Matt in AR

I have just mounted my TJM-15. The next project is to mount lights on it.

The local shops only carry KC 6" round 100w "daylighters" and a few KC knockoffs. Although the KCs look a little clunky, they seem to throw a decent amount of light (I have buddy with a set on his jeep).

I am not looking for the all matching super-white look, but rather am looking for long-range lighting (I do a lot of hunting and fishing in the back woods of AR) and lighting that does not wash-out in the rain.

Any advice would be appreciated & thx,

matt

bamachem

I LOVE MY HELLA 500'S!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Notice that my comment is in all caps BECAUSE I'M YELLING IT!

I got the Driving Beam's on ebay including shipping for something like $50 (new) and the clear stone guards locally for $22 including tax. I had them hooked up in about 30-40 minutes including drilling the holes in my newly repainted front bumper - that's what took the longest. I had to measure, remeasure, remeasure again, and check it one more time before putting the bit to it, but I am VERY pleased with them so far.

Daytime Pic:


Nighttime Pic BEFORE I got my Silverstars:

89-4run

I too am looking for some lights for the bumper and the roof rack. Are those Hella 500's subject to getting cracked from a rock on the highway? Does the rock guards help protect your lights? What lights will hold up if your front bumper decides to take a little dip in the water

i have hella, piaa, and lightforce on my list but cant decide.

bamachem

The rock guards that I have are clear ones made of Lexan (aka bulletproof glass) so they will stand up to pretty much any impact you can throw at them. As far as the water-thing is concerned, I would have no idea... :chicken:

jacksonpt

I'm a firm believe in Hellas. Top not performance without PIAAish prices. I have a pair of Hella 4000s mounted on my TJM, 4 Hella 500s mounted to the front of my roof rack, one pair of 500s mounted to the back of my roof rack, and a pair of Hella FF75s waiting to replace the stock turn signals in my TJM. If you want something that won't wash out in the rain, go with a fog lamp, mounted low on the vehicle. If you want something far reaching, go with a drive/pencil/euro beam on the bumper.

Here's a pic of my truck as it currently sits...



Like I said... the Hella FF75s are sitting in my garage waiting to be installed. They should go in next weekend.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

For the $$$, you can't go wrong with the Hella 500s for real decent lights as was mentioned above.
I have two sets of 500s.
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/21.jpg
http://www.pnw4runners.com/runs/41203/4.jpg

bamachem mentioned the clear stone guards, and I have them on both of my sets.
The lights show no aging, even the housing after being on the rig for several years.
The stone guards will protect them 100% from flying debris.
Here is the link to purchase them at.

Toddski on the forum as a set of the LightForce lamps on his rig.
They are real nice lights, and you can rotate the housings to change the bema pattern much like you would a Maglite to adjust it's beam pattern.

I may get a set of the 170s to replace the ones on my bumper now, not sure though, as I really like the Hella's.

The Hella 500s can be had for under $70 a pair if you shop online for them.

bamachem

Hella 500's on eBay for $59.95 and FREE SHIPPING

Runner SS

Jackson - ya gonna throw those Hella' s in to replace the turn signals !! Make sure you post some pics when ya finish!!!

doink

my vote is for the hellas too. they are super cheap in price, but the are pretty high quality. i had some piaa520s on my rig before, but they just died out on me, so i ditched them, and grabbed some hellas

jacksonpt

I will... I've got everything all setup. I just need to buy a dremel attachment and find some time to do the install.

Good Times

can't go wrong with hella's or lightforce's!!! good luck

keisur

LightForce 170's - why? They are 100W and 500,000 cp each, adjustable beam from pencil to fog, shatterproof, and you can get different color lenses for different conditions and wide angle lenses that just snap on in about 2 seconds. Oh yea, and I may be the only one here (I think Mike got some when he ordered mine for me) who has them so you wouldn't be like everybody else on the road.

bamachem

Hey keisur: Out of curosity, how much $$$ are the 170's

keisur

I believe I paid about 189 for the two of them and them bought the LightForces wiring kit for 25 {i think} and then 2 black covers at 25/pair. the lights came with the clear lense covers.

transalper

Here's a great thread about lights:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...threadid=11452
If you want a light that punches out there, look at a pencil beam or spot light. If you want a wider beam to see what's right in front and along side of you much better, then go for a flood or fog light. Driving lights tend to be in between spots and floods. If I had the cash, I would love to get these Warn SDB210s (combined driving AND spot lights):

Matt in AR

I like those lightofrce ones mentioned in the article you attached. I think that may just change my mind. They appear to throw more light, are adjustable, and are not that much more.

Thx,

Anybody had good/bad experience with the Lightforce 170s?

runningman

i just bought some hella 500's and am very happy with them. And the covers are cheap in case they break...go with hella's.

keisur

not me. other than that they practically blind me when I pop them on while driving down an empty street and they reflect back at me off of speed limit signs. They sure are bright.

bamachem

Let's see...

Lightforce 170's: $189+$25=$214
Hella 500: $59+$22=$81

If $133 isn't much to you, then stick it in an envelope and send it my way...


The lightforces seem to be VERY nice, especially being adjustable beam, but $200+ was just too much for me to justify at this time.

keisur

but bamachem, you have to double that 81 because you get two lights in one with the Lightforce's. so it's like 162 to 214 ~ only a 52 difference.

that's ok you couldn't justify it, just like I haven't gotten the arb locker for the rear yet because I haven't justified it judging from the wheeling I mostly get to do. When I head out to a real challenging run, I get the locker sometime before that, maybe both.