So I'm going to get some driving lights and probably ghetto mount them to my 94's roof rack. I was thinking i'd screw a pair into something like a 1" x 4" and clamp it down to my roof rack. I want to make them removable just in case your wondering. Anyways...What would you guys recommend?

I was thinking the Hella 500's or the Optilux 1300's . Now maybe the Optilux 1900's but that might be a little over the top.

 

I've had the Hella 500's, and they are great lights. But you do realize driving lights cannot be used whenever anyone's around? The things are extremely powerful and are only meant to be used with high beams. If you want to use some lights on the road, go for the fog light version of the Hella 500.

I took my Hellas off when I stripped my busted brush guard. The harness is trash, but I still have the lights, guards, and relay. If you're anywhere around I'd let you take them off my hands.

 

Hellas are good lights..

PIAA's are awesome but much more $$$..its worth it for me because they have lifetime warrantys on all of their products against any defects.. So rust, lens corrosion..its all covered. Their customer service is also AMAZING..When you call there it is like calling some small local business in which every customer is #1 and more important than anything else.

 

Hella 500's are a great deal, for $65 you get everything you need, including relay, switch, wiring, etc... you can get multi-packs of 130W H3 bulbs too, for around $20...

I've got a pair of Hella 500's on my front bumper, and although they could benefit from a more solid mount (factory bumper's kinda thin) they are turbo bright and extend my viewing distance about 4-5x compared to my high beams.

I would also recommend the clear rock guards, that way you can drive around without worrying about cracking a lens (which are like $25 to replace).

 

geez well that was quick! hmm i didn't think that they're too bright for the road...i wanna use them for offroad use as well as driving in the snow (road) this winter. i'm assuming optilux is the same as hella, it seems like they're just different mounts. if i get the hella 500's should i mount them on my bumper or roof rack?

 

If you still plan on running driving lights on the roads, I'd mount on the bumper. Wouldn't fogs be better suited for a higher mounting point since they shine downward?

These are some of the coverage patterns of the lights. I tore off the Hella website.

Hella 500 Driving


Hella 500 Fog


As you can see, fogs are much better suited off-road since they cover what's right in front of you, not what's 400 yards off. On the flip side, the driving lights are much cheaper.

 

You probably want to mount the lights on your bumper if you feel you have the room, especially for "road use." You could mount them on the roof rack to get a similar effect, but you will get some glare off of your hood which kind of sucks at night.

Fog lights are supposed to be mounted as LOW as possible, they are only meant to light up the road directly in front of you so you can see the edges in fog, the driving lights will just blind you (I have had a similar problem in a heavy snow storm, driving lights are best in high visibility, worst when you can't see ˟˟˟˟˟). I'll probably do some combination of fogs and hellas on my next 4Runner.

 

Here's a plus though: Hella 500 driving lights can be easily CONVERTED to fog lights if you just buy two replacement fog reflectors. Then, you just swap them out whenever. Probably best to use a lower powered bulb than 130w for fog applications though, maybe as low as 50w.

 

Makes sense. Fogs on the roof definitely would not be a good idea then on the roof.

 

Although the driving lights have a very tight focal point, they do a good job of lighting up pretty much everything within your immediate field of view out your windshield, including stuff as close as 10 ft (granted, not super brightly like if it directly pointed at with the light). I rely on my regular headlights for most close stuff.

The driving lights are a good way to keep on the lookout for obstacles far ahead of you, whether you're doing 20 through the dunes (drop-offs, trees, mole-rats lol), or 75 on the highway (deer, other wildlife). I'd say my Hella's enable me to see about 1000 feet ahead of me pretty reliably, good enough to stop anyway.

 

thanks a lot masta. well these are exactly the answers i was looking for. yeah i'm thinking that i'd probably want the fog lights. I mainly want to light up everything right in front. I think some bright fog lights should be perfect for what i'm looking for;lots of light on the road out to about a 100 ft or so.
so mount it on the bumper?

 

pro-comp 130watt h3's "off road only" to bright for road

 

I use my Hella 130w's on the road, but make sure you turn them off for other drivers, I'm sure they're quite blinding.

 

Prepare to see people running off the road on two way roads, and people in front of you turing their mirrors sideways.

 

LOL I don't use them with other cars arounds, except off-road.

 

yeah with other cars around driving lights need to be off. theyre real nice for deserted country roads late at night. if theres blowing or falling snow you're gunna want foglights, or nothing because the light reflects off the snow and will make it harder to see (just like with fog).

 

i got a set of lights from wal-mart for 20 bucks put in some piaa 85 watt bulbs they where bright i used them all the time but only when no cars where on the road

 

Wut about some chepo spot lights with some 100W blue/super white H3 bulbs? U know those lights that are bule, but they say that they are white?

 

maybe ... but the hellas are very well proven and reviewed and 65+20 for guards should last a lonnnnnng time

also the stock 55watters are very bright by themselves, i cant imagine bigger, though i will when the 55's die

 

I am very happy with my Hella Micro FF driving lights, they are tiny but pack a huge punch.

Lamm