Mounting Driving Lights

[Firefighter]

Hi, I have a couple of questions.
I want to get a set of KC Hilites SlimLites and mount them on my 01 Sport, but I don't have a brush gaurd. Where would you recommend that I try to mount them? I don't want them to be too low, I don't want to have them damaged if someone backs into it in a parking lot, and I want to be able to still use my tow hooks. I know thats asking for a lot, but doew anybody have any suggestions?
Also, I drive on long open stretches of highway, and am unsure about whether to get the driving lights or long range lights. I would use them like high beams, probably with my stock low beams and stock fog lights. Thanks a lot.
Doug

 

[Bill Kemp]

Its too late for me to do a search but, look for "bumper brackets" in the Lighting Forum. If you have a vice you can bend some 1/4" or so stock which will mount to the bumper bolts and allow you to mount the lights just above the bumper without drilling through the bumper.
Long range are "spot" lights. Just depends on where you want the most light. If you want to light up the sides of the road more get the driving lights.

 

[jeeden]

Well I don't have a '01 and I don't have an explorer sport, but I might have an idea.

I have a '03 EB Explorer (maybe the '01 has a similar front end?) that I put Hella FF 1000's on last year. I tucked them in the nose. I didn't really have enough bumper space for them and I didn't really want to drill into the bumper anyway. I assume the KC slimlites are a similar size so this might work for you. As you can see, my tow hooks aren't anywhere near the lights. I have the driving light pattern and love them. I have them set up to come on with the high beams and use my fog lights with the low beams.

I put some Hella 500's on the bumper of my '92 EB Ex (in the background of the photos below) and also had the driving lights that time except I wired them on a double throw switch so I could choose if they came on with the high beams or the low beams. I'll put a couple of photos of the '03 FF 1000's mounted in the nose. Hope this helps.

 

[Firefighter]

Thanks for the help guys, I've got some good ideas now. Sounds like driving lights would work for me, and I'll fab up some brackets.

doug

 

[Rob Slade]

Well I don't have a '01 and I don't have an explorer sport, but I might have an idea.

I have a '03 EB Explorer (maybe the '01 has a similar front end?) that I put Hella FF 1000's on last year. I tucked them in the nose. I didn't really have enough bumper space for them and I didn't really want to drill into the bumper anyway. I assume the KC slimlites are a similar size so this might work for you. As you can see, my tow hooks aren't anywhere near the lights. I have the driving light pattern and love them. I have them set up to come on with the high beams and use my fog lights with the low beams.

I put some Hella 500's on the bumper of my '92 EB Ex (in the background of the photos below) and also had the driving lights that time except I wired them on a double throw switch so I could choose if they came on with the high beams or the low beams. I'll put a couple of photos of the '03 FF 1000's mounted in the nose. Hope this helps.

Those lights in that picture aren't Hella FF1000's....these are:

Those on your car look to be Hella FF50 lights

 

[Hokie]

GO HOKIES!!!!!

Your best bet is to fab up some brackets from the bumper mounts

 

[jeeden]

Those lights in that picture aren't Hella FF1000's....these are:

Those on your car look to be Hella FF50 lights

Oops, one too many 0's on that. They are FF100's I mean.

And yes GO HOKIES!!!!