Hey guys. I just mowed down a deer and busted up the plastic on my stock bumper. Now I bought a used Aliarc bumper for my 04.5 I now need some driving lights. If I do recall there are a few guys on the ABDTR that seemed to know what they were talking about when it comes to driving lights. What should I go with? Lightforce, Piaa's, KC's, Hella's, Kangaroo's, Jetco's, Bosch, the list goes on and on...... Just looking for a good light for my dollar. Probably nothing bigger than about 6 inch diameter. I do quite a bit of driving at night on lonely roads with lots of critters, so what would you go with?

Hey guys. I just mowed down a deer and busted up the plastic on my stock bumper. Now I bought a used Aliarc bumper for my 04.5 I now need some driving lights. If I do recall there are a few guys on the ABDTR that seemed to know what they were talking about when it comes to driving lights. What should I go with? Lightforce, Piaa's, KC's, Hella's, Kangaroo's, Jetco's, Bosch, the list goes on and on...... Just looking for a good light for my dollar. Probably nothing bigger than about 6 inch diameter. I do quite a bit of driving at night on lonely roads with lots of critters, so what would you go with?

My useless OEM fogs are going bye bye in my aluminum bumper to be replaced with the 4 and a bit LightForce with wide beam filters - the enlarging of hole will happen in the morning. I have 6.5? LightForce to replace my Jetco dual bulb driving lights with, but I'm not sure about it. The Jetco dual bulbs have been great with 100W bulbs. I will probably try them, but will switch back to the Jetco if I even remotely don't like them.

The nice thing is the Jetco's were only $20 and change each from KW plus bulbs - they come with only 55W bulbs.

I'm running Hella 530's for centre fogs and 100W bulbs - third truck with them.

Pics in my gallery of '98 and '07 set-ups.

Lightforce all the way for me. I've run all the brands and Lightforce so far is the best. They have taken some huge rock hits and come away untouched, worth every penny!

Jeff

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v106/Homestead/100_0364.jpg

Have you got them pencil beamed or widened up a bit?

Mine are set to a pencil beam. The way they are aimed though, it puts the light about a mile or so down the road and about 150 ft on either side of the highway.

I've got another set of the 10 inch lights to mount and they will be set for a wide pattern, just need to get my light bar built.

Jeff

I have been running the 170 lightforce for a couple of years now, so far they are great. They are a bit pricey, but hit a moose once, and see what that costs.

In this size of light, they are the best overall unit I have used so far, I have used PIAA, KC, Hella, and Bosch lights in the past. The lightforce simply has a superior reflector design. I haven't cashed out and bought a set of 240 HID yet, although I have driven a highway truck with not one, but two sets of the HID on the front. That is much like sitting in the driver's seat of the sun. Excellent white light. When you meet a set of HID, it is like looking into a welding arc. Perhaps too much, and definitely puts a hurtin on your wallet.

When in doubt about what lights to buy, just go look at what the long-haul drivers are running. They put a lot of miles on in the dark, and they know what works best.

Good luck with your night light choices

Any auxiliary light is a bonus and yes price makes a difference, however in a glass lens the Hella 450/550 is what I use simply because of the bumper design. 100 watt bulbs and there is daylight out there. Down side to these lights is the glass lens which if you meet a lot of oncoming traffic will take some hits. A round reflecter is superior to a rectangular but space is sometimes an issue. As Homestead stated the Aussies have it figured out Lightforce have an excellent impact resistant lens and good output characteristics, the 240's are costly and hard to fit into most bumpers. Even if you buy the 140's you wont be disappointed but aim is the most critical point of any light. Mounting "driving" lamps in the fog light openings defeats70% of the lights purpose, driving lights should be approx headlight level or higher. However mounting driving lamps on roll bars is also a waist of time as it scatters light on objects ahead of the light that reflects (like the hood) back into your eyes and reduces there benefits. Larger reflecter = more light output from same size bulb., high wattage bulbs increase output but heat when stopped will melt lenses and blow bulbs. My lights have without a doubt saved me from several wildlife collisions (swamp donkeys & bambi) but also remember when meeting oncoming traffic the few seconds after you turn them off you are temporarily blind due to the difference in output from your headlights. The local law sometimes has a say as to what can be mounted forward on your truck and if it has to be covered on the highway, they are pretty reasonable here until you "arcweld" somebodies retinas to their skull. PK

Well, I'll be tossing the 140's in my bumper, but I did get the wide dispersion lenses for this purpose for the ditches. This is where the OEM ones are severely lacking plus, the inability to aim them them properly - I maxed out their adjustments and can't get them to where I want them, so time to say goodbye to them.

It might be Lightforce for me I guess. On their website I think the hot ticket for me is the 170 striker with the combo lens/clip on filter thingamajiggy. Thanks guys.

I really liked my lightforce, they were excellent on my dodge,, when I get a moment of time I will be putting them on my chev.

Kevin

ps festus, what are doing with your stock fogs?

where is the best place to get the lightforce lights? `are you getting them direct or??? those stryker 170's look awesome. a couple recessed into the back bumper would be the ticket for the idiots that dont know how to dim their highbeams when they run up behind you. not that i would ever do that ;0

ok maybe the 170's would be too big. still a cool idea.

I really liked my lightforce, they were excellent on my dodge,, when I get a moment of time I will be putting them on my chev.

Kevin

ps festus, what are doing with your stock fogs?

Kevin, a buddy visited me in the garage while I was removing them. He bought them to replace his broken OEM ones in his truck.

what do you guys think about this? http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.aspx?category%7ccategory_root%7c-25=Exterior&selected_prod_ids=2099&attribute_value_string%7cColor=Black&canned_results_trigger=

what do yall think about it?

what do you guys think about this? http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.aspx?category%7ccategory_root%7c-25=Exterior&selected_prod_ids=2099&attribute_value_string%7cColor=Black&canned_results_trigger=

what do yall think about it?

I don't have a front license plate bracket - plate not required here in Alberta.

My opinion is vibration though. Weight of that unit, plus weight of lights on OEM plastic bracket = vibration. JMHO however.

Done! LightForce 140's with dispersion lenses in the bumper, and 170's with combo filters where the Jetco dual bulb used to be. I still have to set them up a bit better, but the ones in the bumper a way better than the OEM fog lights.


http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s305/Festus35/Dec282007Download068.jpg

Looks great Festus...how do they work for you?

Looks great Festus...how do they work for you?

I like them. I tried them with the supplied filters and found too much of a spot light even after widening the beams. I ordered mine with the addition of the dispersion filters for the 140's and the combo filters for the 170's - more light into the ditches which what I was looking for. I'll run like this for awhile, but I think 100W vertical elements for both sets would be even better.

I haven't noticed how one would readily change the bulbs, but I'll dive into that when it's needed.

Changing bulbs is a dream. Spin the head off and replace the bulb. If it takes you over a minute, your doing something wrong.

Jeff

So there is some adjustability to the beams without the filters as well? I don't know how crazy I will get with filters, bulb swaping etc. I will be so thrilled to have more than one dirty headlight! My other headlight was smashed out by a chunk of chain on a towrope. Don't ask........... LOL

So there is some adjustability to the beams without the filters as well? I don't know how crazy I will get with filters, bulb swaping etc. I will be so thrilled to have more than on dirty headlight! My other headlight was smashed out by a chunk of chain on a towrope. Don't ask........... LOL

Yep, turn the housing left, and the beam widens. For me, I like the additional filters that I got with them, but I believe with vertical element bulbs (oval beam), they'd be better without additional filters needed - they come with horizontal element bulbs (round beam).

And now for the unanswered question where and how much?? We believe, We believe, we just want some. PK

And now for the unanswered question where and how much?? We believe, We believe, we just want some. PK

I got mine from www.grimmperformance.com Contact: Kirk Davis

- set of 140's / clear dispersion filters / 2 extra bulbs
- set of 170's / clear combo filters / 2 extra bulbs
- all above for $550

Some places around here want that for one set.[nonono][duhhh][dummy]

Done, ordered and on the way Light Force 170's to go with new truck and swamp donkey destroyer on front of truck. Thanks Festus. PK

Done, ordered and on the way Light Force 170's to go with new truck and swamp donkey destroyer on front of truck. Thanks Festus. PK


You're welcome! Falcan donkey destroyer? We need pics!

OK I have warmed up, camera warmed up now you can have a picture. Camera was still cold and bumper picture is not very clear but they have some pictures at Falcan Industries web site under "heavy duty bumpers'. PK

I'm running the 170's on my truck and I have the same bumper as Festus...I might go that route with the 140's too. Theres a stretch of road I run from Velva ND to Jamestown ND where there are more deer then cars sometimes.
So far so good but some extra ditch lighting doesn't hurt.
I think these TOYO M55's are scaring off the deer with the sound they make rolling down the road.

Scotty

I'm running the 170's on my truck and I have the same bumper as Festus...I might go that route with the 140's too. Theres a stretch of road I run from Velva ND to Jamestown ND where there are more deer then cars sometimes.
So far so good but some extra ditch lighting doesn't hurt.
I think these TOYO M55's are scaring off the deer with the sound they make rolling down the road.

Scotty

Scotty,

M-55's.....thata boy! You need to get your name on the list in the thread I started in the 3rd gen - nondrivetrain for larger Toyo M-55 size availability.

Here:http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=183470

Also, put it this way, I never want to do anything like enlarging those cut-outs ever again. Just to show you how much of a pain in the backside it really was.[yuk] Have someone else do it for you and save the stress for them.

Pat, thats a sharp lookin rig..

Festus, I like the setup in that bumper.. Nice... I was just poking around on EBAY for some 170's, but I will try your contact.. Thanks..

Scotty, glad to see you are still tickin away on that LWB mega...LOL..

Scotty,

M-55's.....thata boy! You need to get your name on the list in the thread I started in the 3rd gen - nondrivetrain for larger Toyo M-55 size availability.

Here:http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/showthread.php?t=183470

Also, put it this way, I never want to do anything like enlarging those cut-outs ever again. Just to show you how much of a pain in the backside it really was.[yuk] Have someone else do it for you and save the stress for them.
How much bigger can I go with duals? My first set gave me over 100k miles and I could have got over 120 but some of the outside lugs where tearing away...thought I might get tagged on a safety inspection.
The set I have now are over 80k miles combined from the other 07 and this one. I rotate every 10k miles and now run at 70 psi all around.
Only drawback of these tires is ice...they seem to want to slip quicker then the faster wearing/softer compound tires...which makes sense...these tires are the best I have ever used.

I have a few items ahead of tearing up the hands on the bumper...lets hope my urge to cut the bumper leaves before the tools come out. [laugh]

Nice being on here more too. I really hope to get to some get togethers in 08.

All the best to all of you for the New Year.

Scotty

I used to run those M55 on my pilot car, only tire other than Michelin to survive the quoted milage. You are right, definitely have to watch the ice with M55 and Michelin's. Toyo has a lot tougher sidewall than the Michelin but rides a little stiffer. Scotty speed limit on US 52 is only 55, cant blame bambi for everything especially with those lights. PK

Here is another Falcan Deck on my boss' truck...He doesn't have the deer smasher on this truck but on 2 of his other crew trucks he has both falcan decks and bumpers.

http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/attachment.php?attachmentid=18271&stc=1&d=1199299540

I used to run those M55 on my pilot car, only tire other than Michelin to survive the quoted milage. You are right, definitely have to watch the ice with M55 and Michelin's. Toyo has a lot tougher sidewall than the Michelin but rides a little stiffer. Scotty speed limit on US 52 is only 55, cant blame bambi for everything especially with those lights. PK
Theres a couple of stretches where it drops to 45 near towns but since it got all redone its 60-65 depending on the stretch. Ain't no more 55 posted. The latest thing is they drop to 50 then 45 and then 30 in some of the towns. Used to be just down to 45.

Scotty