Lightbar or Driving Lights on 2022 GXL

[Bigpat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigpat]

Hi All

My new GXL is finally in production and is coming with an ARB steel bullbar and genuine wiring harness installed. My question is whether to go for LED Lightbar or a pair of driving lights. On my current GXL I have a pair of dual LED lightbars which is a great set up, but won't work with the front sensors of the new GXL. So please let me know what you're running so I can have them on hand for when my new vehicle arrives.

Cheers

[Not Enough Time Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Not Enough Time]

Not sure what you men by the front sensors? Do you mean the safety radar behind the Toyota badge on the grill?

I have a late 21 GXL which has a ARB Smart bar fitted. It has a pair of 30 year old Cibie Super Oscar (with HID Inserts) driving lights fitted in the bar outer driving light mounts (there are several mounting points). The driving lights are 230mm diameter (outer case), but still leaves 330mm space between them and I have no interference problems with the camera/radar.
The ARB Smart Bar specification web page stated the distance in front of the radar sensor which has to be kept clear for it to work, I'm sure the steel bar spec sheet would as well.
The Automatic High Beam Function is deactivated when using the Toyota wiring harness when the Driving light switch is on, I don't think it's a great loss, but turning off the driving lights switch will make the AHB feature work

Check the specs on the ARB steel bar, your Light Bar may still work mounted on the bar if it doesn't protrude high enough in front of the radar.

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

Imo the choice between a light bar and driving lights is more about how you use your Prado. While light bars throw a lot of light around I have yet to see one that actually lights up a decent distance whereas driving lights will give greater distance but possibly not as much spread in the first 200 metres or so. So if mainly highway/open roads driving lights, twisty slower speed work light bar or a pair of spread beams. I personally have a pair of Narva Ultima spread beam lights which I believe give me the best of both worlds.
I have found the traditional brands (Narva, Hella etc) tend to show more realistic light patterns for their lights.

Lee

[Bigpat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigpat]

Not sure what you men by the front sensors? Do you mean the safety radar behind the Toyota badge on the grill?

I have a late 21 GXL which has a ARB Smart bar fitted. It has a pair of 30 year old Cibie Super Oscar (with HID Inserts) driving lights fitted in the bar outer driving light mounts (there are several mounting points). The driving lights are 230mm diameter (outer case), but still leaves 330mm space between them and I have no interference problems with the camera/radar.
The ARB Smart Bar specification web page stated the distance in front of the radar sensor which has to be kept clear for it to work, I'm sure the steel bar spec sheet would as well.
The Automatic High Beam Function is deactivated when using the Toyota wiring harness when the Driving light switch is on, I don't think it's a great loss, but turning off the driving lights switch will make the AHB feature work

Check the specs on the ARB steel bar, your Light Bar may still work mounted on the bar if it doesn't protrude high enough in front of the radar.

Thanks for that I'll check the data sheet for the bullbar. Yes I meant the Radar. I had Super Oscar's on my old ute for many years. Great lights, the only problem was they were hard to focus with the ball and socket.

[Bigpat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigpat]

Imo the choice between a light bar and driving lights is more about how you use your Prado. While light bars throw a lot of light around I have yet to see one that actually lights up a decent distance whereas driving lights will give greater distance but possibly not as much spread in the first 200 metres or so. So if mainly highway/open roads driving lights, twisty slower speed work light bar or a pair of spread beams. I personally have a pair of Narva Ultima spread beam lights which I believe give me the best of both worlds.
I have found the traditional brands (Narva, Hella etc) tend to show more realistic light patterns for their lights.

Lee

Hi Lee,
Thanks for the reply. I live in the New England of NSW so my driving is a mix of highway driving and twisty roads. I'll check out the Narva's.
Cheers

[Not Enough Time Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Not Enough Time]

Bigpat, if you are driving through Tamworth, send me a message and you can look at my vehicle.