Additional highway lighting

[NewfieDan]

I recently put a "bull bar"on the front of my truck. Now I am thinking of adding aditional lighting for highway driving.

For criteria I need a far reaching light since I live in an area that has a large amount of rain and fog. We also have A LOT of moose. No deer and a few bear, did I say A LOT of moose?

I want to be able to spot the moose on the edge of the highway well before so I can have time to stop or avoid them.

These lights will be completely separate from the OEM lighting system so I can turn them on and off as needed.

Any ideas on what will work best?

I am not concerned about setting them up since I have a strong electrical background. My biggest concern is: will I be able to see far enough down the road to spot any moose standing on the edge?

I don't have any additional electric loads so I should have lots of power for the ligts when I am driving.

The truck is an '03 Dodge 2500 diesel.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Additional highway lighting

My biggest concern is: will I be able to see far enough down the road to spot any moose standing on the edge?

Ayuh,.... That depends on how Fast yer goin'....

Most of us are out-drivin' our headlights most of the time...

Look into KC Daylighters,... They'll really reach out there...

'n get used to turnin' 'em Off, whenever ya see somebody else on the road...

That's 1 of My pet peeves, Idiots who drive around with their fog/ drivin' lights shinin' in My eyes...

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I would look at the PIAA racing series lights, this is what we used to run on our trucks, for back woods during hunting season and they will make it look like daytime. They are not cheap, but they are very good lights, nice and bright as well as nice and durable.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Additional highway lighting

Back in the days when I was still working and would be running after midnight on roads where deer were a problem I would use my vehicle spotlight and aim it just off the left shoulder a couple of hundred yards down the road. Unfortunately many states and I imagine some provinces do not allow spotlights on civilian vehicles.

I also had to keep my eyes open for oncoming traffic as to not blind a driver in the other lane. This worked OK for me as I could go maybe an hour with out seeing another car on the roads I was running then.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Additional highway lighting

For my motorcycle, I changed out my headlight for an off-highway bulb for the high beam. Sucker is bright! Its totally illegal of course but hopefully no one sees it because its high beam only. Maybe you can get something similar.

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I am looking at either the PIAA Rs series or one of a few of the KC's. not sure which one would give me the longest range.

 

[rbh]

Re: Additional highway lighting

You know what its like trying to run in fog, snow, heavy rain with your high beams on, not fun.
Better illumination with the low beams on, is that why we see truckers run with their fog lights on the front bumper??

Does yellow light cut through the elements better than white light? how about blue?

Anyways, I bet illuminating from the bumper than the rolebar would be better in heavy fog ETC.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I agree with rbh. Probably want a very low mounted light.

 

[rbh]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I agree with rbh. Probably want a very low mounted light.

Mindya just reread and he said he put a front bull bar on, that would be in the bumper area I bet.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I used to have two aircraft landing lights on my brush gard when working out on strip mines, had a nasty fog ever night and a lot we had of deer and bears and other game running around, snickers how ever it will blind any one with in a 1/4 mile, and those will drain a battery dry on a running motor with a 140 amp alt in about 20 minutes of constant use.

 

[Splat]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I would look at the piaa myself. I dont know any of their models by heart sorry.

If your looking for the most usable beam pattern I would look into a hid rally type light. They will have the same general size and shape as a set of kc's or pia's but due to the increased output from a hid bulb it allows the pattern to be spread out more.

I recently worked a winter road rally here in Norther Ohio, and most of the competitors were using a hid driving light, HOLY CRAP! I literally had to wear sunglasses to look at them oncoming into a timing point.

I asked a guy why they used them, and it was explained to me that besides the sheer output power, the beam pattern can be made broader and helps relieve eye fatigue.

Newer technology allows for hot striking, and near instantanious full brightness. Pay attention to color temp of the bulbs. 3400k is basically a tad yellow, 4200k will be pure white, 5600k cooler with a blue hue to it. I believe you start to get into purples up around 8000k.

Bill

 

[Splat]

Re: Additional highway lighting

Amend that, just looked at the color charts, pure white will be somewhere in the 5000k range, with blues in the 8k, and purples in the 12k

Bill

 

[Splat]

Re: Additional highway lighting

Also some of the newer led light bars I'm hearing good things about. Primarily these,
Off Road Light Bars | Work & Off-Road Lights | Super Bright LEDs

However they are good to fill in dark areas in your current beam patters, as well as offer some supplemental off fender lighting, they are not really long range as you indicated your looking for.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Additional highway lighting

NewfieDan, PIAA used to make a fog and driving combo light. (all in one light box) It had a lead crystal lens and you could switch between fog lights (super wide angle) and driving lights. (that would illuminate reflectors up to a mile away) They were expensive but worth every penny and came stock with 55w halogen but I upgraded the bulbs to 100w. Mounted under the front bumper they were amazingly bright and lit up the road like daylight.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I'd put lights on the mooses.

 

[Rkrumme]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I'd put lights on the mooses.

:lol: Perfect!

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Additional highway lighting

tarzig: you don't happen to have a model do you? This sounds like what I am looking for.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Additional highway lighting

Newfie,

They are a PIAA 525/5250 combo light, here is a link to a site that is selling them.

PIAA 525 5250 Combo Driving & Fog Lights 6" - Black

 

[tazrig]

Re: Additional highway lighting

tarzig: you don't happen to have a model do you? This sounds like what I am looking for.

I looked for them before I posted but couldn't find it. It looks like this:



but with just 2 lights in each case not 3. Here is the number for PIAA corporate. You might try giving them a call on Monday, hopefully they can hook you up. (800) 525-7422

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Additional highway lighting

I just installed a set of 7" Cibie E code headlights on my 1965 Mustang convertible. They are 100 watt High Beams and 90 watt Low Beams. I set up a relay system before I installed them. They obviously will not substitute on new cars with designer headlights but for the Mustang, WOW! The low beams are bright but have a very controlled distribution pattern. The High Beams are killers.