ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: Cheeto on January 02, 2012, 08:07:21 PM
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I need to mount some auxiliary lights on my Tracker. Bumper mount will be too low and nothing can be above the roof when I get into the trees (see pic) but I'd like to see all options. Tail lights and back up lights for future reference too please.
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could do the same as the samurais and put 2 below the windshield by the doors (there is the panel infront of the mirror. could mount a 4 inch light off that location
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That's actually what I'm thinking but trying to get ideas on where to mount them. Fender, hood or A-pillar. Fender and A-pillar mounts could also double as mirror mounts when I pull the doors in the summer.
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Several guys have apillar mounted mirrors and lights, when bushwacking thru the forest during the winter the pine trees really like to remove them.
I would opt for a lightbar setup that mounts to the bumper. I currently have a Westin Light/push bar, it has mounts for lights that are low, perfect for a set of fogs/floods. If I keep the lightbar I plan on adding a set of tabs on the upper portion to mount a LED bar. For back up lights I got a set of elcheapo clear fog lights and just mounted them to the bottom of the rear bumper.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g96/talonxracer/IMG_1307.jpg)
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I have some pillar mounts on my tracker that my buddy made.
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Hellas in ZOR bumper.
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Hellas in ZOR bumper.
VERY nice looking!
Are those lights the Micro DE Hid's or Micro DE halogen fogs? I had a set of the Hella micro DE Hid driving lights mounted in the grill opening of my Civic poking through one of those expanded metal grill guards. Those things put out an enormous amount of light, illuminating road signs well over 1.5 miles away!!!
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Several guys have apillar mounted mirrors and lights, when bushwacking thru the forest during the winter the pine trees really like to remove them.
That's why I don't want them low or above the roof. Pillar mounts would have to place the actual light more in front of the windshield. I get into more "bumper-brush" and overhangs than I do anything that comes up the hood. Worst case scenario, I could make some limb-lifters.
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Hellas in ZOR bumper.
VERY nice looking!
Are those lights the Micro DE Hid's or Micro DE halogen fogs? I had a set of the Hella micro DE Hid driving lights mounted in the grill opening of my Civic poking through one of those expanded metal grill guards. Those things put out an enormous amount of light, illuminating road signs well over 1.5 miles away!!!
Thanks Talon, just 55w Hella fogs. (http://www.hella.com/produktion/Optilux/WebSite/Images/ProductImages/model1000.jpg)
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Several guys have apillar mounted mirrors and lights, when bushwacking thru the forest during the winter the pine trees really like to remove them.
That's why I don't want them low or above the roof. Pillar mounts would have to place the actual light more in front of the windshield. I get into more "bumper-brush" and overhangs than I do anything that comes up the hood. Worst case scenario, I could make some limb-lifters.
On that cheapo lightbar that the PO had installed on my sidekick, the lights are fairly well protected, I bushwack thru the woods all the time, we have alot of dense low level small dia beech tree and hemloc growth that has to be drivin over/thru as well as when trail riding it over hangs the sides of every trail, from fire to logging....
like this, not much difference from your pic, similar terrain, LOL
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g96/talonxracer/IMG_1313.jpg)
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a
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My concern with anything mounted on the bumper is that small trees (like the one in the foreground of my initial pic) get driven over. If they snag a light off the bumper I'd never know until it was too late.
Been doing some research and think I'll go this route:
-Revise my marker/signal lights. Definitely something in the L.E.D. family.
-Find some PAR36 housings that use an H3 bulb (I have an H3 H.I.D. kit sitting here).
-Place the H.I.D./H3/PAR36 lights in place of the current Model 40 Trucklites and wire them in as my high beams. Current "low beams" are actually PAR36 spotlight bulbs in rubber tractor housings.
Shhhh... don't tell the :police:
Going this route the lights will be mounted fairly high for good visibility. Being tucked into the grille they'll be well protected from anything trying to "grab" them on the trail. Plus, I don't have to drill holes in the pillars or hood.
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We do a lot of offroading out west which often become long days because of the vastness of the country. Often, this means finishing trailrides in the dark. Through the years, I have added lights to help out in this situation. First I put a pair of SilverStar Ultra headlight bulbs in. They are a vast improvement of stock headlights. Everyone should add these even if you only drive on the paved roads. Secondly, I put a pair of Hella lights on the front bumper inside the center hoop of the Shrockworks bumper so they are protected.
Then I found that even with that lighting if you were driving narrow trails or trails with cliffs that it would be great to see more of the side of the trail. I came up with the idea of side mirror trail/rock lights. These are small driving lights flush mounted on the mirror body. These awesome little lights light up the side of the trail. The 2nd picture is showing what these light up with only these rock lights on. The 3rd picture is a trail I was on in Moab UT with a cliff along it. It actually was scary to drive with the rock lights off.
Lastly, I found that backing up on a trail or in the woods in the dark was always a strain with the factory backup lights. So as I was designing a rear steel plate bumper I also added powerful fog lights built into the bumper so the lights would be protected. These work in addition to the stock backup lights and provide a bright wide beam to safely backup.
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That looks great nice pictures!
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Nice, I like the mirror mounted lights idea.
I'll be moving to the rear once I get the headlights finalized.
I intend to completely replace the tail lights with Model 60 oval L.E.D.'s, dump the four side marker lights for L.E.D.'s and come up with something for backup lights.
That's the plan anyway...we'll see if I ever get around to it. ::)
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Personally I would dump the sidemarker lights and weld in some steel blanking plates. One of the USDM requirements that create severe ugly on any vehicle.
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No argument from me on the "ugly" part. I do however want to keep it legal so I read the law and will come up with something more to my liking.