Front lighting with frame-cut bumper

[Cody Templeton]

Hey guys, currently running the Morimoto XB headlights, Rigid 40" light bar mounted behind the front grille, Baja Designs Squadron Sport combo/driving in white x2, and Baja Designs Squadron Sport wide cornering in yellow x2. The squadrons are mounted directly to the frame cut bumper. Light coverage seems pretty dang solid, but wasn't sure if it would be beneficial to add something like ditch lights mounted near the windshield, or if any lighting on the roof would do much. Thanks!

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

the higher the light, the less shadows. however keep in mind, roof mounted lights have a tendancy to come loose over time especially over rough terrain. constant vibrations will rattle those rivets loose. not sure of or if the new designs address that issue or not, but several mounts i have installed in the past came loose.

 

[Cody Templeton]

the higher the light, the less shadows. however keep in mind, roof mounted lights have a tendancy to come loose over time especially over rough terrain. constant vibrations will rattle those rivets loose. not sure of or if the new designs address that issue or not, but several mounts i have installed in the past came loose.

Yea, that makes sense the higher they are mounted the less shadowing you would have. The issue I've experienced with roof mounted lighting is that it reflects off the hood and windshield. It makes certain areas easier to see, but from what I remember hurts your longer range night vision. I'm wondering if the windshield mounted lights pointed more sideways would make more sense so they don't reflect off the hood and illuminate side areas better. I seem to have plenty of forward lighting, just not quite as much side.

 

[Nex]

A few have installed vinyl on the side of their A-Pillar mounted lights. To cut down on hood glare. Maybe one will post up in here with a picture.

 

[dillard09]

I made all my lights amber which seemed to help with my eyes over long periods of use over white. Might not get the "distance" of white but if you have enough light down range you can see far enough. Also I took my XL80s I have on my A-pillar with driving combo lens and put the spot on bottom and wide cornering on top. This seem to put what glare I had on the hood further out towards the grill. Definitely helped in my case. Here is my setup and I feel I have plenty of light.

 

[Cody Templeton]

A few have installed vinyl on the side of their A-Pillar mounted lights. To cut down on hood glare. Maybe one will post up in here with a picture.

Wouldn't mind seeing a picture of this!

 

[Cody Templeton]

I made all my lights amber which seemed to help with my eyes over long periods of use over white. Might not get the "distance" of white but if you have enough light down range you can see far enough. Also I took my XL80s I have on my A-pillar with driving combo lens and put the spot on bottom and wide cornering on top. This seem to put what glare I had on the hood further out towards the grill. Definitely helped in my case. Here is my setup and I feel I have plenty of light.

Nice setup! This is what I currently have. You can't see the light bar behind the grille but there's a 40" Rigid light bar behind it. It doesn't look as "flashy" behind the grille, but it allowed me to space the other lights where I wanted them more. I'm thinking when I get the roof rack and basket I may just put the ditch lights up there rather than on the A-pillars. It seems like I've got plenty of forward light, could just use a little more out to the sides/corners.

 

[jondle]

Do not put a light bar on top of the windshield. As you mentioned you get glare from dust on the windshield and reflection from the hood; my experience it actually makes it harder to see, which is the opposite goal of any lights. Higher lights definitely help illuminate the back side of bumps though, so if you do decide more downrange light is something you'd like to explore, I'd get a light hoop at the back of the cab. Pretty sure SVC makes one.

I know you said you were good with downrange light, but I brought it up because most ditch lights I've seen are mounted at the back of the cab as well. Since you aren't doing spots on the A pillar currently, I would assume turning those out would work fine. I think the better solution is back of the cab though.

I can't seem to find the light hoop on their website, but I know SVC made one for a while. It is pictured in the Gen1 Baja Bumper photos:

SVC Offroad Baja Front Bumper - Gen 1 Ford Raptor

The SVV Offroad Baja Front Bumper for the Ford Raptor is a low profile sleek race style bumper with huge approach angle that bolts directly onto your existing 2010-2014 Gen 1 Ford Raptor. Cut frame horns and accepts a wide variety of LED Light combinations. The sleekest aftermarket bumper for...

svcoffroad.com

You can see in the third picture, the cube lights (Rigid D2s or something) pointing off to the side. You might have to call to see if they can still make them.

 

[Cody Templeton]

Do not put a light bar on top of the windshield. As you mentioned you get glare from dust on the windshield and reflection from the hood; my experience it actually makes it harder to see, which is the opposite goal of any lights. Higher lights definitely help illuminate the back side of bumps though, so if you do decide more downrange light is something you'd like to explore, I'd get a light hoop at the back of the cab. Pretty sure SVC makes one.

I know you said you were good with downrange light, but I brought it up because most ditch lights I've seen are mounted at the back of the cab as well. Since you aren't doing spots on the A pillar currently, I would assume turning those out would work fine. I think the better solution is back of the cab though.

I can't seem to find the light hoop on their website, but I know SVC made one for a while. It is pictured in the Gen1 Baja Bumper photos:

SVC Offroad Baja Front Bumper - Gen 1 Ford Raptor

The SVV Offroad Baja Front Bumper for the Ford Raptor is a low profile sleek race style bumper with huge approach angle that bolts directly onto your existing 2010-2014 Gen 1 Ford Raptor. Cut frame horns and accepts a wide variety of LED Light combinations. The sleekest aftermarket bumper for...

svcoffroad.com

You can see in the third picture, the cube lights (Rigid D2s or something) pointing off to the side. You might have to call to see if they can still make them.

Yea, my last experience with lights on the front of the roof (different vehicle) was a pretty nasty glare off the hood and windshield. I'm not sure why, but the A-pillar mounted lights just don't look quite "right" to me where they are mounted. I feel like if you're using them it would be better to use them as a ditch light rather than a forward light to keep the light off the hood.

Instead of doing the light hoop at the back of the cab what I will most likely do is pick up a pair of roof cross bars and put low profile basket on it, and mount my ditch/side lights onto it making sure they are pointed corner-ways or sideways out from the truck rather than over the windshield/hood. Also, that allows me to mount more rear lighting if I need it, as well as more cargo storage room for long trips.

 

[downforce137]

xl80s on the pillar, coupled with the rest of your lights would be great..

i'd swap the XL lens to spot.

thats what i ran on my gen1 with a 42" amazon light behind the grill and it was perfect, although i didnt have the lights you have.. should be great...