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best driving lights
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 10:44 pm
by paz
am looking at buying a good quality set of driving lights,,my budget will be to about $500,,so,,my question is,,what would you do if in my position,,what i've looked at so far is the lightforce XGT's,,hella rallye 4000 and narva etc..these lights will be mounted on a nudge bar on a ford courier td,,so far im leaning a little towards the XGT's,,like the idea of changable lenses(filters) etc,,but am open to ideas.....
paz
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:11 am
by turps
I have a set of lightforce 240's. The first set I had, had a fault that buggered the lens. But these where replaced, within a week by Lightforce. So there warranty is fantastic. The replacement set has been on there for 10 mths now with no problems.
These are adjustable, like a maglight. Just need to give the lens a spin. As for the covers they are fantastic. Just make sure you buy atleast one combo cover, but I would recommend getting combos for both. As you still get pretty good distance from them.
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:21 am
by Daisy
XGT and blitz are the same. Just different casings and the XGT has a better sex appeal too!!!!
TOM
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:51 am
by ludacris
Bosch make a really good spotlight. Solidly made.
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:20 am
by Midget
GQ wrote:XGT and blitz are the same. Just different casings and the XGT has a better sex appeal too!!!!

TOM
And the XGT is not a focusable lens like the blitz.
I have a set of XGT's on my 80 and also on y dads patrol and i would have to say they are the best light i have used for the value.
Ultimatley i think everyone would like a set of HID's,but i know i can't afford them....
GO FOR THE XGT's,You will not be disapoited....
Jamie
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:30 am
by paz
GQ wrote:XGT and blitz are the same. Just different casings and the XGT has a better sex appeal too!!!!

TOM
so really their different
.....
i like the blitz,,but in the back of my mind i think they're a little less robust then what the XGT is(way they are mounted),,worst thing about the xgt is its bloody big(deep),nearly 7 inches..anyone think i should be concerned about blocking off to much airflow to the radiator??
paz
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:32 am
by Ferwoaza
None of the above!
I picked up a pair of Nightstalkers 2 years ago now. 1 pencil, one broad. These suckers light up road markers for well over 1k (that's the longest stretch of road I've been able to find so far). In 2 years I've had to replace 1 bulb and 1 fuse. They don't move once adjusted and tighted.
They survived all the offroad trips I've done, survived being put into the side barrier on the F1 heading to Sydney at 80kph (bumper didn't make it tho...and that's when I busted the 1 bulb..)
And they only cost $120 for the pair.....so these are by far my favourite lights

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:56 am
by bowser
i'm also looking for lights so if possible can you guys also put up the price and where you got them from, cheers
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:12 am
by LET54B
The Narva Taurus Bull Lamps are pretty good, can pick them up for
about $120.00 each. They measure 220mm, you can get a few different coloured filters for them and they come in spread and spot beam. Oh yeah and their 100watt.

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:59 am
by MARKx4
I have the 240's for over a year now and would recomond them to anyone.
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 12:20 pm
by Daisy
Ferwoaza wrote:None of the above!
I picked up a pair of Nightstalkers 2 years ago now. 1 pencil, one broad. These suckers light up road markers for well over 1k (that's the longest stretch of road I've been able to find so far). In 2 years I've had to replace 1 bulb and 1 fuse. They don't move once adjusted and tighted.
They survived all the offroad trips I've done, survived being put into the side barrier on the F1 heading to Sydney at 80kph (bumper didn't make it tho...and that's when I busted the 1 bulb..)
And they only cost $120 for the pair.....so these are by far my favourite lights

215 nitestalkers sucked at the mounting.. they got awesome lighting.. but the mounting... what a problem for me... they had to be grinded off after the concealed top bolt on BOTH LIGHTS got loose and turnin the nut at the bottom only turned the bolt with the nut.. so out came the grinder and a wasted light.
a bit peed as i wouldnt have minded using them again. Went XGT's after that.
TOM
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 1:57 pm
by Croz
I have had a set of Cibie Oscar SC for about three years and they rock... a big butterfly pattern and a great spread of light. Range of about 600 m and a spread of about 30 per light. (from memory)
Cost about $450 for the set and they are solid as a rock on the bar. They are also quite small for their output. I havent seen a better light in the same size range.
The other benefit is that the beam is produced entirely by the reflector, so you can run them with broken glass and not lose performance.
They also dont look too bling, so they wont get knocked off I hope!
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:01 pm
by De-lux
Croz wrote:I have had a set of Cibie Oscar SC for about three years and they rock... a big butterfly pattern and a great spread of light. Range of about 600 m and a spread of about 30 per light. (from memory)
Cost about $450 for the set and they are solid as a rock on the bar. They are also quite small for their output. I havent seen a better light in the same size range.
The other benefit is that the beam is produced entirely by the reflector, so you can run them with broken glass and not lose performance.
They also dont look too bling, so they wont get knocked off I hope!
yeah, i have super oscars on the front of my lux also. they are good, but my next lights are going to be sealed beam / waterproof because i have a bad habit of taking them swimming. and also they are pretty exxy considering XGT's are a similar price.
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:22 pm
by GeneralFubashi
i have 20+y/o cibie super oscars that are fan bloody tastic. New ones are $155 each at toowoomba show ~$180each at 4x4 shops. hella rallye 2000 are ~180 each too but the mounting moves if you dont use some muscle tightening it.
Lightforce are 1/2 the weight, about the same price and made in aus, so they get my vote when the cibies finally rust away.
sam
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:46 pm
by bogged
lightforce 240's by a light year..
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:45 pm
by ToNkA
The IPF Rally 940's (I think its 940) are the best non xenon light I have ever used.
They are 170Watt each with a low beam at 100Watt each. Alloy housing and they run their own loom. Not cheap but the brightest by far!
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:51 pm
by big red
the light force go a long long way down the road but dont show to the sides very well, if you fit covers then they dont go anywhere near as far but are ok to the side. mounts are good.
rallye 4000 get better distance than the covered lightforce and just as good side light [using 1 spot and 1 driving beam]. mounts are excellent.
electrical connection on the back is crap though.
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:23 pm
by Big Red Toy
hmmm..... well what light did win the 4wd monthly light of the year

lets see xgt's maybe for a reason. I run hella bull lamps & they rock

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:30 pm
by Cheezy4x4
I run Lightforce HID, XGT, 240 Blitz and 170's and the best bang for bucks is the XGT's with the new cristal blue covers, they rock.

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:31 pm
by RUFF
We work on lots of brand new road train spec trucks at work and there is only 2 light brands that ever get fitted. Its either Lightforce(240,XGT,HID) or its the hella Rally 4000 or predator. Owner drivers seam to prefer the Hella as they dont vibrate on the rough outback corrigations. They say the mounting system on the lightforce is too unstable in these conditions.
I won a set of Cibie Oscars a few years ago and wasnt impressed with them at all.
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:48 pm
by derangedrover
RUFF wrote:We work on lots of brand new road train spec trucks at work and there is only 2 light brands that ever get fitted. Its either Lightforce(240,XGT,HID) or its the hella Rally 4000 or predator. Owner drivers seam to prefer the Hella as they dont vibrate on the rough outback corrigations. They say the mounting system on the lightforce is too unstable in these conditions.
I won a set of Cibie Oscars a few years ago and wasnt impressed with them at all.
The 240 blitz mounting system shows its 'spotlighting' heritage (need for adjustable beam) and is very prone to vibration in my experience (very noticable if the mounting also suffers from shimmy) like Ruff said, but the xgt/hid mounts are solid as a rock.
I had mine on a rhino roof bar and they were basically unusable on rough roads due to the movement, makes for tiring driving. Now have them on a fabricated bar hanging off an ARB rack and all is well, only slight movement noticible in the blitzs, which i think is pretty good considering its on a GQ and their bodies shimmy around on rough roads like crazy.
Cheers
Daryl
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:10 pm
by roly
ive had rallye 4000s LF240's and now XGTs
XGTs rock
Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:10 pm
by paz
and the winner is..........drum roll......XGT's
....picked em up today,,should have them mounted tomorrow on the new nudge bar.. think i got a pretty damn good deal too,,,$480 for the pair(clear lense),,with a set of combo lenses thrown in as well,,tried to bargain with another LF dealer here in town but wouldnt budge off $495 for lights and $52 for the lenses
,,his lost sale.....
will let all know how they go as soon as hooked up and i do a little night driving..
paz
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:35 pm
by Drafty
Best lights are our 24v 500watt aircraft landing light, shit on everything above, even the HID's disapear when they are on, but in the above list i would go for Hella or Lightforce.
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:33 am
by Maggot4x4
Drafty wrote:Best lights are our 24v 500watt aircraft landing light, shit on everything above, even the HID's disapear when they are on, but in the above list i would go for Hella or Lightforce.
And only about $60 each.
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 9:15 pm
by rock hopper
i have just started branded a spotlight under the LC 4X4 name .\
they are similar to the KC'S . but i use a 150w sealed beam .
the problem with most brands of lights is they fill up with water .
but a sealed beam won't fill up with water ...
the housing is painted black / and fully rust proofed .
this spot light is made for the outback .....
i sell them for $130-00 pa . (2)
i am looking at wholesaling all L.C. 4X4 PRODUCTS if you are a business
interested in selling my product just e-mail your details ....
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:25 am
by DAZZ
Got some of tbe new crystal blue lenses for my XGTs. Do these make a difference!!!! Easier to read signs and are less fatigueing on the eyes.
Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:22 pm
by paz
well finally on and all hooked up,,only drove home tonight a small way and damn
,,,,,best investment i have made for ages....
paz
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:38 pm
by purefmx
Narva Bulls, Pencil Beams!
Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 8:14 pm
by shorty_f0rty
i love my 4000's but they are a bit harsh with the reflections from road signs sometimes... they give you great spread and deep penetration
