LED Off Road Driving Lights
Off road driving lights come in a wide variety of form factors and technologies. It can be difficult to determine what light bar or pod is best for your vehicle.
LED (light emitting diode) lights consume significantly less power than halogen bulbs, and are a better choice for the environment. They are also CISPR25 certified meaning they do not interfere with radio frequencies and communication systems.
LED Lights
LED lights use about a tenth of the energy that halogen bulbs do, and they’re also smaller, more compact, more durable and longer-lasting. That makes them a smart choice for off road driving, and they come in a variety of sizes and shapes, including light bars that mount on or close to the roof of your vehicle.
When selecting off road LED lights for your vehicle, pay attention to their lumen ratings and colour temperature. Raw Lumen ratings are often given LED Off Road Driving Lights to LED lights and represent how bright they appear without factoring in thermal losses or absorption, while effective Lumens are a more realistic representation of real light output. A colour temperature that matches the brightness of daylight – between 5,000 and 6,500 Kelvin – is ideal for off road driving because it’s easier on your eyes and offers realistic illumination and contrast.
Many off road LED lighting kits are designed to include all the components you’ll need to get them mounted securely and properly. However, if you’re planning to add LED lights to your existing vehicle, consider purchasing accessories such as mounting bars and wiring harnesses to complete the installation. When you’re driving your vehicle on unpaved terrain, it’s not uncommon for the lights to be jostled around and potentially lose their power connection. The best way to prevent this is by adding some mounting hardware.
HID Lights
LED lights are an excellent option for off road driving. They consume less energy than halogen bulbs and offer better durability, longevity and visibility. However, if you’re looking for the most potent illumination, HID lights may be the right choice for you. HID bulbs can illuminate a larger area than LED bulbs and are the best choice for high-speed off-roading because they shine more brightly.
LEDs emit a more natural-looking light than halogen bulbs and are capable of producing colors that are closer to the color you see during the day. They also generate a lower amount of heat and can last twice as long as halogen bulbs. HID bulbs are expensive compared to LEDs, but they’re still a good choice for off-road drivers who need to cover a large distance at night.
Off-road projector lights are additional headlights designed to mount over your vehicle’s front grill and bumper. They can be powered by either halogen, HID or LED bulbs. They produce a focused, long-distance beam pattern and can be used to supplement your high-beam headlights when you need extra lighting on the road. They can also help to reduce driver fatigue and increase safety.
Halogen Lights
Whether you’re a hard-core off-roader or simply looking to add some extra light for a night ride, high-output off road lighting is an important addition to your truck. But with the variety of lights available in the aftermarket, it can be challenging to determine what type is right for your vehicle.
LED lights are the most popular option currently, offering quality light at an affordable price and using less power than halogen bulbs. However, like anything in life, you get what you pay for; cheap LED lights tend to have less durable housings and mounting brackets that won’t hold up to off-road vibration.
Aside from being a bit more expensive, HID lights are the best choice for those looking for the highest lux value per watt and the brightest, crispest light beam. They’re also more difficult to find than halogen bulbs, but for those who use their vehicles for work as well as play, HIDs are worth the investment.
Another option is a light bar, which features several LED or HID light elements grouped together into custom headlight parts a single, low-profile housing. These are ideal for adding a large amount of additional light to your vehicle with minimal space requirements and can be mounted on bumpers, roof racks, or above the windshield for front-facing visibility. Some lights even offer a hybrid pattern with both spot and flood beams for maximum visibility in any conditions.
Work Scene Lights
A popular trend in the off-road world is to mount lights high up on a vehicle for a more global, trail-exploring look. While this looks cool, it isn’t the best way to use a lighting system. Lights mounted high up blind other motorists and cause vision fatigue by overwhelming their brains with brightness. Instead, mount your lights low to the ground so they can more effectively illuminate a path ahead of you.
There are many ways to light up your off-road vehicle, including scene lights, work lights, and awning lights. A scene light is typically used for emergency response situations and can be switched between spot and flood modes. Awning lights are similar, offering a wide spread of light, and come in regular or flush mount.
LED cubes and pods are compact, bright, and easy to mount on your off-road vehicle. They offer a wide variety of lens types, bulb design, and sizes to suit your specific needs. When combined with a work scene or awning light, they can be extremely effective in illuminating treacherous terrain and obstacles.