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Is it possible? Cheap LED light bars.

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by PackCon, Jan 17, 2016.

  1. Jan 17, 2016 at 6:47 AM
    #1
    PackCon

    PackCon [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I would like to put a light bar in the lower grille insert w/ a button next to my fog light button in my dash.
    I want it for hunting, camping, and driving around my family farm for work.

    I have looked up some of these bars only to be flat out amazed how expensive they are.

    Is there a set up I could do for $100? Because I ain't spendin no $300-$400 on a friggin light set up.
     
  2. Jan 17, 2016 at 6:52 AM
    #2
    WOODEX M.E.

    WOODEX M.E. Well-Known Member

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    Sorry but thats just what it costs. 300-400 is actually on the low end. I mean it depends on how big it is and where its made, but if you want something that is going to last you more than 3 months, you are gonna have to pony up. Modding aint cheap.
     
    Naveronski likes this.
  3. Jan 17, 2016 at 6:53 AM
    #3
    PackCon

    PackCon [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well then it's not that important.
     
  4. Jan 17, 2016 at 6:53 AM
    #4
    Arcticelf

    Arcticelf Well-Known Member

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    Look around on Amazon. You can find a variety of Chinese light bars, flood, spot or even combo some times.

    There is probably a reason they cost 1/4th as much, but they are also probably adequate. I'm considering going that route, at least to see if I even use the light bar.
     
  5. Jan 17, 2016 at 7:03 AM
    #5
    2stroketrush

    2stroketrush Well-Known Member

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    Honestly the Amazon ones are okay if you do some precautionary measures to ensure they last. They are bright and if you dont want to spend the 400$ they will work. Take them apart and seal them yourself with some decent silicon and seal them back up, This helps moisture and corrosion. Second thing to help is buy a decent wiring harness and seal that off to. They are prone to rust around the solenoid and then fail and noone likes to RE-wire.

    I have lots of them on my truck and have taken care of them and they work good. I know they arent as nice as the 500+ ones buy they are bright. ONly real thing I have had to do was repaint the ones on my roof rack after a year because they faded from the sun. just my 2cents but i wouldnt be afraid of them.
     
    ChemDawg, LTacoman, thumper72 and 3 others like this.
  6. Jan 17, 2016 at 6:11 PM
    #6
    boopie

    boopie 05trdoffroad

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    I bought a 32 inch cree light bar for $80, and air on board switch for $30 and brackets for another $30. It's nice and bright and only spent $140. Didn't buy a wire harness cause I had one laying around the garage but that would've been a extra $10.
     
  7. Jan 22, 2016 at 2:59 PM
    #7
    CelsisTaco

    CelsisTaco Well-Known Member

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    I put a 21 inch on my truck... probably 4 or 5 times brighter then my headlights.
    also.. 40 bucks :) they are cheap on Amazon.
     
    PackCon[OP] likes this.
  8. Feb 5, 2016 at 3:34 PM
    #8
    tacotay99

    tacotay99 Well-Known Member

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    How hard was it wiring all those side flood lights? Is there any threads you can lead me to for a how too? Thanks man.
     
  9. Feb 5, 2016 at 4:27 PM
    #9
    2stroketrush

    2stroketrush Well-Known Member

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    It's easy dude, basically a simple circuit. I wish I had a thread for ya but I don't. I just learned as I went. And it took a while but not hard.
     
  10. Feb 6, 2016 at 10:04 PM
    #10
    tacotay99

    tacotay99 Well-Known Member

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    Sweet thanks man. Im sure I'll figure it out!
     
  11. Feb 6, 2016 at 10:10 PM
    #11
    T4RFTMFW

    T4RFTMFW Well-Known Member

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    Some of you are silly.
    There are countless guys on here running cheap ass LEDs from Amazon. Not everybody has RIGID.

    Good advice given here - buy in your budget and then reseal them. Certainly no reason to think it's a piece of shit because it isn't $300+. That's a stupid idea.
     
  12. Feb 18, 2016 at 1:08 PM
    #12
    jiujitsu77

    jiujitsu77 Well-Known Member

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    I just bought a 30 inch from ebay for $45. its a shop flood combo. rigid industries wants $900 for their 30 inch. anyone who spends that much is a complete idiot. the light bars on ebay are made just the same. they have the same Cree leds.
     
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    #12
    smokey1.5 likes this.
  13. Feb 18, 2016 at 1:10 PM
    #13
    PackCon

    PackCon [OP] Well-Known Member

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    While this is true, my OEM headlights cost $100 for a pair. I don't need to spend $900 on a set of headlights to have good quality. I don't feel I should have to for a light bar either.
     
  14. Feb 18, 2016 at 2:58 PM
    #14
    Icepuck72

    Icepuck72 Well-Known Member

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  15. Mar 8, 2016 at 10:49 AM
    #15
    jiujitsu77

    jiujitsu77 Well-Known Member

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    I bought a 30 inch of eBay for $42. The cheap light bars use the same LEDs as the expensive ridig brand. A 30 inch rigid Ind cost $800 and they are just as bright as my cheap one. If the cheap ones break u can just get another one. Anyone who spends that much for a light bar has more money than sense
     
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    #15
    ChemDawg and outlawtacoma like this.
  16. Mar 8, 2016 at 10:55 AM
    #16
    Thomas Jefferson

    Thomas Jefferson Keyboard Warrior

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    One can never have too many light bars.
    I bought a shitty lightbar on ebay for like 120 and so far it has held up fine. Like the guy above me said if it breaks its not a big deal when they're cheap.
     
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    #16
  17. Mar 16, 2016 at 12:31 AM
    #17
    Faheygf87

    Faheygf87 Well-Known Member

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    I've installed a total of 7 cheap ebay LED lights so far, 3-4inch(one of them failed after about a year) on my motorcycle, 2-4inch on the front of my wifes car, and 2-6inch on the back. Each of these lights only costs about $10-15.

    My brother had upwards of $1,000 worth of Rigid on the front of his 09 STI, and I assure you, they are EXTREMELY bright......buuuuut.....for 1/10th of the price I could get 80% of the output going ebay/Chinese. If I had crazy money laying around, sure, i'd buy Rigid, but i've been so impressed with the cheap stuff that I really don't see the point.
     
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    #17
    ChemDawg, TacoJosh82 and jiujitsu77 like this.
  18. Feb 16, 2017 at 1:59 PM
    #18
    Joethebugman

    Joethebugman Well-Known Member

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    I know this is an old thread. But I have used online-led-store for years. Never had to replace one yet. I have them on toys, a Jeep (I don't have it anymore), tractor Ext. No problems. When the time comes I'll be putting them on my truck too.
     
  19. Feb 16, 2017 at 4:20 PM
    #19
    Too Stroked

    Too Stroked Well-Known Member

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    I think you'll find that most of the cheap LED bars claim to use the same LEDs as Rigid, but in reality, they're not. In fact most of the cheap LED bars that I've seen are pretty pathetic compared to the real deals.
     
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  20. Feb 17, 2017 at 2:01 PM
    #20
    Overland_Tennessee

    Overland_Tennessee I don't even own a Tacoma

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    It doesn't cost $400 to get a decent light bar. I've installed a $50 20 inch lightbar on my RZR and it's the 4th year (yes year) it's been installed now. Works perfect for what I need it for. I've also got a $80 42 inch single row bar on my 4runner and it works great and is blindingly bright.. if the OP is wanting a light bar for farm use, etc.. a light bar under $100 will do him just fine. I am in no way saying the cheap ones are as good as expensive ones, but to insinuate that you have to spend several hundred dollars to get something worth using is just plain incorrect.
     

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