Ideas for aftermarket lights?

[Mangolia]

Anyone have any ideas for some aftermarket lights - behind grill/foglights/backup lights? Any pics would be appreciated. Thanks

[XDTMike]

I have the factory fog lights, which were rewired to stay on both low beam and when switched to high beam. I used one of my upfitter switches for a set of Hella driving lights behind the grille. I also installed a stainless steel insert on the front of the grille. The lights have not been all that effective, I noticed last night they were hardly showing up. I looked today and they were getting dirty, there is no easy way to clean them. I would like to find a new spot on the front of the grille. That was my first choice but the mechanic at the dealership said he couldn't find a good way to mount them. I have a few thoughts about that. Also the driving lights only come on if the lights are on high beam and if the upfitter switch is on.

I put a set of square Hella work lamps on the corners of the rear bumper, they come on when the transmission is put into reverse. I also used an upfitter switch so that I can turn on the back up lights without being in reverse, this also turns on the factory back up lights.

I mounted another set of Hella work lamps on the headache rack, using the third upfitter switch. My fourth switch was wired to a couple 2 prong trailer plugs, one for an amber strobe light, the second one for a rechargeable flashlight(my plan is for a maglight) in one of my side boxes. Sorry I don't have any pictures available at this time.

[ogersbronco]

XDTMike,
How did you wire up the back up lights so that you can turn them on with a switch when the truck is not in reverse?

[KBennett]

I have a set of Pro Comp 130 watt spotlights wired to one of my outfitter switches that are really bright. They are mouted on my brush guard and if you want some spotlights I highly recomment these. They are the 8'' lights and I got them on sale for $35 a piece from 4wheel parts. I also have the LED light bar from Recon.com that mounts under the tailgate, its a 3rd brake light, running light, blinker, and turns white when the truck is put in reverse and is very bright. Kind of pricey at $80 but I thought it was worth it. I will try and get you some pics

[Tony_ONeil]

You could try what I'm going to when I mount my PIAA lights:
Make an L bracket that goes to the upper bumper bolts, and have it bend and fit between the bumper and the grill. that way its secured and you don't have to drill into the bumper to mount them.

If you want the rear lights to turn on with the reverse engagement you could try tapping into the power wire of the reverse bulb at the tail light, some people do that.
Personally I'd go for a switch, that way if you want to use them while you're hooking up a trailer at night you could switch them on

Check ebay for cheap fog lights, they can make nice reverse lights and then if one gets damaged it's not that big of a deal.

[Pharkor]

FWIW: Grab a set of Sylvania SilverStar® ULTRA bulbs for your headlamps. You simply cannot go wrong with them; lot's of bang for the buck.

"I don't post often, but when I do ..."

[Tony_ONeil]

SilverStars are good for light output, but they use more juice than the average bulb and have almost half the life...

I grabbed a set of HIDs. 'Not for on-road use', but if they're angled down they don't blind people so I don't see why there would be an issue (also went with white color).
I've tested them out and the stock lights on my jeep wrangler cause more glare issues for oncoming cars than my HIDs do.

[fxdwgi]

Originally Posted by Pharkor

FWIW: Grab a set of Sylvania SilverStar® ULTRA bulbs for your headlamps. You simply cannot go wrong with them; lot's of bang for the buck"

I agree totally.

Originally Posted by Tony_ONeil

SilverStars are good for light output, but they use more juice than the average bulb and have almost half the life...

Really ?? I have had mine for over 2 years and no problems. Where did you hear this at ?

[Tony_ONeil]

I was told a while back that they had less resistance in them than the average bulb letting more current flow through them and creating more heat in the in element and a brighter bulb.
My buddy ran them in his Honda and he went through at least half a dozen bulbs in the couple years he owned it. Maybe the car had some other internal problems that we did not know about.

[VTFireftr]

Sorry I'm late to this party.

But take a look at my truck pix for aftermarket ideas. Be advised that I do have a permit for the foward facing Red/Clear flashing lights/LEDs.

For aftermarket lights, Hellas are better quality and less money than PIAA.

Have fun.

Marc

[buckmasterp]

HID's are the ONLY way to go!! The color temperature allows for much easier night vision and visibility. It's closer to natural daylight and uses a fraction of the power that standard lamps do. You have to make sure whatever you put them in doesn't have beveled headlights...it doesn't allow the beam to focus, instead it refracts and blinds oncoming drivers. A standard HID setup has a single burner, which is brighter than your high and low beams combined. They also have dual-burner, which is two seperate HID systems in each head lamp. They allow for more adjustability and will light up your world!

You need to watch your color temperature, I have driving lights that are HID and they are more white than blue...I get flashed sometimes when it's daytime.

If you want to go all out and you travel a lot at night, more so in semi-remote area's (Alaska, Canada, Montana, etc.) the off-road HID lights are second to none!! I used to run 4 Lightforce 240's but they sucked with just 2-8" HID!!! No joke! You couldn't even tell they were on! You can literally illuminate objects a mile out! It has saved me more times than I can count from hitting deer, moose and bison!! They work AMAZING in snow!!!