What Do Light Bars Really Do?

I know absolutely nothing about light bars and until I went thru some threads in this part of the forum, I’d never heard of ditch lights. I have a 2011 Tacoma AC and am considering installing a 30" light bar. I was under the assumption that they threw light off to the sides along with forward, but it does not look like that in some videos I’ve seen. Are the 30" light bars forward looking lights only?

I have not seen much on ditch lights, but have seen the ones mounted on the hood and I would never install lights up there. If light bars do not light up “ditches”, what are some alternatives to ditch lights other than hood mounting. I’d like to keep any alternative lights subtle. In other words, I don’t want them to stand out.

 

So you want to install a 30" light bar but you dont want it to stand out??

If you get a curved light bar then you will throw more light out to the sides. If you get a flat/straight light bar then you are only projecting forward.

As far as ditch lights, those are typically mounted on the hood and angled out to the sides a bit so you can see while turning, and to see whats next to you. At night, when i am in the country, i turn on my ditch lights while driving so i can look for deer and other animals running onto the road.

As far as not standing out.. you could get baja s2 sports to use as ditch lights...

This is 2 baja squadron sports projecting forward in my bumper, and 2 baja squadron sports angled out on the hood... no headlights!

EDIT: Both have the wide cornering lenses.

 

Ditch lights seem to work really well.

I have a 42 inch light bar and a pair of 4" Warn HID's on the bumper. The HIDs are spot lights and the light bar is a spot/flood combo.
The HID's are a higher quality of light and throw light further down the road/trail. My light bar is a cheapy so it's kind of apple to oranges. The HID's make the light bar almost obsolete. The light bar throws some light sideways...which ditch lights would do better at.

The only thing the LED light bar has over the HID's is that it turns on immediately where the HID's take a half minute to warm up.

 

The manufacturer of the light will make a huge difference. Baja makes amazing LEDs and they throw light FAR!

 

Exactly. You are going to spend huge money to get an LED that will out throw HID. Its the newer technology and its the "cool" thing so its going to cost more. They do have their benefits like instant on and the ability to strobe

 

Wow, Zac, great photo. I've seen many pics with light comparisons, but never something as brilliant as this.

 

Thanks!

 

I see eyes...

 

I would say that is a cow... but it seems kinda short. I guess it could be a calf...

 

or la chupacabra.

 

Here is a photo of what I was thinking about. Not my photo. I lifted it from the forum. Would a curved light bar really throw light to the sides when installed in the bumper like the photo below?

Do you or anyone else have photos of Baja s2 Sports look like installed? Where would one mount them? Bumper?

 

Damn that’s cool

 

No you would want a straight bar for that location

 

I thought so. Too far back in the bumper for a curved light to light up the sides of the road.

This time of year I’m on logging roads after dark and sharp curves make for the inside of the curve in the dark. This truck sees gravel logging roads more than pavement.

What are some good brands? I don’t want something cheap that isn’t going to last. I’ve heard of Baja and Rough Country from reading threads. What are the best made most durable light companies?

 

I also run the S2 ditch lights. love them.

 

Best made and most durable is arguably Rigid Industries, but you'll pay through the nose for them... Plus side being lifetime warranty and the ability to purchase them at local shops just about everywhere... But you could get a whole lot of other bars for a fraction of the price

 

will leave this here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfkLTePzYaA

 

So Baja and Rigid i would say are top tier products, if you want to save some money then co rough country or cali raised. But i promise you that you want to go with Baja or Rigid if you plan to actually use them.

Now with that being said there are pro versions of the baja design lights, and there are sport versions of the baja design lights...

• Sports are great, throw a ton of light, and are the cheaper set to get. These will get you down the trails at night no problem. (I run sports with wide/cornering lenses)
• Pros are for the people that are blasting through the desert @ 80+ mph so they can see what is in front of them at night, they are $150+ more than the sports, and they throw WAY more light!
• They also have an XL version of the squadrons also.

I cant say much about rigid because i dont personally own any rigid products, but from what i have seen they can throw a lot of light also. I just personally favor Baja Designs.

 

Yeah those are pretty sweet also! Was thinking about swapping my ditch lights to those...