You running ditch lights?

[mplaramie]

Looking to add some ditch lights and need expert real world info...... I drive on roads with no lights and lots of deer.

1. Are they worth it vs light bar (lower)
2. What brackets and lights do you recommend?
3. Switches?

Any and all feedback is helpful. Typically, I only mess with suspension, never got into lights.

 

[DEG]

"Ditch lights" are illegal for street use in nearly every state and in some states they must be covered if not off road.

Since my stock fog and headlights provide more than adequate visibility to see a deer in the ditch at night there would be no value for me to add something that won't help and may end up getting me a ticket. So, I would say "No" to your first question.

 

[Sascwatch]

Ditch lights (rigid 862213) made more of a difference than a bumper mounted light bar (rigid 122313).

Living in northern Ontario moose and bears are more of an issue than deer. A majority of the vehicles in my area have some sort of light bar or ditch lights.

Yes they are not legal for use on public roads pretty much anywhere in North America. I make sure to only use them when there is no other traffic and are well worth the risk if it prevents a collision.

Whichever brackets you go with, make sure they are stainless steel, powder coated or bare. Many brands are just plain steel powder coated and will not hold up to the elements. I currently have zroadz brackets which I had to sand down and use some touch up paint to cover up some rust.

 

[Insanity]

@boogielander @1BADRAMLIMITED can help you spend your money.

 

[H2OMAN]

I only use them off road. Peripheral vision at night where there are no lights is huge. I would think they'd be great for the same reasons on road.

 

[LaxDfns15]

I use 1 facing to the right (passenger side) when I'm heading to my parents' house in BFE Kentucky. It's better than lighting everything up with my lightbar. I use these for the mounts since they're easy to remove https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B931B3N/?coliid=I1QKVTZCALCAVC&colid=3UN1R72PWNK1G&psc=1&.

 

[boogielander]

there you go.

The LP9s are driving combo lenses so they are responsible close to mid range, especially where they are mounted.
The XL Racers are actually spot lights that are designed for Baja trucks that go triple digits at night in the desert. They are focused beams, way thinner than the LP9s, but they are focused. At the ditch light position they reflect less and shines quite far.

XL Racers Only

LP6 Low Beam (I had LP6 before. I haven't had the chance to take new photos for LP9s)

LP6 High Beam


You can read more about the lights here under "vehicular system"

Boogielander Build – Part 10 – In-depth View of Electrical System for

Introduction Electrical systems are critical to a successful modern overlanding trip. Everything that we rely on for a good overlanding experience relies on various reliable electrical systems that are added aftermarket. In this article, I will be going over an in-depth view of the most current...

jollyrogueco.com

Additional Info:
If you want something that will last and hold the weight of the lights, make sure you get SDHQ ditch light brackets. They are the ONLY company out there that I trust to hold heavier lights and not vibrate. All other popular cheaper alternatives are NOT built to withstand heavier lights.
If you want a switch system that will last for the life time of your truck and longer, make sure you get Switch Pro panels. Them and sPod are the ONLY TWO companies out there that I trust to function reliably for years to come. All other popular cheaper Chinese alternatives, like Auxbeam, RC, and the look alikes, are buy many times fix many times complete waste of money POS. I've fixed enough of those cheap Chinese alternatives that my customers would've save themselves the money by going Switch Pro in the first place.

Also, you can use Squadron series, LP4, XL80, or Squadron XL series instead. LP6 and 9 are way too heavy for ditch lights.

 

[Eighty]

There is also the mirror-installed ditch light option from Oracle.

ORACLE Lighting 2019-2023 RAM 1500 DT LED Off-Road Side Mirror Ditch Lights

This innovative new product from ORACLE Lighting features high-powered LED light bars integrated into factory-style side mirrors of the RAM 1500! This integration allows for easy installation and a sophisticated, almost "OEM" appearance while providing functional peripheral illumination for the...

www.oraclelights.com

 

[HSKR R/T]

Could always go the aftermarket bumper option to add additional protection to the front of your truck should you hit a deer. On mine, I have four light pods in the bumper. The two outside ones are flood pattern, the two inside ones are spot pattern. The way the bumper is built, they all angle slightly to the side, with the outer ones angles more than the inside ones. Theyight up the side of the road, in front of the truck, very well. If you are worried about deer while driving, that is the areas you need to light up. Next to the truck is too late

 

[xcarolina]

I went with Diode Dynamics for my setup. I at first had a SS3 Pro Driving with a SSC1 wide on the side, and now I have a SS5 Pro Driving with the SS3 Flood on the sides. Before getting this setup, I had horrible luck and ran over one dead bear that was not visible until it was too late, then hit a live one at 75mph after midnight. (20k damage) After what I've been through, I spent the money and got quality lights to completely illuminate the highway everywhere. Diode Dynamics kit comes with everything you'll need for a single light setup per side. If you want to add an additional like I did, you'll need a splitter for each side.

Speak to the good folks over at @Shifts And Grins Fab and they can help you out to get a great setup with Diode Dynamics hardware.

I also have a 30 inch Diode Dynamics light bar hidden behind my lower grille, which is great for up close general illumination.

As far as switches are concerned, I went with using the standard switches that come with the harnesses, just cut some small holes in a small portion of trim bezel that contains the headlight control knob.

Pics below are one with the SS3/SSC1 and the other is the SS5/SS3.

Sent from my SM-S928U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Willwork4truck]

Reminds me of 1 million candlepower spot lights while going down country roads in East Texas looking for, uhh, “nothing at all officer”.

 

[boogielander]

I went with Diode Dynamics for my setup. I at first had a SS3 Pro Driving with a SSC1 wide on the side, and now I have a SS5 Pro Driving with the SS3 Flood on the sides. Before getting this setup, I had horrible luck and ran over one dead bear that was not visible until it was too late, then hit a live one at 75mph after midnight. (20k damage) After what I've been through, I spent the money and got quality lights to completely illuminate the highway everywhere. Diode Dynamics kit comes with everything you'll need for a single light setup per side. If you want to add an additional like I did, you'll need a splitter for each side.

Speak to the good folks over at @Shifts And Grins Fab and they can help you out to get a great setup with Diode Dynamics hardware.

I also have a 30 inch Diode Dynamics light bar hidden behind my lower grille, which is great for up close general illumination.

As far as switches are concerned, I went with using the standard switches that come with the harnesses, just cut some small holes in a small portion of trim bezel that contains the headlight control knob.

Pics below are one with the SS3/SSC1 and the other is the SS5/SS3. View attachment 193935View attachment 193936

Sent from my SM-S928U1 using Tapatalk

that's the only thing i like about diode. makes adding one additional light on the ditch position easier.
other than that... watch out for the harness on the ss5 catching fire. that happened to my customer. spent half a day trying to figure out what went wrong and decided to give up and swap the entire harness with baja design harness and all is good.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

@boogielander @1BADRAMLIMITED can help you spend your money.

thanks for the mention but im more of a Ballin' on a Budget build here

boogielander and others above have great real world setups. i really like @xcarolina setup!

 

[boogielander]

thanks for the mention but im more of a Ballin' on a Budget build here

boogielander and others above have great real world setups. i really like @xcarolina setup!

hahaha well perks of being in the industry.
i got to play with all kinds of lights from various brands and countries, do the installs, and see which ones return for troubleshooting or replacement in addition to my own personal seat time in the wild.

 

[fugarrr]

Looking to add some ditch lights and need expert real world info...... I drive on roads with no lights and lots of deer.

1. Are they worth it vs light bar (lower)
2. What brackets and lights do you recommend?
3. Switches?

Any and all feedback is helpful. Typically, I only mess with suspension, never got into lights.

Ditch lights are illegal for street use in almost every state and in some states they must be covered if not off road.. Goodluck

 

[boogielander]

if he's on some back country road with no traffic I doubt it mattered. if anything it's just gonna be a fix-it ticket, not gonna get it impounded unless he also does something stupid lol
Only state that I've heard about cops being all uptight about covers is CA, and only the some highway patrol officers hand ticket out for that. Local PD and sheriffs don't even care.

i just went through OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, NV, UT, AK, AZ and not a single cop cared. Some of them even gave me thumbs up. Also went through BC, YK, NWT, and AB and not a mountie cared either.

just sharing my experience and definitely not a legal advice.

 

[H2OMAN]

if he's on some back country road with no traffic I doubt it mattered. if anything it's just gonna be a fix-it ticket, not gonna get it impounded unless he also does something stupid lol
Only state that I've heard about cops being all uptight about covers is CA, and only the some highway patrol officers hand ticket out for that. Local PD and sheriffs don't even care.

i just went through OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, NV, UT, AK, AZ and not a single cop cared. Some of them even gave me thumbs up. Also went through BC, YK, NWT, and AB and not a mountie cared either.

just sharing my experience and definitely not a legal advice.

Literally no one cares.

 

[mplaramie]

Appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. I would only use them when on back roads. Even though illegal, most my law enforcement buddies said they don't care as long as they aren't used on main roads with oncoming traffic.

 

[boogielander]

Literally no one cares.

yeap only the really anal chp cares lol

that said, if i was a cop and the state i'm in requires cover... you bet i'd be issuing tickets left and right for those jaja designs, beijing designs, auxbeams, harbor freight, and anything that's not baja designs

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

yeap only the really anal chp cares lol

that said, if i was a cop and the state i'm in requires cover... you bet i'd be issuing tickets left and right for those jaja designs, beijing designs, auxbeams, harbor freight, and anything that's not baja designs

Man you must really hate lasfit because you don’t ever mention it.