2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Upgrade Lights

[hammersley]

Ok I know one can spend a ZILLION $$$$ on lights - but I 'm getting a new Buckstop and want to put something in the bottoms as well as two big off road lights on top. I'm looking at these for the lower bumper insert - they are switchable:



http://www.gowarn.com/sdb-160-dual-beam.asp



One statement has me puzzled:



"The lens of the SDB-160HB is protected by a stone guard in a "V"-shape to let air cool the lens surface, allowing extended operation of the lamp. "



What's extended operation? I'm buying something that might have to be on all night... .....



I also want larger driving lights - off road for top of bumper. Recommendations and where is the best place to buy lights.

 

[MToney]

I wouldnt go with Warn lights, If you want a good light with excellent output, durablity, and can leave it on all night, go with a Good Name Brand like Hella, Cibie ( pronounced C-B-A), or the Marchal line, Marchal is nolonger made but can be found on Ebay. Cibie makes some great large offroad lights called the Oscar and Oscar+, comes in several beam styles. Plus you get white plastic stone covers to protect them when traveling down the interstate and not using them, try pricing a lense, BIG$$$$. The warn lights just dont have the beam precision or the durablity of the European brands, look at all the rallye cars, they run Hella and Cibie. A few still run KC, but the KC lights on my wifes truck keep falling apart, plan to replace them with Marchal 750 series fog lights as soon as money permits. I have Marchal 750 series clear fog lights mounted in the openings in the bumper on my 95 Ram CTD, the light the road up great, makes spotting deer on the road much easier. When the money allows a brush guard with Cibie Oscar lights is in the works. If you are going to spend the money, spend a bit more the first time and get a GOOD set and not a pair with less quality. Just my 2-cents. I also stay away from PIAA, they are blinding and just dont have the beam precision of the other brands, plus they are as much or more that the previously named brands. Cheers Mike

 

[DCaswell]

I bought some Warn & they are a POS. Also have a Buckstop from the group buy coming (if it ever gets here) & am installing big honkin Hella lights

 

[johncameron]

I've got Hella 500"s with the 100W bulbs. WOW they are awesome! It's like driving during the day when I turn them on. They only come on with the high beams of course.

 

[Dane]

I've been running KC Daylighters with the 160 watt bulbs. VERY bright, highly recommended... But, they don't give me enough side lighting to see all the pesky deer that live in the woods by my house and wait for me to dash across the road So i'm selling the daylighters and installing these with the cornering reflector and 130 watt bulbs-



#ad




They are huge, about 9" across. I'll post as soon as I get them installed and running. I got them here -



Click here...

 

[MToney]

It does take a brush guard for the hella 4000 series, they are very nice, had a set on a past truck, I prefer the marchal line of lights, a bit hard to find though worth the hunt! I have a set of 750 fog lights in the openings in my front bumper, 95 2500 4x4, and they take care of the low beam side of things quite well. light the road and the ditches up quite nicely! I will add a set of driving lights eventualy, but with all the traffic, I cannot justify the cost as of yet. I live in Erie, PA and we get some of the worst weather thanks to the lake, heavy snow with wind, fog, rain. More bad weather than good most of the year. I can help anybody find marchal or Cibie lights if they need help, or help installing. Cheers Mike T

 

[DCaswell]

When you install driving lights pick a sweet spot out front that you are happy with & have the beams cross at that point so the right beam lights the left ditch & vice versa. Gives good road vision & also helps to see the pesky critters that are lurking in the trees ready to jump out & scare the beejesus out of you

 

[hammersley]

OK - I',m partially color blind - What About Light Color

What is best for seeing in bad weather. I know traditionally they use amber etc - but not sure I like that. Thoughts????

 

[MToney]

Amber color allows others to see you sooner, they stand out from all the white lights that are comming at them. They are a little better in heavy snow as they dont make the road blinding bright right in front of you. I run clear as for the overall conditions they light the road up much better than amber. Cheers Mike

 

[BarryG]

I am running some Lightforce 170's. They are great. They have a couple other sizes as well. You can change the focus of the beam sort of like a mag light flashlight (I personally dont but they do do it) You can use different color lenses on them as well. The mounting system is rock solid. I have had them on 2 years and have not had to readjust them since. They seem to be tough as nails.

http://www.lightforceusa.com/products.html



There are a variety of places that sell them.

 

[MToney]

Lightforce does make nice lights, the styling is a bit different. I prefer the metal construction of the Hella 4000 series, but both will require a brush guard as I dont think the hood would open once they were mounted on the top of the bumper, at least not on mine,

 

[Woodenhead]

On recommendation from some TDR members I bought 4 Light Force 170 lights from Central 4x4 and couldn't be happier. Two of em are on my DOR bumper with the flood lenses on them and the other two are on the headache rack (Back Rack) set up with pencil beams. My favorite part about these lights is the beams adjust like a maglite and you can get many different lenses.



There's a good write up on Light Force Lights here . Read it and you'll know why I'm so happy with them.



Now even dark bush roads at night are like driving on a sunny day



Mike

 

[datablitz]

i always had good luck with the generic 6" 100 watt eagle eye round lights, and they are cheap... if you want to go that route... .

 

[y-knot]

Just my . 02 on the whole light thing. KC-Hyliters, US General, Optronics, and many other cheap lights are just that... cheap. If you are just mounting them on your truck to look cool, then they will do. But if you actually want to use the lights, you are much better to stick with the better well known brands. The Buckstop takes a 6" light to fill it's light bucket in the front, what ever you choose, it should be something that has a grill on it. There is just to many rocks and so fourth that get throw-up at the front of the vehicles, and anything un-protected doesn't stand a chance. Anyone of these brands would result in a satisfactory service, Light Force, Some Hella, Piaa, some Warn, Cibie and IPF. I have only seen the Light Force 240 HID lights. The problem with most all of the cheaper lights are not only sub-par lighting, but they tend to vibrate them selfs apart, also they typically have a rust problem.

There are a better series of KC that are out and look like they would do well off road, but I am not sure how they would be for the street. The series is there "SlimLite Titanium", they run around 160. 00.

Warn has a dual beam off-road lite that comes in a 6" size, It looks like a very nice light and runs around 340. 00

Piaa has several I have used and they include the 520,520 SMR, and the 525 which is a dual pattern light. 520's go for 220 to 300. 00 and 525's 390. 00. These are some of the better 6" lights for your bumper. I think it might be wiser to get the bumper and install the 6" lights, then see if you still want/need the top mounted lights. They would make it very hard to service the engine area, and are a great target for Debra and theft. Good luck.

 

[ben_ak]

In defense of KC's, I have had a set of stainless day lighters on my past three trucks - the same pair that is. They have held up just fine and I wouldn't feel bad at all if they broke tommorow. I paid $100 for them on sale six years ago and 100,000+ miles back. I also have IPF Fog/Driving lights with no problems yet (6 months, nearly 10,000 miles). Expensive lights are nice, but my $100 KC's still make my factory lights look like candles.



-Ben

 

[tbrudder]

I've never run KCs, but I know several Jeep guys that are stocked with Daylighters, and they're always happy. $100 for two 150W lamps isn't bad, especially when you consider their warranty. 23 years on everything, including the bulbs. I've been told the mounting system has rubber isolaters, so even burnout's not a frequent problem. Can't see them promising to replace a 150W sealed beam for 23 years otherwise...



--Ty