Seeking opinions for roof lights
Greetings fellow Cherokee churners, I was seeking opinions on which direction to go for lighting on my roof. I have a biased on getting something with a black reflection and housing and have narrowed down to the following:
http://www.realtruck.com/spyder-led-...r/9932168.html
Although the second I'm not sure are meant for my purpose/intention, but do provide an example of what I'm aiming for in apperance I guess. Overall I'd prefer something that exceeds in blizzard conditions and for trails. I appreciate the help folks!
http://www.realtruck.com/spyder-led-...r/9932168.html
Although the second I'm not sure are meant for my purpose/intention, but do provide an example of what I'm aiming for in apperance I guess. Overall I'd prefer something that exceeds in blizzard conditions and for trails. I appreciate the help folks!
For snow you need the yellow/amber light covers if not a bright light in heavy snow can make it worse.The two you posted the spyder brand i would pass on,The kc ones i would trust more.For a budget led light bar i would go http://olympusoffroad.3dcartstores.com/
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,922
Likes: 1
From: Eaton Co
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
That black light bar looks sick. I didn't even know they made them but any light on the roof with a flood pattern isn't going to be that great for blizzard conditions. Amber fog lights at bumper level or below would probably be your best bet.
Last edited by XJmike0122; Mar 21, 2015 at 05:06 AM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 6
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
Most of your roof lights are just for show. Some of them can be useful on trails without a lot of tree branches if you're the first person in line, otherwise you're just going to blind everyone and no one is going to have any fun.
For me, a 50-inch LED light bar with Inspired Engineering's roof brackets satisfies my tastes in looks.
If you need performance for the blizzard, follow the advice you've been given and go with yellow/amber colored lights that remain lower than your hood level. Anything higher will produce glare, making it even harder to see than it already is.
For me, a 50-inch LED light bar with Inspired Engineering's roof brackets satisfies my tastes in looks.
If you need performance for the blizzard, follow the advice you've been given and go with yellow/amber colored lights that remain lower than your hood level. Anything higher will produce glare, making it even harder to see than it already is.
CF Veteran




Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,143
Likes: 361
From: Andover, VT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 L
The longer I have my roof lights the less I enjoy having them. I don't use them very much because there's limited opportunities. They suck in bad weather, they're only good if you're in front on the trail and on the road in the middle of the night with nobody around.
Mine also create a noticeable amount of drag and a lot of wind noise, although I'm sure a slim led bar wouldn't have the same issue. I usually take mine off if I plan on going farther than an hour or so.
Fogs like this are what you want for bad weather. Mounted as low to the ground as possible.
Mine also create a noticeable amount of drag and a lot of wind noise, although I'm sure a slim led bar wouldn't have the same issue. I usually take mine off if I plan on going farther than an hour or so.
Fogs like this are what you want for bad weather. Mounted as low to the ground as possible.
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CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,554
Likes: 17
From: Monett, MO.
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
As with most things you get what you pay for. I only have 2 front facing lights on my roof rack as they tend to get broken off on tree limbs and such on the trail. My rear backup/work lights do not take as much abuse so I have yet to break one of them.
This is the main reason I do not use LED lighting is the breakage, mine isn't a DD and used mostly all off road.
The others are all Hella Black Magic's and work quite well as most are at the hood line and the trails are in the forests and Ozark Mountains where we wheel at the most. Also are very luck to have a lot over 12,000 ac. of private land in one parcel to use and many more smaller ones in all types of terrain.
This is the main reason I do not use LED lighting is the breakage, mine isn't a DD and used mostly all off road.
The others are all Hella Black Magic's and work quite well as most are at the hood line and the trails are in the forests and Ozark Mountains where we wheel at the most. Also are very luck to have a lot over 12,000 ac. of private land in one parcel to use and many more smaller ones in all types of terrain.
If your jeep has the stock headlights they would be my first upgrade,A good h4 swap with the wiring harness with relays is night and day when it comes to light.Next would be a set of fog lights under the bumper for when you need them.Next upgrade would be adding lights to the front bumper then maybe lights on the pillars.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,554
Likes: 17
From: Monett, MO.
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
If your jeep has the stock headlights they would be my first upgrade,A good h4 swap with the wiring harness with relays is night and day when it comes to light.Next would be a set of fog lights under the bumper for when you need them.Next upgrade would be adding lights to the front bumper then maybe lights on the pillars.
Excellent suggestions! A Putco wiring harness for your headlights and new headlights was my first upgrade and there just a set of Hellas.
The stock headlights are like a dim night light,The last truck i did a h4 swap on i thought i had the high beams on it was just the low beams was that bright next to what i had before lol.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,554
Likes: 17
From: Monett, MO.
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Its amazing the crap headlight wiring harness that came on these from the factory and how such a small thing like wiring could make such a huge difference even with factory headlights.
Even worse are the people who upgrade the headlights and complain about how poor of a job they are doing, till they do the harness.
Even worse are the people who upgrade the headlights and complain about how poor of a job they are doing, till they do the harness.
Moderator CF K9-unit
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,842
Likes: 12
From: Alaska
Year: 2000 sport
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: New 4.0l from s&j engines
. Then the night came and I was like hmmmm. About the fourth night I could smell plastic getting hot. Took a look at the switch the next day and it was all messed up looking. Pulled my head out of my butt and started to see where I went wrong. Well within five mins of searching here found what I was doing wrong.New switch and Putco later,,booooom Wow
Last edited by Dumajones; Mar 24, 2015 at 11:59 AM.


