Modular Bumper: Three Fog Lights

[kawititnow]

We're new to the off-road/adventure world. We just bought a '24 Wiltrak that has the modular bumper. It's currently a pavement princess, but looking to eventually get out for some overlanding. Looking at putting three sets of lights for "fog lights." I like the Rigid D-series and seen a lot of different combinations of amber, spots, driving, SAE, etc. Can someone walk me through the benefits of each, or is it just personal preference?

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[NoSadLands]

4x4truckled is your company for this. I went with diode dynamics triple fog set up and love how it turned out.

 

[Headsong]

The @Diode Dynamics triple is amazing! Sadly, @fock changed my bumper to the in-capable without permission....so had to sell my triple...but what a set of lights. And reasonably priced.

 

[TC1]

We have the Oracle Lights. I'm happy with the output of the lights and the mounting system.

But the darn lights are always getting water in them and customer service just tells me to remove the vent on the back. this requires full remove of the mounting bracket.

If I replace them I will be going with KC or Diode

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

We're new to the off-road/adventure world. We just bought a '24 Wiltrak that has the modular bumper. It's currently a pavement princess, but looking to eventually get out for some overlanding. Looking at putting three sets of lights for "fog lights." I like the Rigid D-series and seen a lot of different combinations of amber, spots, driving, SAE, etc. Can someone walk me through the benefits of each, or is it just personal preference?

Checkout our fog kit offerings here: https://www.4x4truckleds.com/vehicle-specific/ford-bronco/2021-bronco/fog-lights/

Baja Designs makes the best quality lights but they cost the most. They have a lifetime warranty.

Diode Dynamics has been kicking butt with their lighting kits lately. They make a high quality light here in the USA and it's easier on the wallet (with more light). 8 year warranty

Both offer street legal optics but Baja Designs SAE rated fog only comes in 1 flavor, whereas the Diode Dynamics are offered with numerous brightness levels (Sport/Pro for the 2" lights and Sport/Pro/Max for the 3" lights).

So you can get more street legal output with Diode Dynamics over Baja Designs.

Our kits are offered as a complete kit and we let you select the lights. Each kit includes our USA Made (Long Island actually) stainless steel brackets, 3 pairs of lights and our plug and play wiring harness. Our wiring harness is by far the most popular on the market. Plugs DIRECLTY into the back of the light without the need to use any adapters and then the other end crimps right onto your upfitter wires. We have pre-installed heat shrinkable weatherproof connectors.

Each of our kits has recommendations listed on the product page to help you choose your lights.

 

[Oldhippie]

Fog lights are have a wide low beam for fog/rain/snow/dust, driving lights are like bright high beams, spots are narrow beam with long range, floods are short wide range beam. SAE means they are “legal” on road, usually more controlled beam and better “cut off”, amber/yellow claims better visibility in ”adverse“ conditions at the expense of light output. I would recommend SAE amber & clear fogs along with a clear SAE driving light in the “pockets”. Fogs are the most useful of them all, then driving…

 

[Luckylat]

While waiting 18 months to get my Bronco after I ordered it, I spent many hours looking into the many lighting options just as your are now. I also peppered the team at 4x4TruckLEDs with many questions as they sell/support several options and are transparent with their feedback. They are very knowledgeable and I ended up buying my lights from them as they include well designed harnesses and bracket to make the installation much easier.

I know that some Bronco owners use lights primarily as a fashion statement, for this type of use the inexpensive lights can work well.

For some Bronco owners, the lights are a useful and necessary tool. Driving at night on a dark beach, in a dark forest, over a dark desert, in a fog, or snowstorm, etc. there are specific type of lights for specific condition or needs such as:
Dust/Fog - illuminates the area directly in front of the vehicle, for use during rainy, snowy, or dusty conditions.
Cornering - Provides cornering and peripheral light, which is necessary to drive comfortably at speed.
Driving Combo - Maximum trail coverage in a single light. The Driving/Combo pattern is equipped with both Driving (42-degree) and spot (9-degree) optics
Spot - A longer and narrower 9-degree beam focus for illumination further down the trail or road.

While it is true that the higher cost of some lights seems outrageous, if you peel back the onion, one finds the higher cost of the lights is associated with the engineering, manufacturing, testing, performance, and warranty of the lights. Manufacturing quality control process that provides quality lights to achieve better alignment, which allows for a tighter beam pattern, reducing hotspots and producing a cleaner output.

These “high quality” light manufacturers engineer and test for how wide the beam pattern is in degrees, how smooth is the light across the pattern or how evenly lumens are distributed across the light’s horizontal beam to 180 degrees., how far does the usable beam pattern travel in feet, measured to 10 lux, how much light after the optics is available to work with?

As you research your lighting options, you should determine your desired lighting for which conditions you plan to uses them in. Many of these lights can be bundled in the Fog light configuration and integrated with your AUX switches.
Take your time to decide what you need: Beam Pattern, Lens color, Lumens, options such as backlighting, etc.

 

[Luckylat]

I also decided on Diode Dynamics because of the quality of the light at that price point.

My final configuration:

Modular Bumper Lights:
Diode Dynamics:
SS3 Max - White Combo 7,900 (Aux 2 – Inside placement of bumper)
SS3 Pro - Yellow SAE Fog 3,000 (Aux 3 – Center Placement)
SSC2 Pro - White SAE Fog 1,988 (Aux 4 – Outside Placement)
TTL Lumens 12,888

Pillar/Ditch Light:
Diode Dynamics SS3 Pro (+ Backlit) 3000 Lumens (Aux 1)
w/KR Off road Bracket

(All DD’s above are Backlit – (wired to Aux 5)

Back Up lights:
LED Back Up Lights (Amazon – SSC2 knock offs / Aux 6)

 

[BDLNDZ]

I'll offer another data point. I have a '24 Badlands with the modular bumper.
I have all Baja Designs lights with upfitter harness wired to aux switches inside:

• SAE Pro fog pocket kit
• XL Linkable light bar (8 lights)
• XL Pro A-pillars
• S1 Dual Reverse lights

The lights are all wired to the overhead auxiliary switches inside, with the amber fogs separate from the whites. Have both the black and amber rock guards for all (except the fogs).

 

[Bronc6g22]

+1 for the Diode Dynamics kit from @4x4TruckLEDs.com

I went with:
KR Off-Road Bezel/Flush Brackets
SS3 Pro amber fog
SSC2 Pro white combo
SSC2 Pro white spot

Only thing I'd consider differently is upgrading to the max. Cannot comment if those are worth it or not.

 

[kawititnow]

I appreciate all the responses! I feel like I at least understand all of the different options. Now just need to do more research on the brands/harness configurations. Thanks all!!

 

[TheShark]

We have the Oracle Lights. I'm happy with the output of the lights and the mounting system.

But the darn lights are always getting water in them and customer service just tells me to remove the vent on the back. this requires full remove of the mounting bracket.

If I replace them I will be going with KC or Diode

I know how your feel, I like the Oracle lights but mine fill up with water as well, very disappointing. I'm thinking of replacing them too.

 

[TC1]

I know how your feel, I like the Oracle lights but mine fill up with water as well, very disappointing. I'm thinking of replacing them too.

I glad I'm not the only one with this issue they made sound like it a weird issue when I called.

 

[MWoodward997]

We're new to the off-road/adventure world. We just bought a '24 Wiltrak that has the modular bumper. It's currently a pavement princess, but looking to eventually get out for some overlanding. Looking at putting three sets of lights for "fog lights." I like the Rigid D-series and seen a lot of different combinations of amber, spots, driving, SAE, etc. Can someone walk me through the benefits of each, or is it just personal preference?

I went with the Heretic brand for my Wildtrak.

 

[iamcris]

I appreciate all the responses! I feel like I at least understand all of the different options. Now just need to do more research on the brands/harness configurations. Thanks all!!

Heretic lights...Bronco nation has a member discount through their website. Pretty much everybody is going to say the company they spent their money on is the best. Don't forget to check out Heretic. The best time of year to buy these lights would be Black Friday. Good luck in your search. I edited this to add any kind of lights that you buy will have a diminishing return on your investment (unless they're headlights or SAE fog lights of course) They are incredibly expensive for how much you'll use them.
https://www.hereticstudio.com/colle...tSfopcfW9sNa-pQ-9eOahFzqtfHJg_XSH9p2FSaE-8FZT

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