How many lights is too many

I bought a winch recently, and the guy threw in a pair of Ironman 4x4 7" driving lights. I am considering welding two tabs onto the bull bar of my bumper and mounting them there. I am just wondering if they would have too much of a draw with my 41" roof light bar, my Baja Designs squadron sports on my ditch lights and my 20" Rough Country light bar in the bumper.

Additionally, I am concerned it would look too tacky having so many lights. I am considering removing the Rough Country light bar and just putting a plate there, since that light bar is rendered mute by the roof light bar. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Here's a picture of what I'm thinking as far as light placement goes:

 

Stop now

 

What makes you say that? The tackiness of it?

 

Yes. But that's just me.

 

Don't listen to him, he doesn't see well at night

 

Listen to ME, your electric bill will go sky high!!!

 

Hell yeah I do. My buddy has two LP9s on his 4runner (among about half a dozen other baja designs lights) and he is the one pushing me to install them

 

Idk about that one

 

Sorry, I got carried away.

 

Lol

 

Anyways, is there any harm from installing them? I have all of my wiring harnesses wired directly to my battery, it's a tad messy, but I don't think it's dangerous.

 

Are they all white in color?

 

Yeah. I was thinking of maybe putting an amber film over the one in the bumper, but it gets so coated in mud sometimes that I am worried it would just come off when I wash it. The bumper light bar is also much more of a white light than the others.

 

Yeah, I think some amber would help add a different level of lighting when needed.

 

I agree. My buddy has all amber on his 4runner, but I got all of my lights either second hand or for free (the shop that repaired my truck after an accident gave me the BD sports because my Amazon pods were stolen). I just haven't had the choice yet to get amber.

 

If you need the lights you need them. If you are concerned with tackiness/too many lights, would I get rid of the freebees and buy lights that will fit more discreetly in your current setup. i.e. buy the lights that fit your bumper. I personally think amber lights are useless and the hood mounted ditch lights look tacky, but that is me. Each to their own.

As far as electrical draw, you will be fine. Back in the 80s, your lights would dim when idling, a then go full bright when you step on the gas and that would even happen with a 2 battery/isolator stetu. LEDs barely draw anything.

I have my long range/throw on the roll bar. Intense spots on the push bar, and then just a light bar underneath for a euro/wide pattern





Headlights only


Everything on

 

Man, I love your setup. I like the look and function of the hood ditch lights the best out of all of them, so I am 100% keeping those. I mostly want something to punch out far, since everything I have is set up for more of a flood pattern. I really wish I had gone with a full front bumper for a flat place to mount the two big round lights, but the bull bar is the best I've got.

 

Thanks, Get these for the furthest punch. They are only 4" but the deep reflector makes all the difference. Everyone is amazed by these.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303861142173

 

The more electrical accessories you add, the more critical tidy wiring becomes. Why? First, it makes it much easier to trouble shoot problems. (You have no idea how frustrating it can be to try to sort through a customer installed rat's nest to track down a problem.) Second, tidy wiring is more likely to be correctly installed wiring. (Not guaranteed, but much more likely in my experience.) Third - especially if you off road - tidy wiring is much less likely to chafe and fail than properly run and chafe protected wiring.

 

Too much is definitely too much IMO, but again thats personal taste.

If you're after the practical illumination aspect, ask yourself how much light do you really need? I rock 2 cheap Amazon knock-off spots on my ARB bar and two nice ditch lights. That combo is more than enough light for just about any condition in the woods. And if theres any other traffic around anywhere you have to shut them all off. You will blind others with just one of these lights, so dont be that guy

One last thing is the wiring needed. Obviously fusing as close to the battery as possible is the best way to protect against catastrophic failure. But 2x lights = 2x as many wires, switches, relays, you get the point. If you do go for the new lights maybe look into some sort of power distribution block like a Bussmann or similar to clean up all the wiring