Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/150744
FOG CUTTERS RALLY LIGHTS The Rally 400, KC HiLiTES's economical, yet powerful off-road driving light, is a 4-inch 55W halogen H3 that allows for multiple mounting options. Ideal for use in aftermarket front bumpers for trucks and UTVs as well as other areas where limited space is a consideration. Black powder-coated steel housings with easy aiming two-axis mounting. www.kchilites.com; (928) 635-2607 Warn's 3.5-inch-diameter W350F fog lights fit perfect in bumpers. The 55W H3 halogen bulb and 66-degree bar-shaped light beam deliver great low-visibility performance. Hardened clear glass lenses. Impact-resistant polymer housings. Wireless control switch, so there's no need to run wires through the firewall. www.warn.com; (800) 543-9276 STEALTH LIGHT BAR The Stealth LED bar is the next generation of LED lighting from Baja Designs. The 10-inch single-row of huge LEDs packs 3,500 lumens that will truly annihilate the night, according to the company. Exceeds HID output yet weighs only 1.7 pounds. Internal Amtel Microprocessor ensures proper thermal management and access to the medium/dust-mode and strobe-mode, which is perfect for daytime safety and warning signaling. www.bajadesigns.com; (760) 560-2252 MAGIC LIGHTS Need an incredible amount of light output in a compact space? Custom Dynamic's MFB MagicFLEX MFBs are the answer. Each waterproof light has six super-high-output surface-mount LEDs in a compact chrome case that's pre-tapped with 3M adhesive. Featres side or bottom mount and 48-inch color-coded pigtail. www.customdynamics.com; (800) 382-1388 It's also prudent to be smart about how and where auxiliary lights are mounted. Mount them where they do the most good, and where possible, run the wiring inside racks and behind bumpers where the wires are protected. Also use split-loom to protect the wires. Placing driving lights above the cab looks all off-road-racer-cool, but the high-mount positioning renders them almost worthless in snow, dust, rain, or fog because their beams of intense light reflect off the moisture and right back into the your eyes. So keep driving lights level with or below the headlights. They should also be aimed to match your pickup headlight's high-beam and centered down the middle of the road for maximum efficiency. Work lights, on the other hand, function best mounted up high. And if used as reverse lights, mounting them right into the tailgate or rear bumper works well. Some afteramarket rear bumpers come with cutouts just for this purpose. (See our bumper buyer's guide.) Fog lights work best mounted in or on the front bumper where their beam can cut just under that of the low-beam headlight's pattern. Aim them so the beam is no higher than low-beam headlights – and angled slightly to the left/right of center. The selection, purchase and installtion of auxiliary lights is important to your business. You purchase quality work tools and Need light in tight places like the toolbox, gear locker, bed or inside the cab? Weekend Concept's FlexLED light strips use the brightest LED of its kind. These flexible adhesive-backed LEDs, in 1-, 3-,6-, and 12-inch sizes, can fit anywhere. Available in blue, red, white, and amber. www.lazerstarlights.com; (800) 624-6234 equipment that last, and you've spent a good bit of money on the pickup you're driving. Do the same when you buy aftermarket auxiliary lights. Strong housings and mounting brackets that will not rust or come apart under tough conditions are a must. Leave the cheap plastic and pot-metal models to those who don't depend on their pickups as part of their daily work needs. Check out the light's warranty, too: The longer the warranty, the better the product. Now that we've shed a little light on the topic of auxiliary lighting, browse the assortment of the newest products to consider adding to your pickup – or fleet of pickups. Mix, match and enjoy the bright new view. LIGHTS: AUXILLIARY MOUNTING TIPS STRIP STARS ON THE CHEAP Those whose need cheap lights, consider going "old school." Buy three sets of rubberhousing tractor implement lights from Northern Tool & Equipment (part# 16300; northerntool.com; 800-222-5381) or Peterson Manufacturing (part #507; pmlights. com). They only cost about $26. Use one set as flood/work/reverse lights, one set as winch working lights. Turn the third set into as driving lights by purchasing two 4-inch-round aircraft landing lights (#GE4509) from Sky Geek (skygeek.com; 866-464-4368.) Cost is less than $10. Pop-out the tractor bulbs that come in the lights and replace them with the aircraft lights. The fit is perfect. Install using 12-gauge wire and heavy-duty toggle switches with a relay activated by the high-beam side of the headlights. It's not high-tech. But the setup provides basic auxiliary lighting for less than $100. propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 69 ProPickup_2013BB_Lights Aux.indd 69 8/6/13 10:14 AM