Aiming ditch lights (inc. poll)

Why does this thread even exist.

 

Please direct your attention to my original post.

 

Seems a bad location for forward facing lights. All it’s going to do is glare off your hood into your eyes and make vision worse. Angled to the side, they can fulfill the function of shining down into holes and ditches that might be in shadow when you are making a tight turn, or swinging around the front end in reverse.

Only problem is they look dorky aimed properly. Fashion’s a bitch.

 

It seems that's why people who run them straight ahead also choose the "spot" lens. All the light goes straight forwards and not down onto the hood so glare is minimal.

Looking more and more like option 1 is the best way to go, even if it looks stupid.

 

My OCD dictates that the light base be parallel to the bracket, so angled out slightly. I have the side shooters, so they do cover the sides of the trails quite well.

 

i love ditch lights. i am usually real slow out of camp, which means i do more dusk/night driving and need good lighting on the truck.

i was surprised to learn that ditch lights allow me to see more wildlife. the lights pick up the sides of the truck where the headlights tail off and it's in that range where i see a shit ton of birds around dusk. i was also surprised at how pleasing it is to watch birds take flight and hunt in they natural habitat.

 

Yes, I had spot cubes, and they looked a bit dorky aimed to the side, as Stocklocker said, and they didn't give enough of a spread. So, I changed to the side shooters. Your Squadrons appear to have floods on the bottom, so I think you have more options.

 

Interesting. How did you aim yours?

 

I did before I posted this.

 

I have a spare set of spot lenses and wide cornering lenses for my Squadron Pros, and was thinking I would set them up with the wide cornering lens and angle them outwards. Function > form, yea?

 

to the side.

all kinds of bats and hawks show up in the desert. good stuff.

 

One of the more compelling arguments to get a set. I love driving in the wilderness at night. It’s interesting how many animals come out after dark, especially in the desert.

 

I typically have mine angled out and down slightly. However, I've found them to be most functional angled up when camping. Provides great ambient lighting.

 

Oh, I see there are more options on the Squadron site. Those look awesome. I think you have the right idea. Function > form, unless it looks dorky

 

I have 4 on my truck, so two straight ahead and two angled slightly out. It's a win win!

 

Why else are they called ditch lights...

If they are pointed forward they are no longer ditch lights, they are driving lights.

 

At one time I had a pair facing forward for ranch use, but once I got HID headlights and quality lights for ditch lights I pointed them about 45* to the left and right. They provide light for spotting deers and hogs that frequent the shoulders of the roads around here. I’ve also found they come in handy when the Daughter is walking out to the truck before school. They also work great as work lights. Honestly if people want to point them straight.... that’s their choice. it’s kind of like daily driving a tricked out trail rig, not practical and in theory it’s not being used as designed but this is The United States Of America and you’re free to do as you please.

 

That 99% are the look cool crowd that see ditches as photo ops when they are next to pavement.

Your call. While I do like form, function is always #1 with something like this. But then again I'm well beyond worrying over what others think.

 

Well... Here are my .02 cents... I have a total of 4 ditch lights, a spot and flood on the left coupled with another (you guessed it) spot and flood on the right, the floods are on the outsides and the spots on the insides. It's a great combo as they face forward of course and are a better alternative. to me at least, then turning on the light bar... Yes, I've been referred to as a lighthouse before


EDIT: I forgot to mention that they are aimed straight and slightly cross-eyed to light up everything and anything ahead of me