The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review

so im coming over again to "test fit" into my bumper hahaha

 

You're welcome to! But they are going into my bumper once I make Rigid's OEM mounting kit fit my 2nd Gen.

 

just saw this posted

 

OMFG THE GLARE. ITS TOO MUCH GAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

sike, this isn't baja designs "SAE" lol

 

Nice! Last I heard the OEM mount kit will launch end of October. I should have it for testing a couple weeks in advance.

 

awesome they loook super clean for being round.

 

Rigid told me they will have a mount kit for 2012-2015 models. Do you think that is true or did someone give me incorrect info?

 

Not 100% true for plug and play... They have a 3rd Gen kit. The 3rd Gen fog tab mounts are apparently just slightly different in spacing (farther apart) than the 12-15s, and their kit will not fit 12-15s out of the box as currently being produced. Note that other products like the KC G4 fit both. I've been told that if their mount tabs in the kit are trimmed slightly so the distance between them is further, then it should be able to work, but they have not confirmed it. Being that most other products fit both, I'm very confident it will work. I'll be testing the mount for the 12-15 and I'll document and post a 'how to mod' for the mounts once I get mine in.

 

Thanks for all the research and valuable information you share, it is much appreciated!

 

Thanks for the help guys, got it all worked out. first mod on first vehicle (except dropping a cap on it)

 

Any more updates on the 360s?

 

Be sure to wall check your beam aiming, you want them pointed slightly down to fill in below the headlights. And not up to cause glare at distance.

I was told they would send them to me early-mid October, so hopefully very soon. I know they were making some final tweaks on the 360 fogs and the mounts are not yet in production either, so currently in a bit of a holding pattern.

 

That's for the update! Just wanted to check because I'm definitely interested in hearing how they are.

 

@crashnburn80 Do you have any experience with the HELLA Micro DE fogs? I know this is an LED based post but i thought the question fit better here than your stock fog halogen post. Im looking to put fogs on an aftermarket bumper and would prefer something yellow and that doesnt break the bank. The Micro DE looks attractive as they would also fit in a pod cut out on aftermarket bumpers. Also, as a halogen would be good for ice/snow. Thoughts?

 

I have not. Hella typically makes good lamps but not always true with their bulbs. If you did go with those, for yellow H3 bulbs you really have either Hella or Nokya to choose from. I would avoid the Optilux and PIAA. The best performing H3 bulb will be the Osram Nightbreaker Laser +150, but it is not a yellow bulb. https://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/osram-night-breaker-laser-next-generation-h3-twin

 

Ive had 55w halogen Hella DEs as a dealer option on my 3rd gen 4runner. Very clean cut off and wide pattern. The housing is small and built to withstand the heat of 55w (h3?) halogen bulbs. HID retrofits can be made but the UV and heat will eventually eat away at the reflective coating in the housing. i know from experience. An LED bulb retrofit might be nice but i haven't tried since this was years ago. Inspect the internal chrome coating If you're looking to buy used halogen micro DEs. inspect behind the rubber boot for corrosion.

Hella DEs were perfect in the snow and the housings get pretty warm

The LED version of the Hella Micro DEs are pricey and there are better options.

Tilted the Hella DE fog light to show width. Distance from fog housing to the shop is about a 1 1/2 car length.



I forgot to turn off the door entrance light but u can see the fog light distance on the left past the shop into the grass.



10 years of abuse and the housings look decent lol

 

Thanks @AssQuake ! Lmfao at your name.

 

Thanks @crashnburn80

Ive narrowed it down to either the Hella mico de with those bulbs you listed, or the OffRoadTown LED fog pods.
These will be used 90% of the time for fog/drizzy rain, and probably 10% of the time for slow trail riding and dusty trails.

Which direction would you recommend and what would you say about tinting the lens of either to reduce glare and eye strain?

 

@crashnburn80 I might have missed it but I've tried searching and haven't found it. How do the better performing LED fogs compared to the Ultimate H11 fog upgrade in the OE TRD OR housings? In lux performance and in coverage.

 

The Hellas appear to have a larger pattern, on a very rough non-scientific evaluation of @AssQuake photos vs the ones I posted of the OffRoadTown units. Lower color temp is going to be far easier to achieve with the Hella units as well, as the OffRoadTown units are pretty high in color temp at near 6500k. Adding yellow film like laminex to the bluish LEDs is going to give more of a greenish color and not the yellowish color you are looking for. If you wanted to put yellow lenses on the Hellas, they may be too hot for laminex like products with such a small light and a 55w bulb. You might try painting the lenses instead or the yellow bulbs mentioned. Thought with a painted lens you could run the higher performing +150 bulb, and get the yellow output. Here is an article on selective yellow and at the bottom how to paint the lenses: https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/lights/light_color/light_color.html

I am not a fan of very high color temperature light, especially for poor weather driving conditions. While white Rigids had the brightest SAE fog from the original thread post, I didn't run it because it was way too blue. I feel the same way about the OffRoadTown lights, so if choosing between the two and not desiring high color temp light, I would definitely go with the Hellas. If choosing any, I would go with the Rigid has Selective Yellows.