Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/105105
BUYER'S GUIDE Essen "Essentially, this equates to nearly six years of non-stop, continuous use. Given that, non the lifespan of Truck-Lite LED products will lif most likely out-live the vehicle." LEDs also require about 85-percent less amperage to power than hologens, saving added wear on batteries and alternators. LIGHT WORKS types of functions and configurations from tool box lights to fog/work lights and driving lights. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, too, from round and rectangular lights to light bars several feet long. An LED light is basically a group of small crystals that light up when electricity is applied. They key to their brightness and light MUST HAVE LIGHTS Light type and price aside, it's the function of the lights added to your pickup/trailer package that makes the difference. Many years of driving in a multitude of weather conditions over vast types of terrain has taught me the typical contractor's pickup used for work and play needs a minimum of two types of auxiliary lights: fog and driving. Auxiliary Lights PRODUCT showcase WORK TRAP The trapezoidal light pattern of these 4-inch Truck-Lite six-LED Work Lights provides a targeted beam to brightyly illuminate the entire work area. With 400 lumens of output, these 12-volt compact lights deliver full brightness between 8.5V and 16V. Sturdy aluminum housing, polycarbonate lens, stainless mounting hardware and powdercoated finishes contribute to five-year limited warranty. truck-lite.com WINGED WONDERS These flexible LED lights from Truck-Lite are the perfect solution for adding extra clearance lights around trailers and other applications. The 36-Series Flex-Lite clearance lights are mounted on a special housing that attaches with heavy-duty adhesive. No drilling. Side or rear-exit wiring. truck-lite.com EAGLE EYE HID Eagle Eye Light's new 6-inch-round, internal-ballast HID6108 lights ($159/ ea) are the least expensive 50W HID light on the market according to the manufacturer. The Slim Ballast technology integrated inside the lights keep them less than two-inches deep from the center of the mounting bolt back. Powder-coated steel housing; available in spot, driving, or a flood beam pattern. eagleeyelights.com output is the size and number of crystals used, the makeup of the crystals, the design of the epoxy surrounding the crystal, and the lens used to direct the light. What makes LED lights ideal for pickups used in the construction and off-road environments is they are not prone to death by vibration or the elements. "Advanced white LED technology offers substantially longer life than comparable incandescent lamps (50,000 hours vs. 400 hours)," says Truck-Lite's Jamie Lindemuth. 14 PROPICKUP Buyer's Guide 2012 Fog-type lights, with their wide, flat pattern, are worth their weight in gold when the weather turns sour – or you need to see more of the road closer to the front and off to the sides. Well-designed fog lights throw light out about 100 feet with an even spread across both lanes of a two-lane road as well as a dozen yards off the shoulders. The good ones also have a distinct cut-off along the top of the light beam that prevents light glaring back in your eyes when thick fog,