Trucklite request
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
This post will get back to TruckLites, "eventually" 
The following post - to another thread - pretty much sums up my view, too, about 'TruckLites or lightbar':
Link -- https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...totter-308909/
Post 2
"Do you do a lot of night runs, and if so, what kind of trails and terrain are you hitting at night?
Light bars are nice, but not really necessary, unless you are doing some hairy terrain in the dark.
I have two pairs of duallys on mine, but I typically don't turn them on unless I'm doing a hill climb or decent, or to give someone else some extra light if needed; heck, if I'm not the one leading, they're more likely to annoy the person immediately in front of me rather than help. I don't find it necessary to completely illuminate the surrounding area on the typical trail - I mean, wheres the fun in a night run if its not dark? lol."
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Strong, far reaching lights, are functional for fast driving, on or off road.
Most offroading is done at relatively slow speeds, so lights that reach half a mile ahead are are not only pointless, they're counter productive: At night, we shift our eyes between the lighted area and dark areas, and if the light is too strong, we'll see nothing in darker places until the eyes adjust.
When there're clear skies and large moon, there's hardly a need for any lights, if going slow on easy trails. This shows that there's no need for "light bombing" an obstacle.
Relatively short range flood lights are much more useful than narrow beam long range spots -- they put the light where it's needed, and, for me, they're ideal when they give enough light to see, and no excessive light. A few floods, aimed forward, sideways and backwards -- separately switched, and maybe rock lights, are, IMO, the most functional.
Installing lots of strong lights is a trend, which I consider to be "Form which does not follow function".
I intended adding a lightbar with a few floods, Rigid Dually or even smaller ones (the corner ones aimed diagonally to the sides), but since I got the TruckLites I kept postponing it, as the TruckLites have been pretty sufficient.
The following post - to another thread - pretty much sums up my view, too, about 'TruckLites or lightbar':
Link -- https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...totter-308909/
Post 2
"Do you do a lot of night runs, and if so, what kind of trails and terrain are you hitting at night?
Light bars are nice, but not really necessary, unless you are doing some hairy terrain in the dark.
I have two pairs of duallys on mine, but I typically don't turn them on unless I'm doing a hill climb or decent, or to give someone else some extra light if needed; heck, if I'm not the one leading, they're more likely to annoy the person immediately in front of me rather than help. I don't find it necessary to completely illuminate the surrounding area on the typical trail - I mean, wheres the fun in a night run if its not dark? lol."
------------
Strong, far reaching lights, are functional for fast driving, on or off road.
Most offroading is done at relatively slow speeds, so lights that reach half a mile ahead are are not only pointless, they're counter productive: At night, we shift our eyes between the lighted area and dark areas, and if the light is too strong, we'll see nothing in darker places until the eyes adjust.
When there're clear skies and large moon, there's hardly a need for any lights, if going slow on easy trails. This shows that there's no need for "light bombing" an obstacle.
Relatively short range flood lights are much more useful than narrow beam long range spots -- they put the light where it's needed, and, for me, they're ideal when they give enough light to see, and no excessive light. A few floods, aimed forward, sideways and backwards -- separately switched, and maybe rock lights, are, IMO, the most functional.
Installing lots of strong lights is a trend, which I consider to be "Form which does not follow function".
I intended adding a lightbar with a few floods, Rigid Dually or even smaller ones (the corner ones aimed diagonally to the sides), but since I got the TruckLites I kept postponing it, as the TruckLites have been pretty sufficient.
OMG... Can I hug you? Finally someone who understands functional lighting. Lightbars are probably the last thing you should do to your jeep.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Auburn, WA
Let's face it. Light bars are cool! That's why people put em on their rigs! I have a small 10.5 " light bar in a flood pattern on my bumper and that in combination with my Peterson headlights is more than I will ever need.
Bigger and brighter brings the bitches- 4 B's to live by!
Bigger and brighter brings the bitches- 4 B's to live by!
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 4
From: Israel
...and... yes and no... :
While a super bright large LED on a lightbar is, IMO, a counter productive overkill (for "bithces" too...
), the location of lights on a lightbar is ideal for offroad lighting -- because they are above eye level:As for the Peterson -- are you sure that its more light and not hot spot(s) ?
I haven't seen a Peterson vs TL comparison, but the Peterson reflector looks very similar to some others, which have hotspots and less even spread than the TL.
Some hotspots can be misleading.
Even spread is better, as we don't know where what we want to see is going to be.
e.g.:
Last edited by GJeep; Aug 13, 2014 at 04:49 PM.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Mission Viejo
Best mid on my jeep to date is the trucklite's
Here's some comparison shots I took inside reward mine ( pitch black ) a year apart in the exact same spot
Factory headlights and fogs vs trucklite headlights
Here's some comparison shots I took inside reward mine ( pitch black ) a year apart in the exact same spot
Factory headlights and fogs vs trucklite headlights
JK Super Freak
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 2
From: Seattle, WA
All lights have their places and uses, as tools.
Only the person who will use the lights can decide what's better for them.
I drove in some forest roads at night where the lightbar was worth its weight in gold. Just look at the photos.
Like already mentioned, no questions about what is in the dark above the normal headlights' cutoff line.
To each their own.
Cheers!
Only the person who will use the lights can decide what's better for them.
I drove in some forest roads at night where the lightbar was worth its weight in gold. Just look at the photos.
Like already mentioned, no questions about what is in the dark above the normal headlights' cutoff line.
To each their own.
Cheers!
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 4
From: Israel
TruckLites do shed much more light than stock, but the difference between these two pictures is too much, probably because contrast, especially in the stock pic', was exaggerated by the camera.
JK Super Freak
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 0
From: Covington-ish, WA
As for the Peterson -- are you sure that its more light and not hot spot(s) ?
I haven't seen a Peterson vs TL comparison, but the Peterson reflector looks very similar to some others, which have hotspots and less even spread than the TL.
Some hotspots can be misleading.
Even spread is better, as we don't know where what we want to see is going to be.
e.g.:
Attachment 571034
I haven't seen a Peterson vs TL comparison, but the Peterson reflector looks very similar to some others, which have hotspots and less even spread than the TL.
Some hotspots can be misleading.
Even spread is better, as we don't know where what we want to see is going to be.
e.g.:
Attachment 571034
On another note, The whole argument of whether a light bar is necessity or "counter productive" is pretty stupid. What "mod" on our jeep IS a necessity. Most people install them because they can.... or because they like the look..... or they do 100mph across the desert at night. Who bloody cares!! If anyone has that argument then you're just a douche bag and don't belong in a Jeep. Go buy an FJ or a Corvette or something.
PS. I do not have a light bar either.
Last edited by mdash; Aug 14, 2014 at 10:36 AM. Reason: Life's tough, get a dog.