Rigid 360 6 inch as ditch lights..gut check fail.

[shrub1]

Could very well have been the quarantine that got the better of me, but I failed and now need feedback to revamp the project, properly.

I really wanted large circular lights for forward lighting off the a-pillar. I bought the most heavy ditch light brackets I could find, SDHQ and drilled an extra hole so that each Rigid 6 inch light would get two bolts though the mount. It shakes..even when slamming the door and when driving on road. Can't even image how bad it would be off road. The lights are not moving, it's the ditch brackets vibrating. The lights are just too heavy, about 3 lbs a pop. I should have known better.

Moving on...I am now looking at getting the Baja Designs squadron pros, they are reported to be only 12 ounces each. Can I please get some firsthand feedback on those who runs those as ditch lights to see if they shake or vibe? Or other light suggestion are welcome as well.

 

[Xtremluck]

Could very well have been the quarantine that got the better of me, but I failed and now need feedback to revamp the project, properly.

I really wanted large circular lights for forward lighting off the a-pillar. I bought the most heavy ditch light brackets I could find, SDHQ and drilled an extra hole so that each Rigid 6 inch light would get two bolts though the mount. It shakes..even when slamming the door and when driving on road. Can't even image how bad it would be off road. The lights are not moving, it's the ditch brackets vibrating. The lights are just too heavy, about 3 lbs a pop. I should have known better.

Moving on...I am now looking at getting the Baja Designs squadron pros, they are reported to be only 12 ounces each. Can I please get some firsthand feedback on those who runs those as ditch lights to see if they shake or vibe? Or other light suggestion are welcome as well.

Have you thought of investing in high quality bumper lights for forward lighting instead? You're going to get a ton of glare coming off your hood if they are facing forward like that.

 

[ryguytheman]

My CBI mounts haven't wiggled even a tiny bit. No vibration, nothing. My lights apparently weigh 1.3 lbs a piece (or maybe that's the weight of the pair, not sure), and they're just some cheap Amazon pods. But they're bright as hell, been super happy with the performance for just $30.

 

[shrub1]

Have you thought of investing in high quality bumper lights for forward lighting instead? You're going to get a ton of glare coming off your hood if they are facing forward like that.

By bumper lights do you mean non SAE lights in the fog pockets? If so, yes and I've upgraded those to OEM LEDs because I want to use those for on road driving.
I am after an off road solution.

 

[shrub1]

My CBI mounts haven't wiggled even a tiny bit. No vibration, nothing. My lights apparently weigh 1.3 lbs a piece (or maybe that's the weight of the pair, not sure), and they're just some cheap Amazon pods. But they're bright as hell, been super happy with the performance for just $30.

Thanks. How much cutting and or heat gunning did you need to do (if any) for the CBI mounts? Seems hit or miss on those. I'll likely stay with the SDHQ mounts. I've seen some of the cheap lights and they are tempting.

 

[ryguytheman]

Thanks. How much cutting and or heat gunning did you need to do (if any) for the CBI mounts? Seems hit or miss on those. I'll likely stay with the SDHQ mounts. I've seen some of the cheap lights and they are tempting.

I took about 2 minutes with the heat gun to get the plastic warm, then closing the hood did the rest. The cowling molded around the mounts just fine.

I doubt there is a ton of difference between our products as far as quality goes, I'd be curious to see if yours still wiggle with a smaller light.

The product durability testing videos sold me on trying these, haha.
Amazon.com: LED Pods Flood Light Bar - 4WDKING 2PCS 40W LED Off Road Work Light Truck Fog Lamp Tail Light IP69K Waterproof ATV Cube Lights Fit for FORD F150 Polaris RZR JEEP Wrangler: Automotive

 

[shrub1]

I took about 2 minutes with the heat gun to get the plastic warm, then closing the hood did the rest. The cowling molded around the mounts just fine.

I doubt there is a ton of difference between our products as far as quality goes, I'd be curious to see if yours still wiggle with a smaller light.

The product durability testing videos sold me on trying these, haha.
Amazon.com: LED Pods Flood Light Bar - 4WDKING 2PCS 40W LED Off Road Work Light Truck Fog Lamp Tail Light IP69K Waterproof ATV Cube Lights Fit for FORD F150 Polaris RZR JEEP Wrangler: Automotive

Good info, thank you. Those lights are 10.4 ounces each.
I just think I over weighted the bracket with a heavy light. I'd am hoping with a sub 1 pound light there'd be no vibe or shaking. The BD S2's are tiny and only 8 ounces, no way those suckers would vibe, but I really want the squadron pro for the output.

 

[honda250xtitan]

By bumper lights do you mean non SAE lights in the fog pockets? If so, yes and I've upgraded those to OEM LEDs because I want to use those for on road driving.
I am after an off road solution.

he means mounting those rigids on the bumper/grille/a push bar bolted to the frame etc.

 

[shrub1]

he means mounting those rigids on the bumper/grille/a push bar bolted to the frame etc.

Gotcha.
Not interested in after an market bumper (nor a roof rack to mount lights to)
A mounting bar that bolts behind the grille to the frame (?) I'd look into that, I just haven't seen one. I'll do some searching for that. Also I'd need to confirm that the lights would not need to be covered if behind the grille (I am in CA). Having to remove covers from behind the grille is a no go. I believe they'd need to be covered, letter of the law.

 

[ncflyer]

Haven't driven around with them but seem solid post mounting so far...

BD pros on caliraised low profile mounts. Other than the molding mod likely same way to mount under hood (verify the bolts are tight under the hood??)

If you did decide to change up, may not need to do this on the cbi since the mine were the low style mounts but to get more clearance at the back with the hood raised reverse the bracket so it pushes the light fwd a bit. Pros are slightly larger than the sports most seem to use.

Good luck

 

[shrub1]

Haven't driven around with them but seem solid post mounting so far...

BD pros on caliraised low profile mounts. Other than the molding mod likely same way to mount under hood (verify the bolts are tight under the hood??)

If you did decide to change up, may not need to do this on the cbi since the mine were the low style mounts but to get more clearance at the back with the hood raised reverse the bracket so it pushes the light fwd a bit. Pros are slightly larger than the sports most seem to use.

Good luck

I want to say the squadron sports and pros are the same size. The XL's is where they start stepping up. I think.
Anyway, go drive that thing and let me know. lol

 

[honda250xtitan]

Gotcha.
Not interested in after an market bumper (nor a roof rack to mount lights to)
A mounting bar that bolts behind the grille to the frame (?) I'd look into that, I just haven't seen one. I'll do some searching for that. Also I'd need to confirm that the lights would not need to be covered if behind the grille (I am in CA). Having to remove covers from behind the grille is a no go. I believe they'd need to be covered, letter of the law.

someone posted the other day of one they built. it bolts to the frame horns thru the grille giving you a nice little bar to add lights to. i think if you search my name or "defiant" it'll pop up. its very similar to the defiant light bars from years ago on other trucks.

 

[shrub1]

someone posted the other day of one they built. it bolts to the frame horns thru the grille giving you a nice little bar to add lights to. i think if you search my name or "defiant" it'll pop up. its very similar to the defiant light bars from years ago on other trucks.

Thanks.
I'll search that.

 

[shrub1]

Anyone else have any first hand experience using BD squadrons as ditch lights?

 

[michalik.piotr6837]

I think caliraised makes brackets for round lights behind the grill. I made my own, it’s easy. I wouldn’t worry about covers. You can barely see them and I’m sure no one running light bars behind the grill, even in cali, has covers in them.

 

[rayofsi]

i've had a few sets of a pillar brackets, never really installed any. but the SDHQ was the most heavy duty there is.. If those vibrate, everything else will be much worse.

I have a whole bunch of cubes around, and the squadron pros are definitely nice, the diode dynamics ss3... are probably the nicest cubes by far.

I have XL 80s on my raptor, and even those seem big on a raptor but no vibration on the SDHQ A pillar brackets on my raptor.

 

[Xtremluck]

By bumper lights do you mean non SAE lights in the fog pockets? If so, yes and I've upgraded those to OEM LEDs because I want to use those for on road driving.
I am after an off road solution.

Got it. This is coming from a guy who has diagnosed night vision blindness and has tried everything under the sun for the perfect offroad lighting solution. When you put lighting sources near the hood like that glare is a factor. A light mounted above on your roof would probably be worse but for front facing light a high quality mid sized lightbar on your bumper is going to be a better solution. Since it looks like you are running an OEM bumper maybe a behind the grille mount?

A 30" Baja Designs S8 or Onyx6 is going to be all the lighting you'll ever need.

 

[shrub1]

Got it. This is coming from a guy who has diagnosed night vision blindness and has tried everything under the sun for the perfect offroad lighting solution. When you put lighting sources near the hood like that glare is a factor. A light mounted above on your roof would probably be worse but for front facing light a high quality mid sized lightbar on your bumper is going to be a better solution. Since it looks like you are running an OEM bumper maybe a behind the grille mount?

A 30" Baja Designs S8 or Onyx6 is going to be all the lighting you'll ever need.

No doubt there is some hood glare, but I was expecting much worse.
The glare and the field of view I can live with, the vibes are a show stopper.
I'd love to find a prerunner looking front bumper bar I can put lights on.
I PM'd one fellow that makes something like Defiant's old stuff. Waiting to hear back.

 

[shrub1]

i've had a few sets of a pillar brackets, never really installed any. but the SDHQ was the most heavy duty there is.. If those vibrate, everything else will be much worse.

I have a whole bunch of cubes around, and the squadron pros are definitely nice, the diode dynamics ss3... are probably the nicest cubes by far.

I have XL 80s on my raptor, and even those seem big on a raptor but no vibration on the SDHQ A pillar brackets on my raptor.

Thanks rayofsi.
Yeah, the brackets for certain are not to blame. Light is just too heavy. I am going to try the squadron pros which I think are a touch smaller than the XLs.

 

[rayofsi]

Thanks rayofsi.
Yeah, the brackets for certain are not to blame. Light is just too heavy. I am going to try the squadron pros which I think are a touch smaller than the XLs.

i have squadron pros. but check out the diode dynamics ss3, it is a much better cube. same size pretty much

i haven't installed all my lights but i've had so many cubes.. and bars sitting around.
finally installed a rigid adapt 40 on my raptor, a baja s8 40 on my 4runner, and still have so many other bars and cubes sitting around

i have a full set of squadrons i never installed. doing the diode dynamics ss3 instead, their TIR optics really step up the game. - 20% off on their website until the 29th.