LED bar mounting options

[LoveB]

Ok...

So I'm looking into buying a 50' LED bar for the deefer. Main issue I have is I dont have a roof rack to mount it on to. I was thinking of getting the 50' side mounted one from SAledlighting. I had a bit of a measure and the defender roof is wider than that I believe. I'm trying to avoid having to buy a roof rack/cross bar just to fit it...

Anyone have any ideas as to how I can get it on?? was hoping I could mount on gutters but i dont think the bar itself is long enough?

[roverrescue]

drill, M8 bolt, silastic

straight through the lid

S

[LoveB]

I'm not keen on drilling too!!!

if I have to get a crossbar maybe a low profile one? I dont really want the bar sticking out too high

[rijidij]

You can buy Rhino Rack 'legs' as a separate item. If you got two legs, you might be able to make up brackets to connect directly to the light bar, ie the light bar becomes the cross bar.

Cheers, Murray

[LoveB]

You can buy Rhino Rack 'legs' as a separate item. If you got two legs, you might be able to make up brackets to connect directly to the light bar, ie the light bar becomes the cross bar.

Cheers, Murray

thanks thats what I was thinking.. Just putting the leg pack onto the gutter and somehow making an extension to get to the bar. I'll probably just bite the bullet and order the side mount 50' one anyway. worst case is a roof rack lol:twisted:

[noogie]

Mate that is going to be one serious light bar you are putting on.
I have a 42 inch 240 watt light bar and it is awesome.
Great for night drives.
Got mine mounted to a purpose built rovacraft light cross bar that bolts into the gutters. I ended having to reinforce the supports as I nearly lost mine one night driving home. The side supports are only thin and started to tear.

You will need something fairly strong as they do weigh a bit. I wouldn't put it on rhino bars as it will end up being too high to get into garage. The light cross bar I have sits very close to the roof and has a low profile.

There are bars you can get but they are bloody dear. I think terrafirma make one for the deefers.

The other option is to mount it to a roof rack.

[Blade74]

"Mate that is going to be one serious light bar you are putting on." - Noogie
That's what I was thinking as well.
I have a 120w 20" light bar and am happy with the amount of light it puts out.
Plus mines only down on the bumper bar...

[MLD]

Rhino commercial bar with 150mm legs. The light bar will (should) hang on the underside and clear the roof line if mounted closer to the windscreen. You'll have to modify by drilling the bar to accommodate the mounting points of the bar. Or go the extra mile and buy the Rhino light mounts ($40 each) to add to the commercial bar. Mount it back as far as clearance permits, the light spread will reflect off the bonnet and be a distraction. I have a white UHF aerial and it's a major distraction when the light bar is on (mounted off a rhino platform rack).

You won't get defender rhino legs at 150mm, shortest is 210mm. You won't need the defender legs (have a cut out for the roof shape) because it's mounted forward of the rolled roof.

Keep a look out on Ebay for old Hiace or equivalent rhino racks.

IMO using legs alone and using the light bar as a substitute cross bar is likely to end up with a flimsy setup prone to being torn off by stray branches.

As an aside, you have undoubtedly spent $400 + on the light bar. Don't cheap out on how it's mounted. Could be the difference between enjoying a night drive or stuffing around in the dark patching up a half arsed effort.

For those that suggest that a light bar is a substitute for driving lights on the highway, they are not. Don't hold that expectation you will be found wanting. Otherwise great for slower than highway speed driving when illuminating distance is not required.

MLD ;)

[noogie]

For those that suggest that a light bar is a substitute for driving lights on the highway, they are not. Don't hold that expectation you will be found wanting. Otherwise great for slower than highway speed driving when illuminating distance is not required.

MLD ;)


That depends which light bar you use.

I use mine all the time on the highway at highway speed. Absolutely great and outshine my spread & pencil beam. The forward throw is at least 70metres and the saturation is excellent. How far do you need to see down the road?

One thing to remember is I don't think they are road legal. I'm tipping you might get a defective notice by the boys in blue.

I have mine wired into a three way toggle switch.
On when high beams are on.
Off position and the third position is on independent of the high beams. I select this when doing a night drive on the tracks.

[noogie]

"Mate that is going to be one serious light bar you are putting on." - Noogie
That's what I was thinking as well.
I have a 120w 20" light bar and am happy with the amount of light it puts out.
Plus mines only down on the bumper bar...

Hi Blade

Have a look at this link for the post I did a while ago for my 42" lightbar.
It gives you a good idea of how good they are.

I plan to do another review of it in different situations, ie. offroad and highway driving. I'll whack another youtube clip together and post it.

Cheers
Mick:)

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/156071-led-light-bar-defender-110-a.html

[Blade74]

Hi Blade

Have a look at this link for the post I did a while ago for my 42" lightbar.
It gives you a good idea of how good they are.

I plan to do another review of it in different situations, ie. offroad and highway driving. I'll whack another youtube clip together and post it.

Cheers
Mick:)



Hey Mick.
I'm totally there with you on the LED light bar as being a really good source of light.
It's really hard to tell from the video just how bright they are as the camera sensor doesn't pick up light like the human eye does.
But I would say mine is very bright and almost comparable at 20" long.
It's apparently 10320 lumens but I know that figure may be a little fuged.

My headlights are truck light phase 7 which I'm pretty happy with but have to say I was driving on a country winding dirt road a few months ago and felt like they just weren't enough to safely travel at 100km/hr.
With the light bar they are amazing and I can see so much more. Can easily see animals and for a reasonable distance.
Mine is an LED flood light not a spot light and I have used them on the highway and they easily shine far enough ahead to do 120km/hr and be happy.
Just have to be careful of how wide they shoot when it's a split carriage way with just random trees or shrubs in between.

[LoveB]

Yes, I understand 50 is a big bar...

but I dont have plans of getting a bull bar so I'd rather something that takes up the roof space than put a small one on there! (atleast thats the reason I'm sticking to!)

I do still plan on getting HID driving lamps in the future. mainly cause I do a lot of trips between syd - melb. But I'll probably end up getting a roof rack in the future to accomodate that.


Noogie, is yours side or bottom mounted? I was thinking of getting the terra firma ones but the light bar I want is side mounted. It may still work i suppose if the ends of the bar align with the farthest mounting tabs of the terrafirma mounts.

[Blade74]

Hey Paul,

You can always check out my LED light bar as well as the Truck Lites anytime your around southern Sydney to see how good they are.
My LED bar is a nice fit onto the existing bumper spotlight mounts.

[LoveB]

I think the other option would be to mount it onto the actual bumper bar? but wouldn't that just make it prone to stones/dirt/mud and what not? plus I think it would block all the vents for the a/c?

[LoveB]

yes I remember asking if I could see it! I'll hopefully be down that way soon so I can have a look. I was looking at ordering the led bar this week for my trip this weekend. canberra-pambula-canberra-melbourne!

[Blade74]

Yeah very true. I'll take a photo of where my LED bar sits today and post.
I guess the roof is definitely a better location.
As its a very wide beam though I'm not sure how much it would light up the bonnet and bull bar/ cb antenna/ car antenna and may be a bit distracting.
Mine is quite small compared to a 50" and doesn't seem to block the grill at the front much.
It also had mounts that were the right width for the existing spotlight mounts in the TD5 bar.

I have no affiliation with this supplier but have bought 2 LED products of them and they've been good so far.

This is the 20" Cree light bar

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com.au/viewitem?itemId=330832754340

[Blade74]

Plus they were top mounts not side mounts.

[noogie]

Yes, I understand 50 is a big bar...

but I dont have plans of getting a bull bar so I'd rather something that takes up the roof space than put a small one on there! (atleast thats the reason I'm sticking to!)

I do still plan on getting HID driving lamps in the future. mainly cause I do a lot of trips between syd - melb. But I'll probably end up getting a roof rack in the future to accomodate that.


Noogie, is yours side or bottom mounted? I was thinking of getting the terra firma ones but the light bar I want is side mounted. It may still work i suppose if the ends of the bar align with the farthest mounting tabs of the terrafirma mounts.

Mine has 4 bottom mounted bolts that secure to the cross bar.
I had to move one support lug in order to line the bolts up.
I would recommend you get the bottom mounted one as they provide more support.
The light bar is quite heavy.

Definitely mount it up high.
You don't get mud and chips from road.
Only thing is they take a few hits from low branches but they ar very strong.
Believe me you won't need hid driving lights.
Make sure you run a quality relay also.

Cheers Mick

[Blade74]

I agree with Noogie,

At that length bottom mounts would be better.
I know the weight of my little 20" and it has the possibility of four bottom/top mounts but I've only needed/used two.
At 40 - 50" 4 would be a necessity to take the weight and keep it sturdy.

[LoveB]

the widest bottom mount one i can seem to get is 36'..

I'm thinking go the side mount one to mount on a bar but double check every possiblity to reinforce it. and yeah, i'll probably keep it up top. I dont mind a little bonnet glare... my vehicle in the philippines which i used to get to fires had red and blue lights mounted behind the windscreen. glare on the bonnet and dash itself! lol so long as its not as bad as that I should be alright.

not sure if you can see the pic but thats the look i want... I;m trying to find out if it was mounted to the hoops. looks like it though

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[Cracka]

Looks like the bracket comes off the back of the front hoop when you zoom in.

[noogie]

the widest bottom mount one i can seem to get is 36'..

I'm thinking go the side mount one to mount on a bar but double check every possiblity to reinforce it. and yeah, i'll probably keep it up top. I dont mind a little bonnet glare... my vehicle in the philippines which i used to get to fires had red and blue lights mounted behind the windscreen. glare on the bonnet and dash itself! lol so long as its not as bad as that I should be alright.

not sure if you can see the pic but thats the look i want... I;m trying to find out if it was mounted to the hoops. looks like it though

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/993060_10200480997922406_238379219_n.jpg

That's a nice truck isn't it?
The light bars are made fairly robust, so I'm thinking there would be a way of possibly making a bracket that could attach to the bottom of it.
Looks like this guy has attached a couple of supports to his roll bar and mounted to them.

Mine is mounted in the same spot and there isn't that much glare on the bonnet. It definately doesn't annoy or distract me when driving. I guess it depends what anle you have it set at and how close it is to the front. Mine sits back about 15cm from the windscreen.

My LB is split into 3 thirds. The centre is a pencil beam and sides are spread. I have mine set a tad up from middle to project as far as possible.
The setting I have it at is fine for all conditions.

I guess you'll have to fool around and get the setting to suit.
I like the 42 " size as I can mount one led spotty on each end to project light down to the sides for night drives, and they will double well as a great camp light. I think I'll just instal 2 x 36watt rectangular leds.

I took a couple of photos of my set up but I'll have to wait till I get home to post them.

Cheers
Mick

[LoveB]

was just told that one above is a 51' bar. and he made brackets to install it onto the hoops.

I'm just gonna go ahead and order it anyway. I'll probably get a cross bar and mount it onto that. I'll just find a way to mount it low..

[LoveB]

got my bar today. ive learned int he ACT its illegal to have it above the bonnet line...


So I'm gonna mount it on the front bar. I'm just gonna trim down some L brackets so I can get it on tomorrow...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563342_705179139498257_1698873989_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1150280_705179172831587_17183385_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1014329_705179199498251_1000507633_n.jpg

ended up egtting the 44' as the 50' was still with customs he said. 44' should be fine for now. lol

[n plus one]

got my bar today. ive learned int he ACT its illegal to have it above the bonnet line...

I'm surprised the ACT regs don't align with the ADR - how well informed was your source?

[noogie]

I'd still mount it up high mate.
You will get a much better spread of light.
If you do leave it down low, just remember it will be a lot easier to pinch, so you will need some anti theft nuts.

Looks good:)

[LoveB]

I'm surprised the ACT regs don't align with the ADR - how well informed was your source? I suppose they were more of a i heard from this and heard from that.

But I do recall reading somewhere after having searched for it that lights may not be mounted above the bonnet. I need to get anti theft screws cause with the way its sitting now its so easy to steal. lol

got it installed for now though
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/q72/s720x720/1095080_705818652767639_1380724390_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/q71/s720x720/994918_705819932767511_149159364_n.jpg

can anyone point me to a writing/article that states I CAN actually put it on the roof?

[LoveB]

http://www.rego.act.gov.au/assets/PDFs/protuding%20vehicle%20accessories%20info.pdf

that says it must not protrude forward or above of the bullbar... does the roof count?

[noogie]

Going off this article it appears where you have your light bar mounted would be legal, as long as it didn't protrude forward of the bumber.

I can't see the problem with lights being on the roof as they cannot come into contact with pedestrians, however there may be an issue with the angle & spread of the beam being outside what is considered normal for a vehicle.

There's no mention of lights being mounted on the roof.
If that wasn't allowed, there'd be a mountain of cars driving around unroadworthy.

[KarlB]

http://www.rego.act.gov.au/assets/PDFs/protuding%20vehicle%20accessories%20info.pdf

that says it must not protrude forward or above of the bullbar... does the roof count?
The document is an information bulletin only. It is not a legal document and would not cover all issues relating to protruding accessories. You need to talk to the rego people to be sure.

[LoveB]

Yeah gonna give the RTA a call on monday to find out... if its legal I MAY move it up to the roof as I was planning on having the terrafirma mount up there so I can mount the LED bar and maybe some spotties for the highway.

its so bright though. love it so far

[460cixy]

I think if its up high all you will do is succeed in doing is lighting up the bonnet I use roof mounted spot light for shooting and that's bad enough I think an led would really glare off the bonnet

[MLD]

I think if its up high all you will do is succeed in doing is lighting up the bonnet I use roof mounted spot light for shooting and that's bad enough I think an led would really glare off the bonnet

Not necessarily. The few light bars that i looked t have a reflector that protrudes from the bottom of the light bar that, surprise surprise, reflects light forward rather than down. How far you mount it back from the window edge also has a bearing on reflection. I've got my light bar mounted on a 2.2m rack so it sits about half way between the window and the joint in the roof line and I get no reflection off the bonnet but the UHF antenna is another matter.

As stated by several posters, up high will give you the best result for light projection and spread.

MLD

[n plus one]

Yeah gonna give the RTA a call on monday to find out... if its legal I MAY move it up to the roof as I was planning on having the terrafirma mount up there so I can mount the LED bar and maybe some spotties for the highway.

its so bright though. love it so far

Typically not worth wasting your time with them.

While there can be variations from state to state, they are largely aligned with the ADRs, which are pretty clear - there's no height restriction on driving lights, however they can't be fitted wider on the vehicle than the headlights, and must be fitted in pairs and at the front of the vehicle (it's arguable as to whether this rules out the leading edge of a roof rack). FYI, a number of vehicles have roof mounted driving lights from the factory (Jeeps, X Trails).

This makes the fitment of single light bars illegal, except in QLD, where they've issued an amending regulation.

Also, I think SA tends to be pretty behind the times?

[LoveB]

Does that mean.... I need to fit two??!?!?! :p does it count as two being a double row? lol

[n plus one]

Does that mean.... I need to fit two??!?!?! :p does it count as two being a double row? lol

I reckon you should!

I wouldn't be too concerned if I were you - I think it's a case of the law not yet caught up with reality...

On a related matter - I had a play with some ARB Intensity led lights today, very impressive!

[LoveB]

We need pics!!! lol

i may just ring to ask about putting it on the roof anyway. Main reason I didnt (although it was mostly an i heard this from this guy and that guy) is my workmate told me the cops can confiscate the led bar? any truth to that?

[460cixy]

We need pics!!! lol

i may just ring to ask about putting it on the roof anyway. Main reason I didnt (although it was mostly an i heard this from this guy and that guy) is my workmate told me the cops can confiscate the led bar? any truth to that?


They can't take anything off your vehicle. But can give you a big fat defect notice if they wish