The LED Rock Light Showdown

Hi Folks,

Does anyone have an “ideal” example of rock lights under a 3rd Gen?

In my case I have 6 KC V2’s so perhaps someone has found an ideal or ideal(ish) placement for this beam pattern and/or this number of beam patterns.

I realize there is no exact science to this kind of stuff and there is a user preference/need element to most things including this.

I’m pushing 50, so crawling under the truck in the driveway for a few hours is hopefully a do it once get it right kinda thing, v crawl under and adjust over the course of a few weekend trips on the trails.

Thanks in advance for any tips you can offer!

 

Hey Colton - I should have guessed you would be the man with a plan and just messaged you directly! Thanks so much for this! (And thanks for being my main supplier for this build!

 

Interested and excited to see what you guys come up with!

 

With 6 lights, you typically put one at the top of each wheel well which should give some spread ahead and behind each wheel, and one roughly centered in-between the wheelbase. Mounting the lights higher up in the wheel wells allows them to illuminate a larger area, with the note that the tires will cast a shadow. Depends on the purpose too, as @memario1214 picture demonstrates the wheel well mount illuminates both behind and forward of the tire but really blocks light to the outside of the truck.

 

So you're saying we need 10 lights? That's how I'm hearing it

 

I used 8 ea KC Cyclone V1’s on my DCLB, 2 on the core support, 4 under the cab, and 2 on the rear bumper. I love the output.

 

Much better distribution and coverage vs 6.

 

Thank you for the detailed direction here. Very helpful!

 

Great images! This is exactly the throw coverage I’m after. Looks like I need two more cyclones! . Thank you!

 

I'm running 6 cyclones, 2 mounted on front bumper, 2 centered on the b piller and 2 on the rear bumper.

I found above the wheels looks cool, but wastes alot of light. Not alot makes it to the ground

 

Hey, @MJTH! Thanks for your reply and suggestions. The image is really helpful too!

My buddy, @memario1214 and I were talking about this very thing a few weeks ago. They are “rock” lights not “neon” lights.

 

I know KC puts out the 6-light kit and that might be great for shorter wheelbase vehicles but the double-cab longbox starts to stretch to the point where the 8 light setup is better and justified. Just get magnets onto the backs and wire to your battery and just hang the wires on the outside of your truck in the driveway. Fiddle around to get the best illumination pattern ahead and behind each wheel on driver's side. Then mark your locations and go to bed. Run all the wires and have confidence in the position the next day. Just mirror the locations for the other side.

 

That, my man, is a plan! Going to put this into motion this weekend. Thank you!

 

Old pic. Here is my 9 KC cyclone set up. Cylones in front and behind each tire with 1 under the center of the truck. I was trying to eliminate shadows. Overkill but I like lights.

 

Thats a lot of light. It looks great!

 

Second pix is badass!

 

I agree with the dudes above, I think eight is the right number for most trucks if you are actually going for functional illumination (not just illuminating your suspension and casting harder shadows where you want to see... I'm running 8x LightForce Rok9's. Rear lights in this photo look to be casting a warmer tone, but that is just a bit of mud on them. They're pretty bright and push through quite a bit until they need to be wiped off.

 

I need this in RGB flavor because part of me has never grown out of NFSU2.

 

out of curiosity, was there ever a full on kit built out? I see the universal kits on your website but didn’t see one specific to the Tacoma