Affordable combo lights for Deer infested highway?

Its that time of year again ...I hit a deer last year right after Thanksgiving....

I drive a stretch of highway (about 30 miles) thats dark..im looking for some pod lights that will light up the side of roads that will allow me to see them....

I want to mount them behind grill.

Any suggestions for a good set thats affordable...looked at the Morimoto 2 Banger combos for $185 Wowww (expensive)anything comparable too this set?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-sae-j581-aux-high-beam-thread.696597/page-39

Take a look at the Hella 500/700 testing starting about page 40.

 

Nothing to add about the lights, just haven’t seen anyone else on TW claiming NE TN.

I’m in JC.

 

Diode Dynamics stealth 30" bar with combo lamps, and their or calirasied's mount brackets. yes it will be 5 bills but, 500 is better than a 10,000 deer hit on your car fax. it is like corrosion protection, small investment for long term gain. Ski

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/tennessee.213/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/south-east.37/
Included for good measure, https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/mid-west.39/

 

$185 is pretty cheap for any quality driving light product. anything cheaper, and you're dealing with knockoff led's and budget drivers that might not last a full season.

 

Id save a little more and get some decent lights. Baja design s2 sports at the minimum, will run you around $250 for a set, then another $50 for mounts or so. I use mine whenever im in deer country to light up the sides of the roads, it works great. Ive got a set on ditch light mounts, and another on my c4 hybrid bumper.

 

You could get one BajaDesigns pod for that price..

Good lights aren’t cheap, but they are worth every penny once it gets dark.

Also putting lights behind the grille is going to block their output.. kind of like tinting headlights..

I’ve got Two sets of Squadrons, one in the fog pockets and one on ditch mounts. Cover from ditch to ditch with plenty of light. Comfortable driving elk, moose, deer, and bear roads around here at night.

 

Anybody ever mount them under the bumper?

I know it sounds crazy...but I saw a F250 with small 4" lights mounted next to the skid plate.... most definitely worked...actually didn't look bad at all.
I'm thinking about mounting mine were the tow hooks used to be...lol

Only concerned would be gravel/ stones breaking the lense...

 

Lights with "taller" beam patterns will cause more close/foreground light if you mount them that low. Thats a downside at basically any speed.

Edit- thats actually one thing that bums me out about the aftermarket bumpers and oem hood length and nose- theres already so much overhang that any bumper that offers enough spacing to fit large lamps and offer them some modicum of protection (if only by not having the lamps sitting out over the front of the bumper) look ridiculous.

 

Under the bumper like this? Don’t see how it would work without a custom bumper. The stock one has no place to mount anything.
As far as light spread, this does the trick just fine despite what some might think.

 

The OEM LED fog lights when adjusted correctly work good for lighting up the sides of the road.

 

They don't go far enough....need something thst I guess would be a spot beam/ wide combo.....

 

Here's were I'm thinking about putting them..mounting them right beside Dring shackles..my truck was just lifted so 3.50" with 2 more inches of tire height...lights shouldn't be blocked.

 

not crazy, but i think your end goal needs better definition. light outputs, placement, and beam pattern all have an effect at how well any light does what it's intended to do. you could easily buy some of bd's xl laser's for some ultimate long-range output, but mounting them down low will make them as decorative as rubber duckies on a jeep.

start with this:https://www.bajadesigns.com/help/lighting-zones/

a lot of people strive to get great lighting only in zones 1, and 2. but when one does that, it makes you feel safer as a driver, but a consequence is that it restricts the pupil, and long term/night vision suffers, making objects and animals seem to appear more abruptly than before.

 

Hitting a deer running 60 mph changes the way I think about lighting now....I don't plan on using them with oncoming traffic...just need to see to the left and right of me about 50 yards out...
That would allow me to atleast brake and allow me to react ..if I would have had side lights I would have missed that deer...could not even hit brakes..seems like he came out of nowhere...Damm Dumbass deers.

 

I think the VALEO/CIBIE/PIAA (piaa p/n 7603 3" cube lamp) may have the widest beam pattern of any of the driving lights that Crash has tested.

It does appear they are out of production. PIAA still has the info page up, different retailers list the piaa part number, but all Im seeing is "out of stock." Given that its a Valeo product, it could be worth checking european retailers.

It seems to be the best bet for an actual driving light but with a very wide beam.

 

Seem to be out of stock everywhere I've searched.

 

I'm leaning toward the Morimoto 2 banger lights,it seems like the wiring harness is sold separately...the wiring harness cost $130..just wanted to know if there's an alternative harness that will work the 2 bangers?

 

contact theretrofitsource and ask for some plug pigtails for them. shouldn't be more than $30. weird morimoto doesn't list them.

tell andrew he owes me a beer.