Im going all out with lights...

My truck is going to look like a runway going down the road....hopefully. I plan on installing 4 lights on my Thule basket that will be installed on top of my Leer 100XQ cap and also 2 lights behind the grille. Will I need a seperate battery to run this?

 

Im planning the same set up as you. Really depends on the lights but you shouldnt have too. Long as you have a good battery and your alt. is putting out 14 volts. I was planning on running the HID on mine.

Im still looking for a connector i like for quick disconnect plus running flexable pipe. I have other plans just trying to find the right connector right now is holding up the project on mine.

 

How frequently do you plan on running all 6 lights along with your headlights? Also, why so many lights and have you thought about a LED light bar on the rack instead of 4 round lights?

 

Might look into higher output alternator. If you have the tow package you already have a bigger alt. And battery should be ok

 

lol i know of a few that could give you a run for your money...

x2 on the high output alternator i personally was looking into mean green but, i found out they are remanufactured there are better choices.

soon i'm going to a 2 optima yellow top set-up and a hotter sealed alternator.

 

Kinda what I'm thinking... Just adding lights for the sake of adding lights doesn't mean the result is going to be useful. 1/2 as many high quality lights will outshine 6 so-so lights.

 

Depends on the lights. I run 2 35w HIDs and 2 85 watt PIAAs, in addition to my fogs and headlights just fine while the engine is going. I have the tow pack. Also have 2 add'l reverse lamps, but they pop on only when backing up.

Also invest in some 14g wiring - that's a lot of current to be carrying.

But, no, I think you'll probably be OK on one battery. Check out expeditionportal.com also for guys that gussy up their trucks.

 

Don't have a tacoma yet but on all my cars I install lights behind the grill i like them hidden. The best lights I have used were 4x6 KC long distance lights. They lit up the road 100 yards in front of me clear as day. My bro had round daylighters to light up 30 yards in front of him but also 30 yards left and 30 yards right. I love light, when its night time it's nice not really knowing. TO have both would be perfect.

I drive a tiny Sentra and my mirrors are the perfect height to direct lights from cars behind me right in my face. I think the BEST light would be one on the trunk to return the favor to people who tailgate.

 

Yeah-because risking causing an accident because you chose a car that sits low to the ground is a great idea.

 

lol the voltage adds up quickly on when running really hot halogen lights let alone alot of them.

it sucks but for the op i would suggest if he wants the brightest lights. a quality retrofit led lights either rigid or vision-x and one set of halogen i'm switching my hella black magics out for more vision-x solstice lights this time in 6 inch round

 

I go to WV to Pinnacle Creek (riding 4 wheelers) about 2 times a month and that is when I will be using them. So about 15 miles of use 2 times a month.

 

What do you plan on running for lights? Are they 6 100W lights or something smaller? You'll more than likely be fine but it depends on the draw from the lights. I don't know what kind of lights you're planning on getting but 6 cheap lights may light up the area around your truck but won't throw light very far. 4 really good lights will throw light for a long, long ways and HIDs or LEDs will have a lower draw on your electrical system vs. halogens.

 

you will be fine with 6 extra lights.

i run all mine off of the slightly larger tow package alternator and an optima yellowtop. sometimes staying on for very long periods of time.

 

lol the goal should never be to blind other drivers thats childish and completely unsafe.

i have a larger optic nerve apparently so i have a sensitivity to light so at night if i get glared badly i can and have actually lost a good portion of my vision for a few seconds on a dark road its not a cool thing to have happen.

i made absolutely positive that my hids and for that matter all my lights are aimed correctly it helps with both performance and safety.

if your wanting the nicest halogen lights look into light force a lot of their models have adjustability in the beam pattern so you can have complete control over the beam pattern and if your grand scheme changes you can always adjust them accordingly.

the thing is is that there is a steep price tag for quality automotive lighting it can get expensive real quick but vision-x rigid and light force are going to to be the premium choices for a kick ass set-up

 

also think of different driving situations the white light from my 5k hids pieces through snow excellent. the more yellow light coming from my hellas and my soon to be 55 watt 3000k s2k retrofit will cut through dust like a knife. and the leds come on with my high beams to really throw light up and far down the road the combonation of of the three gives you a pretty complete set up for almost every situation you could encounter.


just something to think about

 

^^^ 100% light style variation is your friend. variation in both color and beam pattern. you will also want to think about placement. fogs go low. also, once it starts raining, lights on your roof will actually hurt your ability to see, so make sure you have some firepower sitting below the windshield as well.

 

Going low for fogs.....how low, actually? Adding fogs to say a lightbar license plate height low enough?