ARB Intensity: Flood vs Spot Beam

Could someone please explain which is better for what, i.e. under what kind of driving conditions would you rather have a spot beam vs flood beam? Would having one of each (individually controlled, of course) a feasible, or even a desirable option?

I'm considering installing a pair but I'm not sure which way to go. Most of my trips are around Utah (desert like Moab or mountains like Wasatch, Uintas, or even the Wind River in WY). No mudding or major wading. Long term plans for a trip south of the border, and one to Yukon/Alaska.

I'd really appreciate some crowd wisdom, these lights are pretty expensive so I kinda need to get this right

Thanks!

 

I can't speak to the ARB lights but the RI Dually D2s in "spot" are extremely floody, it is a stretch to even call them spot pattern. But I don't mean that to come across as a negative, I love my D2s! My two cents: Pick your light pattern based on vehicle speed. If you are crawling get flood. Highway speeds need spot pattern...

 

Go Flood. Unless you're desert running, you won't need to see 2km ahead of you. The Floods are more than powerful enough that unless you're being highly illegal with your right foot, you'll never out drive them.

 

So basically spot is for higher speeds, such as desert racing or the highway? In that case, flood would make more sense because I only need these lights when on trail and then I'll be slow for sure.

 

I know I had 2 sets of d2s, flood and spot. spot was alot better, plenty of spread and nice distance.

 

I got mine for deer on the highway. They've done that job perfectly. Again, it's just my opinion, but I still say flood.

 

There is no standard in off-road lighting. One company's spot can be wider than another's flood. Look at the output of the light and decide what you want. Just like speakers, you need to try before you buy. Lots of people do one spot and one flood. I prefer a pair of floods and a pair of spots. You really can't generalize too much though... lights are unique. Many floods are useless beyond 25-50 yards. Is that enough?

 

LED's put out so much light. HID's are different. Since you're looking at LED, go with a spot. There's enough ambient light coming off that it lights up the area similar to a flood.

My light bar is a combo. and its the tits. you could also just get one of each.

 

FWIW I just asked Wil at Sierra Expeditions the same question last week and he recommended that I run one of each pattern for these specific lights.