Need some real world suggestions on lighting options.

[Andy G]

Looking to add some forward facing lighting on my #adventurevan.

Any suggestions on what lights to run on the bumper? I'd like to achieve 2 things... good long distance lighting AND good side lighting. Old skool me thinks about running 2 Hella 500 driving lights and 2 Hella 500 fog lights up front. I LOVE the Hella 500 and 700 series.

Down the road, will have a roof rack that I'd consider installing an LED light bar on, but don't have that even close to dialed in yet.

What are you all running?

Thanks!

 

[MMc]

I have Baja Designs up front XL pro speed spots and XL pro LED driving/combo. They are about 5 years old, they have some new stuff that looks great too. I would not put a light bar over head. with a overhead you are not behind the light you are under it.

 

[Billiebob]

I wanted lighting for the beach, I didn't need massive range since I'd be traveling under 20MPH just a bit more than high beams and extreme wide angle.
LEDs are the easiest to work with since they draw a tiny load compared to anything halogen.
I went with a single row LED on the roof and mounted it UNDER the roof rack.
Plus 2 "sidelighters" aimed out, left and right.

With zero LED experience I shopped by price only on Amazon and spent less than $120 for all 3 lights.
I run them off the factory fog switch. They do everything I need.

Also mounted the roof LED far enough back so there is no glare off the hood.



And turned the cornering lights also to avoid lighting the hood.



4 years of trouble free lighting.

Running off the fog light switch meant they only come on with the low beam....
But if you break one prong off the fog light relay,,,,, the fogs now stay on in high beam too.

 

[Billiebob]

I read an interesting comment a while back from a guy who has travelled many continents.

He never upgrades lighting since better lighting encourages higher night time speeds.
He also feels night travel in foriegn countries or even at home if off road, overlanding adds incredible risk.
So he tends to stop before dark. Never travel at night. And when he must he travels slower never exceeding the range of the stock lighting.
Hard to argue with that logic.

 

[Boostpowered]

What are the fake world options you've seen?

 

[Lil Bear]

The Nilight lights are pretty good and don't break the bank. I have one of their 12 inch bars and and will be adding two of the ditch lights to the sides of my hood. When I put a roof rack on I will run a full set across the front and possibly a small cube on each side. Followed by two spots lights on the rear of my bed rack.

 

[Boostpowered]

The Nilight lights are pretty good and don't break the bank. I have one of their 12 inch bars and and will be adding two of the ditch lights to the sides of my hood. When I put a roof rack on I will run a full set across the front and possibly a small cube on each side. Followed by two spots lights on the rear of my bed rack.

If you get the Amazon special nilights be prepared to have water in them. Really any of the cheap square light cubes and bars leak i have 12 of those pods and a few 60" bars laying around and every one has moisture in it. They still work just fine but it is rather annoying to see moisture in em and know that eventually they will fail. The round pod lights don't leak as bad and are easier to seal up.

 

[madcratebuilder]

If you get the Amazon special nilights be prepared to have water in them. Really any of the cheap square light cubes and bars leak i have 12 of those pods and a few 60" bars laying around and every one has moisture in it. They still work just fine but it is rather annoying to see moisture in em and know that eventually they will fail. The round pod lights don't leak as bad and are easier to seal up.

I have Baja's and Nilights on my truck for 2.5 years now, the Baja's are the ones I have condensation in. I took three attempts to get the Baja's sealed up. I have a Autofeel 42" bar on my roof rack and get a touch of condensation on one end. The difference I see between the imports and USA made is color spectrum, Baja's are whiter color, and are brighter by 20% or more.

 

[Lil Bear]

If you get the Amazon special nilights be prepared to have water in them. Really any of the cheap square light cubes and bars leak i have 12 of those pods and a few 60" bars laying around and every one has moisture in it. They still work just fine but it is rather annoying to see moisture in em and know that eventually they will fail. The round pod lights don't leak as bad and are easier to seal up.

The bar I have now was purchased for me as a gift but I will keep that in mind. I honestly haven't heard bad things about that brand.

 

[Old Tanker]

I read an interesting comment a while back from a guy who has travelled many continents.

He never upgrades lighting since better lighting encourages higher night time speeds.
He also feels night travel in foriegn countries or even at home if off road, overlanding adds incredible risk.
So he tends to stop before dark. Never travel at night. And when he must he travels slower never exceeding the range of the stock lighting.
Hard to argue with that logic.

Someone in your party could be critically injured and you may need to drive him out before sunrise.

 

[RoarinRow]

I get more light in almost all directions, I change my halogen headlights to projector style and installed HIDs. My rig already has fog lights, so I just replaced the halogen bulbs to HID as well. For further output I put a 20" flood light bar in my bull bar. I didn't entertain putting lights on my roof rack bar as others have complained about light shining on their hoods, plus whistle noise from wind.

Also installed ditch lights for side visibility. In the picture below there is some reflection on the windshield.



Lights on camper shell and below rig.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I read an interesting comment a while back from a guy who has travelled many continents.

He never upgrades lighting since better lighting encourages higher night time speeds.
He also feels night travel in foriegn countries or even at home if off road, overlanding adds incredible risk.
So he tends to stop before dark. Never travel at night. And when he must he travels slower never exceeding the range of the stock lighting.
Hard to argue with that logic.

""They" mostly come out at night. Mostly."

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I get more light in almost all directions, I change my halogen headlights to projector style and installed HIDs. My rig already has fog lights, so I just replaced the halogen bulbs to HID as well. For further output I put a 20" flood light bar in my bull bar. I didn't entertain putting lights on my roof rack bar as others have complained about light shining on their hoods, plus whistle noise from wind.

Also installed ditch lights for side visibility. In the picture below there is some reflection on the windshield.

View attachment 179669

Lights on camper shell and below rig.

View attachment 179670

Great setup all around. The lighting looks really good, too. I'd like to put some clearance lights but dont want to drill into my roof, so I thought I would put them on my Leer 180 shell, right where it levels off a little higher than the cab. Maybe a 12 inch bar in the grill, and follow your lead with a couple on each side of the shell.

Also thought about some amber DOT inch lights, about 3 per side just under the doors, to illuminate the steps a little dimly.

Clearance markers and steps to come on when the amber parking/running lights are on, and all others operated by a small tray of switches that will either be under dash or in the sunglasses storage, or in the cubby to the upper left of the steering wheel.

 

[RoarinRow]

Great setup all around. The lighting looks really good, too. I'd like to put some clearance lights but dont want to drill into my roof, so I thought I would put them on my Leer 180 shell, right where it levels off a little higher than the cab. Maybe a 12 inch bar in the grill, and follow your lead with a couple on each side of the shell.

Also thought about some amber DOT inch lights, about 3 per side just under the doors, to illuminate the steps a little dimly.

Clearance markers and steps to come on when the amber parking/running lights are on, and all others operated by a small tray of switches that will either be under dash or in the sunglasses storage, or in the cubby to the upper left of the steering wheel.

Thanks! It's work in progress sorta. Thought about clearance lights as well, but the thought quickly passed. I don't want to drill, plus my headliner has seen better days. Inch lights would be a cool addition to your rig.

 

[LostWoods]

I read an interesting comment a while back from a guy who has travelled many continents.

He never upgrades lighting since better lighting encourages higher night time speeds.
He also feels night travel in foriegn countries or even at home if off road, overlanding adds incredible risk.
So he tends to stop before dark. Never travel at night. And when he must he travels slower never exceeding the range of the stock lighting.
Hard to argue with that logic.

I dunno... Sounds like the argument that any safety equipment causes people to be more careless... there's some truth to it but it's always good to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. If you think your lights make you drive faster then don't use them but I've personally never had that issue.

 

[genocache]

I like to travel at night , because a) there is less traffic, b) my car and I are slow.
First I put on a combo flood/beam light bar from Superbrightleds for $139; 50" Super Series Off-Road LED Light Bar - 144W - 17,000 Lumens | Super Bright LEDs

In my blog; Land Rover 109 LED light bar

But since I can't have them on on the highway or roads at night I got rid of my sealed beam headlights.

I put some Sylvania LED head lights in; ZEVO LED Assembly Bulbs and Kits- Modern LED Style and Performance | SYLVANIA Automotive

In my blog; LED head lights for 109 Land Rover

Now the headlights light up the road enough I don't feel like I NEED to have more lighting on road.

 

[Billiebob]

Someone in your party could be critically injured and you may need to drive him out before sunrise.

I didn't say he removed all the lights,,,,,
I said he finds stock lights do it all.
And if you have a critically injured patient on board, the last thing you need is to hit a deer, or roo, or gazelle at 80mph.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Nice old school square body and nice job with the lights

 

[South_Puget_Sound_OL]

I went with 4 seven inch LED bumper light and a 52" quad row light bar mounted just under the roof rack. More light than needed for sure. Bought it all off Amazon and spent less than 200. However 4 years later half my light bar died and one bumper light started loosing diodes. Just remember you get what you paid for. Still happy they made it that long.

 

[Defender 90 Keith]

I swear by Lazer Lamps. www.lazerlamps.com




On the front is a triple R28 (lightbar), 2 x Triple R 750 Elite and 2 x ST4.



On the back I have 2 x ST2 (for reversing, working at the rear and for "tailgaters")



I will admit, they're not cheap but in my opinion worth every penny spent