Spotlights

I know it's a bit random, but are they best up high, or hung below the roof rack... Me thinks there would be less drag up high as the roof tent has already destroyed the airflow up top.. Any thoughts ?

Booger said:

I know it's a bit random, but are they best up high, or hung below the roof rack... Me thinks there would be less drag up high as the roof tent has already destroyed the airflow up top.. Any thoughts ?

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You're worrying about destroying what on a land rover

ssmn1234 said:

You're worrying about destroying what on a land rover

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I thought someone might bring up Land Rover aerodynamics

It depends on what you intend doing with them, as aerodynamics is not really a big consideration , as you may have guessed from previous posts.
If you want them just as bling , then it does not matter how you mount them, other than the more xposed they are the more likely they will get damaged.
If you want to use them as illumination when stopped still not a big deal, if however you want to use them as driving lights they need to be mounted back under the rack so that the bonnet area falls in the shadow, as if you dont do this the resultant back glare pretty well makes them unusable.
The idea of having lights mounted high is that it reveals how deep a hole is when dark, although generally speaking travelling on bush tracks or off road at night is a no no . HTSH

As you have 4 I would mount 2 on the bumper and 2 up high. You shouldnt need them for overland use anyway as driving after dark is a scary experience. even with extra lights!

G

Thanks for the input, hadn't thought about bonnet glare...

While of course there is an element of bling, I did want them to be functional driving lights for when I absolutely have to drive at night and for night laning...

And there are actually six lights, bling bling

i have mine as high up as possible, pointing slightly down to show all the hidden goodies left out by the pixies on our lovely smooth and well maintained roads

Ever done a water crossing at night?? you see foo ok all with ya normal driving lights cause them is submerged along with any that are mounted on ya bumper, the original reason peeps mounted lights on bar atop windscreen is for deep crossings at night, and to keep there lights outa water so the reflector don't get foo oked, just one crossing is enough to tarnish the lights reflectors if they get wet.

ssmn1234 said:

Ever done a water crossing at night?? you see foo ok all with ya normal driving lights cause them is submerged along with any that are mounted on ya bumper, the original reason peeps mounted lights on bar atop windscreen is for deep crossings at night, and to keep there lights outa water so the reflector don't get foo oked, just one crossing is enough to tarnish the lights reflectors if they get wet.

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Yea I've seen way too many spots half full of water to even consider mounting them below the high water line.. (half way up the windscreen)

ssmn1234 said:

Ever done a water crossing at night?? you see foo ok all with ya normal driving lights cause them is submerged along with any that are mounted on ya bumper, the original reason peeps mounted lights on bar atop windscreen is for deep crossings at night, and to keep there lights outa water so the reflector don't get foo oked, just one crossing is enough to tarnish the lights reflectors if they get wet.

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not if you spend the money and buy a quality set.

Griffdowg said:

not if you spend the money and buy a quality set.

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I'm not sure what lights you referring to as quality that would not tarnish, maybe there is some somewhere, but every brand i've seen if submerged will let water in, and generally speaking that water is full of every contaminant known and it will tarnish the reflector. Of course the exception is the sealed beam type, which have their limitations in the distance arena but throw a fairly wide spread of light, they are cheap, but they never last too long cause the element design is not suited to offroading.

Griffdowg said:

not if you spend the money and buy a quality set.

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Are Lightforce 170's at £180 a pair quality, or do I need to spend a bit more

I would mount 2 so that they are as I mentioned earlier, i.e. back under rack so bonnet and wing tops in shadow, switch these so that they can be on or off with main beam and lower mounted spots. These will be for night driving.
The other four can be switched so that they come on independantly for illumination when not driving , and can be mounted for bling effect.
I have halogen headlights, and two driving lights 100w mounted in middle of vehicle at level above winch and on top of bull bar dead centre a 10" bull lamp long range 100w . I have 2 x100w mounted under roof rack set back . I wired them so that , the ones under rack can come on on their own , or with high beam, and the 3 lower spots are wired so that they only come on with high beam, this allows you to run with all lights on at night on all types of highway , but go to only 2 dipped headlights if meeting oncoming vehicles. Good lighting is your main defence rather than bull bars when trying to avoid local fauna . HTSH

The closer the lights are to eye level the worse you will be able to see in fog or mist because more light is reflected off the droplets and into your eyes. Also if your lights are above eye level then you will not be able to see shadows cast by pot holes. Low mounted lights make pot holes more visible because the shadows cast by the potholes are longer.

4 up top and 2 on an a bar. that way you have the best of all worlds

carpy said:

4 up top and 2 on an a bar. that way you have the best of all worlds

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How about two MOD headlights at bonnet level, and 6 x lightforce 170's on the rack, because that is what I already did and it looks awesome....

I havent read all this thread but a fiew thoughts;

First, im glad your spending time on the important stuff. Not only is there bonnet glare but also in the rain or snow, all you see is the rain or snow.

As for driving through rivers, you should realy turn off your headlights and same height spots so as not to head quench the glass which could easily brake it. I have my roof ones on a seprorate switch so i can use just them for fording. Having just mounted a spare on the bonnet, i now only see that when i turn those lights on. I would think they are better off on the top, ive got mine so low they are partly in front of the windscreen. Actually that reminds me, i put them there because the last set i had were on top of the roof, and there short life came to an end when they hit a branch.

Befor;


Now;

in my opinion i think they look cool underneath the rack as if u ever wanted to lie something down on top of the roof rack to strap it down u wouldnt have to worry about hitting ur lights