I use a Whelen Liberty lightbar on my '04. I have found that with all of light that is on this bar you really don't need to add other lights/strobes to the vehicle.

 

I know you just didnt contradict what SCCULLY and I agreed on with a friggin Wikipedia page

someone get this kid a flamesuit, please

 

Getting back to the OP's question, Although LED's are all the rage now and some (but not all) of them are mighty impressive, the cost for good ones is still pretty stiff. I still think a mini-bar (LED or otherwise) is by far the best way to fly. You get 360 degree warning, easy installation and not a whole lot to worry about from a maintenance standpoint.

If I can go one step further, I still believe that a good halogen rotator mini-bar is the single biggest bang for the buck. Generally speaking, you can get a decent one for less that $150 and although they draw more current, the warning signal they produce is pretty hard to argue with.

The lower half of my Star Interceptor bar is all LED's (Star, E6 and Whelen) and it's pretty darn impressive. The upper half has four old fashioned halogen rotators with custom "slotted" filters that you can only get from me. I'd say it's also pretty darn impressive. But the lower half cost 3X as much as the upper half. To each his (or her) own.

 

I honestly believe that (like most things in a goverment industry) that most fire equipment is highly overpriced, just because they know its not a persons money, its a departments money. $80 for a single surface mount LED with only 3 SMT LEDs? Please. While I may not have the injection-molding machine for the reflector and optics, or the CNC machine for the casing, I sure could build a rudimentary square LED warning light with far more output and a basic control-pattern circuit board for under $15. SMT5050 chips can be bought pre-reflowed for relatively cheap nowadays. I've come close to doing it just for fun, but knowing me, I wouldn't resist the urge to put it on my truck, and we're not allowed red lights in my county.

 

I would go with either a full light bar and that's it or some hide-away strobes, lights in the grille, and a dash light.

 

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This is my 2006 F150. I bought my lights through Sirennet.com. They are good priced and sell to individuals. They also put videos on YouTube to review various products.

The visor light in front and back are run by 12v on/off switchs.
(Whelen Slim Misers) $90ish a peice, sold in many colors, solids and splits

I had the wig wag lights installed by a shop in a nearby town, I had boughten the parts myself though.
(Whelen UHF2150A - head lights) $40ish
(Whelen UBF5150 - tail lights) $80ish
About $300 in labor to have these installed and switches put in the dash.

 

WOW - just read through the entire post, and just gotta

first thing before you waist your$$$$$
check your states guide lines(motor vehicle regs) AND local Fire Dept rules as to what is allowed

second thing is don't be a whacker, install only what is needed - remember you are not above M.V. dept laws, lites are only a curtesy to let you pass by to GET TO THE STATION not the scene - your not any good at the scene with out the fire trucks

yes i was a vol. firefighter for 20 yrs(in NJ)
nj law only allows for a single blue light on dash or roof (like anybody does that anymore) and you have to have a state issued permit for that!!!
NO sirens
only asst chief and chief could have siren and red light.

btw- i had a whelen blue light mini bar on the roof and hide away (blue) strobes cut into the backup light and driving lights - they were more effective during the day.