New SAE driving lights, stealth bars, and ditch lights by Diode Dynamics

[mynameistory]

Diode Dynamics just announced new kits available for the 5th gen 4Runner. If you're not familiar with Diode Dynamics, all of their lights use TIR (total internal reflection) optics. These optics are much more advanced than standard projectors or reflector cones. They're designed to capture all of the light leaving an LED chip and direct it off of a controlled surface, which reduces unneeded glare and increases intensity.

The first is an upper grill mounting kit for dual 6" bar driving beams. They are SAE J581 compliant, which means they are street legal to use as auxiliary high beams. This is the first bolt-on implementation I've seen for the 4Runner, and it makes a great option for people looking to get the most use out of their lights. They also have introduced stealth kits to mount their 30" bars in the lower grill (1 or 2).

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S751-HGFUF4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I must say that I prefer my version using their 4000K SS3 pro lamps, but I had to design custom brackets in order to make them work..

The next product is ditch light brackets, to which you can use universally with any light, or option SS3 or SSC2 lights. Nothing ground-breaking here but their brackets are well-designed.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uSew4B8Wrrw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[BuckeyeT4R]

That's a pretty unique application for those lights. I like it. How is the throw from that position?

 

[rhadam]

That e-mail this morning made my day. Especially since I had e-mailed them earlier this year regarding just this application. Definitely picking up the upper grille 6" x 2 setup. Just need to decide whether I want to stay amber everything, or a set of whites for driving. This will be my 5th Diode purchase, can't say enough good things.

 

[mynameistory]

That's a pretty unique application for those lights. I like it. How is the throw from that position?

They're excellent little lights with a lot of punch. They supplement the high beams nicely on dark roads, and I much prefer the warm 4000K color to the cool blue lights that Rigid seems to like. The bar on my roof is DD too, but they only offer one emitter color for those (5700K). At least it's a bit more neutral white.

I have the auxiliary lamps wired with a rocker switch- off, on anytime, or triggered with the high beam switch (which shuts off the fog lights to maintain street legality).

That e-mail this morning made my day. Especially since I had e-mailed them earlier this year regarding just this application. Definitely picking up the upper grille 6" x 2 setup. Just need to decide whether I want to stay amber everything, or a set of whites for driving. This will be my 5th Diode purchase, can't say enough good things.

You might already know this, but for others' consideration: per the SAE J581 spec, auxiliary high beams are only street legal when they are white (no amber or yellow allowed).

You can option amber/yellow in the fog pattern, but per J583 fog spec you cannot have more than 1 pair of fog lights on at a time so I'm not sure why anyone would run this in parallel with factory fogs. Especially when the SS3 fog light replacements are best in class.

 

[jawkdna]

I love all my Diode Dynamics stuff... now I thnking about swapping out my KCHiLiTES 30" C Series C30 for one of those Amber Combo ones from DD.

 

[mynameistory]

I love all my Diode Dynamics stuff... now I thnking about swapping out my KCHiLiTES 30" C Series C30 for one of those Amber Combo ones from DD.

Keep in mind that the amber bars are much less efficient than the clear optics, because of the color filtration required. The pod lights have warmer color temperature emitters for their yellow lights, so they have less tinting (and greater efficiency).

 

[?????]

Here's to hoping they offer a mount and light to fill the upper grill with one light bar.

 

[Too Stroked]

The Diode Dynamics SS3 Max selective yellow fogs were the very first lighting mod I did to my new 4Runner. They are without a doubt the best performing fog lights on the market today. And don't think you have to go with the Max model to get great performance, the Sports are probably the best bang for the buck out there and the Pros are even better.

As for the new brackets, I like what I see and have purchased the upper grill from a 2019 to replace the one in my 2021 to get rid of the chrome horizontal bar that would interfere with light output. I'm still thinking of trying to find a way to get my 30" DD Stage LED bar stuffed up in there though. I've got to get an up close look at the DD brackets to see if they might do the trick.

As for the lower grill, those of us with 2020+ 4Runners are kind of screwed on the DD brackets due to the sensors in the center of our grills. Sure, one might be able to still slide an LED bar (or two) in there, but approximately 30% of the output would be totally blocked. Bummer.

 

[17KT4R]

Awesome, thx for posting but guess I wasn't quick enough on the dual 6" bar driving beams... already on back order, I'm in queue. Was waiting for something at this price point and I've been a DD customer since new as well with headlights (strangely they aren't selling the SL1's anymore for low beam application).

This additional lighting is all that I was looking for to add on the front end and I think the DD products have excellent build quality. Looking forward to getting them (3-4 weeks back order, maybe they are still in production who knows). Thx again...

 

[NB17Limited]

strangely they aren't selling the SL1's anymore for low beam application.

I believe some government agency is getting more strict about LED low beams. I got an email from Amazon regarding some LED drop ins I had already returned. They said the lights couldn’t be used as low beams because they were found to be too scattered so they were offering to take them back and refund the money

 

[mynameistory]

I believe some government agency is getting more strict about LED low beams. I got an email from Amazon regarding some LED drop ins I had already returned. They said the lights couldn’t be used as low beams because they were found to be too scattered so they were offering to take them back and refund the money

This is correct. The NHTSA is cracking down on drop-in LED bulbs. Stateside manufacturers have the most to lose so they've stopped selling them for headlight applications. Overseas companies will still sell you that junk because they don't care.

 

[mynameistory]

Awesome, thx for posting but guess I wasn't quick enough on the dual 6" bar driving beams... already on back order, I'm in queue. Was waiting for something at this price point and I've been a DD customer since new as well with headlights (strangely they aren't selling the SL1's anymore for low beam application).

This additional lighting is all that I was looking for to add on the front end and I think the DD products have excellent build quality. Looking forward to getting them (3-4 weeks back order, maybe they are still in production who knows). Thx again...

DD usually does a Memorial Day sale if you can stand to wait a little longer. And ordering from Colton at hotshotoffroad.com is a great experience. He'll honor sale prices plus free shipping.

 

[17KT4R]

DD usually does a Memorial Day sale if you can stand to wait a little longer. And ordering from Colton at hotshotoffroad.com is a great experience. He'll honor sale prices plus free shipping.

I get screwed on shipping regardless (Canuckistan) so I’d rather get in queue for them now. But if they post a sale maybe I’ll ask for the difference if they’ve not shipped yet. Thx for the info.

As for the NHTSA mention on the low beams, I get that but I chose the DD SL1’s for the quality and expected OEM performance. I can’t fault them after 3 solid years they perform as good as what’s in the wife’s Corolla and look the same to me against the roadway but my night vision is still pretty good fortunately LoL.

If they won’t sell them anymore I doubt I’ll try another brand, just put the OEM bulbs back in probably when one fails. Too bad though they are solid units I think.

Seems they could keep selling them just state the Off Road only use disclaimer.

 

[mynameistory]

I get screwed on shipping regardless (Canuckistan) so I’d rather get in queue for them now. But if they post a sale maybe I’ll ask for the difference if they’ve not shipped yet. Thx for the info.

As for the NHTSA mention on the low beams, I get that but I chose the DD SL1’s for the quality and expected OEM performance. I can’t fault them after 3 solid years they perform as good as what’s in the wife’s Corolla and look the same to me against the roadway but my night vision is still pretty good fortunately LoL.

If they won’t sell them anymore I doubt I’ll try another brand, just put the OEM bulbs back in probably when one fails. Too bad though they are solid units I think.

Seems they could keep selling them just state the Off Road only use disclaimer.

I know this sounds counterintuitive, but many drop-in LED bulbs are actually worse performing than the factory halogen bulbs. LED chips can be brighter, but their construction destroys the focal point of the factory reflector bowl. What this means is that the light is brighter, but only for the first couple dozen feet or so. The focus and intensity tapers off dramatically with distance. Plus the increased foreground light both dilates your pupils more and pulls your focus closer to the front of your truck instead of out at a distance. This is the reason why the NHTSA is cracking down on them.

Take a look at the review of the SL1, you'll see what I mean.

 

[Jrunr]

Does anyone have pics of the output of the 2 x 6” LED bars in the upper grille?

 

[mynameistory]

Does anyone have pics of the output of the 2 x 6” LED bars in the upper grille?

I responded to your DM. Don't know if anyone has output pictures for the DD driving bars yet. I'll try to get some of my SS3 driving lights soon.

 

[Jrunr]

I responded to your DM. Don't know if anyone has output pictures for the DD driving bars yet. I'll try to get some of my SS3 driving lights soon.

Awesome. Thank you. I would really like to see what they add to the high beams.

 

[PNW_Red4Runner]

Diode Dynamics just announced new kits available for the 5th gen 4Runner. If you're not familiar with Diode Dynamics, all of their lights use TIR (total internal reflection) optics. These optics are much more advanced than standard projectors or reflector cones. They're designed to capture all of the light leaving an LED chip and direct it off of a controlled surface, which reduces unneeded glare and increases intensity.

The first is an upper grill mounting kit for dual 6" bar driving beams. They are SAE J581 compliant, which means they are street legal to use as auxiliary high beams. This is the first bolt-on implementation I've seen for the 4Runner, and it makes a great option for people looking to get the most use out of their lights. They also have introduced stealth kits to mount their 30" bars in the lower grill (1 or 2).

I must say that I prefer my version using their 4000K SS3 pro lamps, but I had to design custom brackets in order to make them work..

The next product is ditch light brackets, to which you can use universally with any light, or option SS3 or SSC2 lights. Nothing ground-breaking here but their brackets are well-designed.

So far, I'm the most interested in this setup as it keeps the light higher up! I was wondering if:
1) you would be able to provide any pictures on how it was mounted behind the upper grill and how you sourced your bracket
2) you think it would be possible to fit 4 lights (2 on each side) of a non-TRD grill (with the Toyota emblem) in the upper grill.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mynameistory]

So far, I'm the most interested in this setup as it keeps the light higher up! I was wondering if:
1) you would be able to provide any pictures on how it was mounted behind the upper grill and how you sourced your bracket
2) you think it would be possible to fit 4 lights (2 on each side) of a non-TRD grill (with the Toyota emblem) in the upper grill.

Thanks in advance!

Sure, here's a picture.

The brackets are my design, I drew them up and cut them on a CNC plasma cutter. I don't have any plans to sell them at this point. I feel like they are not quite ready for primetime, because the way they "lay back" causes the grille support to twist and vibrate when driving off-road. This causes the lights to shake noticeably.

As for mounting another pair, I've thought about that. However, doing it the same way would cause the bar to twist even more, and might even break something.

I'm considering a re-designed bracket system that will allow more SS3s to be mounted while also having more support, but I'm not sure if my idea will work (or if I'll have time).

 

[PNW_Red4Runner]

Thanks - much appreciated! Also, very jealous that you have the tools and know-how to fabricate your own mounts! I was playing around with the idea of maybe creating a long bar that captures all 4 bolts on the grill support, and somehow connecting them to the radiator support for added rigidity. I'm excited, as it seems that there would be enough space to install 2 pairs of lights in the upper grill.