Which driving lights?

[KKunz]

I’m building a new winch bumper and am wanting to add a set of fog/driving lights that will come on when the factory fog lights are on. I’m looking for the brightest lights I can put on but still safely use them on dim, without blinding oncoming traffic. I hoping to find some round lights that are about 6” or smaller I was thinking about HIDs but I just don’t know what to buy any input would be great.

 

[Matt400]

Are you going to put them "in" the bumper or would these be in their own housings and are you sure your state will allow 3 sets of lamps on with oncoming traffic?

 

[KKunz]

In the bumper. there is only going to be 2 set on driving lights and head lights

 

[JHardwick]

Check your laws, Ohio only allows 5 lights up front.

 

[Matt400]

In the bumper. there is only going to be 2 set on driving lights and head lights

In that case you will have size limitations. For some options to consider for a supplemental low beam (not fog)

check these ideas. .



1) suvlights.com Osram Sylvania Xenarc X1010 HID Xenon Auxiliary HID Low Beam/Driving Lights

2) Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply



#1 is no longer in production so getting a pair would be unique, the manufacture claims they are a low beam supplement. Many are mounting them up in fog locations.



#2 in the low beam CSR 5. 75" size would be slick if you can mount them as they are simply a replacement for a standard sealed beam with no mounts.

 

[RAlberg]

I’m building a new winch bumper and am wanting to add a set of fog/driving lights that will come on when the factory fog lights are on. I’m looking for the brightest lights .

Question-Why connect new lights to fog lights? Why not high beams? Just curious



Bob

 

[JKloppe]

he wants a better low beam.

 

[Matt400]

he wants a better low beam.

Like everyone else, it kinda surprises me that the aftermarket doesn't have more options for this. You can buy aux driving, pencil or fog but no low beam.

There are a few dual beams out there but I think the low on a dual beam is a compromise vs a specific low beam lamp.

 

[KKunz]

I want to run factory head lights on dim with auxiliary driving/fog lights then when I switch to bights I want to have the driving/fogs go off and have set of brighter lights to help out with the factory bights. Keep in mind I don’t want to go to bright and still want to keep it safe for oncoming traffic and have only 4 lights on at a time.

 

[RMarkey]

Have you done the brighter bulbs in the existing driving lights? I put in the conversion from genos and love them, they make a huge difference on the low beam setting and then go off with the high beams are on. I wish they stayed on all of the time, they are so much better, but I don't have the money to buy the box to make it so they stay on.

I would do the conversion if you haven't already, cheap and a big help! It would be one of the first things I would do all over again.

 

[Matt400]

I want to run factory head lights on dim with auxiliary driving/fog lights

A driving light is for use with high beams because their light pattern has no cut off at the top for oncoming traffic.

Fogs do have the cut off needed to stay on with lows however a fog beam is wide and doesn't throw near as far as even you oem lows do.

then when I switch to bights I want to have the driving/fogs go off and have set of brighter lights to help out with the factory bights. Keep in mind I don't want to go to bright and still want to keep it safe for oncoming traffic and have only 4 lights on at a time.

Sounds exactly what I am currently working on.

The oem lights are awful and I want as much improvement as possible but. .

1) Only 4 lamps at a time to keep legal

2) The lamps with low beam must have proper cut off

3) The lamps with high beam must not be overkill as they will be scene from a distance and the occasional flash to get others to dim

4) In my state they must be between 16" to 42" above ground



1) Is easily done with relays into your oem wiring

2) For this you will need a fog beam or one of the low beam alternatives I linked to in the 55w range

3) I feel a 100w driving beam should be ok. Lumen output will be less than HID's and if you stay away from bulbs that emit blue color you won't be noticed as much.

4) Your bumper mounts should be right in that range.

 

[PJay9]

I just finished installing my new Yellow Tango's from Cibie thru Dan Stern... he is most helpful and informative with very prompt service once I made the decision. Dan answered all my questions and then some. I am waiting for the new driving lights to arrive I ordered the Marchal Charlie's. I have brand new UTE bumper and the the Tangos fit the hole were the DC fogs should have gone, yes I had to make two brackets out of 3/16" alum barstock as the ones supplied were not useful for the Tangos.

The hole is oval shaped as is the DC Fogs, but that is fine as the Tangos sit back a bit in the hole and this allows the beam spread to be just fine. I just finished aiming them this evening. The yellow is great and works well in the light fog we had this evening.



BTW, according to Dan the fogs must only come on with the LO beams and the drives only with HI beam and the wire harness will accomplish this. I also will be making the change out to the better headlight as soon as it becomes available and if it is better, then I am set. At the back I hung a set of KC rectangular back up lights below the bumper so they would shine under the overhang of my camper. They really work well.



Go see Dan Stern site loads of info.



Lots of choices out there, remember the bigger the light the better it will do, it is not just the wattage, also these covers that look like grids block light, so if you are not doing loads of rock roads, don't put them on... use the full covers during the day on those nasty roads... yes you can get placement glass for the Cibie's not like buying the whole unit from Dodge when my fog glass got broken... no you cannot put plastic in front as it will melt from the heat that also needs to dissipate thru the glass.



Lots to think about hope I gave you some good ideas and food for light! :>)

 

[bighammer]

Landing lights

 

[SWithrow]

I bought a set of HID bulds and replace the stock bulbs. Crystal Clear and still have the fog cut off.

 

[Matt400]

I bought a set of HID bulds and replace the stock bulbs. Crystal Clear and still have the fog cut off.

You converted your oem fogs to HID?

 

[SWithrow]

Yep, and they work great. I have notice when i am listening to a weak radio station the lights cause the station to cut out. So i stick in a CD. I ordered them on line (about 250. 00)

 

[Matt400]

Interesting that the reflector is working well enough for the HID in that location. Do you get any objection from traffic running them with the low beams?

 

[EGroeneveld]

Has anyone tried the PIAA kit of 540 Xtreme White driving lamps, two mounting brackets, wire harness with relay and switch, and mounting hardware which is designed to replace the driving lights that came stock on our trucks.

 

[Matt400]

Has anyone tried the PIAA kit of 540 Xtreme White driving lamps, two mounting brackets, wire harness with relay and switch, and mounting hardware which is designed to replace the driving lights that came stock on our trucks.

I wasn't aware of those. . a quick search for those interested I found here:

2003-2005 Dodge Ram <br>PIAA 540 DRIVING KIT(Pair) - DRIVING LIGHTS<BR> FOG LAMPS



I did something very similar by mounting a pair of Hella 120mm high beam modules in that spot where the oem fogs were. The 540 kit would need to be triggered by the high beams cuz being a driving lamp they would blind traffic.

The Hellas was a nice upgrade to the high beams but that left low beams with no supplementation so I have gone to a light bar and external lights.

 

[JHardwick]

Landing lights

Those are actually quite cheap, quite bright and readily available ... ... ..... my mechanic gave me the NAPA p/n, but I bought the Hellas anyway