LED lightbars - Good options for around $500-

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Hi Dieso, here's a photo of it fitted to my OEM nudge bar. Lightforce said that there is only about 5 watts less going to the led's on a single row bar compared to a double bar and recommended for the extra dollars that it was better to go with the single row. Got the impression that all light bars are like this. Talking to guys at local TJM, its just the quality of Lightforce that make them a standout. Cheaper bars are not as robust, waterproof, have cheap looms, no after sales service. They reckon that they get a lot of people coming in to replace their cheap bars after a short time, especially if used off road a lot.
Others may disagree, but im very happy.

[Dieso-P Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dieso-P]

Hi Dieso, here's a photo of it fitted to my OEM nudge bar. Lightforce said that there is only about 5 watts less going to the led's on a single row bar compared to a double bar and recommended for the extra dollars that it was better to go with the single row. Got the impression that all light bars are like this. Talking to guys at local TJM, its just the quality of Lightforce that make them a standout. Cheaper bars are not as robust, waterproof, have cheap looms, no after sales service. They reckon that they get a lot of people coming in to replace their cheap bars after a short time, especially if used off road a lot.
Others may disagree, but im very happy.

Looks good mate, I would agree with you aswell also a lot of people look at the lumes but I think the lux rating is more important depending on what your looking for of course, some might have same lumen rating but lux might be different.. thanks for the picture

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

My understanding is that Lumen and lux are different units for the same thing. Please educate me if I am wrong.

The issue is you need to check the operating lumens rather than maximum lumens. Only a few sellers quote operating lumens. Operating lumens account for the output at operating temperature and the efficiency of the reflectors.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

You need Lux, 1 Lux is enough light to read a newspaper, you need to see how far the light is rated to 1 Lux, a shit LED bar should go at least 35m for 1 Lux. Lumans is a measure of brightness but no good if all your lumans are scattered around the crappy reflector, the further you lux goes, the better the light.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Hi Piney,

Just be careful with the lights mounted up on the roof like that. I'm no legal expert but one of the guys at work was booked by the NSW police a few weeks ago as he had done something similar to his prado. The police officer said that it did not comply with Australian Design Rules "lights must be mounted to the front of the vehicle". They were wired into the hi beam with a switch to turn off if need be. I am sure this could be argued but at the end of the day he was booked.

Can be mounted on the roof BUT has to be isolated permanently when on the road, I'd say that bloke didn't have an isolation switch to prevent accidental switch on.

If mounted to the front, then not a problem.

[davewilliams Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close davewilliams]

They've changed the rules in WA, nothing past the Front of the vehicle allowed

[Dropbear1978 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dropbear1978]

I bought this 30 inch CREE LED bar off eBay for $100. I must say I'm pretty happy with it. 19000 lumens. 198watt. Quality seems good, but made my own wiring loom as the one that came with it was rubbish. It's never going to be as good as an expensive pair of HIDs but it's there to help see everything 300 m from the car, not 800m in the distance
The plan is to mount it under the top bar on the bull bar when I can afford a set of HIDs then I will get the best of both worlds

[Mozz Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mozz]

Has anyone had problems with glare from light bars mounted on the front of a roof rack.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Has anyone had problems with glare from light bars mounted on the front of a roof rack.

Yes and if I find the car parked I will rip the damn thing off!

[Goggo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Goggo]

In Qld no lights are to be mounted on the roof rack or sticking out passed the bullbar, they are to be no higher than the original factory fitted headlights on the vehicle and definitely not on top of the bullbar either.

[Graz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Graz]

Has anyone had problems with glare from light bars mounted on the front of a roof rack.

If your talking about glare from your own roof rack mounted lightbar then yes.
You need to mount them back a bit or your will get glare from your bonnet and dash.
I mounted mine under the rack and about 200mm from the front edge and works great from there no glare at all

[davewilliams Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close davewilliams]

In Qld no lights are to be mounted on the roof rack or sticking out passed the bullbar, they are to be no higher than the original factory fitted headlights on the vehicle and definitely not on top of the bullbar either.

Same in WA