The SAE J581 Aux High Beam Thread

I think the reason they only include the fog and driving patterns with the model-specific fog bucket kits is sort of a CYA. Fog and driving are the only street-legal patterns, and they don't want someone adding floods or combos (too much glare) or spots (too much intensity) to their truck and accidentally think that they're okay to run on the street.

Frankly, I appreciate that effort from DD. I've driven against far too many self-important idiots who keep their Baja Designs squadrons on 24/7 because they think "they're just fog lights, what's the big deal".

Just make sure you pay attention to oncoming traffic if you are going to run any other pattern than true fog!

 

Agreed 100%. To place accountability where it belongs though, it didn't help Baja directly promoted running Squadron wide cornering lights in place of fogs as "street friendly" for the longest time since they lacked an SAE product to sell in its place. Kinda like saying a frag grenade is personal friendly because I don't have MREs. Most consumers lack any lighting expertise and go off what the manufacture says, and Baja said it was "street friendly" so they run them 24/7. Facepalm. I've made it my personal mission to educate consumers and illuminate the idiocracy of those kind of statements. Baja has since reeled back after having an "SAE" product and pointed consumers to their newer fogs. I do appreciate DDs effort here to guide people to the correct patterns for street use, even if it inconveniences some that want something different. I'd bet if you emailed them, you could get the kit with a different optic. Diode Dynamics has done a great job at promoting SAE compliant patterns for legal street use, and this is just another indication of that. I wish more companies took this pro-active stance.

 

I do miss my 2nd gen, got the minivan when we started having kids. Miss having a bed and a stickshift!

 

One of those things that ended up "setting the standard" unfortunately, now it's a slow march back if we get there at all! Threads like these are great for helping everyone.

 

I'm in exactly the same situation as you. As @mynameistory correctly pointed out, fog lights (or any lights mounted at fog light level) are not the right choice for this sort of task:

This is what spurred my research into aux high beams.

My state regulates the form factor of aux high beams, requiring them to be employed as a matched pair. That means that single light bars are not street-legal and are therefore not an option for my use case. After speaking with @crashnburn80, I learned that a large reflector assembly offers maximum efficiency, which further narrowed my search to large format round lamps. The round lamp beam pattern comparison in his original post was very helpful:

A tight "spot" type focus wouldn't illuminate roadside critters nearly as well as a wider, more evenly-distributed pattern. Cibie's product is clearly the better choice for this purpose.

With the brand of light decided, I had to pick a model. Cibie offers two performance levels for their 9" Super Oscar LED light: a 75k candela SAE-compliant model (tested above, P/Ns 45309 through 45311), and a 125k candela wide(r) pattern non-SAE model (P/Ns 45312 through 45319). The 125k candela model also has the option for integrated side marker lights (P/Ns 45316 through 45319), if that interests you. All variants are available in black, black and chrome, full chrome, and one with a paintable surface.

Since my state doesn't require SAE compliance for aux high beams, I wanted to maximize pattern width and power. I opted for the higher-power 125k candela version, in black without side marker lights (P/N 45312).

Now, while my state doesn't require SAE compliance for these lights, my workplace is another matter. My office is on a military base, guarded by a security force whose favorite pasttime is hassling people for the most minor of perceived infractions. In the interest of minimizing future headaches, I took my non-SAE aux lights to a local engraving shop to get a small modification done:



Unless you're in a peculiar situation similar to my own (legal on my commute where I need them / possibly illegal in my office parking lot where they won't be used), I do not recommend that you do the same.

With the potential legal headaches mitigated, I had to figure out a way to mount them. I have an ARB deluxe front bumper, which makes the process pretty straightforward:

@wdb has some comparably-sized lights mounted behind his grille, so maybe he can give you some pointers on how to get them installed without adding any external mounting points.

I'm about as electrically incompetent as they come, so the wiring setup had to be idiot-proof. The functionality also had to be in line with VA state regulations, where aux high beams only come on in conjunction with the existing onboard high beams. Stedi offers a tidy prepackaged wiring harness that appears high quality and fits the bill:

https://www.stedi.com.au/plug-and-play-high-beam-driving-light-smart-harnesstm.html

I used the included DT-to-DTP adapter to wire the unterminated Cibie lights to DTP, then wired in a custom CH4x4 dash switch to replace the included dime switch.

The end result? Well, all this stuff is still sitting in boxes, so I have no feedback on performance yet. I am waiting for a bunch of tamper-resistant hardware to show up so I can ensure that my 9" bumper mounted attention-grabbers don't get stolen by some miscreant.

 

Excellent, I don't see them on the site, but I will PM you to place my order. Thank you.

 

While I'm sure there are better suited lights for this task, I'm not wanting to add any lights where lights aren't currently located. I'm not interested in ditch lights, or light bars in the grille, or roof mounted lights.... Granted I'm sure, these would provide a better amount of light for my needs.... They also aren't the style I'm looking to add to my truck.

The difference between using the stock fogs with stock low beam headlights and just using the low beam headlights is very noticeable. That alone helps... If I upgrade those 2 factory locations I should be able to see even better. I'd hope LOL

I will upgrade the headlights to H9 Phillips, and do the combo lens with the DD pro fog light kits, which should give me a wide angle of view and more light down range.




I'm fine with using my fog lights only in situations where there's no oncoming traffic. But if I feel the combo lens is too blinding for any reason I'm guessing I could just swap the lens out for the driving lens.

 

@mynameistory I did not realize you also have a minivan. I would love more information on the specific model and lighting if you are willing to share. I have a few photos of mine in my build log but and more on the phone. Haven’t managed to get a good one at night with the HIR high beams on yet.

@ardrummer292 I am way impressed with your attention to detail. I will re-read your post but I also feel compelled to offer to build you a plug and play wiring harness. That’s a fun hobby @Puppypunter got me into over the past year as it’s so much nicer than alternatives and not that costly.

EDIT: Ah, re-read and you bought a harness. Check out @mynameistory ’s setup, I believe he has a 3 way on, off, auto rocker switch for his driving lamps. That would be how I’d want to go as well. Sounds like that harness you bought is top quality though.

@Gettin Lost the lens swap isn’t hard and @memario1214 has a few pointers for how to do it. 15 minutes or so? But you have to remove them to do it so it’s not a 2 minute easy peasy task. The emitters are on the board though so you have to decide 4000k vs 6000k there. I’d go 4000k w selective yellow fog optics then add the clear combo optic unless @crashnburn80 truly prefers 6000k for combo?

And I seriously want some 9” HIR aux driving lights so my truck can sit in the driveway and illuminate the entire front of my house better along with my brand new snow tires which aren’t being used this weekend while my friend is stuck and unable to make it to his big bear cabin because 2wd CRV doesn’t cut it. I am needling him about the decision to not invite me.

 

I try to fully flesh out every aspect of a project before buying anything. Building out a truck is plenty expensive as is, so I can’t afford to spend even more on fixing mistakes. Besides, re-work really sucks.

I appreciate your offer. Here’s hoping this fancy Stedi wiring harness was worth the international shipping fee. I do wonder if a similar harness could be made for ditch lights, but with more sophisticated functionality (ditch light illuminates steady on one side when turn signal is active). That probably falls into the realm of “cool in concept, but awful to execute.”

 

I could do that for ditch lights. Could make it pretty simple to install as well. There would be a turn signal tap (it would be a plug and play harness that goes to the under hood fuse box), a small box with a couple of relays, diodes, and fuses, a lead to run to a switch in the cab that would turn both lights on if you wanted, a ground wire, and a positive to run to the battery (or bluesea or what ever you're running). I'm always down for a challenge I currently have all the parts to try a more simple off-delay set up, so that would help. Let me know when you want to do it

 

I jokingly refer to my 4Runner as "the minivan". Had to get something that would keep dogs and kids comfortable on trips, and there isn't enough room in a double cab Tacoma for that. I think minivans are sweet as hell, and I have a lot of fond memories of trips with my folks and friends in our ancient Chrysler minivan. Lots of "manly men" find them emasculating, but I honestly can't think of any other vehicle that literally points to my virility.

However, I too chickened out when it came time to select a vehicle, and ended up getting the one with the worse ride, slower acceleration, terrible mileage, and less interior space- just to protect my fragile masculinity. All I'm doing is moving kids around ( a newborn and a 3 year old) and doing bi-monthly Costco runs. I don't even need all these damn lights. We do share the same 9005/9011 high beam bulb though.

Your anecdote reminds me that I'd like to have my own cabin near a ski hill someday, though I'm finding out that it's nearly impossible near my favorite (Mammoth). You aren't allowed to rent out anything except established condos up there, so my dreams of having a cozy modern A-Frame subsidized by nightly rentals has pretty much evaporated.

However, that fantasy has morphed into my next, which is to get a decked out high-roof sprinter van. The idea of parking and sleeping wherever I want and waking up with fresh coffee to nab first chair is sending chills up my spine.

 

considering selling my Tacoma for a 4Runner I don’t have a family and one dog but my pops got one and it feels like it’s build quality is much better quieter slow but it shifts like butter and doesn’t hunt for gears, and since there made in Japan not Mexico i feel like it’s the last of the real “Toyota’s” and to my knowledge the 4.0 and 5 speed transmission seem dated but superior to the Tacoma’s drivetrain also looking over the paint issues I feel like it will peel I’m the future I could be wrong. What’s your experience been with it?

 

I feel about the same. I think Toyota would have been better served developing a new truck engine from scratch rather than borrowing the 2GR from the transverse platforms. Even with a unique tune it feels too peaky, and the trans tuning is always trying to shift it before it gets into the meat of the powerband. The dual VVTI 1GR in the 4Runner is slow, no doubt, but it's torquey. You'll pay for it more at the pump though.

People will always make fun of Toyota interiors for being dated and that's fine. Personally I think they design for the third owner, 20 years later. By then it'll seem timeless. Everything falls to hand where it should and it stays working. I grew up driving old Volkswagens and hand-me-downs so you can't trust my opinion on NVH, it feels like riding in a bank vault to me.

Paint issues, I've only heard about poor adhesion on the super white trucks. I think there's even a class action about it.

Short answer, I like it a lot. It's slow and a total pig on gas after adding tires, lift, and roof rack; but other than that it's a great hauler.

 

I work for a Toyota bodyshop. The white paint peelers are covered under warranty now. We have been doing a bunch. Mostly camrys, corollas, and rav4s. Dont think ive seen any tacomas yet. Besides that i would say the paint is pretty good on Toyota, at least from what i seen.

 

So... about those driving lights...

 

I finally got my Cibie Super Oscars installed this past weekend. No meaningful performance feedback at this time, unfortunately. Aesthetically, I was initially unsure about how their size would affect the look of the truck, but I've really grown quite fond of it.



The text markup on the picture is referring to a slight modification I made to the Cibie mounting brackets, which moves them ~3/4" inboard.




Output pictures below. The wall is 25 feet away, which isn't really far enough to get a feel for the performance downrange.

 

Looks like those oscars are pointing pretty tightly towards the center. I'd find myself a straight, flat, empty stretch of road and play around with them. Take a couple pieces of cardboard so you can block off the headlights, and one of the oscars, as you adjust the other. WOW they look bright!

 

I have them aimed as dead ahead as my preferred "aiming site" allows. I do plan on fine tuning them at distance, but am unsure of when I'll have time to find a suitable stretch of road.

 

I think you're really going to be happy with those Cibies. As far as aim, I've found that having them slightly cross-eyed helps keep the center of the road well lit, but also lets each lamp peer into gradual turns a bit better. From your pic it looks like the central hotspot is aimed a bit low, but like you said you'll be able to spend some time finetuning the aim.