LED light bar output question

CbrownGT · November 17, 2016

Going to purchase my first light bar for behind my grille and have it narrowed down to a few brands. However I have a question/seeking input on a particular bar. Rough Country has a "black series" line of light bars. It'd be perfect for behind my black grille. However I'm not sure if the design of it would negatively affect output compared to normal looking light bars?

http://www.roughcountry.com/30-inch-curved-led-light-bar-72930bl.html

silveradosid · November 18, 2016

i would look for a light with better optics

silveradotech · November 18, 2016

I have an OZ USA light bar behind my grille and they shine pretty bright!!

http://www.oz-usa.com/oz-usa-curved-3d-180w-30-light-bar-led-spot-flood-combo-off-road-4x4-roof-ranger-utv/

Doesn't have the smoked lens you're talking about, but you cant really tell they're there behind the grille.

Sdfd504 · November 18, 2016

Honestly how much light output are you going to lose compared to other brands and are you going to notice the difference? The light is already losing some light throw distance and output from being mounted behind the grill. Personally I like that light and think it would be a good choice.

silveradosid · November 19, 2016

i have been through 3 light bars and all they did was light an area up in front of the truck and the trees, none of them really projected on or down the road, which is what i wanted. i put a 30 inch behind the grill which to me was a waste of time. i custom cut my front bumper and tried 2 different 20 inch led bars and still didnt get the projection i wanted, into the trash they went. i now have two rigid 90221 spot lights and these 2 little lights out perform any of the light bars that i had tried. 300 bucks cdn and now i have a light that projects down the road and i dont get flashed by other cars when they are on except for cresting a hill.

sirooga · November 20, 2016

I used this bar from Rough Country. It gave me great light out in the desert. Wish I took some pictures. Not sure how well the double row would work.

http://www.roughcountry.com/gm-1500-pickup-30in-led-grille-kit-70625.html

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sirooga · November 20, 2016

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slj2008 · November 20, 2016

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looks good. how does it work a night , better then high beams ?

sirooga · November 20, 2016

Much better. I only use it off road as it would blind oncoming traffic. Installing my level kit today so after I readjust light bar height I'll get some pictures.

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CbrownGT · November 21, 2016

I ended up going with the RC kit with the Black Series 30 inch curved double row. Strongly considered a Totron and other brands on amazon but I felt more comfortable spending a little more on RC and getting a 3 year warranty. Just personal preference and opinion.

Also ordered a wireless remote/switch from Totron to try out. If it craps the bed eventually I'll run the wires and switch that come with the RC kit.

Txjose · November 30, 2016

I ended up going with the RC kit with the Black Series 30 inch curved double row. Strongly considered a Totron and other brands on amazon but I felt more comfortable spending a little more on RC and getting a 3 year warranty. Just personal preference and opinion.

Also ordered a wireless remote/switch from Totron to try out. If it craps the bed eventually I'll run the wires and switch that come with the RC kit.

So the RC kit fits a 30" dual row bar??

Any idea if it would fit a straight 30??

I have a rigid 30" dual row E2 that i want to mount on my sierra.

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Waterfowler41 · November 30, 2016

Amazon special light bars (Auxbeam) and I get awesome throw. I can buy 2-3 light bars for the cost of the name brand ones. I use cubes to light up the shoulders of the road and a 20" for straight throw.

The light bars behind the grill aren't exposed to as harsh of conditions so in my opinion as long as you have a 1 yr warranty your fine.

Thought I had prictures of the output but I don't

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Txjose · November 30, 2016

Amazon special light bars (Auxbeam) and I get awesome throw. I can buy 2-3 light bars for the cost of the name brand ones. I use cubes to light up the shoulders of the road and a 20" for straight throw.

The light bars behind the grill aren't exposed to as harsh of conditions so in my opinion as long as you have a 1 yr warranty your fine.

Thought I had prictures of the output but I don't

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How did you mount everything??

Like your setup!!

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Waterfowler41 · November 30, 2016

I used a piece of steel angle like this Link Painted it black and mounted it to those two cross braces we all have behind the grills. One thing I did notice with this method is my lights bounce, there isn't much rigidity in the middle of the angle. Add that weight of all 3 of my lights hanging down and its a bouncy light. Not a huge issue right now but I will be replacing it with solid angle or fashion up something up the middle to stiffen it up a bit and stop the bounce. The slotted steel was convenient but has its drawback.

The cubes on the side are cranked as far to the side as I can get them without loosing output behind the grill. These are my lights to spot deer right before they decide to kamikaze into the road but they are really nice for hard rain at night and I am trying to see the shoulder solid line.

I t-tapped into the white wire (brights signal wire) on the bottom of the headlight hardness which controls my light bar relay. When my brights come on, my bars come on. If I get cut off by someone and I flash my brights, they get a light bars worth of lights.