Off-Road Rig Readiness: LED Light Bar Basics

Building a trail-capable off-road truck is fun, but it also comes with many decisions to make. One of the things that you should think about is what kind of lighting you plan to add to the truck for trail visibility. One of the most versatile options is an off road LED light bar. If you're new to these products, you may wonder what makes them so great, and what you should know before buying one. Here are a few of the benefits of LED light bars as well as a couple of considerations for your purchase.

Why Buy An Off Road LED Light Bar?

If you've never had an LED light bar on one of your trail rigs, you might wonder what the big deal is. Here are a few of the many reasons why these are a great investment:

• There's no warm up period. When you turn on the LED lights, they illuminate immediately. All you have to do is flip the switch.

• They're easier on your battery. The LED light bars require much less power to run than some of the older light bar models. That means they'll be easier on your truck's electrical system.

• They can take a beating. Especially when you're planning on actively running your trail rig, durability is important. LED light bars can take an impact without suffering damage. That means you can hit the trail without worrying about that tree branch that might hit your lights.

• They offer broad light coverage. Off road LED lights cast light in a broad span, which means that you get optimal light coverage. If you're on a trail trying to winch someone out of a jam and the sun sets, you'll be thankful for that.

What Should You Consider Before You Buy?

First and foremost, don't order anything until you've measured carefully. Always measure at least twice to ensure that your measured dimensions are correct. The last thing you want to do is order a full light bar only to find out that it's too wide or too narrow to fit properly.

You should also consider whether or not you want any amber lights in your bar. Amber lighting is said to provide more light when you're in a dusty environment because it isn't as reflective. If you do any desert racing or dry-turf crawling, you might find that amber lights are a good investment.

You should also look at the different light options to determine what kind of coverage you want. You can choose everything from spotlight units that cast light far ahead of you to flood light units that cast light in a broad spectrum. Sometimes, a combination of both is the most viable option.