get a set of piaa 525's since they have a high and low beam function in one lighting unit. eventually ill mount 4 more lights to the roof, but they will be covered, and easily uncovered, but so im not tempted to use them on the road (not quite legal)

from what i hear out here in California, you can only have 4 forward facing lights on simultaneously, so thats why i want to go hid's in as many places as i can. in your current situation, its all really dependent if you want more light flooding the road at all times, or more light for high beam use.
 
Good point man. I think I'd rather have light available whenever I want it instead of only when the high beams are on. I just like to be in control of when I want to use stuff.

I was reading up on our laws and they are very ambiguous. I know for sure that we can only have four facing the front, including the headlights. Then it said something about lights that extend more than 300 feet and how you could only use those going less than 35 MPH.

Those PIAA's are nice, but pretty pricy.

How the retrofit coming?
 
the Toyota switch-dealership item-around $10, wait for one of their coupons.

No experience with Hella 700s. No experience with HIDs.
 
its taking me a while, because i want it to be perfect..... and thats not always easy to do.

from what your explaining to me, you want some beefy fog lights to flood the road with light while your driving, at all times. i say you get a set of hella's and run the stock bulbs for now, because if you upgrade them to hid's your going to want to do your headlights then too. and if you do go with fog, mount them lower than your headlights, maybe fab a little bracket to do some free floating lights like the 4th gens

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/accessories/6027-hella-500-floating-front-bumper-mounts-install-pics.html
 
SilverBullet01 said:
its taking me a while, because i want it to be perfect..... and thats not always easy to do.

from what your explaining to me, you want some beefy fog lights to flood the road with light while your driving, at all times. i say you get a set of hella's and run the stock bulbs for now, because if you upgrade them to hid's your going to want to do your headlights then too. and if you do go with fog, mount them lower than your headlights, maybe fab a little bracket to do some free floating lights like the 4th gens

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/accessories/6027-hella-500-floating-front-bumper-mounts-install-pics.html
Click to expand...

That's a good suggestion. Now I just need to see if that's possible to do on our 3rd Gens. They would look really good mounted like that.
 
I know that the most of the states require no more then 4 forward facing lights can be on at one time and must be DOT approved. Also most states have a law about not being above the factory headlights or a maximum height they can be. Make sure you dont buy Off-Road only lights and try to use them on the street you can and will get a ticket.
 
Pikeman said:
I know that the most of the states require no more then 4 forward facing lights can be on at one time and must be DOT approved. Also most states have a law about not being above the factory headlights or a maximum height they can be. Make sure you dont buy Off-Road only lights and try to use them on the street you can and will get a ticket.
Click to expand...

Would those four include the headlights? Do the Hellas count as offroad only lights?
 
link up

fog light switch help - YotaTech Forums

regarding the previously mentioned Toyota switch -from a thread over on YT

some states interpret the 4 lights as 2 headlights and 2 parking lights, so in essence you're breaking the law running any fogs or driving lights.

I'd just talk to a cop and get their input...
 
Thanks for that link.

Does the FF mean that the light is more focused and the regular Hellas have a more spread out pattern?
 
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lemme know if u need any other pictures from different angles
 
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