Upgrade RR high beams by adding extra lights for HIGHWAY use

[John E Davies]

I am a little disappointed in my OEM high beams. The lows are fine with the fog lights on… My wife’s Acura RDX PMC Edition (LED) lights are noticeably better, and my old Land Cruiser 200 with upgraded halogen bulbs in the stock housings was better too… Neither vehicle really needed extra lighting for dark highways with no traffic. I mainly want to illuminate a deer or coyote in time to slow down.

I am waiting for a discrete light mount to be available, I would probably use Lightforce Striker 170s on it (7”, 100 watt halogen). They are about $280 with a harness. I don’t want HID, no way, and I don’t want to pay a fortune either. I want instant on (wired to the high beams), easy to aim, adjustable beam and pattern (built in or filters), and durability.

https://au.lightforce.com/en-us/products/striker-halogen-driving-lights

But I am open to these, or similar, but they are three times as powerful, maybe dimmed they would be OK on the street?

https://store.arbusa.com/intensity-solis-21-spot-driving-light-kit-sjb21skit/

How do the wide rectangular LED bars do on the highway? They seem like way overkill, they look as if they are intended for slow speed offroad trails or just for bling.

Comments are welcome. Do you like your stock lights? How would you suggest I proceed for highway use only?

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

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[dfritz]

I have 3 sets of these on vehicles in our fleet, and they're incredible, small and durable. Not sure how mounting is going to go on the Rangers, but I'm working on it.

https://www.speedtechlights.com/led-off-road-light-bars/carbine-140-degree-led-spotlight

 

[jeffers]

I am a little disappointed in my OEM high beams. The lows are fine with the fog lights on… My wife’s Acura RDX PMC Edition (LED) lights are noticeably better, and my old Land Cruiser 200 with upgraded halogen bulbs in the stock housings was better too… Neither vehicle really needed extra lighting for dark highways with no traffic. I mainly want to illuminate a deer or coyote in time to slow down.

I am waiting for a discrete light mount to be available, I would probably use Lightforce Striker 170s on it (7”, 100 watt halogen). They are about $280 with a harness. I don’t want HID, no way, and I don’t want to pay a fortune either. I want instant on (wired to the high beams), easy to aim, adjustable beam and pattern (built in or filters), and durability.

https://au.lightforce.com/en-us/products/striker-halogen-driving-lights

But I am open to these, or similar, but they are three times as powerful, maybe dimmed they would be OK on the street?

https://store.arbusa.com/intensity-solis-21-spot-driving-light-kit-sjb21skit/

How do the wide rectangular LED bars do on the highway? They seem like way overkill, they look as if they are intended for slow speed offroad trails or just for bling.

Comments are welcome. Do you like your stock lights? How would you suggest I proceed for highway use only?

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Is that legal for road use?

 

[John E Davies]

Is that legal for road use?

I am not sure which product you are referring to. Laws vary, here in WA auxiliary driving lights are OK, just don’t blind other drivers or you could get ticketed.

WA RCW 46.37.180 Spot lamps and auxiliary lamps.

You canNOT use them on a busy highway, but when there is nobody around, they are fine. Just make sure you dim them instantly if you see the glare of an approaching vehicle’s headlights. This is why they need to be switched using your high beam light circuit…

https://www.kchilites.com/campfire/post/are-led-light-bars-and-auxiliary-lights-street-legal

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Rabbit9]

I am not sure which product you are referring to. Laws vary, here in WA auxiliary driving lights are OK, just don’t blind other drivers or you could get ticketed.

WA RCW 46.37.180 Spot lamps and auxiliary lamps.

You canNOT use them on a busy highway, but when there is nobody around, they are fine. Just make sure you dim them instantly if you see the glare of an approaching vehicle’s headlights. This is why they need to be switched using your high beam light circuit…

https://www.kchilites.com/campfire/post/are-led-light-bars-and-auxiliary-lights-street-legal

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Hey brother, thanks for the Kchighlites legal brief! Now I know exactly what is legal in my state, and it looks like the stealth mounted light bars should be good to go at less than 24”!

 

[Phade]

I would just do a lightbar tucked inside and got flood or combo style dispersion. If that doesn’t work, and you want wide view, set up ditch lights. I’m sure you could wire them to hit on with high beams but I’d suggest against it because I wouldn’t want to use them on road with frequent high and low changes. I use my bars and ditch lights when I’m on back roads where deer are common. Oncoming traffic is less common and hitting the aux switch is easy enough.

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