surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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Driving lights......
Will be getting some driving lights for my new truck....yes....I like to drive at night in BAJA .......have a couple of choices in mind....
ProComp 8" ...130w....about $40 each.....
Hella 4000...8" ....100w....pencil beam..... $110...each
(and by the way HIDS are out of question....$$$)
Pros and cons welcome...and any other choices in this price range.....
Anybody got "connections" for better price?
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: |
I like to drive at night in BAJA
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makes it easeir to see those damn big rigs coming at you around those many blind curves.  
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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I am also a night driver in Baja Ca. and over the many years of driving up and down the highway I have learned that it is better to slow down and
drive safely within the safe range of your standard car lights. many years back when I was still just learning the highway I had lots of big lights
and thought that that would allow me to run a little faster. boy was I wrong. after about 8 dead cows and a lot of other things I figured it out.
for off rode driving you are better of with some flood lights pointed slightly to the left and right of your car. unless you are racing in the Baja
1000.
the most important thing is if you get your bright 2 mile rang lights is to dim them when you are at least 2 miles from any other car or truck weather
it is coming at you or you are behind it. use them with responsibility.
if your lights are to bright the trucks and others will crowd you.
as for which lights to buy you get what you pay for just like anything else. I never paid less than 150 US for a Light.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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Highway driving with the hi power lights can create a bit of a problem. Your eyes get used to all that light and when you have to turn them off for
oncoming traffic, your eyes take time to readjust to just your headlights - almost like no lights at all for a while. Like Bruce, for me a no-go on
highways. Off road, maybe a spot or two pointed way ahead and floods to the sides but sometimes on the up-down roads the spots aren't much help.
100W lights put out lots of light. Lots of good lights out there. KC Highlights are good as are many others.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
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And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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The Sculpin
Nomad
Posts: 401
Registered: 9-3-2002
Location: Back in the Saddle
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Mood: Riding into the Sunset, looking for a sunrise.
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Sorry to say I have to agree. Good set of "wide angle" headlights with good fog lights does the trick for me. Keeps the on/off blinding down, and the
fog lights let me focus on whats right in front of me. Personally, I prefer following a truck or bus at night. My only problem is keeping up with
them!!!
As a side, driving at night is pure gravy, so you don't have to drive very fast to make a difference. The worst times to drive for me are at dusk and
dawn..those are when the crazys are out!!
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Mexray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1016
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: California Delta
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Mood: Baja Time
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I like all the light I can get away with...
...while driving at night, on or off the highway. But everyone is right - don't try to out drive your lights, and keep the speed down on hwy 1 at
night - those 'ranging' critters can sneak up on you real quick!
On the old Bronco, I have a pair of fog's in the grille.
One pair of small 50 watt driving lights in the grille.
One pair of small 50 watt flood lights on the roof, at the corners of the roof-rack, pointing about 15? off to each side.
One pair of 6 inch, 100 watt driving lights, mounted on the front of the roof-rack, pointing right down the center.
I have all my aux lights on relays with dash switches. The fog's only operate when the low-beams are on (if the dash sw is 'on').
The three pairs of driving lights are on separate relays and will only operate with the high beams selected, and have separate dash switches.
Therefore, when running the 'brights', I only have to hit the dimmer switch and all the aux lights are extinguished, and I'm then running legal
low-beams. ON the highway, you have to be attentive so that you can go to low-beams as soon as you see any hint of on coming headlights.
My old alternator is really humming along when all that light is turned on!
Common sense says to not 'light-up' any vehicle you can see ahead of you...
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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Over lighting
My old Dodge PW has 4- 6" 50w Hellas but I find the new ultrabright headlights add up to a lot. My newer 2500 Dodge also has very nice fog lights that
light up the periphery very well. This has saved me twice so far from cows entering the road.
I also drive at night.
[Edited on 1-22-2006 by Sharksbaja]
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8947
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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I did a run up to Mike's Sky Rancho at night with some friends who had the 8" Pro-Comp Stainless Steel 130w lights, and they felt they did a good job
as well. Plus, Stainless will not rust when you are camping out among that salt spray.
The problem with my 6" KCs is that the round beam does very little to illuminate the periphery as well as the stock headlamps/fogs do. Just be
careful out there - I got hit by a charging deer after dark, and my drivers door tells the story...
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by surfer jim
Will be getting some driving lights for my new truck....yes....I like to drive at night in BAJA .......have a couple of choices in mind....
ProComp 8" ...130w....about $40 each.....
Hella 4000...8" ....100w....pencil beam..... $110...each
(and by the way HIDS are out of question....$$$)
Pros and cons welcome...and any other choices in this price range.....
Anybody got "connections" for better price? |
Hella 4000's are great lights. The Pencil beams will REALLY go way out there, so you may need four. Two for closer up, two for distance. Also,
pointing these is a bit of an art form and depends exclusively on what you are trying to accomplish.
In terms of installation, get the Hella harness, makes this very simple, and add a THIRD pushbutton switch that you place right on the sterring column
and tunr whatever lights are on RIGHT NOW!
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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Will probably be putting two smaller lights up front also...just not sure what at this time......
I like the idea of a stearing wheel switch...may give that a try....
They also make a EURO beam....not quite as directed as the pencil beam....is this a better choice for most situations?
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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If you have stock dual lights like Chevy/GMC wire up a relay so that when the high beams are on the low beams come on too. Greatly improves the near
side vision. I'm not sure if a headlight with both beams in the same seal will withstand the heat or for how long. I also run two 55 watt driving
lights that work off the high beams. For Baja race chasing I have a 100 watt pencil beam centered high on my bumper guard that really works great.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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When adding lights with a fluted lense be carefull with the levelness of the mounting or the side to side spread will be sloped.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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If the lights you use have rivets or spot welds on the mount to case, put JB Weld or similar on the surrounding area of the mount to case. That is if
you do a lot of rough roads. Also seal the front lense mount with a rubber sealant. Unlike Bruce I usually buy the cheaper auto store lights.
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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That was part of the decision....2 cheap lights...and when/if they fail or break...no big deal just buy another...but not the ultimate in
performance...
or two quality lights that are "the best"....but you will cry if something happens to them......
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Always had cheapo lights. We finally broke down and invested in a good pair ($260) and shortly after, they were stolen off our truck.
Don't know if the more expensive lights are a common rip-off target, or not.
We got another set and take them off between Baja trips now.
We occasionally use the lights on the highway, but find them most valuable on washboard and dirt roads in low-light conditions to illuminate the bumps
and dips.
[Edited on 1-24-2006 by oladulce]
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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Been thinking of the rip off situation also....cheaper is better in that case.....
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