LED Light bars - Install Question
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,390
Likes: 10
Those lights are nice, way out of my price range thought. I'm a welder and half assed mechanic by trade. Any thing outside of the pure mechanics of a vehicle is body work to me and far from my comfort zone. I like the look of the halogens, but again worried about things getting ripped off. I'm going to take this job when I graduate and all of the people up there (Northern Maine), have said bumpers and running boards don't tend to last.
I'll agree based on experience and the fact that you've probable got a few more miles than I do that the mounting location down low won't provide that much spread but that install is within my comfort level. Also A roof mount or backrack type mounting location isn't practical for my application in my opinion. Is there anyway that I could increase the amount of light thrown from this location?
And Yes I will truly be using the light for driving on logging roads at night. I am a forester and not trying to make my buddies jealous. I hang out with a bunch of Chevy boys. They're jealous every time they park next to me.....
I also fully admit I'm young, think I know everything, and will tell you I can do everything better than you but we both know that this is of course
I'll agree based on experience and the fact that you've probable got a few more miles than I do that the mounting location down low won't provide that much spread but that install is within my comfort level. Also A roof mount or backrack type mounting location isn't practical for my application in my opinion. Is there anyway that I could increase the amount of light thrown from this location?
And Yes I will truly be using the light for driving on logging roads at night. I am a forester and not trying to make my buddies jealous. I hang out with a bunch of Chevy boys. They're jealous every time they park next to me.....
I also fully admit I'm young, think I know everything, and will tell you I can do everything better than you but we both know that this is of course
Just tryin' to help thar, pardner. You can either take the constructive criticism in the spirit in which it was intended - or not. It's on you. Or, simply don't ask for any opinion/advice if you can't tolerate ideas that conflict with your worldview. Savvy?
Now - as for increasing output in your preferred bumper opening position - only more emitters and/or more powerful emitters will do that (e.g dual stacked 20"ers). Still the same optical constraints / performance tradeoffs given the low position.
Which is why you should seriously consider the HID retrofit alternative and put the lightbar on the backburner - you will be bumping into the cost of same using a decent quality lightbar - and you will get better results for your intended usage.
Recommend the MiniD2S 3.0 system @ 55w, 4300K or 5000K. Easy to do, it uses industry-standard D2S bulbs. FX-R is more work (much larger projector body) but with noticeable output improvements. The Mini 3.0's are closing this gap however. Just something to think about. http://www.theretrofitsource.com/com...l#.Uzv-0KhdVog
BTW - I love Maine - I vacation there most every year .
MGD
Last edited by MGDfan; Apr 2, 2014 at 08:13 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 2
From: U.P. of Michigan
Recommend the MiniD2S 3.0 system @ 55w, 4300K or 5000K. Easy to do, it uses industry-standard D2S bulbs. FX-R is more work (much larger projector body) but with noticeable output improvements. The Mini 3.0's are closing this gap however. Just something to think about. http://www.theretrofitsource.com/com...l#.Uzv-0KhdVog
MGD
Now if you drive mostly town driving that's a distant story..
35w is OEM standard for a reason.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,390
Likes: 10
I would prolly shy away from 55w tho. To much light out front, causes eye strain on long night drives, and the contrast between light and dark with your cut-off is bad. Pretty much anything outside your bean pattern will be black..
Now if you drive mostly town driving that's a distant story..
35w is OEM standard for a reason.
Now if you drive mostly town driving that's a distant story..
35w is OEM standard for a reason.
Well - it's really on 50W ( ballast rating - and just barely ). I run 5Fives @ 5000K. The only thing I see is reduced component life. But - mostly in-town except fer vacations.
I need the light - this ol' fart is half-blind
MGD
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,519
Likes: 2
From: U.P. of Michigan
55w ballasts = rated input.
Time to get your eyes checked ha
Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: N Ga
You will be more than happy with the 20" in the bumper opening. I ran a 100w bar in the opening for some time and even in the spot pattern it still lights tree tops up. But once you have some led white light you might also want to add a 30" behind the grille, when you do this the light is like a ballpark at night with the lights on.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Alright guys. I am looking for roof mounts for a 50" LED Light Bar on my 97 F150. Why do they not make any or is there anything for another truck that might work on mine? Or is there anybody that can make custom brackets to ship to me?