Off-road Light Reviews
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 976
Likes: 5
From: Cloquet, MN
Year: 2000 Ltd.
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
OK, got some pictures uploaded to my photobucket so here goes...
I'm going to put driving lights on my XJ but I haven't been able to decide which ones. I don't want to spend the ungodly $$$ for any of the big brands but I haven't gotten any good info on how well the cheapies work. I decided (tonight actually) that I want light with out grills on them. I was looking at the Wallyworld Baja lights, and the Harbor Freight units, but I like being able to stop at the gas station and squeegee the lights off so they actually work (especially in the winter.) So that eliminated those two sets of lights.
I ended up picking up three sets of lights to try out, with the intent of returning the two I don't like. I picked up two from Walmart. One was the Burners Platinum Series rectangular lights ($19.57). The mounting system is a little more chincy and the ground wire just goes to the mount.
Second was the round driving lights of the same "series" ($18.98). I like the mount for these (rubber isolated), but as you'll see later they suck for light.
The third set I picked up from Mills Fleet Farm are the Night Watcher LX lights made by PM ($16.99). These have a much stronger looking mount than the Burners lights and the ground wire is separate.
For my test I hooked up each light to the battery on the Jeep with jumper wires and pointed them at the wall. I took the pictures with the same manual camera settings so they are directly comparable. Only difference is that the round light was a few minutes earlier in the evening so there is more ambient light coming in the garage. The pics for the rectangular lights were about 30 seconds apart.
Starting off with the round lights...they suck. No useful beam pattern for the road, just a round circle.
The rectangular Burners lights have a fairly even light pattern to them but aren't all that impressive.
Now the PM lights take the cake in this test. They have a MUCH brighter beam and they even light up the peripherals better too. Take a close look at stuff like my welder in the bottom right of the picture.
I waited until it got darker out and shined the lights out of the garage and on my neighbors house. First pic is the Burners light, second is the PM light. HUGE difference... again with the same camera settings. Her house is probably about 75 feet away.
I'm going to put driving lights on my XJ but I haven't been able to decide which ones. I don't want to spend the ungodly $$$ for any of the big brands but I haven't gotten any good info on how well the cheapies work. I decided (tonight actually) that I want light with out grills on them. I was looking at the Wallyworld Baja lights, and the Harbor Freight units, but I like being able to stop at the gas station and squeegee the lights off so they actually work (especially in the winter.) So that eliminated those two sets of lights.
I ended up picking up three sets of lights to try out, with the intent of returning the two I don't like. I picked up two from Walmart. One was the Burners Platinum Series rectangular lights ($19.57). The mounting system is a little more chincy and the ground wire just goes to the mount.
Second was the round driving lights of the same "series" ($18.98). I like the mount for these (rubber isolated), but as you'll see later they suck for light.
The third set I picked up from Mills Fleet Farm are the Night Watcher LX lights made by PM ($16.99). These have a much stronger looking mount than the Burners lights and the ground wire is separate.
For my test I hooked up each light to the battery on the Jeep with jumper wires and pointed them at the wall. I took the pictures with the same manual camera settings so they are directly comparable. Only difference is that the round light was a few minutes earlier in the evening so there is more ambient light coming in the garage. The pics for the rectangular lights were about 30 seconds apart.
Starting off with the round lights...they suck. No useful beam pattern for the road, just a round circle.
The rectangular Burners lights have a fairly even light pattern to them but aren't all that impressive.
Now the PM lights take the cake in this test. They have a MUCH brighter beam and they even light up the peripherals better too. Take a close look at stuff like my welder in the bottom right of the picture.
I waited until it got darker out and shined the lights out of the garage and on my neighbors house. First pic is the Burners light, second is the PM light. HUGE difference... again with the same camera settings. Her house is probably about 75 feet away.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 976
Likes: 5
From: Cloquet, MN
Year: 2000 Ltd.
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I saw a review on them the other day, but can't remember where. They said they're just for show and to stay away from them if you want to actually use them. They're not as bright as the regular ones.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: SW Portland
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
Originally Posted by Northwoods Snowman
I saw a review on them the other day, but can't remember where. They said they're just for show and to stay away from them if you want to actually use them. They're not as bright as the regular ones.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 346
Likes: 1
From: Orygun
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L 6-Cylinder
Regular beam (ARB Wiring Harness. IPF 820H Headlamps. IPF X4 Xenox Bulbs.):
Regular beam (ARB Wiring Harness. IPF 820H Headlamps. IPF X4 Xenox Bulbs.) & IPF 968CSG (grille/rock guards on).:
High beam(ARB Wiring Harness. IPF 820H Headlamps. IPF X4 Xenox Bulbs.):
High beam (ARB Wiring Harness. IPF 820H Headlamps. IPF X4 Xenox Bulbs.) & IPF 968CSG (grille/rock guards on).:
Overall, I am very pleased with the IPF products and completely lights up a dark-road way, both width and length.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: SW Portland
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
Originally Posted by AdamG8GXP
You can find the review on YouTube when you search for Hella
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 976
Likes: 5
From: Cloquet, MN
Year: 2000 Ltd.
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Alright, so I FINALLY got out at night and took some pictures to compare the various states of light output on the front of the XJ. Pictures are taken with identical camera settings. I've also installed a roof light bar from a Liberty so I've got the comparison for that also.
This is low beams only.
This is high beams only.
This is high beams with the driving lights.
This is high beams, driving lights, and roof lights.
This is low beams and roof lights.
And just to get a side-by-side here's the low beams only again.
This is low beams only.
This is high beams only.
This is high beams with the driving lights.
This is high beams, driving lights, and roof lights.
This is low beams and roof lights.
And just to get a side-by-side here's the low beams only again.
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L straight 6
so i just got a pair of 100w baja lights that i put on the bumper. Is there any way I can wire these bad boys up without tapping into my high or low beams and just wire them straight from the switch to the relay to the lights?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 930
Likes: 0
From: WV
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 i6
That's a really clean setup on that Rockhead. I like your use of the harbor freight products. The chrome stuff looks great here in Canada, until winter comes. I like to use the inexpensive lights, poly housings, and I don't sweat it when one gets swatted by a tree branch or rock. Couple pics of my lower bar. The upper is a stock roof bar drilled thru for the stainless bolts. I rin the upper wiring into at the top and inside of and down my door seal then pop out near the kickpanel by the fuse box.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,603
Likes: 3
From: SLC, Utah
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I run the Tuff Stuff 7" H.I.D.'s on my XJ
35Watt, 6000K temp.
My review is they are Cheap as hell and put out a ton of light Last weekend I went night wheeling with a few buddies and played Trail guide at one spot on the trail I was Lighting up a treeline roughly 500-550 yards across the canyon next time I go there I'll take my camera to snap a pic of the distance they light up
Here are some pics with and without my yellow filters :
35Watt, 6000K temp.
My review is they are Cheap as hell and put out a ton of light Last weekend I went night wheeling with a few buddies and played Trail guide at one spot on the trail I was Lighting up a treeline roughly 500-550 yards across the canyon next time I go there I'll take my camera to snap a pic of the distance they light up
Here are some pics with and without my yellow filters :