Trail Lighting 201

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

After a night run in the woods recently it became apparent that the factory LED lights while plenty sufficient on the road, mostly disappear into the trees and brush leaving an uncomfortable amount of guesswork for what lies on the trail and just beyond. (Don't want to run over any critters especially snakes.)

101 I'm confident I've got covered. (Spot, flood, LED, halogen, available mounting/ switch options, pods, bars, etc.)

What I need help with and that isn't so readily available on yt (at least with my search criteria) are the details of wattage, lumens, temperatures (k,) mounting locations, and their relationship with the kinds of off-roading I mostly do (tight trails in heavy woods.) Also the manufacturers who produce the various quality pieces.
I know there's a difference between light bar A and light bar B, I just need to know what makes them different.

The primary locations I'd like to use are overrider bar, top of bumper (RR Arcus) and the cowls.
I love and hate the idea of a big light bar across the top of the windshield.
I'm more inclined to minimize my lighting footprint and I know that means brighter lighting, but don't know the ramifications from an electrical standpoint.
Another thought is to repurpose the bed light button to control all the off road lights. It's in a very convenient location and there's no problem if the bed lights up simultaneously, and I find them pretty useless anyways when stuff is back there.

Tutorials, links, recommendations, comparisons, advice and even funny looks, are all welcome here.

TIA

Sponsored

 

[mx5red]

this was my starting point.
I find that lighting goals and aesthetics and cost drive most of the decisions, everybody’s different.
-Light bars are pretty ideal due to height and size. I didn’t want one so compromised there.
-pillar lights tend to reflect off the hood, which bothers me.
-bumper lights are lower so may not cover as well, but cut through dust and fog and snow much better.

It seems like most people put on either light bars or driving/spot lights on bumper, and supplement with pillar ditch lights if desired.
I put LP6 driving/combo lights on bumper.
Tried squadron pros on a-pillars but don’t like the hood glare so am trying them more as ditch lights.
Also have SS3 max in fog lights, which have a wide flat pattern.

I’m at a dilemma with the squadron pros. I love the throw and light color, but they don’t quite fit anything I need them for. I never used them as fog lights because the beam is not as focused, so blinds people and gets some glare in fog/dust. But I loved them as basic off-road lights for what you’re probably doing.
I switched to the SS3 max as fog lights for the pattern and they work well for that. They’re also quality but don’t like the color as much as the Baja designs. I got LP6s to use as off-road or driving lights because I liked the look better than mounting little squadron pros on my bumper (And it is nice how bright they are). Go ahead, fight me because I chose lights for the look
So now I’m trying to use them on the pillar for ditch lights but feel like a $40 pair would be more appropriate for this?‍
The squadron pros would be fine for your purpose btw, you could stick a pair on the bumper and have great trail lights, maybe out some pillar ditch lights on and be done.

hopefully this rambling is useful, I would’ve started a little differently in hindsight but I also ended up spending way more than I meant to!

As far as brands, Lumens, etc. KC, Baja designs, Diode Dynamics are great. People also like rigid, never looked at those much.
I prefer the color of the KC and Baja lights more than the higher temp DD. DD uses lenses that focus the beams much more tightly which can be good and bad.
Watching videos and such, it seems like lumen claims are not useful to compare. KC for example doesn’t seem as impressive on paper but their lights throw very clean patterns. And those flex era 4s look extremely bright.

More pics
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...squadron-pro-amber-vs-clear.36118/post-692423

 

[BAT]

I've got 2 Vision X 4.7 Light Cannons mounted onto my Arcus RR bumper no overrider bar. They are mounted into the holes where the overrider bar would install.

https://www.visionxusa.com/shop/4-7-cg2-multi-led-light-cannon/

Also have two Harbor Freight either spot or flood with side lights mounted onto corner cowls as ditch lights.

https://www.harborfreight.com/light...-in-led-flood-with-side-light-pair-57539.html

These along with my LED Headlights put out plenty for what I need.

Also replaced the factory fogs witih DD3 Sport Fog Yellow

https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage-series-3-sae-dot-type-a-fog-light-kit.html

 

[jac04]

Tight trails in heavy woods are what I have experience with here in New England. Here is my input:

- Most people seem to choose lighting based on aesthetics, rather than function. I get it, but function over form works best.

- You really don't need long-range or super high output lights because you aren't going fast enough to need them.

- Remember that you don't have to mount any light facing forward. Don't be afraid to mount bumper lights facing to the sides and/or down. Experiment with aiming, and don't be afraid to aim lights in ways that work the best, even if it doesn't look the best.

- If you wheel with a group at night, be aware that bright lights are very annoying to the person in front of you. Aim your light accordingly.

- We have lots of rocks around here, so I find that set of properly placed rock lights are very beneficial. Properly placed rock lights will light up the ground under and around the vehicle and tires. Lighting up the wheel wells or backlighting your fancy wheels with some funky color lights is useless off road.

- I am a big proponent of buying high quality components, but I run a set of cheap Kawell LED 4.5" round flood lights. They are great for our tight New England trails. These are the ones I have (flood pattern): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JWG4P7C/ref=twister_B07LBCQN72?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I always figured that I would use these lights as a starting point, then upgrade at a later point. However, these cheap lights continue to operate just fine after 6+ years of use on my JK.

 

[mx5red]

- Most people seem to choose lighting based on aesthetics, rather than function.

it’s like you totally get me

 

[Fcmalie]

My driving is different than yours, so my plan probably wouldn't be ideal for you. I'm more desert/forest road runs with my truck, my wife's JLU can get into the slower stuff better anyways. My plan is 2 driving/combo lights on the bumper, and 4 spotlights on the front of bedrock facing forward. I also want to put 2 flood light bars on the side of my bed rack, but that is more for campsite light than off-roading. Maybe some ditch lights at the pillars if I feel I need more.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

Remember that you don't have to mount any light facing forward. Don't be afraid to mount bumper lights facing to the sides and/or down

Well yah I do need A LOT more light directly ahead and on the sides, but one thing I was considering, noticing that the tightest corners are completely dark, and that the corner of the bumper opposite the turn has the earliest direct path down the curve, was to mount pods on either corner pointed across the front of the truck in an X pattern. (Aesthetic it won't be, highly functional it will. I have wrenches on board maybe I'll adjust them before riding so I don't get laughed at when at the mall, lol.)

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

Thanks for all the helpful input.
The lighting particulars that I was looking for, as with suspension components, appear hard to come by, so I took advantage of some HF holiday weekend coupons and sourced the hardware locally:

Round one:
1- 30" roadshock combo light bar mounted on a pair of deep well impact sockets to bridge the winch control box. (8k lumens.)
2- roadshock flood light pods mounted on the light bar brackets at 90°. (2k lumens ea.)
I also bought a Blazer remote relay switch to keep from digging in the firewall/ dash.
This was very convenient. It came with 2 light pods that I think may go on the cowl.

I haven't been down a dark trail yet but the first things to note is that there seems to be adequate light output but with gaps between where the bar stops and the pods begin. It should be easy enough to find some 30 or 45° brackets to scooch the pod beams closer to the bar beam and get solid 180° coverage at the front.

After that, i think may want lights directly off the side at the cowl but am not sure if reflections coming in the side windows will be distracting. Can anyone speak to this? (Perhaps putting them on a separate circuit to turn off when the vegetation is right there is the answer.)

Also looking for feedback on the aesthetic because I'm not really satisfied with the look but can't put my finger on it.

Thanks.

 

[Free2roam]

So I wonder why(maybe it's out there?) No one has made a arced light bar. Instead of flat or straight. Make it say with a 10-20 degree arc and use the center of it as a flood/fog or spot beam. Then the outer edges use as a ditch style pattern to light up the closer area or the trail on the sides. @Diode Dynamics let's see if they come back with anything.

 

[Orange01z28]

This little guy from Amazon does wonders

In fact, I hardly ever turn on my KCs on the cowl unless I'm in the lead

https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-1803...98052&sprefix=light+bar+amber,aps,119&sr=8-10

I feel like I need to buy something more expensive but this works

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

So I wonder why(maybe it's out there?) No one has made a arced light bar. Instead of flat or straight. Make it say with a 10-20 degree arc and use the center of it as a flood/fog or spot beam. Then the outer edges use as a ditch style pattern to light up the closer area or the trail on the sides. @Diode Dynamics let's see if they come back with anything.

They're out there with widely varying specs. My HF say 112 watts. One of these models says 440 watts.
I don't know if that means less efficient or more illumination. At an advertised 44.1k lumens I'm supposed to believe this bar is 4.5x brighter than the other?!
I do like the curved bars though. I don't know if that will give all the forward lighting i want without the pods on the ends, or maybe even cure my aesthetic issue.

 

[Diode Dynamics]

So I wonder why(maybe it's out there?) No one has made a arced light bar. Instead of flat or straight. Make it say with a 10-20 degree arc and use the center of it as a flood/fog or spot beam. Then the outer edges use as a ditch style pattern to light up the closer area or the trail on the sides. @Diode Dynamics let's see if they come back with anything.

Our SS5 CrossLink Light Bar Kits for the Jeep JL is compatible with the Gladiator and are designed for a straight or curved configuration.

Plus, these kits included our combo optic!

Single SS5 LED Pod

Our combo beam pattern combines both the Driving and Flood optics, perfect for all-around use. It shines light downrange in a focused 30x20 Driving beam to punch with distance, and fills in the surrounding area to create a full 70x30 degree pattern. With a row of driving optics in the middle, and a flood optic on the top and bottom, this has been designed to provide extra light for every situation.​

Jeep Gladiator Products:
https://www.diodedynamics.com/by-vehicle.html?find=2020-jeep-gladiator-415383&sid=xgpwrttluQ

 

[Snake Eyes]

After a night run in the woods recently it became apparent that the factory LED lights while plenty sufficient on the road, mostly disappear into the trees and brush leaving an uncomfortable amount of guesswork for what lies on the trail and just beyond. (Don't want to run over any critters especially snakes.)

101 I'm confident I've got covered. (Spot, flood, LED, halogen, available mounting/ switch options, pods, bars, etc.)

What I need help with and that isn't so readily available on yt (at least with my search criteria) are the details of wattage, lumens, temperatures (k,) mounting locations, and their relationship with the kinds of off-roading I mostly do (tight trails in heavy woods.) Also the manufacturers who produce the various quality pieces.
I know there's a difference between light bar A and light bar B, I just need to know what makes them different.

The primary locations I'd like to use are overrider bar, top of bumper (RR Arcus) and the cowls.
I love and hate the idea of a big light bar across the top of the windshield.
I'm more inclined to minimize my lighting footprint and I know that means brighter lighting, but don't know the ramifications from an electrical standpoint.
Another thought is to repurpose the bed light button to control all the off road lights. It's in a very convenient location and there's no problem if the bed lights up simultaneously, and I find them pretty useless anyways when stuff is back there.

Tutorials, links, recommendations, comparisons, advice and even funny looks, are all welcome here.

TIA

Go crazy and get this!!!!

Sponsored