What lights do you mount where and why?

I just use my headlights, never needed a lightbar or ditch lights or the fog lights

 

I'll update the OP with the videos as they come out.

 

one thing i haven't seen a lot of info on is how much power is available for all these lights. @crashnburn80's expansive review threads indicate how much power various lights draw, but i don't know how to put that in context. my truck came stock with full LED headlights, etc, so i imagine i'm not close to taxing the electrical system, but i still really have no idea how much headroom there is.

 

I would bet we have some room for lighting as the LEDs don't require as much amperage. I used to run a pair of Cepek C-1000s on my 90 truck with a pair of 100W floods. The C1000s were 210W each. that's like 17 amps each. The 100s draw 8 amps each. Those four lights would draw about 67 amps. Lots of light for night adventures, but they taxed the electrical system in that truck. I also had a set of 80/100W IPF headlights. You couldn't run it all at once, but that was the lighting situation in the 90s.

 

You won't typically need to worry about the stock alternator amperage/output until you've gone pretty well overboard with lights . Even then, it likely won't be an issue unless you're running all the lights at the same time, or have aftermarket cooling fans or something else with a high draw.

I don't know the alternator amperage output of current model Tacomas, but I believe my 4th gen 4R outputs 130A from the factory (only recall since I had to swap the alternator recently). To put in into perspective, our highest output 50" light bar (OnX6+), plus a pair of high output auxiliary lights (XL80) would be pulling a combined amperage pretty well below 50A if the alternator is properly charging the battery to 13.8V. That's a very healthy lighting package that should have a relatively modest draw on the power system. Just make sure the car/alternator is running...

Typically the more prominent concern, especially in regard to the Fog Light thread, is the capacity of the factory wiring. Many of our Fog Pocket Replacement kits are plug and play. This is great for a light light the Squadron Sport or Squadron SAE, as the power draw is modest in comparison to the factory lights. However, if you try to wire a pair of LP series lights, or an XL80 into that factory fog light wiring, and don't introduce a relay to the mix, you will definitely be frying some wires.

 

I'm thinking of mounting a pair of flush mount Baja Design S2's in this location. This is more than the 45° recommended on the A-Pillar. But I really want a flush mount and A-Pillar lights are not an option for me. I just ran a test of the S2's in this location and the light from the S2 picks up right where the light from the LED lightbar falls off. I think it will work. Has this been tried? Is this idea dumb?

 

This is a novel idea. I love it. Adding to the list maybe mods. Good luck with it. Do post back if you decide to do it.

 

I was looking at a guys raptor in the truck shop the other day as we were waiting on some things to be done and I think they come stock there and the corresponding spots in the rear. Maybe check out some raptors and see how you like the throw

 

I know this is an old thread, but where did you get the bar that you have mounted the lights on? If I search for 'light bar' all I get is LED light bars, not the mounting bar...

 

NFAB light bar

 

I figured out that this location has metal brackets behind the plastic and started to work on how to move the S2 as far forward as possible. Ultimately I scrapped the idea in favor of mounting an S1 LED in this location instead and then actually mounted at 45°.





I'm just waiting on some longer M3 machine screws to mount the S1s in this position.

I made the mount to fit the 45° facing aspect of the front bumper using my Prusa mk3s printer and FreeCAD software.



Then to make a proper mount inside the bumper I made corresponding parts so the nuts on the M3 machine screws would fit flush.




As for the S2s I planned to mount a pair at 90° by the A-Pilar anyway.

 

Here's how the 45° flush mounted Baja Designed S1 cornering lights look installed. I had my doubts about these until I used last Friday night driving to my friends cabin. They fill in the corners with light right where the LED Lightbar starts to fall off. Combined with the LED light bar, the front is illuminated a full l180° now.

 

This is an incredible write up. Thank you for putting this together!

 

BTW: I did finally get the Baja Designs S2 lights mounted at 90° on each side below the A-pillar.

 

Hey @switch,

The Custom mounting you have made is unique and different from the type of mounting solution I typically see! I love seeing the various kinds of solutions people come up with. With the work scene lens pattern, how do they work on the trail?

Best,
Bill

Bill Sonevongxay | Forum Sales & Support 
Email: Bill@bajadesigns.com Phone: (760)560-2252

 

This was an excellent idea for discussion really dissapointed to see it never really took off.
Over the past few years I have been playing with my lighting set up as the truck sees alot of dark back roads on my fishing trips. Out here we see alot of dense fog and snow and deer.... Alot of this is simply for deer defense after hitting 3 deer with my old ranger.

Starting with the basics I have piaa H9's in bolth low and high beams



Current set up
Roof-
Diode dynamics 42" stage series with spot/driving clear lenses mounted on prinsu light bar brackets.
A pillar-
Baja designs squadron pro driving combo white on cali raised brackets.
Bumper-
Diode dynamics stage series 30" amber 3 spot lenses 2 sae fog lenses
Fog-
Diode dynamics ss3 pro amber sae fog
Back of roof rack-
Baja designs s2 sport white flood

I set this up to serve 3 different functions. All lower amber lights are to be run in those low visibility situations to provide low and wide spread with minimal glare.
A pillar pods and roof bar are for deer dense areas and night trail runs. The idea is maximum throw from the roof bar and increase highbeam at mid range to light up those ditches to spot deer as early as possible.
Rear rack lighting is to assist in launching a boat in the dark aswell as add some camp lighting. They are occasionally used as chase lights in heavy dust and fog on occasion aswell.

Roof mounting notes-
This is my least used location and if I hadn't dialed in the mounting to reduce hood glare it would simply be up there for looks because what else says cool 4wd like a roof light bar.
The initial mounts were standard Diode mounting brackets that I trimmed the fairing to mount on the furthest front beam. Glare wasn't bad but still annoying. I installed prinsu light bar brackets that moved the bar back and up a little bit which drastically reduced hood glare and made the bar far more functional. The key is all spot/driving lenses, a flood pattern up here will make the bar completely useless.

Bumper notes.
This was originally mounted with Diode dynamics hidden light bar kit in a combo pattern which I found to be more or less useless. Could not be aimed in an optimal duration and the flood was entirely lost inside the bumper.
I built my own sketchy brackets after installed my bumper and winch that wasn't compatible with the diode brackets. These new brackets required the bumper mesh to be cut out and pushed the bar out flush with grille. This increased the light function entirely went from Is the light even on to yep that's a yellow strip right down the road out front. Swapping the flood lenses out to sae fog increased the spread and reduced the glare in foggy conditions.

Fog light notes
I started with Baja designs wide cornering which are an incredible light but in no way suitable to street use or fog/snow conditions. Moving onto the ss3 pro sae fog was a huge upgrade in terms of functionality as a fog light. The cut off reduced glare alot and put all that light low where you need it. And your now street legal.

Future plans-
I would like to get an all driving/spot clear S8 on the roof for matching colour tones with the squadron pros as I find the Baja white to be the best for eye fatigue and definition white driving, I found rigid and Diode to be a more harsh white that is straining on the eyes.
The new sae fogs from Baja designs definitely has my interest as they have a bit talker pattern but still has very sharp cut offs where as my ss3 pros still have some light spill up which I did not realize until further testing I did later on. But the colour tones between them and the dd30 would be drastically different.
I would like to mount another set of s2's further up my roof rack to act more like a true ditch light but it's low on the priority list.

Final advice-
Know where you want that light and why bolting on lights everywhere with the wrong beams or colour can easily hinder your ability to see.
Count your amps/watts, I rarely if ever run everything at once it's alot pf lights but they are paired together for specific functions.
Get a switch panel of some sort early on if you know your looking to add multiple lights. This eases future installs and keeps that engine bay cleeeaaan.

Alot of info there hopefully it helps someone out.

 

does anyone know if someone makes a light mounting bar in front of the truck? I am looking for a bar to mount lights that is not a full bumper.
Thank you!

 

It depends on where your defining the front of the truck.
Sdhq makes mounts to go behind the grille. Diode dynamics, rough country and cali raised have offerings to put one hidden behind the bumper grille.

Pending what your looking to accomplish in terms of where you want that light A pillar brackets might be a far more cost effective and useful option. Or just replacement fog lights.

 

Hey @Veet-88

First off, it is rad to see and hear all the intent you have with the lighting package on the rig. With plans to add an S8 to the roof, this will pair nicely with the Squadron Pros you already have. This will get you into Zone 3 and Zone 4. While utilizing the truck on many fire roads and fishing trips, this lighting package will help you predict what is down the road as well as side to side view. Our new GEN2 SAE is an excellent Zone 1 lighting. Providing a sharp cut-off while still giving you ample light to use on foggy/dusty roads you see yourself on. Adding ditch lights on the roof rack is a great option as well. S1/S2 in a wide corning pattern to give you a width of light in specific areas on the trail is critical, especially when you are in tight places. If you have any questions or would like to get a quote started, feel free to send me an email at bill@bajadesigns.com.

Lighting Zone

ELS

Best,
Bill

Bill Sonevongxay | Forum Sales & Support 
Email: Bill@bajadesigns.com Phone: (760)560-2252

 

Thank you!
I think I just found it