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Why are light bars so GD expensive?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by speckmon, Oct 9, 2017.

  1. Oct 9, 2017 at 7:54 PM
    #1
    speckmon

    speckmon [OP] Must. Have. Pow.

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    Seriously. Do you guys really spend that much on light bars/ditch lights?

    Going nuts looking into them and watching build threads where some guys spend more on lighting than almost every other mod on their rig, unless I'm in the dark? nopun. I'm a big proponent of "you get what you pay for" but this is getting out of hand.

    That being said, I more or less live in the mountains. I spend a lot of time getting lost in remote BLM areas on a Friday night trying to find friends or a quality camping spot. I can see where good lighting can benefit me and I don't mind spending a couple bucks on quality goods. BUT $500+ worth of cheap LEDs in a piece of metal is ridiculous.

    Let me hear that I'm not crazy. Show me that i dont need to spend stupid amounts of money to keep on trail at night. What "cheap" but effective options do you run?
     
    FlashCulprit likes this.
  2. Oct 9, 2017 at 7:58 PM
    #2
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADIN',RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Like @Sean266 says pay once cry once or vice versa
     
  3. Oct 9, 2017 at 8:00 PM
    #3
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADIN',RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Look at these...not too expensive options...Caliraised.com RagoFabrication.com Opt7.com HeadlightRevolution.com Roughcountry.com KCHilights.com
     
    Patriot and TRD15559 like this.
  4. Oct 9, 2017 at 8:16 PM
    #4
    joonbug

    joonbug °°°°°°°°°°

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    Rago Fab Ditch Lights... $150. Won’t be doing any high speed desert night runs but good enough for me.
    728120BA-556F-4F27-8B50-27A5F4CB1081.jpg
     
    dcsleeper408 and FlashCulprit like this.
  5. Oct 9, 2017 at 8:17 PM
    #5
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADIN',RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    I spoke with Melissa at Rago did i tell you they don't sell em any more? She sent me link to Amazon where they sell
     
    joonbug[QUOTED] likes this.
  6. Oct 9, 2017 at 9:52 PM
    #6
    FlashCulprit

    FlashCulprit ColoradoTJ's whipping boy/Gino's illegitimate son.

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    It's a crazy Buisness but there's lots of R&D when you're talking about high end bars.

    The way I always looked at it is, if I was racing mint 400 I would want the best of the best to make sure that the diffusing and dispersion were exact. When you're doing 80+ miles on a dirt road with jumps it's nice to know that the time has been taken on a product to make it damn near flawless...

    But I'm not racing or prerunning or winning any money. So cheap Amazon LEDs work. Haha I won't be pissed if they take a crap a few years later because I spent such little money and I don't absolutely need it to accomplish the trail running I do. They are nice. But it's a cost functionality thing. Just my .02 and a bit of a ramble. :D

    PS. I've done both. Neither have disappointed. :hattip:
     
  7. Oct 9, 2017 at 11:24 PM
    #7
    Patriot

    Patriot Member

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    Rough Country...$259.00 shipped, excellent Tundra specific solid mounts. Extremely blindingly bright, 3 yr warranty. Super clean install and I would buy again, not running Dakar Rally here. These are perfect for my needs.

    image.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2017
    Les7311, poheller, T500 and 7 others like this.
  8. Oct 10, 2017 at 1:00 AM
    #8
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    They are expensive, because people keep paying for them. Especially, the young bro's using daddy's money.
     
    Patriot, TheBeast, Law323 and 3 others like this.
  9. Oct 10, 2017 at 1:01 AM
    #9
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    Do you have to cut out anything, for it to fit there?
     
  10. Oct 10, 2017 at 1:03 AM
    #10
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADIN',RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    I have same one no you don't cut anything
     
    easleycrawler[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Oct 10, 2017 at 1:06 AM
    #11
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADIN',RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Masshole and Patriot like this.
  12. Oct 10, 2017 at 2:39 AM
    #12
    easleycrawler

    easleycrawler TOYOTA ADDICT- SSEM #78

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    I was reading in the RC light thread and it says you have to some minor cutting.
     
  13. Oct 10, 2017 at 2:49 AM
    #13
    Baja Mike

    Baja Mike Baja Aficionado

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    LED interior lights, Baja Designs foglights, Baja Designs S8 hood bulge light bar, LED bed lights, Baja Designs S8 amber bar in bumper on Rago Fab mounts, AMP Research bedstep, Switch Pros sp-9100, tinted door windows
    Got get what you pay for. A Baja Designs light made in America that's been tested in Baja on trophy trucks and class 1 doing 100+Mph through San Felipe whoops when quality and reliability are the utmost importance. A product that can take that abuse for years and still run flawlessly.

    Or some off brand no one has ever heard of sold at your local Vatozone made in the backwaters of China in some shack by slave labor who doesn't give a two schilling shit about the product and just wants to get paid the 75 cents for the day to go buy some rice and hope he makes his quota so he doesn't get beaten.

    But hey, it's your money and your truck. I only plan on buying lights once and not looking like a cheap ass on my $45k truck.
     
    smslavin, 4x4_Angel and stefan702 like this.
  14. Oct 10, 2017 at 4:36 AM
    #14
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADIN',RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Nothing major that gap in lower valance some plastic trimming
     
  15. Oct 10, 2017 at 4:43 AM
    #15
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADIN',RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Screenshot_20171010-063814.jpg screen shot.. see the vertical lines and that one line across..that piece u cut out but i also put a ranch hand grille gaurd that piece can be removed with flat head screwdriver n needle nose pliers its clipped in tight
     
  16. Oct 10, 2017 at 5:39 AM
    #16
    Cfincke

    Cfincke Mall Crawler but capable

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    I have some cheap wide pattern ditch lights, i thought they were ok and worth the $35-40. Then i replaced my fog lights with some Baja Design Wide pattern. With both lights on, the Baja Design lights completely overpowers the cheap lights, no comparison. I put in premium brand Fog lights and auxiliary flush mounted back up lights because I use those the most. I am now planing on replacing the ditch lights with some Baja Design lights. You get what you pay for.
     
    4x4_Angel and Baja Mike like this.
  17. Oct 10, 2017 at 7:02 AM
    #17
    Patriot

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  18. Oct 10, 2017 at 7:22 AM
    #18
    birdman076

    birdman076 Bird, bird, bird...bird is the word

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    Do your research. Most of the "Cheap" bars and led lights for that matter do not come with an driver circuit/board of any kind which means the LEDs have no off time and they will burn out quicker. In addition they get hotter and require more energy to power.

    LED Drivers explained

    If the LEDS are rated up to 36v or 12v-36v I always split the difference and run with a 24v step up converter rated for a little over the amp rating the LED in question. The LEDs run cooler and pull less amps at 24v than they do at 12v. We've seen this time and time again building our own LED array's in house for our products so I just make it standard practice now. I've found that the cheap LEDs from Shanren on Amazon are actually pretty damn comparable to the big boys with decent LED driver circuitry, good soldering, built tough. About the only downside is they used cheap plastic that yellows after a year or so which I replace with UV stable lexan or tempered glass if its a straight light bar. There are good off brand products out there, everyone started as an off brand at some point. Just need to sift through it to find the cream of the crop.
     
  19. Oct 10, 2017 at 8:54 AM
    #19
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    LMAO
     
  20. Oct 10, 2017 at 8:56 AM
    #20
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    you don't have to pay RIGID prices to get quality lights. I like Baja Designs myself. Not cheap but I think you get more for the money vs Rigid.
     
    smslavin and speckmon[OP] like this.
  21. Oct 10, 2017 at 9:02 AM
    #21
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    smslavin likes this.
  22. Oct 10, 2017 at 9:43 AM
    #22
    Patriot

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    @aramirez73 solid light bar..:thumbsup:
     
  23. Oct 10, 2017 at 10:17 AM
    #23
    speckmon

    speckmon [OP] Must. Have. Pow.

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    Lots of good replies. had a wicked buzz and was on a tear last night. I understand what good quality gets you, but damn these vendors can be proud of their product and sticker shock is just nuts for some of these.

    There's a guy on here that posted a DIY for an LED light bar and I was researching this company a little bit. seems like they're decent. anyone have good experience with RAZIR?

    Definitely looking into Rough Country and Baja fogs as well. Maybe there will be some sweet Black Friday deals? :notsure:
     
  24. Oct 10, 2017 at 10:20 AM
    #24
    Mysticwolf

    Mysticwolf New Member

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    Toytec leveling kit, Magnum front and rear bumpers, PIAA fog & running lights, 20" Cree light bar, Cree 4" backup light in rear bumper, Gear 18X9 wheels 265X65X18 Master Craft tires. SABM.
    I have a 20" Cree light bar and am happy with it, well made and bright. I had 4- 7" Cree's on a bull bar before I changed everything, and loved them too. [​IMG]
     
  25. Oct 10, 2017 at 1:17 PM
    #25
    nowayout

    nowayout New Member

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    I bought 1 Rigid light bar and have moved it to 3 different trucks. So technically thats $180 each truck. It was worth it.
     
    14burrito likes this.
  26. Oct 10, 2017 at 2:50 PM
    #26
    Patriot

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    You nailed it Travis...:rofl:
     
  27. Oct 10, 2017 at 3:11 PM
    #27
    poheller

    poheller 2018 Platinum

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    Did same thing for 49.99

    A702AA66-40C3-46EE-9B1E-C60196314DFD.jpg
     

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