Light bars.....worth the $$ or just eye candy?

Shopping for a front winch bumper and winch for my 2024 ORP. Seem like most bumpers these days come with cutouts for light bars. Just curious if most light bars are more for looks than practical use? One dealer quoted me a bumper and the light bar alone was over $900. I doubt I will be doing much if any nighttime off road driving. What's everyones opinion on the need for light bars?

 

Light bars can be big $$. If you currently do not have a need for one, you will never use it. And of course, off road only.

I HAD ditch lights, only used them on back roads in winter snow. Eventually took them off.

 

I had a Body Armor brand bumper on my 2021 Tacoma, with a light bar. I only paid $125 for it. And I raaaaaaaaaarely used it while I owned the truck. This was prior to inflation taking off, so I paid about $1200 for the bumper, light bar, switch install for the light bar and bumper install. It looked nice, and was SUPER bright. It was a spot/flood, but never got used. I never went off roading in that truck so it wasn't used properly.

If you're going to go off roading, I would recommend it.

Here's what it look like installed:

 

I'm in the camp that lights in general are cool, but mostly unnecessary for how we use our 4Runners. This is from a guy that has over $3k in aftermarket lighting.

 

I'm getting the impression that lights are cool looking but not necessary, unless you are a serious offroad practitioner. Thanks for the relies so far.

 

Yeah, that's the general consensus. I think that most 4Runner owners (and guys who own off road vehicles) think of light bars like condoms or guns. It's better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.

You're from East Texas, you get my meaning...

 

If you look at the lights throw, how far in front of you it illuminates, you'll see most aren't effective at speed. You outrun most of them. When you consider the amount of light you need at slow, offroad speed, you don't need more than a Hella 500 which is about $75 for a pair. So, to answer your question more directly, high-price light/lightbars are almost always ineffective.

 

I know exactly what you are saying. Thanks for the reply. It's definitely helping me make my decision on the lights.

 

Good luck man. Post pictures of your rig when you get a chance, with or without the lightbar.

 

Will do......this is how it sits now.

 

Light bars are certainly useful off-road. However, please don't be like the jackass jeeper I saw last week whose 4-row light bar was connected to his high beam switch. Sure, he switched to low beams as soon as he saw me, but I had to stop dead in the road because I was totally blinded for a few seconds.

 

What bumper is that? I like it.

And, as stated, really pretty unnecessary. Unless you have an unlimited budget, save the money for better upgrades and/or gas.

 

I rank my lights
1) Fog
2) Chase
3) bumper (low forward facing)
4) ditch
5) roof rack

I use my fog all the time and chase almost every time I go out. Low forward facing is much better for the dusk back road drives I love.

 

Body Armor. That's the brand name. I found it on ExtremeTerrain.com If memory serves, I paid just under $600 for it.

 

if you camp, scene/rack lights are by far the most useful.

 

Works good for night hunting, lol

 

Low mounted amber pods are the most useful imo. Effective in heavy fog and dust, they're also not as blinding for oncoming traffic if aimed low and to the center of the road. Ditch lights are next on the list.
Most people won't use any offroad lights very often, but if you do offroad and end up lost, they're a godsend.
My Son and I way muddled our way out of Tonto NF one night after I took a wrong turn. Desert Mountain terrain is not a place to have limited visibility, could be catastrophic. Lots of places to drive over the edge of a ravine.

 

I would say lights are more useful than a winch and bumper. But depends on your needs. Light bar probably no need, ditch/pod lights are very useful.

 

I off-road somewhat infrequently and have yet to be off-roading at night so the expensive Baja Designs driving lights are rarely even turned on. I check them to see if they work periodically - just in case…. However, I do use my Diode Dynamics pro fogs way more often and given their coverage, would provide great nighttime illumination for off pavement night time use.

After having both the Baja Designs driving lights and the Diode Dynamics fogs, I decided not to add a light bar in my hybrid bumper as it would rarely, if ever get any use.

However, everyone has their own view of what they want in their build so you do you! Also, I always reserve the right to change my mind and do something new to my rig..



Cheers,
Bob

 

I have had mine installed for a little over a month now and have used it on several off road trips. I anticipate I will use it more this fall and winter and on some of my longer multi-day trips I have planned this summer. I'm running a 30in bajadesigns S8 combo bar in amber, installed in my CBI front bumper, and plan on getting a reverse and chase light soon. Next year, I plan on adding ditch lights, and a 40in light bar mounted to the roof rack, but I will say that I am one, who has always liked having sufficient lighting when off roading, or when traversing the back country. In my opinion, one of the best things about the light bar isn't necessary how far the light is thrown down the road but how far it throws light to the sides. In deer and elk country I find this invaluable.

Ultimately, it's up to your preference and budget but, it's easier to install a light bar along with the bumper, then pulling the bumper off at a latter date to instal one.

 

My cheap Amazon 32in lightbar was far better than my expensive Diode Dynamics SS6.

 

Fixed it for you