LED Off-Road light

[Redline]

http://www.visionxoffroad.com/Products/LED/XmitterBar/

I'm considering one of these 22" LED off-road lights for the front of my 4Runner. This would be my only off-highway light on the front of the car.

Anyone have a positive or negative comment on the light and/or the company?

One bad side in the 22" bar retails for about $900.00!!!
But I was thinking I was going to have to spend about $800.00 for two HID lights from the same company (with lifetime warranty) so maybe this isn't out of line.

Below is a link to a report from a guy who has the 42" on his JK and really likes it.

http://www.jmdougan.com/VisionXReviews/XMitter.htm

 

[kodiak1232003]

light output -good
led longevity-good
price-bad, ouch, bend me over, etc...


good luck deciding.

 

[jayshapiro]

Fake blog / forum entry?

Did anybody else notice that the photos that the 'customer' posted on his blog 'review' of the product are the same ones shown on the company's website.

A little too positive a review, and a little suspicious for me.

I think we'll order one and try it anyhow, but I promise we'll write a true ExPo unbiased review unlike that (apparantly) thinly disguised marketing effort.

Jay.

 

[The BN Guy]

I've been wondering when I could find some. Now that I know the price range, I'm not so glad. Ouch!

 

[Redline]

For what it's worth, I spoke to one of the boss-guys yesterday, he was pleasant and professional, and I didn't get a bad feeling/impression of him or the company, quite the contrary. But that doesn't change that these lights are EXPENSIVE.

As scary as the price is, I really like the idea of mounting one rugged, low-profile 22" bar across the front edge of my bumper on my 4Runner.

I assume they can be purchased for less, maybe after they not so new to the market, but that is what I was told about retail for the 22" bar.

Did anybody else notice that the photos that the 'customer' posted on his blog 'review' of the product are the same ones shown on the company's website.

A little too positive a review, and a little suspicious for me.

I think we'll order one and try it anyhow, but I promise we'll write a true ExPo unbiased review unlike that (apparantly) thinly disguised marketing effort.

Jay.

 

[slosurfer]

Did you happen to ask them how much they weigh? Not that it would matter for mounting on your bumper, but I think they are pretty heavy as the LEDs need heatsinks. Anyways, it's just a thought.:26_7_2:

 

[slooowr6]

I would more worry about the color (color temp) of the LED. I forgot what the technical term is basically it's the ability to render color. LED is not the best color rendering light source. If you have a LED flash light try use that to tell the color of an object at night at least to my eyes it tends to wash out the color. If you have a LED flashlight try it and see if it works for you before spend $900.:ylsmoke:

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I paid quite a bit (@ the time) for two sets of Lightforce lights 170's and 240's, back in 2002. They have lasted six years with a lot of use (Nightly duty in northern NV, on dirt roads five nights a week). They have been on four different vehicles since they were originally purchased. They didn't enjoy the same following then, that they have today.



My point is...I believe these are in the same situation. They are spendy, but when you compare the price to comparable High quality lights, they are not out of line. I think when you look at the price, the ease and ability of switching from one vehicle to the next, that price is easily justified. They are "New" and different, so they don't have a huge following, yet.

How many other products that we equip our rigs with can be easily switched from one vehicle to the next? Not a lot that I can think of. lights, like optics are in the "You get what you pay for category."

I'm excited about them and look forward to getting one.


As far as the customer write up being on the web-site...I think it's common and accepted for manufacturers to use customer endorsements these days. I'm not buying into any conspiracy theory yet.

 

[Redline]

Good points. I do have an LED flashlight and you're correct about the different color of the light. Though I'm not sure it is 'bad' but certainly different. Definitely is a much 'whiter' light compared to the more typical 'yellow'.

I would more worry about the color (color temp) of the LED. I forgot what the technical term is basically it's the ability to render color. LED is not the best color rendering light source. If you have a LED flash light try use that to tell the color of an object at night at least to my eyes it tends to wash out the color. If you have a LED flashlight try it and see if it works for you before spend $900.:ylsmoke:

 

[Nitromethane43]

I wouldn't worry about their performance, since they are designed to replace HIDs, and many teams racing in baja have switched over from HID to leds, for them to do that and take a rick against failure is pretty slim.

If you do get them finding a good way of securing them would be important as temptations may be high fro someone to walk off with your new lights.

For some user reviews, you can search around in www.race-dezert.com as there have been quite a few people over there that have changed over and provided some reviews.

 

[Redline]

Thanks for the link, it was helpful. A quick search found this thread
http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38346&highlight=vision+x+LED
with pictures from the manufacturer. Not many user reviews in this thread but certainly some interest. There are probably other threads I just have yet to locate them.

In this thread the top speed mentioned is 85, not 100-MPH. 85-MPH is still pretty brisk for a non-race vehicle, especially off-highway! I think they will provide plenty of light for a normal, non-race truck.

Price is still a concern, but like 24HOURSOFNEVADA said, they are new and people are (appropriately) skeptical, and LEDs will surely become less expensive over time.

I wouldn't worry about their performance, since they are designed to replace HIDs, and many teams racing in baja have switched over from HID to leds, for them to do that and take a rick against failure is pretty slim.

If you do get them finding a good way of securing them would be important as temptations may be high fro someone to walk off with your new lights.

For some user reviews, you can search around in www.race-dezert.com as there have been quite a few people over there that have changed over and provided some reviews.

 

[oldcj5guy]

Recess mounted in the bumper would be awesome. I can think of several neat ways to mount them on someone else's rig. The shape of my hood would allow me to recess something like that into the front of it if I could get past the pricetag.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I wouldn't worry about their performance, since they are designed to replace HIDs, and many teams racing in baja have switched over from HID to leds, for them to do that and take a rick against failure is pretty slim.

I don't know that using a race team is really a great sales tool for me. I run HID lights when I race (I do 24 hour MTB races) and don't care much to use them to commute. HID bike lights are very bright (about 500 lumens and I run two) for their size and weight, which is the point for racing. Long run times (about 4 hours) for the downside of the color. The light is very white and it takes about half an hour for your eyes to adjust when they are off. It kills your natural night vision. I still use 3100K halogen Osram or Hella bulbs in my truck headlights, I find the color much less fatiguing compared to whiter and bluer lights, like 4000K and cooler. I run Hella H4/9003 headlight housing and a direct-to-battery harness with bulbs that are not reqular 55W/60W... So there's plenty of light, it's just a pale yellow and not bling-bling blue. Anyway, I guess my point is there's a lumen measurement and a light color measurement and I think you have to weigh both. Having lots of very white or blue light might be worse for an all night road trip than less light of a more pleasing color. I really notice the color when there is very little other natural light and I get a headache. Some people don't notice the color, others do. I personally find LED light color very unpleasing, more so than even HID.

 

[slooowr6]

I'm with Dave on the light color. When I cook at night on camping trip with LED headlight sometime I need to take out a regular flash light to see if the meat is cooked. My eyes can't tell color when using LEDs.

Redline,
In the link you posted. Not sure it's the way picture is taken cause this or not. Take a look at the last pic with halogen light it shows a lot more detail of the road then all the pics with HID or LED.

 

[DaveInDenver]

In the link you posted. Not sure it's the way picture is taken cause this or not. Take a look at the last pic with halogen light it shows a lot more detail of the road then all the pics with HID or LED.

I think that's a pretty good illustration of what light color does. The HID and LED have a lot of light, no argument that they do produce a lot of illumination. But I just find it harsh and unpleasing, that's all. I find it interesting that the only photo that is in focus is the halogen lit one. I dunno if that's just a coincidence or if the camera was on AF and the sensor had trouble with the HID and LED light for some reason, be that the contrast, color, unusual UV content or whatever.