Auxiliary Lighting 2016 (no...not that kind!)

[Marc R. O'Leary]

Questions for chasers on the board regarding auxiliary DRIVING lights. Not flashers, disco balls, or "emergency" lights or any of that non-sense...I'm talking forward facing so you can see ahead in the dark.

What do you use?

How is it mounted?

Did you wire to work independently with high beams or together?

What are your local/state laws?

I figured this year (after nearly hitting some large livestock a year ago at night at speed AKA Cows @ 70mph) that I would try an auxiliary driving light for those times when driving at night, in unfamiliar areas with little to no traffic. So off to Amazon I went to buy a cheap Chinese LED light bar to try out before I consider anything more serious.

Its a 32" or something bar, with multiple "optical zones"...either end is a flood, while center is supposed to be a spot beam. I'm skeptical at best, and the main reason I bought it was for its 18,000 lumen output and $40 price. For reference, the average high-beam on a modern car pushes about 1500 lumens, although with significantly more optical design and precision

I considered HELLA off-road lights as well, but wanted to go LED. LED Rally Lights, while superior to nearly anything on the road with regard to brightness and precision, are insanely priced. And considering these bars are so cheap, I figured it's a good try-out system. I purchased a well rated wiring harness from Amazon as well, with an independent switch, and all necessary relays and fuses.

I intend to mount it to the front of my car, approx 18-24" from the ground. I had considered mounting it to my roof rack, and while that's still an option, I want to avoid any unnecessary glare on my hood at night.

Once I get the mounting worked out, I'll post pictures. And eventually show a comparison between Low / High / Aux to see how it works.

So that's that, what are you using, or what thoughts have you had about lighting the way better while on the road?

 

[NealRasmussen]

I try to get my regular lights as bright as a Prius, cause I figure the oncoming car doesn't really have to see well, I do.

Sorry. Bad mood. Got the flu.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

I suppose I should note, my anticipated use of this LED bar is only for areas with ZERO other traffic. I spend a lot of time at night in BFE looking for good spots to shoot lightning, so many of my chases are travelling the seldom used back roads of Colorado where seeing more than three cars in an entire night is heavy traffic. Besides, I know these setups are "For Offroad Use Only", but it's a risk I'm willing to take, getting a ticket vs slamming into a longhorn at any speed in open range country.

There are way more deer/cows/antelope/monster jackrabbits/coyotes and badgers than people where I like to set up.

Hope you feel better @NealRasmussen .

 

[Todd Rector]

I don't personally use adjunct driving lights, but only because they aren't as high on my priority list as beer and guitar equipment. There have been many times out in the middle of nowhere on a gravel road where my 50+ year old eyes could have used some additional light. Last November I was out in hilly farmland to shoot Aurora and had to slow down coming over the crest of hills because I was out-driving my high beams and it was prime "deer suicide" season. I think you will find the cheaper lighting options disappointing due to poor quality construction and electronic components, but that's just a hunch based on my having gone the ultra-cheap route with other electronic gear.

My biggest concern with people having off-road lights is having someone come around a corner and hit me with enough candlepower to cause a sunburn. It sounds like you have other drivers in mind and will use them responsibly, though. Legality may be an issue if law enforcement happens to see you, but I think for the most part if you are truly using them in BFE, even law enforcement would understand.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

We don't have corners in Eastern Colorado...or hills.

There are many locals with these, and I rarely ever see them being used anywhere but way out in the boonies. I decided to start with el-cheapo gear to see if anf how much I'll actually use them. If I do see a pattern of regular use, I'll start saving my pennies for proper lighting (HELLA or Rigid).

FWIW, I keep my beer budget and chase budget separate, so neither will run out.

 

[Todd Lemery]

Just thought I would add my two cents. I unfortunately have too much experience buying inexpensive lighting equipment. The majority of the stuff was made in China. I imagine the stuff would be just fine if it was kept in a stationary position. Unfortunately you are talking about putting this on your vehicle where it will experience all sorts bumps and gravel roads. It just won't hold up. Besides labor, they save a lot of money by using the cheapest wiring and connecters they can find. I repeat. It won't hold up. Please do yourself a favor and spend a little more on better quality lights. If you spend $50.00 on the super cheap option, you might as well just chuck that money out the window.


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[Marc R. O'Leary]

I figure it's a tryout to see if it's even worth it to try AUX lighting. I work in the lighting industry, so my cheapo chinese LED bar has already been re-wired and properly soldered and sealed from the elements. For $40 and an hour of time, I figure its worth a shot. Same as with most of my equipment...boosters, radios and such.

We'll see how it goes.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

So nobody wants to see further at night?

 

[Eric Hassfurther]

I just did something similar with my chase vehicle. I went with the AuxBeam 30". I can't provide much insight on my install because I paid a local guy to do it, but it has an independent switch so I can use it with or without my brights. Here's a pic of the install. Love how it turned out! Super bright and helpful for those 2am drive homes through the desolate roads of the plains. I hit a hog going 80 last spring :/

 

[Justin Wilcox]

I hit a hog going 80 last spring :/

Man those hogs are no joke. I got side swiped by a big boar quite a few years back driving home when I lived in east TX. Hit so hard he spun me in circles into a ditch lol.

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

@Eric Hassfurther Thats similar to what my setup will look like, but I don't have a conveniently sized opening in the front of my car to slot the LED bar into. Looks good!

I'll be making either a set of simple brackets, or going full on and design/building a bull bar.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

It was worth it to me. I did it for the same reasons you mentioned. I hate not being able to see on the dirt roads at dusk, especially with animals lurking. Also great for firing back at anyone who doesnt know when to turn their lightbar off. Here is my blog about it, so not to repost everything - http://owlsp.blogspot.com/2016/01/led-lightbar-on-2005-hyundai-tucson.html

What do you use? Big bar - http://tiny.cc/lightbarebay Spots - http://tinyurl.com/ebay18wspots Wiring - http://tiny.cc/wiringkitebay

How is it mounted? In the front bumper with provided mounts and on the roof rack

Did you wire to work independently with high beams or together? Independently, switch on the dash.

What are your local/state laws? Definitely not legal to use on the highways, but not where I plan to use them anyways.



After getting that installed, I had also bought a couple flood spot lights to go on the bumper, but they didnt fit there. I found a great spot for them on my roof rack. Even if I only need these lights once, they will be worth it.



Both on there look like this. I used a $10 wiring kit off ebay to make like easier. Just tied both set of lights into the same switch for the time being. If one is on, no reason to have the other off.


Here is what just the bar in the bumper can do. The roof rack lights will help even out the shadows.

 

[Robert Forry]

@Marc I'm getting ready to visit a supplier of mine (Rigid Industries) in AZ in a few weeks and I plan to use some of their product (used now on the new Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyons), made right there in Gilbert, on my next chase vehicle. Nothing like an LED to light up the night I say, and yeah @Justin Wilcox anything that will help you see suicidal deer/wild pigs sooner I'm all for using. I'll mount mine to the brush guard..

 

[Marc R. O'Leary]

Robert - I would love to get a Rigid bar if this idea of mine pans out and I end up actually using the light much this season, or in general. That's why I decided to start with a cheapo, because an equivalent Rigid bar will run about 10x the price I paid for my Beijing Special.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

Robert - I would love to get a Rigid bar if this idea of mine pans out and I end up actually using the light much this season, or in general. That's why I decided to start with a cheapo, because an equivalent Rigid bar will run about 10x the price I paid for my Beijing Special.

When I bought off ebay, I made sure to find a seller stateside in case there was an issue. Better to deal with someone in the US even if the product is still from China.

Also I bought a curved bar to help spread the light. Also it matches the curve of the bumper better. I really enjoy mine and it feels good and sturdy. It was better quality than I was expecting.