Roof lights. How usefull are they? Comp VS Social.

[TEE JAY]

I am contemplating putting on as set of 4 dual beam Warn spot lights on the roof of the Jeep. I have just mounted some big ass Lightforce's to the front bar and have a pair of 100W Narvas to put on the winscreen brackets. I would like to know how usefull comp guys find roof lights. I see not everyone uses them religiously in comps and some of the guys that do drive during the day with them still in the upright position. SO if they roll or smack themselves on a low lying branch there goes 2k worth of lights. So I am thinking if comp guys dont find them really all that usefull I will mount these lights onto the front of the roof rack if they find they cant night stage without them then I will most likely mount them on the B pillar with the option of fliping them down for the day stages.
What are you guys running street and comp.
Cheers.

[bogged]

I am contemplating putting on as set of 4 dual beam Warn spot lights on the roof of the Jeep. I have just mounted some big ass Lightforce's to the front bar and have a pair of 100W Narvas to put on the winscreen brackets.

why do you need more lights? are you blind?

[TEE JAY]

Keep it on topic. Dont try to bee funny your not.

[mistaboz]

Keep it on topic. Dont try to bee funny your not.

that was the funnay!

[bogged]

Keep it on topic. Dont try to bee funny your not.

not trying to be funny... 2 good quality spotties are all most need, 4 good quality would be more than enough light for most..

Is it cause the ones you have now arent good enough, or just for looks?

[Goatse.AJ]

I am contemplating putting on as set of 4 dual beam Warn spot lights on the roof of the Jeep. I have just mounted some big ass Lightforce's to the front bar and have a pair of 100W Narvas to put on the winscreen brackets.

why do you need more lights? are you blind?

Valid question. Do you want them for the wank value or because you can't see? You already have 4 extra lights to go plus your headlights.

[HotFourOk]

Why not put the Warns, or some more Lightforce on the windscreen brackets?

Narva are crap compared to these upper market lights.

[Sandy Rut]

Comp use only. Not worth the hassle otherwise (cops & theives).

Roof lights are pretty handy and I appreciate why a competitor would choose to run them.

-bar mounted lights are useless if the front end of your truck is underwater, or if you are approaching a large step-up and want to see what you need to contend with once on top of the ledge.

If you have say 4 roof lights, I reckon it would be best to aim one high so if your truck is 'level' and you are approaching a STEEP climb you can atleast see what you are going to have to drive up. And aim one down so that when you come over a crest or whatever and are faced with a g-out or gully you can see what is on the other side.
Then aim the other two out each side to increase periphial (spelling?) vision - this helps when you come up to sharp corners or if you are travelling sideways into a corner
Would be good idea to have them fused and switched seperately too


Aiming them all in the one direction is dumb. And so is having them on trucks that arent raced

[Pyrotech]

I am contemplating putting on as set of 4 dual beam Warn spot lights on the roof of the Jeep. I have just mounted some big ass Lightforce's to the front bar and have a pair of 100W Narvas, Cheers.

Its a Jeep thing...

but serisously, i dont think u need THAT many lights, the light forces, plus your existing headlights. PLUS the narvas should be plenty, maybe upgrade your stock headaights??

[Jeeps]

that's a lotta lights

[bogged]

Why not put the Warns,.

why not put HID's in the 4 lights you have now. If that isnt enough light for you then yor related to

[bigcam]

i run 4 roolights (220's int he middle and 180s on the outside flooded and pointed out.

they are removable in about 2 minutes with an anderson plug and small 2 pin plug and a relay box on the bar.

they work well and keep my radiator and high mount free from other obstructions during the day they live in the back or in the garage keeping me safe from cops and theives i attach them when i sair down at night in the bush and remove for the drive home.. they also seriously affect fuel economy and freeway cruising speeds because of the additional wind resistance.

the four lights aimed correctly and upgraded headlights work a treat except for the melted headlight plugs

they do effect your forward vision in fog, dust or smoke too making it more difficult to see as the light creates a curtain effect in front of you and makes it more difficult to see oncoming traffic headlight around corners etc as it washes them out. also remember you have a maximum of 6 forward facing lights including your headlights so 2 headlights and 4 spotties and your legal any more and your not.

[TEE JAY]

Thanks for your replies. I think I will mount the 4 Warn lights on a removable bar that can be mounted for night stages. I like the idea of having a pair point up for the inclines and down for the declines. The winshield mounted Narvas generally point outwards as already suggested and the lightforce straight ahead. Four spotties for daily driving and another 4 for the comps.
Scrooge out.

[micks troll]

I run them at night when wheelin as it'll show how deep some holes are, where as the bullbar mounted ones don't. I also get more spread out the sides and can see corners much better also.They do have draw backs such as extra hieght with branches etc and they show up the dust if travelling behind in convoy. In general they make it more pleasant night driving. imo The only other thing you'll want to check is you amps as that many lights while idling around will drain you battery if not careful. Hense i have a 140amp alternator and it still charges at 13-14 volts on idle with all 6 100w spots and the upgraded head light 110w the standard alternator couldnt maintain 12v

[roverrat]

Keep it on topic. Dont try to bee funny your not.

not trying to be funny... 2 good quality spotties are all most need, 4 good quality would be more than enough light for most..

Is it cause the ones you have now arent good enough, or just for looks?

wow is every one a bit testy this month ?

on another note ditch the narvas (use em as reversing lights) mounted in back and replace with another set of lightforce. Although roof lights give the perception of a greater field of vision. Horses for courses removable for night nav runs etc may be the best option.

[hokey]

roof lights don't get as dirty as bar lights which is also handy...

[HotFourOk]

-bar mounted lights are useless if the front end of your truck is underwater, or if you are approaching a large step-up and want to see what you need to contend with once on top of the ledge.

Aiming them all in the one direction is dumb. And so is having them on trucks that arent raced

Ok... I don't "race", but my bar mounted lights do go underwater occasionally, so why is it 'dumb' that i have roof lights?

Have you driven a car with roof lights to see how they perform?

[Vineboy]

I had some on a roll bar on a ute years ago. I reckon they looked pretty good but as soon as I turned them on for the first time I hated them. Light came through into the cab so it was hard to see out of the windscreen and as soon as it rained the lights lit up the droplets right in front of my eyes so it made it hard to see again. And no my last name isn't McGoo.

I took them down to the bullbar then promptly hit a 'roo and smashed them to bits.

It's your rig, you do what you want.

[Ben]

Is it cause the ones you have now arent good enough, or just for looks?

He just wants to be like Lara Croft.

[RoldIT]

Aside from the "visual" affect, have you bothered sitting down to work exactly how much current all those lights will draw and if your electrical system is up to the challenge. How about length of wiring and voltage drop as related to the amount of light these extra lights will actually output and how effecient the the globes will run?

If total light output is truly your motivation then I suggest the earlier comments about HIDs are your best advise.

[TEE JAY]

2 batteries in the rear and one more in the front should cover that department.

[bogged]

2 batteries in the rear and one more in the front should cover that department.

and your alternator will handle all this?
I'm not sure wat amp alternator jeeps have but something to keep in mind.. you could have 12 batteries, but if you cant charge them, you may as well have 2x D cells.

[Sandy Rut]

-bar mounted lights are useless if the front end of your truck is underwater, or if you are approaching a large step-up and want to see what you need to contend with once on top of the ledge.

Aiming them all in the one direction is dumb. And so is having them on trucks that arent raced

Ok... I don't "race", but my bar mounted lights do go underwater occasionally, so why is it 'dumb' that i have roof lights?

Have you driven a car with roof lights to see how they perform?

Like someone else said - Its your rig do what you want.

If you want 8 lights on your feroza dont worry about what other people think just do it

And yeah my wagon had removable rooflights and so will the ute I am building.
Dont take things personally

[TEE JAY]

Its always good to hear from people who have been there done that though. Alternator will be upgraded also.

[benhl]

I run a pair of LF 240 XGT's spots beams on the bullbar all day every day for around town/country driving. with some little ARB dodgy spreads in the bar itself near indicators. This is sufficient for twon/country driving.

For off road I also add 4 x LF 170 on a roof rack as said above 2 outers facing 45degreeish out, with the 2 x centres ones with spread covers for more dispersed light angled both up and down. This si sufficient and really only stay on whilst crawling around out bush. So long as the right pedal is stabbed a bit now and then the current draw is fine.

[micks troll]

2 batteries in the rear and one more in the front should cover that department.

and your alternator will handle all this?
I'm not sure wat amp alternator jeeps have but something to keep in mind.. you could have 12 batteries, but if you cant charge them, you may as well have 2x D cells.

x2 I had the original alternator with 4 roof lights and the 2 fronts spotties as well as the high beam it wouldnt keep up unless the revs were up hence i have a 140 amp alternator and it'll still charge at full voltage with all on at idle (not that it's necessary) Why people think another battery will help

[HotFourOk]

2 batteries in the rear and one more in the front should cover that department.

and your alternator will handle all this?
I'm not sure wat amp alternator jeeps have but something to keep in mind.. you could have 12 batteries, but if you cant charge them, you may as well have 2x D cells.

x2 I had the original alternator with 4 roof lights and the 2 fronts spotties as well as the high beam it wouldnt keep up unless the revs were up hence i have a 140 amp alternator and it'll still charge at full voltage with all on at idle (not that it's necessary) Why people think another battery will help

A battery will help for shorter high power demand situations, but does need time to recover afterwards. Winching is a good example.
Extended use of lots of lights and/or accessories will require a bigger alternator.
140A is a nice alternator

[-Scott-]

I'm not knocking the concept of roof lights, but do they need to be that bright? For the applications described it sounds like they're most useful for short range stuff, not seeing 500m down the track.

With all the lights you already have out the front, a pair of 35W HID spreads should take care of your gaps.

[RoldIT]

2 batteries in the rear and one more in the front should cover that department.

Well, that's answered my question ...

[tna racing]

wehave this set up




2x180mm roo lights(35w hid) and 110 night stalkers (100w). put them on when on night drives or camping. they have great range too