KC Daylighters - Black or Stainless??

[Ken Cooke]

Do the Black KC Daylighters rust? Do the black Daylighters fade over time? Do tree branches tear the black paint up, and promote rust? If I camp on the coast (as I sometimes do), will they begin to rust, or is the finish nice and sturdy. The money is finally coming for the lights, and if rust is a problem, I'd like to go the no-nonesense route and buy Stainless. The problem is, I don't want my pickup to look Hollywood - I want it to look stout, and black lights are all about looking the business!

-Ken

 

[section525]

"Hollywood Ken Cooke". I'd say go with black. You could always repaint when/if nessesary. Plus, who wants to look like a street queen?

 

[jimbo74]

hey, i got stainless steel mirrors on my truck and then the chrome rear bumper too.... my truck is a total street queen

 

[section525]

Jim.. how many times in the last half year has your truck left the street?!

 

[jimbo74]

ACTUALLY! TODAY, FEB 27, IS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ROLL... I DIDNT EVEN REALIZE THAT TILL JUST NOW...... SO LETS SEE, 1 AS IT WAS AT THE OFFROAD PARK, AND 2, WHEN IT WAS ON THE TRAILER TO MY HOUSE..... SO 2

 

[JDraper]

Go with the stainless. I've got the black, and I'm on my 2nd set due to rustout. My first set of black ones lasted 6 years before they rusted through. The rust occurs at the point they rivet the mounting base to the housing, and started on the inside of the housing. If you really want the black, I would suggest taking them apart as soon as you get them and painting the inside of the housing with rustoleum or some other rust inhibitor. KC honored their warranty and replaced 'em for free, but it's a PITA to take them off and ship them back to the company, and then wait a week for new ones.

As for the rest of your questions. No, they don't fade. No branches don't affect them, and yes, the paint is stout.

As I said above, KC has been VERY good honoring their warranty. It's 23 years on EVERYTHING. Finish, bulbs, rust, etc. Everything except trail damage. A very good company to do business with. I've had various sets of KC lights for over 10 years, and I am quite satisfied.

P.S. Make sure you get the Sealed Beam Daylighters. They blow every other light away in light output!!!

 

[Ken Cooke]

So, are the Stainless 130w units sealed beam lights?

My buddy has the Stainless, and he first owned the Black KCs, and he complained that traveling the washboarded Laguna Salada down in Baja, Mex. 20x/year from his home in San Diego, he rattled his lights useless. He finally went with the Stainless lights. So, will Stainless lights hold up better due to the housing?

 

[JDraper]

Stainless will hold up better for rust resistance. Other than that, the stainless and black lights should work the same. I have the 150W sealed units, not 130W. See Dead Link Removed

 

[Ken Cooke]

Carr Lightbar needed

I ordered the 150w KC's from Summit Racing. They should arrive at my doorstep early next week. BTW, I need to order a Carr Deluxe lightbar (black) for the truck. It'll be that over-the-cab lightbar they sell (I think the '05 model). Does anyone recommend a good mail-order shop for this unit???