1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site
    Quick Links: SoCal 4x4 Shop Good at Electrical The $12 Two LED Panel Dome Light Mod Jump pack AMPS Center Console Mounting Brackets Anyone Plan to Upgrade their Muffler/Catback? Ranch Cap

The Budget Lightbar Thread

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by phdog, Mar 8, 2018.

Page 3 of 4
  1. Mar 9, 2018 at 11:04 AM
    #41
    Doublenickel

    #41
    Doublenickel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2018
    Member:
    #240702
    Messages:
    154
    Gender:
    Male
    Out West
    Vehicle:
    2020 White Long bed 4 dr SR5
    Thanks! Really helped me make a decision!
     
    Doublenickel, Mar 9, 2018
    #41
    metsfan6734[QUOTED] likes this.
  2. Mar 9, 2018 at 11:06 AM
    #42
    metsfan6734

    #42
    metsfan6734 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Member:
    #244284
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 MGM TRD Off-Road DCSB
    Glad to help! I just know I wasn't about to spend 500$ getting a light bar installed!
     
    metsfan6734, Mar 9, 2018
    #42
    BillsSR5 likes this.
  3. Mar 9, 2018 at 11:08 AM
    #43
    metsfan6734

    #43
    metsfan6734 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Member:
    #244284
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 MGM TRD Off-Road DCSB
    metsfan6734, Mar 9, 2018
    #43
    Doublenickel likes this.
  4. Mar 9, 2018 at 11:08 AM
    #44
    Malibu7tss

    #44
    Malibu7tss Can' t think of anything to type here right now.

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2016
    Member:
    #176180
    Messages:
    699
    Gender:
    Male
    Central pa.
    Vehicle:
    2016 trd sport dcsb 4x4 bbp 6spd manual
    Old man emu with 888's and headstrong off road progressive aal, trd pro wheel, Cooper Stt Pros 285/70r17
    Malibu7tss, Mar 9, 2018
    #44
    BillsSR5 likes this.
  5. Mar 9, 2018 at 12:17 PM
    #45
    incredibillhulk

    #45
    incredibillhulk Don't Panic

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2016
    Member:
    #174901
    Messages:
    285
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bill
    North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2013 DCSB MGM
    In the works.
    The brackets mount to the factory bolts that hold the bumper reinforcement on. No drilling, just minor trimming of the grille piece in the lower air dam to accommodate for the light bar. You don't actually need to remove the bumper cover for this installation, but I was installing parking sensors on the front bumper at the same time (which required me to remove the bumper cover), so I took some pictures while it was apart.
     
    incredibillhulk, Mar 9, 2018
    #45
  6. Mar 9, 2018 at 1:00 PM
    #46
    metsfan6734

    #46
    metsfan6734 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2018
    Member:
    #244284
    Messages:
    96
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 MGM TRD Off-Road DCSB
    With the brackets I used, I actually left the air dams in. The brackets do push against the air dams but they do fit! I'm not a fan of trimming anything on a brand new truck!
     
    metsfan6734, Mar 9, 2018
    #46
  7. Mar 9, 2018 at 3:14 PM
    #47
    Lelandt

    #47
    Lelandt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2014
    Member:
    #139847
    Messages:
    475
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tavish
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    08 TRD OR
    bully bull bar, halo/angle eye headlights, 20" cree led light bar mounted on bull bar. 42" radius light bar from extreme LEDs 2 led pods, Spare tire mount on bed
    I know I have a 2nd gen but where it’s cheep lightbars I feel right at home. I have a 42” a 20” and 2 pods all off Amazon adding up to about $400 total. I didn’t get the cheapest but I can’t justify spending ridged money until I get rich haha. The 42” was from extreme led $250 and I’m kinda happy with it. After 2 years I have about 6 led’s out.
    The pods are from OSLamp and they have also been on for 2 years and are still just as good as day one. Very happy with them. $40 for the pair. I don’t think they make a 30” bar but I could be wrong.
    And the 20” bar on my bull bar. Has been on for 3 years and still just like new. Was a gift from my wife and has no name on it so I have no idea who made it. But I know it was $90. Very happy with this one aswell

    C22DA920-5632-4EF0-A17B-09BE1D220BEC.jpg
    097E7A0D-8337-4CCF-A5E8-E4040DB9988F.jpg
     
    Lelandt, Mar 9, 2018
    #47
    21-OR-AG-AT and Jmad1997 like this.
  8. Mar 9, 2018 at 3:36 PM
    #48
    roth_nj

    #48
    roth_nj Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Member:
    #165396
    Messages:
    558
    Vehicle:
    2017 DCLB trd off-road bbp
    roth_nj, Mar 9, 2018
    #48
  9. Mar 9, 2018 at 3:55 PM
    #49
    Jmad1997

    #49
    Jmad1997 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2016
    Member:
    #178521
    Messages:
    1,274
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2005 TRD sport long bed 6" fab tech lift
    To find a good cheap led bar I look at the wattage per led... rigid is running I think 7watts per led witch makes them very bright but you have the price tag for that. Caliraised lights I believe are 5 watt per led witch has decent light output for a great price. Baja designs are running 10 Watts per led witch again you pay the price. Lots of cheap eBay ones are 3 Watts per led witch is why they get the hate. If you can find some for good rate and have the watt per led you can find a comparable one to the name brand. Also the lenses can play a large factor in what setup you want to run and where the bar is placed. I personally like Caliraised, extremeledlightbars and kchilites for the price and lens options they have available. also extreme has one comparable to Baja designs (10 watt per led and color control) for a fraction of the cost with lifetime warranty.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    Jmad1997, Mar 9, 2018
    #49
  10. Mar 9, 2018 at 4:37 PM
    #50
    Lelandt

    #50
    Lelandt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2014
    Member:
    #139847
    Messages:
    475
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tavish
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    08 TRD OR
    bully bull bar, halo/angle eye headlights, 20" cree led light bar mounted on bull bar. 42" radius light bar from extreme LEDs 2 led pods, Spare tire mount on bed
    Lelandt, Mar 9, 2018
    #50
  11. Mar 9, 2018 at 5:52 PM
    #51
    Diablo169

    #51
    Diablo169 ROKRAPR

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    Member:
    #181079
    Messages:
    2,908
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Max
    Santa Cruz, CA
    Vehicle:
    99’ Bro-Coma’s Revenge 3RZ 345k+
    Stock
    I still have it. A couple people are pretty interested. Most that come and see it don’t really know what they are looking at or realize how much cost is involved to build a vehicle. Plus it’s pretty much been a mall crawler that hasn’t seen dirt, yet was built to be abused.

    Side note, the RC light bar is a pretty good option.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2018
    Diablo169, Mar 9, 2018
    #51
  12. Mar 9, 2018 at 5:56 PM
    #52
    roth_nj

    #52
    roth_nj Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Member:
    #165396
    Messages:
    558
    Vehicle:
    2017 DCLB trd off-road bbp
    So they don't throw light out other directions besides just straight?
     
    roth_nj, Mar 9, 2018
    #52
  13. Mar 9, 2018 at 6:22 PM
    #53
    surfandturf

    #53
    surfandturf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2014
    Member:
    #129333
    Messages:
    1,702
    Gender:
    Male
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2014 TRD DCLB
    Been running a bar from Protuning labs in the bruteforce front bumper for 2 years now. It's more than bright enough, never had a problem with it. Everyone has thier own margin of diminishing returns for each item. Spend your $$$ how you would like
     
    surfandturf, Mar 9, 2018
    #53
  14. Aug 30, 2018 at 2:59 AM
    #54
    Kevin999

    #54
    Kevin999 DODGE A100

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2018
    Member:
    #247552
    Messages:
    5
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Iowa Des Moines
    Vehicle:
    Dodge A100
    changed the transmission
    I ordered and just received one of the red Recon bars https://10carbest.com/best-tailgate-light-bars based on what everybody said here. It's going on a red 2010 F-350. Call me picky, but I do have a couple of beefs with the design: 1) The mounting holes do not even come close to what Ford provided at the rear of the bed. (Minor gripe) This will require drilling two new holes (chance for corrosion) and leave the two factory holes on either side of the bar. Sure, a little sealer will help here, but it's never as good as the factory finish. 2) The wiring (with trailer plug) comes straight out the back of the bar. (Major gripe) This means that there's little hope of mounting the bar flat to the surface. My plan is to hard wire it, so the flat 4 plug is getting cut off anyway and I can drill a 3rd new hole in the truck to allow the wiring to go straight back through the panel, but most folks will have to space the bar out and away from the panel. Come on folks, a little forethought would have been nice hear. Couldn't the wiring come out the bottom (in the mounted position) of the bar? For those that are simply going to plug the flat 4 plug in, this would have been sweet. Oh wait, nobody has an F-350 in China. Now it makes sense.
     
    Kevin999, Aug 30, 2018
    #54
  15. Oct 28, 2018 at 11:07 PM
    #55
    Batman!

    #55
    Batman! Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2017
    Member:
    #225327
    Messages:
    293
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Juan
    IG: moddedtacomas
    is there any $20-25 brackets out there? or is there any custom brackets I can make on my own that would work ?
     
    Batman!, Oct 28, 2018
    #55
  16. Nov 2, 2018 at 4:23 PM
    #56
    Boats07

    #56
    Boats07 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2018
    Member:
    #264542
    Messages:
    60
    Gender:
    Male
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD off road
    5100s,888, DK uca, icon AAL, tint, vent guard, trd skid, Mickey Thompson’s 16”, 265/75/16 falken wildpeaks at3w, ac drain mod,debadge, tailgate inserts, higher grade halogens 130 GE, Meso turn signals, hidden light bar 32”, blacked out chrome bezel.
    What brackets did you use?
     
    Boats07, Nov 2, 2018
    #56
  17. Nov 2, 2018 at 4:32 PM
    #57
    Boats07

    #57
    Boats07 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2018
    Member:
    #264542
    Messages:
    60
    Gender:
    Male
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD off road
    5100s,888, DK uca, icon AAL, tint, vent guard, trd skid, Mickey Thompson’s 16”, 265/75/16 falken wildpeaks at3w, ac drain mod,debadge, tailgate inserts, higher grade halogens 130 GE, Meso turn signals, hidden light bar 32”, blacked out chrome bezel.
    How are those brackets holding up?
     
    Boats07, Nov 2, 2018
    #57
  18. Jan 27, 2019 at 6:09 PM
    #58
    Reluctanse

    #58
    Reluctanse Granny shiftin, not double clutchin

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2016
    Member:
    #183699
    Messages:
    495
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sam
    Newberg, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    '17 Tacoma DCSB Inferno TRD OR 6MT
    OVTuned, Grabbers, 5100s, Bakflip VP
    Oh man I have a mictuning under the grill and I find the light output underwhelming. Better than not having one, hard to say if knowing what I know now I would have bought a more expensive one or not...
     
    Reluctanse, Jan 27, 2019
    #58
  19. Jan 27, 2019 at 6:13 PM
    #59
    T-Bag

    #59
    T-Bag Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2018
    Member:
    #276864
    Messages:
    42
    First Name:
    Josh
    New Hampshire
    Vehicle:
    2016 SR5 Quicksand
    1.5"F 1"R Levelling Kit
    Here is my setup.....

    Caliraised brackets - $60
    Cali Raised LED 32" Lower Bumper Flush Slim Light Bar Mounting Brackets Fits 2016-2023 Tacoma
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06W9NX9YW?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title

    Auxbeam 32” lightbar - $90
    $120 Auxbeam 32" LED Light Bar 180W Off Road Driving Lights LED Work Light Spot Flood Fog Lamp 5D Lens with Wiring Harness for Car, Truck, Offroad Vehicle, ATV, UTV, Pickup
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZEYP6Q0?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title

    Ch4x4 push switch- $20
    $24 CH4X4 Push Switch for Toyota Tacoma 3rd Gen 12V 3Amp - Led Light Bar Symbol 2 - White LED
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MQ2Q7CQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title

    Love the results and was easy to install. Here is a link to a install video that’s easy to follow https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ogciqoSRLcw




    0519FCED-2A4E-480A-A3D3-74218DE00161.jpg 0A4726E3-EEAB-40D5-88FC-E5F9F6E0813D.jpg 725137A3-9F13-4AE2-9956-CE859BA3B838.jpg
    This was before I adjusted the light bar up slightly.
     
    T-Bag, Jan 27, 2019
    #59
  20. Jan 27, 2019 at 6:16 PM
    #60
    ICU1

    #60
    ICU1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2016
    Member:
    #196340
    Messages:
    4,544
    Gender:
    Male
    Caliraised
    1D9EF76B-A7C8-496D-967E-AF6E101861EB.jpg
     
    ICU1, Jan 27, 2019
    #60
    T-Bag likes this.
Page 3 of 4
To Top