Need some road armour lights

[JTucholke]

So I found a Road Armour bumper needing some work. I blasted it, POR'd it and then herculined it. Sure makes the truck look aggressive...



Now I need some 4 inch lights. I'm looking at the ball-breaking (price-wise) PIAA's. I have 2 questions.



1. Is there really anything that compares to PIAA?



2. Should I start with fog lights or clear driving lights? Can't afford to do both right away.



Thanks in advance... .

 

[Bernie]

Good deal on the bumper. You should post some pictures.

-Piaa makes some great lights, but so does Hella and Cibie. I have used all of them with good success for different applications. I would avoid KC, and some of the other off make brands. I am sure there are a few bargains that might be worth it in the off brands, but at the end of the day the engineering (both in optics and in build quantity) are not up that of Piaa and Hella.

I guess to best answer what you should start with, you need to ask yourself where do your lights seem the most lacking.

-Do you have trouble with fog, rain, and snow? Fog lights are for you. It is best to get the light low and with a tight cut off angle so there is less light bouncing off of the fog/snow/rain back in to your face.

-Do you do a lot of back road driving with little to no traffic? If so, a pair of good driving lights to supplement the high beams will probably work best. They will light up a dark road, and help you see the critters and corners before they get you first. Hook them to the high beams with a relay and a switch so dimming them for traffic is as qucik and easy as dimming your standard high beams.

There have been a few good posts on the subject recently. I will try to add some later for you to read. Good luck!

 

[Bernie]

OK, here are a few threads that might help you.

My thread, with my plan (not installed yet)
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...sion-discussions/225881-foglight-upgrade.html

Matt400 has a huge thread on the subject. He has tried lots of products, and I sent him a PM with a few questions and he was helpful:
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...discussions/198410-headlights-part-xxxxx.html

And one more Matt400 thread
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-discussions/137487-how-about-more-light.html

Do a search, and I am sure you will find more discussions on the subject. I got a lot of info from the Matt400 thread.

Good luck. And post some pictures when it is done.

 

[Pakrat]

Might want to look at Light Force. Not cheap but one of the best.

Lightforce

 

[HHhuntitall]

Might want to look at Light Force. Not cheap but one of the best.

Lightforce

Wow, yeah, they are dang high, but built to be the best. I've got some riflescopes from this company, as well, and they are one of, if not, the best out there. All their glass is ground to certain criteria, and warranty is not an issue. If there is a problem, they will fix it, no arguments.

 

[ENafziger]

I second the lightforce. Go with the HIDs, and you won't be disappointed.

I bet I've bought 20 sets of lights over the past 10 yrs, changed bulbs, custom made pieces, etc. I should've just bought the Lightforce HIDs in the beginning and saved myself alot of trouble.

I currently have the 9. 5" 240 HIDs 35w and they are incredible!

--Eric

 

[Bernie]

I see the posts about the HID lights, and I agree HID is a ton of light with low current draw, but again you need to look at what you want to accomplish with the lights.

HID, unless through a projector beam, is a flood light. The upside is there is a ton of light. The downside is you don't always get to put that light on the road where you need it.

An aftermarket HID light (or even HID light conversion of a stock headlamp) is, in my opinion, an offload light only. The amount of light is so great that with out a good method to control where the light goes it will be dangerous to other traffic.

I don't remember exactly where, but I do recall some DOT motions to outlaw HID in non stock assemblies. Also, I do know that stock HID assemblies for many years have all had movable assemblies that auto dip to keep the overpowering HID lights out of traffics eyes.

And then there is the price. A good HID set up is another $250 to $400 on a pair of lights.

And, in my opinion, you can get the equal or better performance form a standard lamp with good, well engineered optics. That is why I recommended Piaa, Hella, and Cibie. Those companies have focuses (no pun intended) of putting the light where it needs to go. Yes, they all have high wattage and HID set ups, but if you use a good light with a good lens you may not need to go that far.

Traffic will thank you, your wallet will thank you, and you probably won't wind up discussing your lights with the cops.

 

[JTucholke]

Thanks all for the responses. Maybe I've driven too many older vehicles, but the lights in my truck don't seem THAT bad to me. I guess I need to decide what I'm looking for. Snow and fog is something I'd like to be prepared for - though I think I'd use the driving lights more. DECISIONS



I'll try to get a picture of the bumper on this thread sometime. The only downside is the extra weight.



I was dropping of some recycling the other day and got surrounded by a bunch of vehicles. I ended up turning into a concrete post with it when I backed out. I think the post fared worse than the bumper! I didn't even feel it.

 

[Bernie]

... but the lights in my truck don't seem THAT bad to me. ... . Snow and fog is something I'd like to be prepared

Given those two statements, Here are two options I would look at:



Option #1

-Do a good fog light to get the light down low. Again, it might take a little work but I would look at doing a projector beam like I proposed in my post

-Do one of the bright box upgrades on your standard lamp. Gives you a lot of the advantages of a driving light with out another light on the bumper.



Option #2

The Warn dual beam lamps have an H4 bulb, giving you essential another set of low and high beams. Howe ever, I think the low beam is still too much of a flood to be a good fog. But, it is another option to give you high and low in one 4" assembly that should fit in your bumper.

Warn Industries - Off-Road Lights: SDB-160 Dual Beam

 

[seafish]

The Warn dual beam lamps have an H4 bulb, giving you essential another set of low and high beams. Howe ever, I think the low beam is still too much of a flood to be a good fog. But, it is another option to give you high and low in one 4" assembly that should fit in your bumper.
Warn Industries - Off-Road Lights: SDB-160 Dual Beam

The Warn SDB-160HBE is a nice dual beam light packaged in a FUGLY plastic housing. However, even if you take it out of the housingm it is a 6" diameter lense/reflector. Out of the housing (voiding warranty and protection) it MIGHT fit into the bumper. In the housing, it is at least an 8" diameter unit, maybe bigger. I can take measurements for you later if you want me too.

 

[jelag]

I've used for years 100W aircraft landing lights for driving lights... . the way the beam is focused is the real key... I buy 2 chrome lamp holders that will hold the lights... (bulb #4537) This set up usually sets me back about $150. 00 for a good set of holders... Dietz or other Major lamp holder made for trucks... . but you can usually walk into any parts store and replace a broken one... under $25 for the bulb... .

The key is the focus of the beam and amount of light it puts out... . Huge flat beam because the lamp has this reflector in the bulb... the best I've ever used... No fancy holders or fancy expensive bulbs... just a huge amount of light...

Of course each set is wired through a 30 amp relay and circuit... on my truck I have a an extra shifter switch mounted on the shifter... on my Jeep the switch is close to where my right hand rests while I drive... .

 

[R.Taylor]

I got Lightforce lights on eBay and saved about $120, I use the fog lamp lens on them otherwise it's just 2 round beams of light shooting straight ahead. HID's are nice if they are in a fixture / reflector made for them... Otherwise they just blast light everywhere.

 

[CRuth]

Aircraft landing lights though, have a super short life span. Twenty five hours if I remember correctly.



Has PIAA improved their product? I remember when they first came out they were overpriced crap.

 

[Matt400]

Now I need some 4 inch lights. I'm looking at the ball-breaking (price-wise) PIAA's. I have 2 questions.



1. Is there really anything that compares to PIAA?



2. Should I start with fog lights or clear driving lights? Can't afford to do both right away.

1. In quality, sure and there is plenty out there for less money that I would consider even better but your situation is different because you are looking for a 4" light to fit that size hole in your bumper. That particular size cuts your choices way down and off the top of my head all I can think of are the PIAA's you are looking at and these: https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-163/FUEGO+4+INCH+LIGHTS which are no doubt better but wow. . look at that price!



2. I would do a PIAA fog in the bumper because a 4" fog mounted low would be more effective "in the fog" than a little 4" driving light mounted low to suplement the oem high beam. Later you can add a good cost efffective driving light on top of the bumper like these: My Hella Lights :: 700FF Series



The upside for the driving light is:

* Larger diameter = more light

* FF (free form) technology = more light

* Mounted higher = more light focused on the road

 

[Matt400]

Another thought would be to do neither a fog or driving light but a set of "auxiliary low beam" lights.

Thats what I did in place of my oem fog lights and it works out nice.

Oncoming traffic perceives them as fog lights in that location and the ones I used have a nice sharp cut off on top to keep light low and on the road.

They supplement the oem low beam nicely and are legal.



I used these: 90mm Low Beam DE Headlamp Module, H9 bulb

This bracket: 90mm Bracket

This connector: Connector for H9 Halogen Bulb



They don't have a fancy housing because they are meant to go in a bumper or other enclosure. They are weather tight as is.

 

[seafish]

Another thought would be to do neither a fog or driving light but a set of "auxiliary low beam" lights.
Thats what I did in place of my oem fog lights and it works out nice.
Oncoming traffic perceives them as fog lights in that location and the ones I used have a nice sharp cut off on top to keep light low and on the road.
They supplement the oem low beam nicely and are legal.

I used these: 90mm Low Beam DE Headlamp Module, H9 bulb
This bracket: 90mm Bracket
This connector: Connector for H9 Halogen Bulb

They don't have a fancy housing because they are meant to go in a bumper or other enclosure. They are weather tight as is.

Hi Matt, well I am more then slightly embrassed to say that I am rethinking my entire Ute bumper/Warn dual beam set-up. While the Warns are excellent lights, the Ute no longer does it for me aesthetically and I will likely be getting a Defiant Dual tube Light Bar,

TRhat being said, I am thinking about mounting the Warns in the oem fog location (a difficult job) or using your tried and true 90mm projector to fog retrofit. I simply love the fact that you are able to use them as supplemental driving lights, but aim them well and avoid being flashed for exposing oncoming drivers to too MUCH light. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... . could you kindly tell us how you squarely and securely mounted the Hella 90 mm bracket to the OEM fog location???

Also, wondering how they work AS fog lights, or what you do for fog lights, cuz IRC you have some Snow/whiteout conditions where you drive??

 

[Matt400]

Hi Matt, well I am more then slightly embrassed to say that I am rethinking my entire Ute bumper/Warn dual beam set-up. While the Warns are excellent lights, the Ute no longer does it for me aesthetically and I will likely be getting a Defiant Dual tube Light Bar

Sounds like me, I am on my 4th set of wheels if you count the oem's so I too rethink and change it up.

I am thinking about mounting the Warns in the oem fog location

I thought those would be too big in that spot?

could you kindly tell us how you squarely and securely mounted the Hella 90 mm bracket to the OEM fog location???

Sure- I just bought some flat straps from the hardware store, bent them and secured them to the Hella mounting plate so they would mount to the oem fog mount holes in the bumper. Pretty much the same procedure I used back when I first put Hella high beams in that spot. Check out this thread and scroll down to post # 12 and you can see how I bolted metal straps to the hella plate. I used the oem fog as a guide.

Also, wondering how they work, or what you do for fog lights, cuz IRC you have some Snow/whiteout conditions where you drive??

They are wired to my oem fog circuit and I use them as an auxiliary low beam supplement so they go off if I choose high beam at which time another set of driving lights on my light bar come on to supplement the highes.



I don't have any fogs but may get a set of Hella FF500 Fogs and add their amber tint film, those would go on my light bar also.

 

[seafish]

Yea, I remember that you have a tendency to "thinker" around quite a bit too... that's why your ideas are so good... they have been through thorough testing!!!

The Warns, in their FUGLY housing are certainly pretty big to fit into the stock bumper, though I think it might be done with some mods to the bumper bracket. First it would be necesary to remove the bumper cover to have good access to see how it could be done. However, if necesary, one could remove the sealed lense/reflector from the housing and come up with a way more manageable 6" diameter by about 4 " deep housing that has 2 screw brackets that could be used to mount the light, as well as tilt up and down, though side to side adjustment would still have to be fabricated somehow. I think also that the back of the reflector would need a high heat paint job to further protect it from chipping and corrosion. Like I said, it is alot of work to do!!

SO for right now I have already ordered a pair of the new Phillips HIR 9012 bulbs that will fit right into the oem Hella foglights and put out 1875 lumens for over 1200 hours. I hope that they don't scatter too much light, but it is an asy experiment, If one has the Fogzilla conversion harness, one could use the Toshiba 9011 HIR2 high beam bulb that puts out over 2800 lumens for 800 hours, but again, there might be the problem of over amping the Hella reflector, as well as heat build-up!!! So for now, the Phillips 9012 should be here next week.

<font color="green">NEW Philips 3rd Generation 9012 (HIR2) - (12. 8V 55W - PX22D)</font>

ALSO, I am running the Phillips Xtreme Power 9007 which Stern recomended in the oem headlights, and they ARE a definite improvement, as is the modded multifunction switch that I did--

<b>Philips <font color="red">Xtreme Power</font> 9007 65/55W / HB5</b> (TWO PACK)

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...31-bombed-multifunction-high-beam-switch.html

I would also have the option of mounting the Warn 6" reflector/lense in a KC 6" stainless housing (they fit right in!!!!) upside down on the Defiant light bar to keep the lights at foglight level for either the Warn fog or Warn driving light. The KC housings are OK to mount upside down, though they recomend a little silicone on the ones with a weep hole.

I would also have the option of mounting a pair of identical KC HiLites in Stainless on the top bar for High beam supplements.

The set-up would look something like this-- though I am sure that wiring and switching would be pretty intricate.

 

[seafish]

PS-- Could you remind me what you are using for highbeam supplements and what the CA legalities are for running them-- do they have to be the same wattage as oem highbeams, or what??

 

[Matt400]

PS-- Could you remind me what you are using for highbeam supplements and what the CA legalities are for running them-- do they have to be the same wattage as oem highbeams, or what??

Currently I use these KC's with a relay triggered by my oem highs. Additionally I have 130w bulbs in them.

I have a set of Hella FF1000's on a Jeep with just 55w bulbs they out perform the 130w KC's. The bigest advantage is being larger diameter and FF (free form) technology. Those are now discontinued but you can still find them. I opted to buy a set of FF700's that replaced the FF1000's and have a better mount system.



The rules are that aux lights must be covered if up high, like on a roll bar and can be uncovered if lower like on a bumper. They give you specific measurements in height but its pretty safe if you stay below the oem lights to be uncovered.

Since high beams are not allowed when there is on coming traffic this would mean the aux highs are off as long as they are wired into your oem highs. When they are on with no one to see it is legal to run what you got!

Putting them on their own switch is a no-no.



I researched it many years ago and unless something has changed thats what I know.

A couple of good links are this one:

Off Road Lites

Article 2. Headlamps And Auxiliary Lamps - California Vehicle Code - Section 24400-24411 - California Code :: Justia -- US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases -- Justia



Thanks for sharing those links above, especially the bulbs... interesting!