total lumens question

So this last weekend i built a cargo rack for my camper shell and now want to look into led light bars and installing them but i have a dumb question..

1. if i was to get a 22" 12000 lumen, two 12" 5k lumen lights all mounted on the front would that mean i have a total of 22k lumens? or would it be better to get one large light bar instead?

i want to surround my truck on the sides and front of my truck with light when i go off road in the early mornings. so i was thinking of aiming the 22" straight ahead and the 2 12" at a little bit of a angle like say 30' angle.... would a 42" curved bar do the same thing?

 

All depends on what kind of bars. Specifically what kind of optics. You'll probably be better off getting the smaller bars and mounting them for the best amount of spread. Are you considering the 42 for the roof/windshield, or on your rack on shell?

Remember lumens isn't everything. Its all about the optics. The 10watt single row bars have a huge amount of spread, as well as great distance. They have different beam patterns too. You could do a combo for the forward firing bar, then all flood optics for the side bars. Produces a HUGE amount of flood as they have diffused lenses over the lenses. Makes the light transition/mix together as a nice and very clean spread of light all around.

I've got a 42" combo, 20" combo, and two 8" floods in this shot(8" are in the turn signal area and are angled out a bit). Really impressed with my spread and can't say it enough.






So go for the multi light method I say. Just make sure you research the different optics and know how each performs. Anything would be ok if you're not too worried about it as long as you're angling them. Just don't get 4d or 5d.

Again, I highly recommend these types.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172138004342?redirect=mobile
You can find multiple lengths as well. From 2 or 4led pods, to full lengths. Lots of options. If you can find them. And they're kinda hard to find..

Honestly I think it would look badass having like a 30"-42" combo on the front of your rack, and some smaller ones on the sides like 8"-12" on the sides mounted towards the front. And maybe some smaller 10watt pods in the front corners angled out. That would give you some insane coverage. And for under $500 I bet. I can link out the ones I mentioned if you want. Depending on what size you wanna go with for each area. Like: 20"-30" front [combo]
8" (x2) or 11"(x2) sides [floods]
pods (x2) corners [floods]

Sorry If that was too much. Just trying to help/give ideas

 

No it's great info! May I ask why not a 5d? Looks like a great spread of light to me compared to a 3d and 4d is to tight of a pattern I think. But I wish to place on my new roof rack on the camper shell..I bought ditch mounts and will be hopefully installing all 4 this weekend if weather holds out.. I don't have a garage so mother nature controls what I can do well the wife also with her honey dew lists lol

 

Naw 5d is only a little bit wider than a 4d. 3d has better spread.


Someone just posted some 4d and 5d shots here

And here's some shots I took of 3d vs 4d. Same bar. Same leds. The 4d does add a LITTLE bit of light to the sides with some outside "flood" leds. But nowhere near that of the 3d. You can see the 3d has a much wider spot. As well as tons of side lighting. As well as diffused lighting going straight out the sides lighting up that wood fence.






5d only helps a little better than 4d because they added in fluted lenses on the sides. And a combination of reflector bowls and the fisheye projector lenses. 4d and 5d is kinda like "tunnel vision". It focuses it through the projector. Versus allowing a reflector and lens to spread it more effectively. Plusm the 10watt led reflectors are much bigger allowing an even larger spread/pattern. But mostly it comes down to the way the lenses are designed. Especially the diffused lenses with the ones I listed earlier. Baja designs has another great design with even bigger reflectors but with fluted lenses on the sides. A better focused flood than mine. Because the diffused does take away some of the output.

Trust me. Both 4d and 5d are no bueno. Unless you want it for the forward lighting for an insane throw down range. Then use some floods for angled/side lighting. I just assumed you wanted a nice even spread all around. That would blend in together and be like one big flood pattern all around the truck. Getting 4d or 5d will greatly reduce your spread. And you may end up with gapped/uneven lighting.

Also keep in mind that 4d and 5d (being tunnel vision lights) you won't have a lot of vertical lighting. They are like 10 degree spot beams. Maybe 20 with 5d. Or let's say, 10 degree vertically, and 20 degree horizontally...

3D is like, a combination of 30-40 degree spot/120 degree spread/170-180ish degree flood or diffused light. And all in horizontal AND vertical planes. I wished I had a beam pattern diagram to show you.. But hopefully that explains it.

Here's another shot of my 42" and 20" single rows. Compare that to the shots in the led light bars thread from the other member. See how high mine go. I don't have the 8" bars installed in these shots so I don't have quite as much side lighting As I did when they were in.




And if you're looking at output shots say on eBay/Amazon, do NOT trust those. A lot are over exposed/exaggerated and look brighter than they actually are.