Brush Guard Lighting Questions

[02XLT]

I tried searching for my answer but no luck.

I have an '02 Explorer with a Brush/Grill Guard that I want to mount two lights round lights onto. I like the size that LEEBO has on his guard--looks like 6" lights???

We don't do any offroading in this rig, but are motocrossers/trailriders and use this to tow the bikes, so it makes lots of night paasages over the mountain passes and down long mountain gravel roads. I like the looks of having lights on the guard and am looking forward to some functionality from them. Unfortunatley, the reality is that these lights will be used occasionally, probably not as much as I would like to think.

My questions are:

1) Can I hook these to come on with the factory high beams, thus negating the need for a seperate switch? I can't think of anytimes that this would be a problem since I don't use my high beams around others anyways...

2) For "bright" lights do I want an 85W, 100W, ?? and for my purposes would you suggest pencil beam or floods?? Of course, a combination of both would be great...

3) Any light suggestions??? I don't want to spend a ton on these, but would like to find a nice combination of lights that are as bright as possible, affordable, and are able to stay on for longer periods of time without any overheating issues..

Thanks for the help.

 

[Blee1099]

I tried searching for my answer but no luck.

I have an '02 Explorer with a Brush/Grill Guard that I want to mount two lights round lights onto. I like the size that LEEBO has on his guard--looks like 6" lights???

We don't do any offroading in this rig, but are motocrossers/trailriders and use this to tow the bikes, so it makes lots of night paasages over the mountain passes and down long mountain gravel roads. I like the looks of having lights on the guard and am looking forward to some functionality from them. Unfortunatley, the reality is that these lights will be used occasionally, probably not as much as I would like to think.

My questions are:

1) Can I hook these to come on with the factory high beams, thus negating the need for a seperate switch? I can't think of anytimes that this would be a problem since I don't use my high beams around others anyways...

2) For "bright" lights do I want an 85W, 100W, ?? and for my purposes would you suggest pencil beam or floods?? Of course, a combination of both would be great...

3) Any light suggestions??? I don't want to spend a ton on these, but would like to find a nice combination of lights that are as bright as possible, affordable, and are able to stay on for longer periods of time without any overheating issues..

Thanks for the help.

Don't run the lights off your factory wiring harness, the wires can't handle the load. For wattage it depends if your going to use them on-road or off-road. A set of 55 watt driving lamps my suffice for you but you can always get a set of higher wattage like 85 or 100. You can run a set of PIAA or KC's whatever you prefer. Just make sure you hook up a relay to the lights. I've seen too many ppl hook up lights just hard-wiring them to 12 volts with just a switch.

 

[02XLT]

Thanks---The lights are never going to be on around other traffic--So I guess that means "offroad".

I will have the lights prof. installed, but I wanted advice from those who know before walking into the offroad store--looking like a sheep ready for the slaughter. Sales guys give me the willies....

 

[Bill Kemp]

I would think the "driving" beam pattern would be best as it lights more of the shoulder of the road than do the "pencil" or "long range" beam patterns. Floods are basicly fog beams.
I have PIAA 80 and am real happy w/them. I have had KC slimlights and they were very good also. ProComp is also well liked as is Hella. The difference between cheap/off brand & good lights is really noticed after a year or so of use.
The installer can just splice the wire to turn on the relay, which turns on the driving lights, to your high beam light wire and no switches are necessary. I have it that way on my car.
I would go w/100 Watt lights. PIAAs & KC &,I think, ProComps come w/100W or more bulbs and Hellas can be upgraded to 100W.
Ebay has some good buys but then I dont mind used stuff.

 

[JPA1982]

i would suggest KC-hilites Slimlites Driving, can get them in black, chrome or titanium, look great, nice compact design, and work awesome
i personally have these lights but in the fog setup, i love them, wish i'd had them from the start, they are fogs but work better then my stock lights, and just as far
Research pages for u.
light patter = Dead Link Removed
KC's= Dead Link Removed
here is a site with good prices
http://www.accessconnect.com

 

[02XLT]

Thanks for the advice. The Slimlites seem to be both the look, and price point I was shooting for. I think that those should fit my needs perfectly.

As a side note, internet forums are amazing to me. There is no better place to get information from those who know your specific need.

Thanks again..

 

[gijoecam]

I've got the 150 Watt daylighters on my F-150 and will be adding a set to my Explorer as soon as I figure out how I'm going to mount them. They are the first set I've found that are actually useful, and after nearly 4 years on the truck (very rarely with covers on), they're still going strong. I had a set of the slimlights under my bumper on my 90 Ranger, and was never happy with them. In my experience, long-range or driving lights need to be mounted at least as high up as the OEM headlights in order to be aimed effectively.

-Joe

 

[Bill Kemp]

In terms of "down the road" brightness the lights that I have used & compared are:
#1. KC 150 Daylighters. #2. PIAA 80 #3. KC Slim lights.
At 55 to 65 mph. it's hard to overdrive those lights.

 

[02XLT]

OK...So I want into the local accessory store to look at some of these in person. He says that the 150w daylighters won't light up as well as the PIAA 520 SMR's that they sold for $249.99.

It seems like that is not what you guys are saying. I did like the look of the 520's but think I will end up going with the daylighters as I trust you guys more than I do the sales guy...Any feedback on the 520's.

 

[MattStarr]

I like my Hella's 500's. They are bright enough for me.

 

[Bill Kemp]

That guy in the store if full of sh**. No way will 150 watts put out less light than 55 or 85 watts on the PIAAs.
Daylighters are too deep for any of my applications so I use the PIAA 80xt which is IMO just as good. Both are far superior to the 520 SMR. For the difference in price I would get the Hella 500s before the 520SMR.

 

[Alto]

I'm running Hella 500, Hella 1000, Hella 181 & Hella Optilux. I feel that the 500's are nice but the 1000 make a differance. I like the amount of light with all 4 but the 1000's are noticible.

I don't know about the PIAA's but the Hella's work well for me.

I've been running them for about 4 years wired them up and haven't had a problem since. Work like the day I installed them & I've used them alot. Ran with all 4 sets at once for over an hour about 5 seperate times. Off-Roading looking for campsites in the middle of the desert.

 

[gijoecam]

That's way too much coin for the 150 watt daylighters. JC Whitney has the 150 watt sealed-beam kit for $130 for the whole kit, last time I checked.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs...-1&productId=183667&mediaCode=ZX&appId=495426

-Joe

 

[ALLOUTWAR13]

Hella 500 fog lights are bright, and they work with your high or low beams which ever youd like. and they come with complete instructions and wiring gear.

 

[Hokie]

Hella 500 fog lights are bright, and they work with your high or low beams which ever youd like. and they come with complete instructions and wiring gear.

I've got KC Slimlites with a "driving" lens on my bumper (infront of my grill ~ but I also had them on my brushguard when I had one) and I have them wired so they only come on with my high beams (so I don't forget and blind somebody). I have them switched too so they don't come on every time I hit the light switch to flash someone in traffic (so I'm not burning up the bulbs). They work great on the interstate... on long straight stretches, it really is amazing how far down the road they will light up a road sign but they still branch out wider than the road because of their lightly fluted design (driving vs spot) so seeing deer and other animals is alot easier. For any Explorer I would recommend a set of 100W driving lights to suppliment the highbeams.

I've also got some Pro Comp 5" lights that I put on my roof and use camping with 100W bulbs in them, man I can see good then!

Pro Comp lights are very good quality for how little they charge. They don't come with wiring harnesses, but the wiring harnesses that come with these kits are crap anyway. All you need is some 14ga wire, a relay, and a few spade connectors/ring terminals (maybe $10 worth of materials). I always end up hacking up the supplied harnesses anyway b/c I don't like them. You can easily wire the lights yourself ~ don't pay for someone else to do it. If you want, email me or hit me up online (AOL SN >> yeup) and I'll walk you through it.

Good luck on your decision!