Headlight protection question

[offroad_nomad]

No problem, I'll post some more.

Mind snapping a couple more angles? I tinkered with this same protection with some scrap. How noticeable is light reflection and impact on light down the road? I had aluminum grills from a destroyed screen door that were uncoated silver, so they reflected too much to really get a feel for how much grills would cut the forward light. Just trying to get more ideas, thanks!

 

[DaveInDenver]

If the expanded metal covers 25% of the frontal area, you can expect a reduction in light similar to the coverage. Glare should be an issue no matter how you make such guards as long as they are in your line of sight. Even painting them flat black they will still bounce light back your way.

Yeah, I figured there would be some impact. I'm personally not too worried about the glare, it was nowhere near as bad as I expected, but the way my driver's seat is positioned I can just barely see the top of the bull bar tube. But I am raising the seat and that will probably have some effect. As far as the light reduction or pattern change, just wanting to see if offroad_nomad feels that it is unacceptable or not. We gets tons of heavy duty junk flying around, rocks, chunks of pavement, ice in the winter and I'm willing to live with the light reduction if I don't have to keep spending $50 every other year replacing a Hella housing. In truth, if it was legal, I'd probably put an expanded metal screen in front of my windshield since I have to do one of those just about every other year, too. :-/

 

[grahamfitter]

Thanks for all that, all. I'm going to look at film first.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[bigreen505]

but I'd like to know how the polycarbonate H4 housings hold up. I suspect that they'll turn to a puddle if I put some 170W 24V lamps in them.:smileeek:

The thin shell ones I had didn't sit against the light, rather about 3/4" in front, so there was a nice air space in there. Even at 100w, they didn't get hot enough to melt accumulated snow, which was annoying.

Durango60, it wasn't my fault everyone sat there expecting me to get stuck. Besides, wasn't it you who said "Find your inner redneck"? Oh, no, that was KC. You just said "floor it." :bike_rider:

 

[offroad_nomad]

Some additional pics as requested. If you need some other angles, just let me know.

When I head out to the trail, I just use 4-6 large zip ties to secure the mesh within the TJM bumper.

Mind snapping a couple more angles? I tinkered with this same protection with some scrap. How noticeable is light reflection and impact on light down the road? I had aluminum grills from a destroyed screen door that were uncoated silver, so they reflected too much to really get a feel for how much grills would cut the forward light. Just trying to get more ideas, thanks!

 

[JRhetts]

I too puzzled over this for quite a while. Then I consulted a VERY experienced film installer, who basically told me: the strong curve on the new JK headlights just doesn't allow for good conformation and adhering of film; that the lights are in the stream of gravel from a tow vehicle, and the film simply will inevitably get chewed up; that the polycarbonate lens on the headlights will not easily release the chewed up film so replacement is very difficult if even possible.

Bottom line, if you are getting chewed up by a lot of thrown gravel, better to buy replacement light housings when your (naked) plastic lenses get dinged up enough.

If you are not towing, and want to insure against only the occasional and random flying rock, maybe film will work out ok.

YMMV. John

 

[sami]

I too puzzled over this for quite a while. Then I consulted a VERY experienced film installer, who basically told me: the strong curve on the new JK headlights just doesn't allow for good conformation and adhering of film; that the lights are in the stream of gravel from a tow vehicle, and the film simply will inevitably get chewed up; that the polycarbonate lens on the headlights will not easily release the chewed up film so replacement is very difficult if even possible.

I disagree. I used to be an installer at the original Clearbra in SLC UT(who first brought the protective film idea from leading edge of helo blades to the automotive world). Curved round lights can be a **********, but hardly anything is impossible with higher end material, and someone who knows how to manipulate it. What material is your friend using? If he says 3M he's not highend

-Jason

 

[Mike S]

Graham, I have a set of 1/8" thick clear plastic covers that snap in place over the lights of the 80. I don't always use them, but will if I am traveling in the desert.

M

 

[jayshapiro]

Mesh is best

I went the same route as Nomad, almost exactly...

I like the mesh because they're:

• Strong - small rocks, big rocks, all ok
• Cheap - Mesh and Zapstraps readily available at HD or Lowes
• No Heat Issues - Lot's of room to breath

Just my 3 cents worth. (Hey, have you seen the price of gas!?)
Jay.

PS - before anyone asks, the bottom driving lights have lexan lenses so no issues there...