Ideas for lights for my new ride

[WambliSka]

Lot's of great ideas and comments. I really appreciate you all, you have given me plenty to think about and it's great to see pics of what other's have done. Still not sure how to skin this cat but it's Summer's much longer days coming about it's not an emergency that I need to fix today so keep the ideas coming.

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[VA6489]

I like the ideas so far. Some sort of bumper mount seems to be the best alternative so far to keep the noise down and preserve what little aerodynamics the Jeep has. I appreciate all ideas and comments, and have some research to do...

Of note: I've heard a lot of folks mention hood glare on other posts and it's come up here too, but I never had a problem with it. The bar I got had a very definitive lower edge to the light pattern and I just adjusted it so it went just above the hood. The two small floods on the sides were pointed about 20 degrees out so they gave good side coverage to the edges of the trail.

I like going for looooooong runs up into the local wilderness and I lose track of time exploring new trails and areas, so it's not unusual for me to be crawling off a mountain or the desert long after dark and if there is no moon it gets pitch black around here. Jeep headlights at least in my model are... how can I put it, "acceptable" for road driving. Wife feels a lot better when I switch on the big lights off-road and I can see a whole lot of territory ahead of me.

As a bonus, it seems to me that having a higher vehicle a lot of folks think I have my high beams on all the time. I get a lot of high beam flashes from oncoming traffic when I drive at night even in the city. I usually just flash my high beams momentarily to show them I'm on regular beams and that is the end of that, but every once in a while I get some jackass that then decides they are going to "get even" with me so they then turn on THEIR high beams in my face... So I respond to that with a full light show

I chose the LP9 for a couple reasons. 1) they put out 12,500 lumes of light. That is roughly 10X the headlights. 2) they are dual beam. "Low" bean is wide more like a fog light withoutthe hieght cut off. "Hi' bean is the cats A$$. I can easily see a mile down an open road adn they ligth up the night like it when away. Being LED they do not draw a bunch of power. I have run them thru the car wash ( brushless) many a time without an issue. Down side is they are $$. Up side is they are bullet proof and performance is first rate.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

As a bonus, it seems to me that having a higher vehicle a lot of folks think I have my high beams on all the time. I get a lot of high beam flashes from oncoming traffic when I drive at night even in the city. I usually just flash my high beams momentarily to show them I'm on regular beams and that is the end of that, but every once in a while I get some jackass that then decides they are going to "get even" with me so they then turn on THEIR high beams in my face... So I respond to that with a full light show

I know right?? I got flashed a ton even though I had the halogens and before I lifted it. It actually seemed to stop once I installed the Oracle LEDs. They've got a pretty crisp cutoff and I don't get flashed anymore.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I know right?? I got flashed a ton even though I had the halogens and before I lifted it. It actually seemed to stop once I installed the Oracle LEDs. They've got a pretty crisp cutoff and I don't get flashed anymore.

I had LED bulbs in my halogen housings for two years. Never got flashed. Light output was really nice.

One of the bulbs died and in a pinch I swapped to some Sylvania Xtra Visions (a basic ass incandescent headlight bulb) and have had them since.

Get flashed all the damn time

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I get flashed constantly!! I have a lot of 2-lane to get to the house and it’s nonstop. I just flash em back. Unless there’s a line of traffic then I let it go. I’m used to it by now. Wife gets the same thing in her 4Runner but she’s more violent.

 

[WambliSka]

I know right?? I got flashed a ton even though I had the halogens and before I lifted it. It actually seemed to stop once I installed the Oracle LEDs. They've got a pretty crisp cutoff and I don't get flashed anymore.

I had LED bulbs in my halogen housings for two years. Never got flashed. Light output was really nice.

One of the bulbs died and in a pinch I swapped to some Sylvania Xtra Visions (a basic ass incandescent headlight bulb) and have had them since.

Get flashed all the damn time

I get flashed constantly!! I have a lot of 2-lane to get to the house and it’s nonstop. I just flash em back. Unless there’s a line of traffic then I let it go. I’m used to it by now. Wife gets the same thing in her 4Runner but she’s more violent.

I assumed I was not alone

 

[Stoly]

I went old school with a pair of Hella 500 Series atop MOPAR mounts as a nod to the old Scramblers.
For a bit more function I installed a pair of Morimoto 4Banger amber fog lights.

M&R has a light bar that uses the same mounting methodology as the MOPAR mounts. I've had their lights on a different platform and never had an issue with them. Obvious good/bad is the more recessed mounting along with the hassle of removing the assembly to get the grill out.
https://mandronline.com/products/2019-jeep-gladiator-30in-light-bar-pro

OP - With the steel bumper you could get the MOPAR grill guard and the MOPAR guard light mounts from Quadratec. As with the MOPAR frame mounts, you can pick and choose which lights you go with from there whilst keeping a bit of the OEM+ look.

The Quadratec interior light bar is next on my list and glad to see someone post theirs here with more info than the product page provides.

 

[MPMB]

I went old school with a pair of Hella 500 Series atop MOPAR mounts as a nod to the old Scramblers.

Do those Hella's have the plastic housing? I had a set a few years ago that the light popped out of the housing. Just a forewarning. Not sure if it was a freak production problem or just bad design.

 

[Stoly]

Do those Hella's have the plastic housing? I had a set a few years ago that the light popped out of the housing. Just a forewarning. Not sure if it was a freak production problem or just bad design.

They do and I've run them on a bunch of vehicles without any issues. Had six of them on my last Sammy and it was never treated kindly. It saw Vegas sun and Reno snow and never popped a light. Maybe they had some issue(s) at some point but I've not had a bad experience myself.

 

[VisorDown]

Running these roadshock edge 4 spots from harbor freight, mounted to the cowl on KC mounts. Love the setup. Great output. The only issue with these is the side shooting leds on the inner sides being very distracting. Found these covers from Omaha bravo designs to take care of that. https://omahabravodesigns.com/products/harbor-freight-roadshock-edge-4-led-reflector-covers

That's brilliant. I'll be ordering a set of those covers for my roadshockers that are sitting here in the box.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

I didn't want to go '70's crazy with a crap load of KC HiLites all over the front end. I bought a nice, heavy metal light bracket for my factory steel bumper; it mounts without drilling (mucho important to me) from a company called Grimm Offroad (60 bucks, worth every penny) and some bright round 5" 160w 18,800LM LED's. The blue smiley face decals was a "why not ?"...

Grimm Offroad is a sister company to Grimmspeed. Grimmspeed got started modifying Subaru's, from boost control to exhaust systems and other trim/functionality. I proudly own their 3-port EBCS and use their exhaust gaskets (only company that makes them thick enough and won't leak under boost with a mix of parts. I feel like I'm forgetting another part too.
- Only reason I'm not fond of supporting them anymore: They got bought out by Cobb Tuning. Had this been a decade ago I might not have cared, but Cobb now abides by California CARB regulations, therefore they don't TRUELY support modifying vehicles if the modification doesn't meet California CARB compliance (to the point they WILL BRICK YOUR DEVICE(S) AND MAKE YOU BUY A NEW DEVICE SO YOU WILL COMPLY WITH CA, even if you don't live in/near that state). Cobb also has been buying out reputable Subaru tuners across the USA and having them work for Cobb (thus following CARB regulations even if the customer doesn't live in CA or ever even visit CA).
-- Legit, they keep trying to get me to update my Accessport/ATR (tuning software they provided) for my 25 y/o rally car. This update will brick my Accessport (tuning device), lock me out of all emissions related tuning parameters, and force me to run ALL OEM emissions equipment or force a CEL and limp mode...even though my 25 y/o vehicle isn't required to meet emissions under my state OR FEDERAL law. They also "lost" all my previous customer data "when we switched to the 'Greenspeed' branding (CA CARB compliance) so unless you can prove you owned the software/hardware before the switch, we cannot provide that older software, only the new 'Greenspeed' software". Luckily I had the emails from back when they sent me the original link to the software I was using, so they were forced to supply it.
---Under some of these new DRMC laws being pushed, companies may no longer be required to help prior customers and force them to "upgrade", whether they want to, or can afford it.

Rant over. Sorry for mild hijacking.

I like the ideas so far. Some sort of bumper mount seems to be the best alternative so far to keep the noise down and preserve what little aerodynamics the Jeep has. I appreciate all ideas and comments, and have some research to do...

Of note: I've heard a lot of folks mention hood glare on other posts and it's come up here too, but I never had a problem with it. The bar I got had a very definitive lower edge to the light pattern and I just adjusted it so it went just above the hood. The two small floods on the sides were pointed about 20 degrees out so they gave good side coverage to the edges of the trail.

I like going for looooooong runs up into the local wilderness and I lose track of time exploring new trails and areas, so it's not unusual for me to be crawling off a mountain or the desert long after dark and if there is no moon it gets pitch black around here. Jeep headlights at least in my model are... how can I put it, "acceptable" for road driving. Wife feels a lot better when I switch on the big lights off-road and I can see a whole lot of territory ahead of me.

As a bonus, it seems to me that having a higher vehicle a lot of folks think I have my high beams on all the time. I get a lot of high beam flashes from oncoming traffic when I drive at night even in the city. I usually just flash my high beams momentarily to show them I'm on regular beams and that is the end of that, but every once in a while I get some jackass that then decides they are going to "get even" with me so they then turn on THEIR high beams in my face... So I respond to that with a full light show

You might notice the glare most when you're out in the wilderness at night and turn them off only to find out your eyes can't adjust to the dark setting in a reasonable time, vs not having hood glare. As a motorcycle rider, glare is the enemy. Maybe some don't find it as annoying.

IMHO Baja Designs are at the top and they know it! I have their hidden light bar that mounts behind the grill in my F-350 and love it.

When it came time for the Gladiator I wanted to use a round light to compliment the Jeep’s light. I ended up using ARB’s and like them because I can adjust the intensity via a little switch inside the cab. It throws out a ton of light when I’m off-roading at night.

PS. I have not had any issues regarding the engines temperature while running these lights.

https://store.arbusa.com/lighting/driving-lights/arb-solis/

How's that Badland winch? Fitment issues? General feedback? PM if you feel the need.

 

[Mud Pie]

Dilly'S Willy -

Good info on Grimm !! Glad the only thing I bought was a bumper light bracket; no CARB requirements there !!

They probably got their "business ethics" from Apple. I've always been an Android guy from way-back-when. My wife loves iPads. I bought her an iPad Mini when they first came out. She loved it, treated it well. One day she told me she keeps getting errors and it refuses to update or allow her to install any programs. Then one day the only thing she could do was power it up. Apple OBSOLETED her iPad !! The only option was to upgrade to the latest and greatest ! Basically, but another or you got a $$$ brick on your hands. No longer support it ? Sure. But to brick it ?!?!

To this day it sits in the spare bedroom closet. Screw Apple. No upgrade.

 

[smlobx]

Grimm Offroad is a sister company to Grimmspeed. Grimmspeed got started modifying Subaru's, from boost control to exhaust systems and other trim/functionality. I proudly own their 3-port EBCS and use their exhaust gaskets (only company that makes them thick enough and won't leak under boost with a mix of parts. I feel like I'm forgetting another part too.
- Only reason I'm not fond of supporting them anymore: They got bought out by Cobb Tuning. Had this been a decade ago I might not have cared, but Cobb now abides by California CARB regulations, therefore they don't TRUELY support modifying vehicles if the modification doesn't meet California CARB compliance (to the point they WILL BRICK YOUR DEVICE(S) AND MAKE YOU BUY A NEW DEVICE SO YOU WILL COMPLY WITH CA, even if you don't live in/near that state). Cobb also has been buying out reputable Subaru tuners across the USA and having them work for Cobb (thus following CARB regulations even if the customer doesn't live in CA or ever even visit CA).……

How's that Badland winch? Fitment issues? General feedback? PM if you feel the need.

So far I’m loving the Badlands winch. I tested it by pulling my son’s gladiator and it worked great! Comes with everything you need except the winch plate of course. Super happy I got it. DM me with any specific questions you might have.

 

[trlwspr]

I invested in lights for my last '22 Gladiator Overland and while the setup was fantastic for off-road night use I never really appreciated the amount of incremental noise that came with it especially when driving at high speeds on the highway. I'm also sure they did not do me any favors in regards to mileage.

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So I just traded it in on my current '26 Gladiator Mojave X and this thing is sooooooo quiet compared to my previous ride! And the main difference between them seems to be my lights.

So now that I have the correct wiring and factory switches to add lights without crazy rigging, I'd like to gain the capabilities I had before BUT I don't want the previous level of noise. Any ideas? Is there anything out there that is quieter? Maybe more streamlined? I REALLY like the metal bumper that came with the new Mojave X so I'm not changing that but I was thinking getting a smaller but more powerful light bar and install it on the bumper?

Anyway I'd like to see what other members have done or any suggestions you have on this topic. Pics would be great too.
Thanks in advance.

I try to keep my lights on the DL. My buddy's makes an awesome setup that is flush with the grill when installed. It uses (5) S1 Baja Design lights and you can have any focus/color lens combination you want. The company is called Lakebed Innovations. You can see pictures of it in my account. I get a lot of compliments on it and they are bright! Two people even told me they thought the lights were stock. That's exactly what I was going for.

 

[SamO.5]

I use KC slimlite spots. I put 4 on top of a sports bar. No glare whatsoever so ever and I don’t loose any of the main spot beam since I don’t have any leveling. Easily reaches out 100 feet. Then I put two on the front bumper. I can put amber / yellow / clear lense covers and utilize them as spots or use the SAE diffused covers for driving. I also use LEDs for the fog lamps to see in front and sides of the front bumper. If I turn them all on, I can light up and see everything from the bumper to 100 feet out.
Lastly. I put those oricle back up lights on a separate switch.

Looks good.
I like those Oracle Back-up lights! I got mine with their flush mount tail lights (THAT is another story!) and I like how much light they put out, for as small as they are. They work with the Stock JT tail lights, and that is how I have them now. You have yours wired in on a switch? DO you use them as back-up lights also?

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