Need Aux. Light help

[tyhuck]

I am going to add some extra lighting to my truck so I can have a little more visibility on these dark East Tx., 2-lane highways at night. I have just about decided Im gonna go with KC Hilites Series 26 and a set of KC Hilites Rally 400s because of the price, the size, and the reputation of KC. What I need to know is, what kind of beam should I go with? I know I will be getting a set of floods to run as backup lights, but as far as the front goes, I have the option of driving, fog, and long range. Im looking for some inputs from people that have aux. lighting that use them on the highway.

 

Currently, I am running my truck with the 4-hi headlight mod, but I don't have factory fogs. I am looking for something that will illuminate the ditches firly decently, so I can look for deer and hogs and hopefully see them before they decide to jump in front of me. I also want something that will shine a little further down the road than the factory high beams. I only have room for 2 sets in the front, so I want to get the 2 that will serve me needs the best. One set will be set into the bumper and the other will be set behind the lower grille.

 

Do the driving lights illuminate the sides of the road very well, or should I get the fogs?

 

Can the fogs be run inside a bumper light bucket and still be able to illuminate the ditches?

 

How far ahead of me will the drivers shine? Is it necessary to get the long range lights for highway use, or are the drivers adequate?

 

I am not set on KC, so if you know of a quality build, performance oriented light for a similar price ($75-$100) that can fit in a 3x8" hole, or that will fit behind the lower grille (4.5" tall), Im open to suggestions.

[GasHog369]

Take a look back at LED. Prices have come down dramatically. I first got my overpriced (but awesome) Rigid D2's. But graduated to a 20" Seward LED bar that is combo flood and spot.

I got a great deal on it from a shop owner i know thruough the zr2 forum.

You could likely hide it behind your grill like many have..

Pictures are worth a 1000 words.

 

This is with my lows , 20" seward bar and rigid d2's.

 

 

 

 

 

And heres just making my neighnor think the aliens have landed. LOL

 

[Carder09]

If you get fogs, should widen the beam to see into the ditches basically. What K3la is using looks like it would work for you as well.

[tyhuck]

Cant afford LEDs. They may have come down, but not into my budget range yet.

[kstruckcountry]

Fogs are for low visibility conditions, nothing else. At least if they're aimed right.

 

For your situation I'd say you want driving lights. I went with a driving beam and I'm happy with them. They make it considerably brighter around the truck and in the distance. I think with the way I have them aimed they actually shoot further than my eyes can resolve at night. I can see reflective things a long way off.

Remember the higher you can put them the better the pattern will be with longer distance lights.

[GasHog369]

Just doing a quick search at the lights your trying to buy, The first set was $120 ish and the second was $140 ish. Might be more might be a little less. My point being the 20" Bar i bought i paid LESS than those 2 sets of yours together.

Here is the link to the bar i bought. Cant say waht i paid since i made a deal with them but even at the said website price, it is a great bang for your buck since it will be cheaper and give More light and draw Less power.

 

http://sewardoffroad.com/product/twin-20/

 

Heres a video comparison showing difference using seward led lights. and rally lights like you are thinking of buying.

 

 

 

I use to own a set of KC daylighters 150w spot. Yes they were bright, and yes they have a great warranty for th bulbs. Good thing to since I had to have them send me bulbs all the time since they constatly blew out. They cant take the abuse of potholes and roads around me.

[tyhuck]

Yeah, those are much cheaper than most of the ones Ive seen. Gonna take those into consideration. Thanks!

 

Thanks for the video as well. Nothing like actually seeing a product comparison before spending a couple hundred dollars.

[GasHog369]

NP. I was on the fence at first to about buying a cheaper brand LED light. But figured it might be worth the risk reading great reveiws about this brand.. My first set of the Rigid D2's i paid $360 ish for those little lights. They are awesome throwing 6k lumens, But the big bar is almost half the price and puts out almost 10k lumens. Rigid does have there durability test they do by smashing the lenses with hammers and shooting them, but so far even with the harsh buffalo NY winter this bar is holding up great .

 

Call me crazy but i'm even considering getting one of the big 40 or 50" LED bars for my roof / above windshield.

I have a lot of backroads i travel at night that are not lit by streetlights. So as long as im alone, I like having a portable sun with me, haha

[tyhuck]

I think Im gonna go with a set of those Mono 26 floods (http://sewardoffroad.com/product/mono-26/) in the rear, and a pair of the Twin 6 (http://sewardoffroad.com/product/twin-6/) light bars in the bumper for now. Maybe when I get some more money I might invest in a larger bar and hide it behind my grille. Maybe even go wit hthe big boy if I ever get to the point that I can get the roof baskets and stuff on top to finish out the "expedition vehicle" look Im shooting for.

[tyhuck]

Here is a shot of the bumper so you can see where the lights will go. They will set in the air intake vent. I would run a 36" bar in there, but you can see from my signature pic, I had to put the front license plate somewhere.

 

[GasHog369]

I cant comment on the mono lights. But i can about the twin 6. I have them mounted below my back bumper.

 

I do not have them wired up yet since i got them installed right when the snow was starting.. but when i tested them i was very impressed.

 

If you buy a pair of lights, be sure to get the dual harness also unless you want to make up your own. Not sure how the mono comes if it includes the harness or not, but ask Mike about it. They might be able to get you a break on the harness to .