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I flush mounted a set of Rigid lights into my grille. Too high to be fog lights, but they work great as highway lights to clear the lane of slower drivers. I also have fog lights in the factory location.
Full LED front lighting.
I want to do this! Should start a how-to thread for the rest of us peasants
I want to do this! Should start a how-to thread for the rest of us peasants
A how-to might be overkill. I lucked out and the backside of the lights were just slightly wider than the opening in the grille. I cut away just a little on either side so the lights would sit centered, drilled holes for the bolts, and wired them up. Do a search for "flush mount led driving lights" and you should find plenty of good candidates. If you need more info, i could get some pics and throw something up on here.
Last edited by 2000_MI_XJ; Oct 13, 2016 at 02:30 PM.
What sort of lighting are you using for your directionals? Appears to be some sort of single LED(s) installed in a case that replaces the OE directionals? Side markers also appear to use a LED?
I am using Rigid D2 lights on my 98
in the stock location.
Very happy with them.
I use the amber covers for use on the roadway...
Without the covers they are WAY too bright. The covers make the lights a driving light / fog light combo... works very well for additional lighting.
If off road at night, simply pop off the covers and light up the trail.
In our area, running bright white off road LED lights will get you a ticket.
and I think thats great. Too many Idiots running LED lights and even LED light bars on the roadways.
I am using Rigid D2 lights on my 98
in the stock location.
Very happy with them.
I use the amber covers for use on the roadway...
Without the covers they are WAY too bright. The covers make the lights a driving light / fog light combo... works very well for additional lighting.
If off road at night, simply pop off the covers and light up the trail.
In our area, running bright white off road LED lights will get you a ticket.
and I think thats great. Too many Idiots running LED lights and even LED light bars on the roadways.
yes, I said idiots.
I don't understand you sometimes remove the amber lens protectors and run the risk of getting a ticket or being reported? or you just use the bright leds in other jurisdictions?
Is the regulation for any LED white? Do they measure the amount of LED lumens with some sort of lumen intensity scanner?
I can see having some sort of regulation when there is a problem with too many or too much lighting in the forest, parks, etc.
I don't have that problem where I live as the logging corporations own most of the surrounding forested lands. We use to be able to go up into the forest, fish around rivers and streams during the daytime without any camping. However after the logging companies installed more and more metal gates all of the local access points are closed with a red dot, meaning no access. I need to travel at least 150+ miles to find access to a good off-road area such as a National Forest.
I don't understand you sometimes remove the amber lens protectors and run the risk of getting a ticket or being reported? or you just use the bright leds in other jurisdictions?
Is the regulation for any LED white? Do they measure the amount of LED lumens with some sort of lumen intensity scanner?
I can see having some sort of regulation when there is a problem with too many or too much lighting in the forest, parks, etc.
I don't have that problem where I live as the logging corporations own most of the surrounding forested lands. We use to be able to go up into the forest, fish around rivers and streams during the daytime without any camping. However after the logging companies installed more and more metal gates all of the local access points are closed with a red dot, meaning no access. I need to travel at least 150+ miles to find access to a good off-road area such as a National Forest.
Pretty sure he only pulls the amber covers when he's on the trail
I don't understand you sometimes remove the amber lens protectors and run the risk of getting a ticket or being reported? or you just use the bright leds in other jurisdictions?
Is the regulation for any LED white? Do they measure the amount of LED lumens with some sort of lumen intensity scanner?
I can see having some sort of regulation when there is a problem with too many or too much lighting in the forest, parks, etc.
I have been looking at some infrared off-road lights. I'm not certain how well these work as off-road and driving lights. Ir lighting requires night vision goggles or possibly can be used with a camera and monitor.
Some are configured as driving lights with high and low beams. One example: Dual 10° spot beams for two high beam, two 35° flood beams for low beams, or a single 10° high beam and single 35° low beam.
In the past I've used IR with Pulnix cctv and other types of cameras but not on a vehicle as driving or off-road lights.
Rigid Industries carries IR Light bars, Spots and D2 Driving.
What sort of lighting are you using for your directionals? Appears to be some sort of single LED(s) installed in a case that replaces the OE directionals? Side markers also appear to use a LED?
Yes, they are LED trailer lights that are grommet mounted. Installed them in the factory housings and they even plug into the factory socket with a modified 3157 connector. The white on the inside is my running light and the ambers cycle on the turn signals. I have had thoughts of adding more into the slots of the grille for a Ford Raptor kind of look as running lights.
Little update... Been chasing drivetrain issues lately rather than accessories...
The $20 amazon lights are still going, more or less. Turns out they don't like cold much, and the particular ones I got like to flicker near 20 and below. Doesn't seem like they do it when it's warm out, however. Whatever.
I did invest in some amber covers for them ($10) and I really like the look. They do limit a lot of the light, but the amount of people flashing their brights at me at night went down drastically. In fact, I haven't had a single person do it since I installed the covers. I have followed numerous friends who say that the beam doesn't glare in their mirrors as well, so that's a plus.
Overall i'd call this operation a success. For whatever reason, either myself or my phone sucks at taking night photos of the beam, otherwise i'd have some results photos by now... I can contest however that where mine are mounted does help in blizzard conditions (tested) and doesn't blind people at stoplights.
Long story short, i'd recommend the mounting location, but maybe a couple extra dollars should be spent on a more reputable brand of lights. If you guys still want pictures I can try again... Maybe with a different camera.
