off road lights

[AlexJet]

As I understand the guy is from Canada. Canadian Costco doesn't have as many options as US ones. Everything I like in Costco is in US version. All other retailers (mostly US) either do not ship to Canada or shipping is taking arm and leg, especially on a price he budget it.
I live in Canada as well, so I'm familiar with all this. On my truck I have Hella 4000s Euro HIDs on front bumper and Hella 500 (3 driving + 2 fog) on the roof. See my avatar for details... This combination gives me perfect light. 4000s light up the trail, 500 driving for high speed and 500 fog for slow off-roading or camp light-up.
My recommendation for the roof is 500s as they relatively cheap ($100-120 in Canada) and good quality.

 

[maXTERRA]

Had good luck with the Hellas, converted to 100w lamps from the stock 55w.
You can get them fairly inexpensively on amazon (light kits and bulbs).
Will be upgrading to HID's eventully though.

 

[frumpy]

I had hella 500s on my previous jeep but didn't get a chance to use them much since it was towed and only wheeled during the day. I may head down to the US and pick up two sets of them (walmart has them for $60 a set vs $120+ a set in Canada). I'm leaning towards those or some light force ones I found locally.

 

[AlexJet]

I had hella 500s on my previous jeep but didn't get a chance to use them much since it was towed and only wheeled during the day. I may head down to the US and pick up two sets of them (walmart has them for $60 a set vs $120+ a set in Canada). I'm leaning towards those or some light force ones I found locally.

Where are you located? Buddy of mine runs a store here in Mississauga, ON and he always get me the best deal all over the market here in Canada. Usually it not even worth dribving south the border to pick some stuff up as he adjust the pricing right (still more then in US, but less then shipped from US or you driving there for a pick-up). Unless you need to go there for other business he is pretty good. Let me know if I can help you.

 

[frumpy]

What store is it? I was thinking about going to the US anyway (only about an hour and a half drive) but if the price is right I'm game. I'm in NB but will be driving through Mississauga on January 7th.

 

[Dave Bennett]

My next lights will be Lightforce 240's, I'm going to mount them in conjunction with my upgraded 100w IPF 968's so I should be lighting up the night real well.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Another vote for Hella 500FF. I've got 4 on the roof, and they work great for the price. I have 2x FF1000 on the bumper, and those are better for longer distances and higher speeds. Don't buy APC or any of that junk. Not when you can get quality Hella lights for cheap.

 

[milo12]

If you are willing to spend a little money and do a little work yourself you can't beat Hella 4000's with HID's.

Hella 4000's are real lights, all aluminum construction and made in Germany. Not Harbor freight China junk. Go to Hella's site and you can see the various light patterns offered for the 4000's. Far better than the 500's.

I bought 3 Hella 4000's from Amazon for $97 each. One Euro beam for the center and 2 Cornering Beams for the sides. Then I purchased 2, 55 watt HID kits for $60 each. (that gives you 4 bulbs and 4 ballast)

I now have lights brighter than virtually anything you can buy. I can light up a football field like daylight and the center beam shines 1/2 a mile down the road. It is a crazy amount of light. In fact I have found I can piss off anyone within half a mile in front of me. My friends don't like me to drive behind them unless they move all their mirrors up.

Here is a link to what I did.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32843

In hind site you do not need a Eurobeam unless you drive 100mph. 3 Cornering beams would work great.

 

[86isuzu]

I'm running a stock liberty bumper so it is a real pain to mount them on the bumper. Why is the roof not a good idea?

http://www.4wheelparts.com/aux_incl/images.ashx?i=23701K.jpg&partNo=PCS&jeep-parts=true&w=200&h=200
how about something like this?

www.4wheelparts.com/prodDetail.aspx?partNo=PCS23701K&jeep-parts=true

 

[frumpy]

I like it, but it won't fit onto the liberty and I don't have the means to fabricate something similar (the libby bumper is just flimsy plastic). I am going to mount a steel bar across the roof rack and just mount the lights up there. If it doesn't work well I will move them and figure something else out.

As for lights I'm pretty much set on the hella 500s. Just not sure if I should go with the normal 500s or the FFs. I'm going to be heading down to walmart in the US before Christmas anyway so I will just pick them up then.

 

[AlexJet]

What store is it? I was thinking about going to the US anyway (only about an hour and a half drive) but if the price is right I'm game. I'm in NB but will be driving through Mississauga on January 7th.

It's right north of Pearson International Airport. I'll be there on Friday and will talk to my buddy. I'll PM you the details.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

While I accept that the 4000 is a "better' light, I just don't see the need. These are not rally cars, or desert racers. I can't outdrive my Hella FF1000's on my truck unless I was being really stupid. The 500FF's are used for close-in trail lighting. A tractor work light would be just as useful. I just don't see the point of having 1/2 mile lighting on a truck driving 10mph offroad, or even 60mph onroad.

 

[milo12]

I agree completely. That is why I said for most people the Eurobeam is not necessary.

But on the other hand you get what you pay for. With a well designed light pattern you get amazing coverage. With just the cornering lights I have light going out at almost 180 degrees in front of my truck extending for about 400 yards. This allows me to easily see what is to the sides for slow tight turns etc.

I think it is a good safety practice to have functional light coverage out far enough so you can see what's happening a few seconds before you get there. That includes light to the sides, not just a thin beam out front.

 

[skysix]

Had good luck with the Hellas, converted to 100w lamps from the stock 55w.

Convert your headlights to H3 bulbs - then visit a motorcycle shop where you can order 130/110W high/low bulbs. IE: A single bulb gives twice the light (for motorcycles) that a standard 65/55 bulb (for cars etc) gives. Use relays and upgrade your wiring... No extra housings, just brighter (x2) so MUCH less likely to get ticketed.

Or go with a BiXenon HID bulb replacement....

 

[craig333]

Wish that would work for my truck, but no amount of extra wattage will make up for the crappy lens design dodge used