LED Light Bar for 2001 Tacoma 4x4 TRD

I am thinking about enhancing the lighting on the front of my Tacoma. Don't have a clue on which one or how long of one I should be looking at.

Suggestions/photos would sure be helpful. I'm a new owner to this rig and trying to get it set up for back country and/or hunting purposes.

I'm open to all thoughts on this subject.

Thanks!

 

Do you want one above the windshield or behind your bumper?

 

What are you trying to accomplish? What functionality? Just want 'the look'?

I took the subtle approach (didn't want a noisy 'sail' on the roof or hood).

 

I did a 24" single row behind the valence. You cant really see it unless you look straight at it, so I dont stand out to thieves. Pretty easy to install and make brackets for. Wiring is simple with a supplied harness. Its pretty bright too, so I dont really use it unless I'm off road or on a backcountry road with no oncoming cars as I don't want a $300 ticket.

 

Just an FYI, LED light bars are generally frowned upon for highway use by on-coming drivers (and law enforcement). So if you go that route,* at least* wire them only to your bright lights so you can not blind on coming drivers... Or better yet, only use them off road...

There's a thread on upgrading tacoma lights using factory housings and an upgraded wiring harness and super bright Osram halogen bulbs (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/proper-headlight-upgrade.407879/). This is probably the best you can do without doing a full HID retrofit. I have the wiring harness, but opted for the longevity of dimmer bulbs (brighter bulbs = less life). I will likely go for the Osrams since it's not my daily driver anymore, so not as concerned about bulb life.

***DON'T*** throw LEDs or HID bulbs in your factory housings. It sucks. I can tell who's done that because (in my lifted 4x4 truck) get blinded by dimwit fast and furious wannabes going down the road with their blue or purple headlights.

But if you want the "best" light, a roof mounted light bar is by far the best option (be sure you block the light from hitting the hood, though). The higher your light source, the fewer shadows you get, and the farther the light is projected down the trail. But, as some people already noted, they act like a sail and are noisy. If you have a roof rack already, you probably won't notice though.

A compromise would be the grill mounted style as seen above. Not as good light projection as the roof, but no worse than your headlights. Mounting in the bumper is another option for that low profile look, but honestly the light isn't that great (lots and lots of shadows).

 

I was about to ask what use will this be for. offroad or highway/street use.

 

His post clearly stated that it’s for backcountry and hunting purposes.

 

totally skimmed through that.

 

OP also said he "was open to all thoughts on the subject"...

I gave my thoughts on the subject.

 

Daniel, really like the looks of your set up. Can you post info on what you use? This is going to be used for early morning/evening off road and/or during hunts here in Arizona. I just cringe at the thought of smashing into an elk or moo cow when I am headed to a hunting area in the pre-dawn darkness.

 

I think my post may have been a bit confusing. My main point was that light bars are generally illegal, but IF you really wanted to do it, at least tie it to the brights.

But even your advise can get him in trouble becasue it’s not about *where* the lights are mounted, it’s whether or not those light blind on coming drivers. Bumper mounted LED bars will still do that, and will still get you pulled over.

Since the OP is mostly interested in off roading/hunting, his won’t likely be much of an issue.

 

I know it's not a light bar but I have LED KC lights mounted in my grille guard.

 

I completely agree. They are played out! That's why I took my 42" light bar above my windshield off. Because everyone and their mother has one. Plus people are putting them anywhere they'll fit.

 

Very true. We should all be aware of how the (usually poorly written) laws are enforced in our areas.

It's not about brightness, but about where the light beam travels. Most light bars are not very directional (you want a wide FOV for off-roading), so even if your lights aren't very bright, they spread the light out enough to cause glare in on-coming traffic. It's similar to what happens when bros throw LEDs or HIDs in their stock headlight housings.

I'd like to think that the laws are based more on functionality (whatever, just don't blind other drivers) - as long as you have a good cut-off beam, you should be able to run whatever lights, where ever you want, but I know better...

Lights on the roof are still by far the best place to put them, even if they have become trendy.

I would bet most of the ones we see driving around town are more for the "look" than function. I have to wonder how often most of those lightbars are even used. Just like snorkels, winch bumpers, RTT's, bed racks, etc... it seems like a lot of people are just buying "the look". The give away is the armorall on the tires, and scratch free bumpers, lol.

If you want to know where the best place to mount lights are, just look for where the Trophy trucks racing Baja put them.

 

I used a 24" bar from super bright leds .com. The brackets are pieces of aluminum bar stock that I bent to make the L shape. I went with a 24" but I couldve gotten one a little bigger I think. I bolted the brackets to the frame using the two oversized holes that a brush guard used to mount to. I think all trucks have the holes cause the guy I sold my guard to had them. Ill get some pics of the brackets up later. I don't have any on my phone right now.

 

I have a similar set up. Warn HIDs on the bumper and a light bar on the roof rack.

I have both my lights relayed into the high beams. However, they each have their own switch so I can turn them off all together.

With the light bar set back on the roof rack I get zero glare off the hood or windshield. The light hits the ground about 15 feet in front of the truck.

I will say that the HID's are so strong they make the light bar obsolete.

Also the high up light bar will wash out any bumps etc in the road. The low mounted HID's create shadows so you can see the terrain better. I've also experienced this with night time mountain biking with handle bar mounted lights and helmet mounted lights.

 

Very nice dude! Are those stock headlights? If yes, how did you get them so clear and looking new!?

Got my ‘01 taco too been meaning to do something about the headlights.

 

Is this legal in the US? Cause it sure as hell is a ticket waiting to happen north of the 49th

 

Behind the bumper is the cleanest way to do it

 

Here is my set up. I have 2 Baja Pros mounted on the BAMF bar behind my grille. Very bright 10k lumens, stealthy, tucked away from thieves.