Lights and location options

[WutHoLeChit]

I hope I am not covering overly familiar ground, I did a few searches of this forum to see if I could pull up old threads, to no avail. So here we go!

Just getting into overlanding, and my offload experience is pretty lacking. One of my questions that I have is regarding lighting, both types of lights and their mounting locations. I am looking to purchase a full length Baja roof rack, an awning, and front/back bumpers for my J100 Lexus. I figure I will be wanting to mount driving lights with corner pointing spotlights (or floodlights?) on the bumper, probably 3-4 total. Will be looking to put a small floodlight on the side of the rack to illuminate the camping area/awning, as well as some simple rope lights or a lantern to light up under my awning. Will be modding my rear lift gate to have LED lights downfiring onto my tailgate, for gear loading/unloading and possible workspace illumination. One small (10" or so) light bar on the back of the rack for backing and area illumination, and a light bar forward facing, just above the windshield.

Solid lighting setup? overkill? What would you change/what have you done? Those with a similar setup, how does it work for you? I plan on using LEDs all the way around, KC Hilites 273 Flex and the Pro6 Gravity LED look really nice, but I just cannot stomach the cost at this time... Spending 3k on quality lighting is a lot to swallow when initially spending 5k to build the truck. But I feel lighting is necessary. Are there any of the "cheap" lights that work well, that would do the job adequately for the next year or so until I get around to buying some KC's or Rigid industries lights. What brands do you guys suggest?

Another concern: Light pollution regarding reflections of the truck while driving. Do you guys have issues with glare off the windshield/hood or the mirrors with a roof/roof rack. mounted light bar? How to avoid these issues?

 

[MOAK]

OK,, all great questions. I hope my life long experience can help you.. about 20 years ago I too jumped on the "lighting" bandwagon. we had 2 floods, and 2 pencil beams up on the rack, we had three flood lamps and two more spotters on the front bumper. We also had a flood lamp on the rear of the rack for backing up and to light up our campsite. All told, we had well over $1,000 dumped into lighting. Oddly enough we very rarely used them. I found that when you light everything up as we did on only a handful of occasions, you simply cannot see anything beyond your lighting perimeter.

Now, I have a pair of inexpensive, KC Apollo fog-lamps mounted on the front bumper. That's it. they lay out a broad flat pattern that does cut through the fog, lights up the ditches so I can see deer at night, and lights up the trail. For camp we have two lanterns. One for outside and one for inside the tent. We have headlamps for each of us. In the case of an emergency I carry a small LED shop lamp that plugs into my power inverter.

Yes, all that lighting up top will cause a horrible amount of reflection, not only on your hood, but everything else as well. You state that you feel lighting is necessary, yet you also state you have never done this before. I have spent many an evening with starlight or moonlight being plenty of light to see by. Once you get out there and your eyes adjust to not having so darned much light pollution that you, city and suburban folk are accustomed to, maybe, just maybe, you will leave that part of the rat race behind and not be dragging it out into the wilderness with you. You'll be surprised at how well your eyes adjust to the natural light from the stars and moon. It is just my opinion, but I find way too many campsites that are lit up like a bedamned stadium to be off putting and a bit offensive.

If I were you, just starting out, just pick up a pair of KC Apollo fog lamps. They are practical and can be found for right around $100. Really good camp site lanterns exist for $50 to $100 bucks. Good head lamps cost the same. That is plenty of lighting for two people for $300. Spend your money on more important things such as quality extraction equipment, sliders, bumpers, a good tent, a suspension kit and last but certainly not least safety gear and a good first aid kit.

I'm also aware that there is a multi million dollar ad campaign that contradicts my humble opinion.

BTW that J100 Lexus is an excellent platform to build upon..

 

[Ben Cleveland]

OK,, all great questions. I hope my life long experience can help you.. about 20 years ago I too jumped on the "lighting" bandwagon. we had 2 floods, and 2 pencil beams up on the rack, we had three flood lamps and two more spotters on the front bumper. We also had a flood lamp on the rear of the rack for backing up and to light up our campsite. All told, we had well over $1,000 dumped into lighting. Oddly enough we very rarely used them. I found that when you light everything up as we did on only a handful of occasions, you simply cannot see anything beyond your lighting perimeter.

Now, I have a pair of inexpensive, KC Apollo fog-lamps mounted on the front bumper. That's it. they lay out a broad flat pattern that does cut through the fog, lights up the ditches so I can see deer at night, and lights up the trail. For camp we have two lanterns. One for outside and one for inside the tent. We have headlamps for each of us. In the case of an emergency I carry a small LED shop lamp that plugs into my power inverter.

Yes, all that lighting up top will cause a horrible amount of reflection, not only on your hood, but everything else as well. You state that you feel lighting is necessary, yet you also state you have never done this before. I have spent many an evening with starlight or moonlight being plenty of light to see by. Once you get out there and your eyes adjust to not having so darned much light pollution that you, city and suburban folk are accustomed to, maybe, just maybe, you will leave that part of the rat race behind and not be dragging it out into the wilderness with you. You'll be surprised at how well your eyes adjust to the natural light from the stars and moon. It is just my opinion, but I find way too many campsites that are lit up like a bedamned stadium to be off putting and a bit offensive.

If I were you, just starting out, just pick up a pair of KC Apollo fog lamps. They are practical and can be found for right around $100. Really good camp site lanterns exist for $50 to $100 bucks. Good head lamps cost the same. That is plenty of lighting for two people for $300. Spend your money on more important things such as quality extraction equipment, sliders, bumpers, a good tent, a suspension kit and last but certainly not least safety gear and a good first aid kit.

I'm also aware that there is a multi million dollar ad campaign that contradicts my humble opinion.

BTW that J100 Lexus is an excellent platform to build upon..

Subscribed, in a similar position to OP, and I've been wondering some of the same things.
Big thing I've noticed is that the guys who actually spend significant time offroad with their rigs seem to have MUCH less lighting than the mall crawlers out there. Similar to your approach laid out above.

I've told myself I will not spend a dime on lighting upgrades until I've gone on a trip where I had a legitimate need for auxiliary lighting. However, that ad campaign is very effective. Lighting is a shiny tempting new toy.
Interested to hear other veterans' perspectives on this.

 

[MOAK]

Subscribed, in a similar position to OP, and I've been wondering some of the same things.
Big thing I've noticed is that the guys who actually spend significant time offroad with their rigs seem to have MUCH less lighting than the mall crawlers out there. Similar to your approach laid out above.

I've told myself I will not spend a dime on lighting upgrades until I've gone on a trip where I had a legitimate need for auxiliary lighting. However, that ad campaign is very effective. Lighting is a shiny tempting new toy.
Interested to hear other veterans' perspectives on this.

Thank you Ben, I wouldn't say all rigs that have a ton of lighting are mall krawlers, as some guys do find, oddly enough, a need for a lot of lighting because they actually travel the back country at night, a lot. I mean A LOT. If that is what one is into doing, then who am I to judge? But in all reality, who travels at night other than in endurance races, or having a delay and getting to camp a bit late. I remember as a kid back home we used to turn all the lights on our pick up truck off. We could actually see better and further down the back roads of Ohio without them. For me, I don't bring noise or excessive lighting into the back country. I too am curious to hear others opinions on this. I've been known to have my head completely submerged where the light doesn't shine. LOL peace out !!

 

[Ben Cleveland]

Thank you Ben, I wouldn't say all rigs that have a ton of lighting are mall krawlers, as some guys do find, oddly enough, a need for a lot of lighting because they actually travel the back country at night, a lot. I mean A LOT. If that is what one is into doing, then who am I to judge? But in all reality, who travels at night other than in endurance races, or having a delay and getting to camp a bit late. I remember as a kid back home we used to turn all the lights on our pick up truck off. We could actually see better and further down the back roads of Ohio without them. For me, I don't bring noise or excessive lighting into the back country. I too am curious to hear others opinions on this. I've been known to have my head completely submerged where the light doesn't shine. LOL peace out !!

Totally agree man, not at all criticizing extra lighting. I do recognize there are instances where it’s necessary. I guess I’m more just noticing a trend, which your statement represents. Often people gear up WAY past what they need. Your feedback is a good reminder that fancy gear isn’t necessary to get out.


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[WutHoLeChit]

I’ve been taking into consideration and doing a bunch of research as well. I like the idea of “less is more”. I feel like I’ll be taking a minimal approach based upon exactly what I need, and if needed I can add on from there. When camping in the past, a flashlight and a solid lantern, to compliment a good fire has always been everything I need.

Here’s my plan: buy a pair of the 8” Spread Pattern KC off road LED lights, Mount them on the bumper. I have 4 very nice LED flood lights begging to be used for something at home. I figure I’ll get two mounted to the roof rack, one on the awning side of the truck, one on the rear. Probably build a harness out with weathertite connectors, have front and back individually switched. The idea is to be able to use them when backing, setting up/tearing down, and whatever else.


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[JimInBC]

I have been hoping to go with the less is more. I too remember driving in the back roads of Michigan at night without lights on being able to see better, especially full moon and winter nights.
Living where I do now the KC Apollo fog-lamp seem like a good choice, on a quick search I did not see them listed as street legal, does anyone know? I need some good fog and rain lighting.
Though the OP got me to thinking, how are people running wires to roof mounted lights? I have never really looked at running anything up there and with the amount of rain we get here on Vancouver Island I would not put a hole in my roof without a good plan for waterproofing it.

 

[Ben Cleveland]

I have been hoping to go with the less is more. I too remember driving in the back roads of Michigan at night without lights on being able to see better, especially full moon and winter nights.
Living where I do now the KC Apollo fog-lamp seem like a good choice, on a quick search I did not see them listed as street legal, does anyone know? I need some good fog and rain lighting.
Though the OP got me to thinking, how are people running wires to roof mounted lights? I have never really looked at running anything up there and with the amount of rain we get here on Vancouver Island I would not put a hole in my roof without a good plan for waterproofing it.

Most people run the wires up the side of the windshield in that groove under the trim. I’ve even seen where someone spray painted black some of that cord channel you stick on a wall in your house, and stuck it along the edge of the windshield. Sounds janky, but surprisingly clean and simple.

These methods also avoid any drilling in the roof. Google running wiring for roof mounted light bars and you’ll see plenty of examples of what I’m talking about on different vehicles.



For the less is more approach, I went with adding a set of combo pattern ditch lights. Haven’t even turned them on at night yet, but this is me upgrading lighting while keeping it simple.