Lighting advice needed

[Tuggernuts]

I have a JT Mojave with the LED pkg. as far as driving around town the stock lights are plenty bright. However, after doing a few wheeling trips up to the snow I definitely need more light in those conditions. By those conditions I mean off-road away from most other drivers. I’m not sure if I want cowl lights or lights on the bumper. I have the Arcus bumper with over rider bar so I think I’d have to drill holes to mount lights on the bumper. I’d like to stay with KC lights because I like the retro look. Im just curious what everyone’s opinions are as far as mounting locations. Thanks in advance for the replies.

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[kevman65]

Rather than drill holes through the hoop and invite rapid rusting, there are other options.

They make bar clamps that attach around the hoop tubing, then there are mounting holes for lights in these clamps. Most common size for hoops is 2" O.D. , but measure yours to verify.

If you have a winch, then you have a fairlead for the winch line to go through. There are fairlead brackets for lights also, remove fairlead, run bolts for fairlead through bracket, and reattach fairlead. Then you can mount lights.

You could also take the hoop off, take to a fabrication shop and have them weld 2 tabs on with 1/2" holes in them.

 

[Tuggernuts]

Rather than drill holes through the hoop and invite rapid rusting, there are other options.

They make bar clamps that attach around the hoop tubing, then there are mounting holes for lights in these clamps. Most common size for hoops is 2" O.D. , but measure yours to verify.

If you have a winch, then you have a fairlead for the winch line to go through. There are fairlead brackets for lights also, remove fairlead, run bolts for fairlead through bracket, and reattach fairlead. Then you can mount lights.

Thanks for the reply. I will look into the fair lead mounts. I was talking about drilling into the bumper itself but since you bring up the ideas of bar clamps I will look at that too. Once again, thank you for the response.

 

[MHulsey91]

I have KC Slimlites on my front bumper. Plenty bright. Have them wired to my AUX 1 and use them as my high beams on backroads. They are a spot beam so they may not work 100% in your favor as i'm sure you want a Driving light or flood light beam for up close.

 

[Tuggernuts]

I have KC Slimlites on my front bumper. Plenty bright. Have them wired to my AUX 1 and use them as my high beams on backroads. They are a spot beam so they may not work 100% in your favor as i'm sure you want a Driving light or flood light beam for up close.

I’m thinking that these lights are what I’m going to get along with the Diode Dynamics SS3 amber fog lights.

 

[Dave-in-CO]

I used two holes towards the outside of the bumper.

 

[Tuggernuts]

I used two holes towards the outside of the bumper.

This kind of what I was thinking of doing. Looks good.

 

[BAT]

I have a JT Mojave with the LED pkg. as far as driving around town the stock lights are plenty bright. However, after doing a few wheeling trips up to the snow I definitely need more light in those conditions. By those conditions I mean off-road away from most other drivers. I’m not sure if I want cowl lights or lights on the bumper. I have the Arcus bumper with over rider bar so I think I’d have to drill holes to mount lights on the bumper. I’d like to stay with KC lights because I like the retro look. Im just curious what everyone’s opinions are as far as mounting locations. Thanks in advance for the replies.

I have the Arcus Bumper but no bull bar. I have 2 x 4.7 Vision X lights mounted in the holes where the bull bar would attach and 2 x 3" Spots on the Cowl with 2 x amber DD3 Fog lights in the bumper. Eventually I think I am going to go with something bigger on the bumper and move the 4.7 to the cowl area. Maybe some DD5 Max on the bumper

 

[blau iii]

I have the Arcus Bumper but no bull bar. I have 2 x 4.7 Vision X lights mounted in the holes where the bull bar would attach and 2 x 3" Spots on the Cowl with 2 x amber DD3 Fog lights in the bumper. Eventually I think I am going to go with something bigger on the bumper and move the 4.7 to the cowl area. Maybe some DD5 Max on the bumper

I'm about to pull the trigger on the Arcus and plan to mount my slimlights in that same spot. Does the giant hook block the lights at all?

To OP, I have KC Slimlights on the Quadratec HD light mounts that tuck into the grill, it's a great setup and will likely reuse when my bumper/winch get here. I'm not sure what do for additional lighting. I was thinking KC Flex 3's in the cowl but not sure I want lights up there. .

 

[Sportsbiz]

For conditions like snow, I would suggest driving lights on the bumper or on the overrider bar. Lights on the cowl are ideally used as ditch lights, aimed slightly down and over the wheels; when aimed forward as driving lights you will likely end up with glare from the hood making things worse. I’d also recommend getting amber lights to increase contrast. There’s several YouTube videos that speak to this, I think KC does a great job of explaining it. My 2 cents.

 

[DREDnot]

My experiences have been that lights mounted above the hood just light the hood up and decrease my ability to see to the front.

Bumper mount for the win

 

[BAT]

I'm about to pull the trigger on the Arcus and plan to mount my slimlights in that same spot. Does the giant hook block the lights at all?

To OP, I have KC Slimlights on the Quadratec HD light mounts that tuck into the grill, it's a great setup and will likely reuse when my bumper/winch get here. I'm not sure what do for additional lighting. I was thinking KC Flex 3's in the cowl but not sure I want lights up there. .

I have not noticed any issues with the hooks interfering with the lights and I only have 4.7's there. But I will likely go bit bigger down the road if I see I need more lighting which at this time is not the case.

 

[BAT]

For conditions like snow, I would suggest driving lights on the bumper or on the overrider bar. Lights on the cowl are ideally used as ditch lights, aimed slightly down and over the wheels; when aimed forward as driving lights you will likely end up with glare from the hood making things worse. I’d also recommend getting amber lights to increase contrast. There’s several YouTube videos that speak to this, I think KC does a great job of explaining it. My 2 cents.

My cowl lights are angled off toward the side a bit instead of straight on so there is very minimal light on the hood which seems to work well

 

[MaysvilleStig]

I like to keep my lights up high when possible, it reduces the chance of them being covered by whatever you're driving in. I say "reduce" because it doesn't prevent it completely. I use the mounts at the base of the A-pillar. Only downside is you do get some glare from the hood but it's not bad in my opinion. I run 2 Rigid D-XL Pros w/amber covers in the winter.

 

[Tuggernuts]

For conditions like snow, I would suggest driving lights on the bumper or on the overrider bar. Lights on the cowl are ideally used as ditch lights, aimed slightly down and over the wheels; when aimed forward as driving lights you will likely end up with glare from the hood making things worse. I’d also recommend getting amber lights to increase contrast. There’s several YouTube videos that speak to this, I think KC does a great job of explaining it. My 2 cents.

Thank you. This is the advice I’m looking for. I think I’m going to mount them on the overrider bar. They will definitely be in amber.

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