Trailrax (or any other rack) Lightbar and Chase Experience

[masshole]

I'm looking to finally get a rack for some additional storage, and the mod nerd in me thinks I should get a lightbar. I definitely need a solution for chase lights, but for me it's logging roads and attracting squid that makes a lightbar "justified".

So, when I place my order with Adam @4x4TruckLEDs.com , what would you suggest for:
- Lightbar. Leaning towards a 40" BD combo, but have no experience. With BD, I expect to make it part of my will but the combo is something I THINK could attract bait at night but also help in the woods.
- Chase lights. With a rack, probably one would do but again no experience. Again, leaning BD for quality but how bright. Thinking the brighter, the better?

Thanks for any input!

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[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

Well where are you installing the 40" Bar? If it's going on the rack will it support it? Some racks don't allow bars to be mounted.

40" S8 Driving/Combo is what I'd do.

For a rear bar, depends on your intended use. I have a rear 40" S8 bar on my truck but it's for show.

An RTL bar would make more sense, those are 30" and when combined with one of our harnesses it's ALMOST plug and play (you just have to connect the rear upfitter wire to one of the leads so you can activate the chase lights, otherwise it plugs in-line for factory break/turn/etc...)

 

[CalvinT]

This is the light bar I'm going with. It draws 16A so will work with upfitter SW 1. The reflector design is similar to the Bronco headlights (Hella is the OEM), so there shouldn't be much glare back from hood reflection. And it's bright enough for anyone except desert racers. It doesn't have a back light which keeps wiring simple and the power cable thinner and easier to run (2 conductors instead of 3).

I think the price is very reasonable for a high quality light bar, $650.

You will need to have some fabrication skills to modify the rack air deflector and make your own mounting brackets.

https://www.myhellalights.com/products/black-magic-tough-slim-lightbar-40

I don't recommend it for a chase light. Hella also makes a 20" light bar. But I'd use an amber light for a chase light instead of white.

It would be worth your time to explore Hella's offerings. They have a work light that's switchable between amber or white (3 wires) for $90. Mounted to the rear it could also double as a chase light.

 

[masshole]

Well where are you installing the 40" Bar? If it's going on the rack will it support it? Some racks don't allow bars to be mounted.

40" S8 Driving/Combo is what I'd do.

For a rear bar, depends on your intended use. I have a rear 40" S8 bar on my truck but it's for show.

An RTL bar would make more sense, those are 30" and when combined with one of our harnesses it's ALMOST plug and play (you just have to connect the rear upfitter wire to one of the leads so you can activate the chase lights, otherwise it plugs in-line for factory break/turn/etc...)

Thanks! I'll have a look and be in touch.

 

[masshole]

This is the light bar I'm going with. It draws 16A so will work with upfitter SW 1. The reflector design is similar to the Bronco headlights (Hella is the OEM), so there shouldn't be much glare back from hood reflection. And it's bright enough for anyone except desert racers. It doesn't have a back light which keeps wiring simple and the power cable thinner and easier to run (2 conductors instead of 3).

I think the price is very reasonable for a high quality light bar, $650.

You will need to have some fabrication skills to modify the rack air deflector and make your own mounting brackets.

https://www.myhellalights.com/products/black-magic-tough-slim-lightbar-40

I don't recommend it for a chase light. Hella also makes a 20" light bar. But I'd use an amber light for a chase light instead of white.

It would be worth your time to explore Hella's offerings. They have a work light that's switchable between amber or white (3 wires) for $90. Mounted to the rear it could also double as a chase light.

Hmm, hadn't found that one. I think it will fit in the trailrax cutout deflector, will reach out to them to confirm. And thanks! I had not looked at Hella and think there are options there as well.

 

[CalvinT]

Hmm, hadn't found that one. I think it will fit in the trailrax cutout deflector, will reach out to them to confirm. And thanks! I had not looked at Hella and think there are options there as well.

I have a Trailrax. But decided to modify the wind deflector instead of paying $100 for a new one with the cutout. It's not difficult if you know how and have some patience.

 

[Direvarg]

I have 2 Baja s2 pros in amber with the side cornering beam pattern on the back that I’m super happy with. If you get the braided split loom, you can feed your wires in and it sandwiches very nicely between the L-bend and the cross bars of the trailrax for wire management. I have a heretic 40 inch light bar on the front. The build quality seemed a bit dainty at first compared to the tanks BD makes, but it’s held up well and is super bright.
As for wiring to the roof, look at this video. It’ll allow you to get wires up without any drilling. How he gets the wires to the roof begins around the 13 minute mark

Roof wiring video

 

[Baja_bronco]

 

[Baja_bronco]

I went with trailrax and have the KC’s they make a bracket for it that I’m sure would work with BD

 

[masshole]

I have 2 Baja s2 pros in amber with the side cornering beam pattern on the back that I’m super happy with. If you get the braided split loom, you can feed your wires in and it sandwiches very nicely between the L-bend and the cross bars of the trailrax for wire management. I have a heretic 40 inch light bar on the front. The build quality seemed a bit dainty at first compared to the tanks BD makes, but it’s held up well and is super bright.
As for wiring to the roof, look at this video. It’ll allow you to get wires up without any drilling. How he gets the wires to the roof begins around the 13 minute mark

Roof wiring video

This is great, thanks very much!

 

[SeptuagenerianSasquatch]

I went with the Trailrax and the Heretic 40 inch lightbar. Very happy. That Heretic lights up the next county. The other site will sell it at 10% discount, but Trailrax has promotions. Kind of pricey.

On each side bar, I have two Heretic dome lights. These are the same as their rock lights, but have a button so you operate it right at the light. I bought four (two each side). I think one each side would have been sufficient for setting up a camp.

Lastly I put a single Heretic rock light (no button) on my rear roof rack bar. It's hooked up 1) to an aux switch, so it serves as a chase light (no flasher on it, maybe later?) and 2) also to my reverse lights for a little extra illumination in that department. I have both clear and amber plates, so when I'm on a group run I can go amber, Otherwise, clear. Here it is in reverse mode:

Here's a street night shot with headlines, low beams:

Here's the same scene with the Heretic 40-inch on. I forget whether I turned the headlights off

If you go with them, I suggest you aim them down a bit. That's what you want to illuminate, the road, not tree branches--or the next county.

@masshole, I'm in Boston if you'd like to meet for coffee, take a look at my rig. DM me.

 

[masshole]

I went with the Trailrax and the Heretic 40 inch lightbar. Very happy. That Heretic lights up the next county. The other site will sell it at 10% discount, but Trailrax has promotions. Kind of pricey.

On each side bar, I have two Heretic dome lights. These are the same as their rock lights, but have a button so you operate it right at the light. I bought four (two each side). I think one each side would have been sufficient for setting up a camp.

Lastly I put a single Heretic rock light (no button) on my rear roof rack bar. It's hooked up 1) to an aux switch, so it serves as a chase light (no flasher on it, maybe later?) and 2) also to my reverse lights for a little extra illumination in that department. I have both clear and amber plates, so when I'm on a group run I can go amber, Otherwise, clear. Here it is in reverse mode:

Here's a street night shot with headlines, low beams:

Here's the same scene with the Heretic 40-inch on. I forget whether I turned the headlights off

If you go with them, I suggest you aim them down a bit. That's what you want to illuminate, the road, not tree branches--or the next county.

@masshole, I'm in Boston if you'd like to meet for coffee, take a look at my rig. DM me.

Great feedback, thanks!

 

[Oly_Bronco]

I have the @Baja Designs S8 40" mounted to my @TrailRax TRMR. I also have a pair of Heretic rock lights for scene lighting and a pair of Baja Designs S1 lights for chase lights. I powered all of it with the Blaze Off-Road back bone wiring harness which gives you 4 switch wires and one ground that I have connected to my Garmin PowerSwitch.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/new-2-door-black-diamond.81580/#post-2509968

 

[masshole]

I have the @Baja Designs S8 40" mounted to my @TrailRax TRMR. I also have a pair of Heretic rock lights for scene lighting and a pair of Baja Designs S1 lights for chase lights. I powered all of it with the Blaze Off-Road back bone wiring harness which gives you 4 switch wires and one ground that I have connected to my Garmin PowerSwitch.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/new-2-door-black-diamond.81580/#post-2509968

Very Sharpe, thanks for the idea!

 

[Bschurr]

To cover all use cases for “rear lighting”, I mounted a 40” M&R on the back of my Trail Rax half rack, an 8” on the spare, a pair of programmable flashing amber LEDs inside the spare and 4” floods that can be either white ir amber on the sides of the rack.

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