Daniellan

Hey folks! I'm looking to add some driving lights, I particularly like the KC Apollo 6". In all photos of wranglers or cherokees that have them, they are mounted on aftermarket front bumpers. My question is, can I install them on a stock xj front bumper? would I have to bolt into it?

Thanks!

Dan

Spencer_P

Yes and yes.

Or you could always try the Bluetooth method...

lawsoncl

Just don't expect to use them on-road without blinding oncoming drivers. We also got lots of idjiots around here installing led light bars at eye level and blinding people.

dave1123

Not to mention big rig truckers with LED headlights AND lightbars! What ever happened to NTSB standards? It used to be a 55 watt sealed beam was the only legal lights you could have. Damn Europeans had to screw that up! Oh, wait! my 76 Datsun B210 had 65 watt sealed beams. 55/65 that is. I liked my 87 Chevy truck with a pair of 7" KC Daylighters on a roof rack!

XJlimitedx99

Do you want to add driving lights for the aesthetic of having lights on the bumper or for increased light output? If you want more light, do not even consider adding auxiliary lights until you install relays on your headlight wiring. This can be done very cheaply and easily by purchasing/making a wiring harness like this one:


Look into doing an "H4 conversion" for more reading on the topic.

If you do just want lights on the bumper for the looks, be aware it likely won't be legal or safe to use them with oncoming traffic. You'd have to get some that are DOT rated if you want that. To install them you could simply drill holes into the bumper to mount them. Put a bolt on the inside of the bumper. There might even be some holes already there.

edit: Also, I would've put this in the modified tech because you're asking about modifying from stock.

IJM

The biggest limiting factors to what aux driving lights you can mount to a stock front bumper is the depth of the light housing and the location of the mounting bolt(s). For example, I've got a pair of Hella Rallye 4000 lights (100w H1 bulbs) on the front of my Cherokee, but the housings are deep and the mounting point is pretty far forward, almost in line with the front of the housing. There's no way they'd fit with the grille still in place using the bumper, and as you can see, mine aren't mounted directly to the bumper for just that reason. Many of the manufacturers have the measurements on their website, so that'll help get a sense of what will actually fit. The advantage to a deep reflector is you get so much more light out ahead, but fitment can be an issue. Here's a comparison of the Hella and KC lights, to pick two examples.

Hella Rallye 4000 (dimensions in millimeters)

KC Apollo 6"

Here's my setup. I've got them wired through a switch to my high beam circuit, so when they're on they effectively operate as auxiliary high beams. That method will address some of the concerns raised by others above about blinding traffic, as they're VERY bright and throw light VERY far down the road.

I've also upgraded the factory headlights to Hella e-code housings with H4 bulbs and a dedicated harness. That's helps a ton by itself.