Maybe the best and safest option (and the cheapest) is to SLOW DOWN. 'Specially in open BLM-type country where the roads are pretty much straight and you can get up to some pretty good velocity. I think the LED light ars are overrated, but they do look very cool...
I agree on both.
At some point Hilldweller will jump in here and castigate you for considering a HID conversion kit. I have to agree with him on that. Consider how obnoxious it is to see a car coming towards you with one. All of that light scatter is doing you no good.
The Soltec LaPaz lights that you mention are great lights on their own. I can't see you out-driving those distance wise.
For my big, heavy Dodge 2500, I'm running a pair of Hella Rallye 4000's in a Euro pattern. A little wider pattern than a driving pattern.
How are you planning to mount? A pair of 4000's will only run around $220, leaving money left over for mounting. Or you could add a second pair of 4000's in a spot pattern for a nice combo and still stay under $500.
Yes; HID drop-ins rarely provide a proper solution.
Every particular light's parabola is designed to reflect the light from its unique source; you cannot interchange the light sources and expect acceptable results. The light will be out of focus and not go where you want.
I agree with the pattern on the 4000 Rallye in Euro pattern ---- very nice.
Remember that the objective of driving lights is to see far. This won't happen if your foreground is illuminated; your pupils constrict and you can't see as far.
There is some research that suggests that HID/LED color temperature affects your rod & cone recruitment and that may help peripheral vision. But that would HID/LED in a reflector that was designed for that light source.
I'd stay away from the offroad giants in the lighting industry. Their products tend to have more hyperbole than fact in their ads. Lots of claims and little science.
If you're going slow, rock crawling, you can throw as much light as you want. You can't overdo it.
But on the road, there is such a thing as too much light ---- especially if it isn't aimed or focused right. You want lights that conform to SAE criteria for use at speed.
