So if a stronger alternator is needed for two 100 wat lights, stereo with sub, ac/heater, and ejection seats.....Where can I find an alternator to take on this task...at ana ffordable price? WHat make/model? Thanks

 

My philosophy is when it comes to lights, buying expensive ones is not worth it, because they're likely to get broken or perhaps even stolen. Go buy some 100w rally lights, looks like a KC knockoff, and they cost like $15 a piece, ive ran them for a long time now and they're still getting the job done. my friend even bought KC covers, they fit perfectly over the rally lights.

 

bump as I would like to know where to get a higher output alternator as well.

 

I dont know about the alternator for the 3ZVE, but for my 22RE there was a company that made 90 amp alternators for a decent price, i dont know if they're still avaliible. check 4x4wire. and powermaster makes a 170 amp alternator, but its $400+ last time i checked.

 

i have the 150 watt bajas and they work great, they were only about 20bucks apiece also!!!

 

http://www.mralternator.com/alternators/toyota.html


Best value in alternators, stock replacement from AutoZone is $170!

Lamm

 

Also, I can run everything stock in my 4Runner with an extra 600 watts of lights for an hour, no prob. After that, battery slow drain starts. I have an 80 Amp from Advanced Auto Parts. I can run stock stuff, plus 200/220 watts of lights all night long, easy.


Lamm

 

I just picked up a set of procomp 6" 100 watt lights...black of course

Anyway it will be a month or more before they see my truck, but I will post on my impressions.

 

I say if you can support them get the biggest ones possible. While it is possible to have not enough light, I don't think it will ever be possible to have to much.

 

I have been running a set of 80/100w headlights on the stock harness with no problems for years. I also run a set of Pro-Comp 130w and plan on adding a couple more as soon as I upgrade the alternator so that it can take all my lights and my stereo at once. The Pro-Comp 130w are the best deal for offroad lights that I have found so far. ~$30ea. US is pretty damn cheap for 130w. Add $10 for some wire and a relay and you are set.

55w is the tops for legal auxilary lights so once you pass that you might as well go big.

 

ok, your post asked about "off-road" lights. Assuming that means they will get used on the trail, then wattage isn't that big of a deal - placement is. 100w lights will do you no good when the are pointed almost straight down. See my point?

If you just mean auxillary lights, then it depends on how you will use them. If you want driving lights for use at higher speeds, get the brightest lights you can afford that you can run without getting tickets. I have Hella Rallye 4000s for this - at 100w each, they are great. If you want them for bad weather use, get fog lights, 55watters should be fine if placed/aimed correctly. 55w lights will rarely get you pulled over (assuming they are aimed properly), so there is less concern about how/when you use them. However, more watts can only help you with visibility in general.

 

This is my experience with teh stock alternator on a 3.4... take it for what it's worth.

I've run stock low beams (no need for high beams with my light setup), a pair of 100w Hella Rallye 4000s, a pair of 55w Hella FF75s, and 2 pairs of 55w Hella 500s continuously for about 45 minutes with no problems (I also run a small amp to power my sub). As long as the truck was running, I didn't worry about it. I've done that with the stock battery and with my otpima yellow top.

 

I don't find the need to run any dedicated off-road driving lights. I have a pair of Hella H4 headlights, 55/100W bulbs and a pair Hella 500 fog lights, recently upgraded to 100W all weather bulbs, all lights relay operated. Between the fogs and either high or low beams on the headlights, I get all the light I need for what I do. High beams with fogs on works well, highs shine way down the road and the fogs fill in around the front of the vehicle.

 

my "cheepy" 55 w hela 500's are PLENTY bright for what i need wheeling hear in the midwest.

 

I have 2 100w Hella 550 driving lights (the square ones) They put out a LOT of light, thats the first thing people say when they drive at night with me. I might upgrade to 80/100 headlights (wires too), I just think they might blind people. If I could find some 60/100 bright white bulbs, I think it would be ok, I can always change them out if people flash their lights at me.

 

Here is a picture of my two 55w Baja's from Canadian Tire.... They are plenty bright... If you have the heater on and the CD player with a 75watt amp, all the lights go dim at a stop....

 

here a pic with my 2- 150W KCs and my 6- 55W rocklights. stock alt. no dimming with heater on and 2 10" subs hitting

 

When i had my 150w amp, if i had everything on, (hela's, headlights on brights, cb, GPS, 2m, and the bass hit you could see the tac needle drop and front lights would dim)

the little stock alternator isnt much...

 

Walmart 100 watt round lights on my ARB. 100 watts is a 100 watts, and at around 15 bucks a piece I could replace them at least 15 times before it would be worth it to buy expensive lights. They've got square 55w too and lots of other cheap ones that make good rock lights.

 

I am looking for lighting options for both on and offroad, as I take road trips quite frequently. The stock second gen 4Runner headlights totally suck IMO, even with the high beams on. What wattage and beam pattern do you recommend for highway driving through windy mountain passes without blinding people or getting pulled over?