Driving lights

zzimzimma · 12-20-2003, 09:01 PM

Hi All....I know I will probably get a lot of different opinions on the question I'm going to ask which is good so here it goes:

Just got back from a weekend ski trip and I have one thing to say...the headlights on my 98 suck! I have Piaa 520 driving lights on my brush guard that I use to light the surroundings in the far distance and want to keep it that way...Can't use these on the road cause they blind everyone. Basically, I want a secondary set of lights to mount on the underside of the brushguard for general highway light to help my headlights. I'm probably looking for something low profile...Thanks everyone!...Jon

Bill Kemp · 12-20-2003, 10:54 PM

I just put a set of Catz MSR fog lights on the Mounty and they are the best lights I have used. They only come in a pendulem mount so use is limited to your mounting method. Lights are so precise that there is a left & right designation on the lights.
Catz MSX are the next best IMO for a small light.
The fog beam pattern of the Catz lights are far superior to the PIAA & Hella fogs I have tried.

zzimzimma · 12-21-2003, 11:21 AM

Bill,

For the type of light I'm looking for, are you saying fog lights would be better then driving lights?...Jon

Bill Kemp · 12-21-2003, 04:40 PM

Fog lights "fill-in" the areas around your low beams and can be left on all the time.
Dirving light beam pattern is more like a oval.
Fog beam pattern is more like a bar ---- .
Typically the bar or hot part of the beam, is aimed about 2 to 4 in. lower than the mounting height at 25'.
I'm useing 100 watt bulbs in my fogs and dont get flashed because the beam pattern & aiming keep the light out of the oncomming drivers eyes. It does light up the area in front of & to the sides very well.

mountainbiker · 01-03-2004, 07:47 AM

I'd have to agree with Bill. I find myself using the fog lights (520s) a lot more than my driving lights (510s). Granted the 520s are like twice the size of the 510s, but I prefer the fog light pattern (short-wide) vice the driving light pattern (long-thin). The driving lights are similar to my normal high beams.

I noticed you said you have a brush guard. Maybe you could do a mounting like http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...124#post847124.

aldive · 01-03-2004, 07:57 AM

Bill, where did you get thost Catz MSRs?

zzimzimma · 01-03-2004, 04:18 PM

I actually ended up buying the PIAA 1400 fogs. I just installed them a few days ago on my brush guard after doing some minor modifications. I have 520's mounted on top and the 1400's mounted on the bottom.

Bill Kemp · 01-03-2004, 04:54 PM

AL, I now have them (MSR) on both Cad & Mounty.
One set I got on Ebay and the other from : http://www.morepowerracing.com/prodt...ageHistory=cat

aldive · 01-03-2004, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Kemp
AL, I now have them (MSR) on both Cad & Mounty.
One set I got on Ebay and the other from : http://www.morepowerracing.com/prodt...ageHistory=cat

Thanks, Bill, based on your recommendation, I think I shall acquire a set.

aldive · 01-03-2004, 05:10 PM

Bill, what are the physical deminisions of these lights?

Bill Kemp · 01-04-2004, 10:48 AM

Al, http://www.fet-usa.com/

I mentioned before that these are set up for pendulum type mounting only. I did mount them as pedestal type on the Cad. and dont think it made too much difference. I just Gooped one vent hole and dremelled another on the other side.

aldive · 01-04-2004, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aldive
Thanks, Bill, based on your recommendation, I think I shall acquire a set.

Bill, thanks, I found what I needed.

12-20-2003, 09:01 PM	#1
zzimzimma Wannabe Elite Explorer Long Island, NY 98 Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 47 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Driving lights Hi All....I know I will probably get a lot of different opinions on the question I'm going to ask which is good so here it goes: Just got back from a weekend ski trip and I have one thing to say...the headlights on my 98 suck! I have Piaa 520 driving lights on my brush guard that I use to light the surroundings in the far distance and want to keep it that way...Can't use these on the road cause they blind everyone. Basically, I want a secondary set of lights to mount on the underside of the brushguard for general highway light to help my headlights. I'm probably looking for something low profile...Thanks everyone!...Jon

12-20-2003, 10:54 PM	#2
Bill Kemp Elite Moderator Emeritus Greenville, MI 98 Mountaineer 5.0 AWD Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 5,211 Vehicle Specs	I just put a set of Catz MSR fog lights on the Mounty and they are the best lights I have used. They only come in a pendulem mount so use is limited to your mounting method. Lights are so precise that there is a left & right designation on the lights. Catz MSX are the next best IMO for a small light. The fog beam pattern of the Catz lights are far superior to the PIAA & Hella fogs I have tried. __________________ Bill Kemp Mods to come..... 07 Lincoln MKX Clones are people two.

12-21-2003, 04:40 PM	#4
Bill Kemp Elite Moderator Emeritus Greenville, MI 98 Mountaineer 5.0 AWD Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 5,211 Vehicle Specs	Fog lights "fill-in" the areas around your low beams and can be left on all the time. Dirving light beam pattern is more like a oval. Fog beam pattern is more like a bar ---- . Typically the bar or hot part of the beam, is aimed about 2 to 4 in. lower than the mounting height at 25'. I'm useing 100 watt bulbs in my fogs and dont get flashed because the beam pattern & aiming keep the light out of the oncomming drivers eyes. It does light up the area in front of & to the sides very well. __________________ Bill Kemp Mods to come..... 07 Lincoln MKX Clones are people two.

01-03-2004, 07:57 AM	#6
aldive Elite In Memoriam 1999 XLT Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 25,263 Vehicle Specs	Bill, where did you get thost Catz MSRs? __________________ Al Franklin My truck My Quest for 30 RIP Al Franklin! 1947-2010. Gone but not forgotten! :(

01-03-2004, 04:54 PM	#8
Bill Kemp Elite Moderator Emeritus Greenville, MI 98 Mountaineer 5.0 AWD Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 5,211 Vehicle Specs	AL, I now have them (MSR) on both Cad & Mounty. One set I got on Ebay and the other from : http://www.morepowerracing.com/prodt...ageHistory=cat __________________ Bill Kemp Mods to come..... 07 Lincoln MKX Clones are people two.

12-21-2003, 11:21 AM	#3
zzimzimma Wannabe Elite Explorer Long Island, NY 98 Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 47 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Bill, For the type of light I'm looking for, are you saying fog lights would be better then driving lights?...Jon

01-03-2004, 07:47 AM	#5
mountainbiker Wannabe Elite Explorer VA Beach, VA (Hometown) ~ London, UK (Home) 1997 Explorer Sport Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 58 Vehicle Specs	I'd have to agree with Bill. I find myself using the fog lights (520s) a lot more than my driving lights (510s). Granted the 520s are like twice the size of the 510s, but I prefer the fog light pattern (short-wide) vice the driving light pattern (long-thin). The driving lights are similar to my normal high beams. I noticed you said you have a brush guard. Maybe you could do a mounting like http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...124#post847124.

01-03-2004, 04:18 PM	#7
zzimzimma Wannabe Elite Explorer Long Island, NY 98 Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 47 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I actually ended up buying the PIAA 1400 fogs. I just installed them a few days ago on my brush guard after doing some minor modifications. I have 520's mounted on top and the 1400's mounted on the bottom.

01-03-2004, 05:10 PM	#10
aldive Elite In Memoriam 1999 XLT Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 25,263 Vehicle Specs	Bill, what are the physical deminisions of these lights? __________________ Al Franklin My truck My Quest for 30 RIP Al Franklin! 1947-2010. Gone but not forgotten! :(

01-04-2004, 10:48 AM	#11
Bill Kemp Elite Moderator Emeritus Greenville, MI 98 Mountaineer 5.0 AWD Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 5,211 Vehicle Specs	Al, http://www.fet-usa.com/ I mentioned before that these are set up for pendulum type mounting only. I did mount them as pedestal type on the Cad. and dont think it made too much difference. I just Gooped one vent hole and dremelled another on the other side. __________________ Bill Kemp Mods to come..... 07 Lincoln MKX Clones are people two.