LED Light Bar Craze | Form or Function?

[canasync]

I run an Aurora 20 LED E-code (approved) light bar on our old Outback and have a Bright Source 40 LED E-code bar that will be going on my Syncro. The massive illegal light bars will outperform them but these two are street legal (at least here in Canada) and are a huge improvement over any other lights I've tried. A friend of mine has a pair of HID Hella 1000's that I was sure would destroy the 18" long 20 LED Aurora but the small light bar outperforms them and was a fifth of the price.

I would like to get one of the big light bars across the top for off-road and looks but for now I'm sticking to function that won't get me a ticket.
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1987 Syncro
3 knobs
PumpeDüse TDI (17mm Garret Turbo, bigger injectors, stage 4 malone tune, intercooled)
Cruise Control
Remote Start/locks
Custom Lift
Custom Bumpers with receivers
Coast Mountain Hightop - Comming Soon

1985 2wd Vanagon Pre-runner in the making
soon to be powered by 2.5L Subaru
Custom Lift

[dhaavers]

[86scotty]

Syncro Jael's video is amazing. If I could figure out how to mount a light bar where I couldn't see it I certainly would. I don't love the look of them.

Maybe a 36" or so on top of the front bumper but I don't like anything big up high like that.
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86 Vanagon Westfalia 87k
1998 Ford E350 4x4 camper build
Vans flip flops

[Syncro Jael]

[Tobias Duncan]

Having spent all of 2017 in baja I can tell you that I will get one of these as soon as I get back to the US

[Sodo]

I would like to have quick release wiring and attachment to the Westy luggage rack for one of those curved LED lightbars. So I could easily attach it if the need arises. Such as going to Baja. And easily remove it to go back to regular Westy appearance. Requires a method to lock it for theft protection...

Of course after one little taste of it......it would never be removed......oh the dilemmas of going down that path!
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[WestleyTheWesty]

I'd say just go with the light bar brackets by VanagonLife that tjet mentioned. You can install them on your gutters with security screws. Just need to find a quick-release plug for the lightbar and you're all set!

http://www.vanagonlife.com/theshop/vanagonlife-lightbar-brackets

[shadetreetim]

I don't use mine much at all, except for when we're out in the desert. The road into my friends river house is 17 miles of lonely twisting turning road. As you get closer to the river, the burro's are a known hazard. The LED light bar is a fantastic tool for those times.

If we're on the Highway though, my Four Hella H4 E-Code Headlights with 80W Bulbs do a pretty good job of lighting up from ditch to ditch.

It's just the light bar with 15-70-15 Flood/Spot/Flood goes beyond the ditches. Personally, I like the look of the Hella 500's I had on there originally, but the light bar is literally a night and day difference.

You can imagine how dark it is out in the wilds of Utah after dark. With my mix of lighting, I always had the lighting needed.

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Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[canasync]

[rowan]

[Chainsaw]

Sodo, the 42" on my truck and the 20" on thw Wifes car bothe have two prong weather pac plugs on them. That plus two screws and shes off.

That being said Ive had aux lights on my vehicles for 15 years in he greater seattle Met area and never heard a word about it from all the cops who've pulled me over for other things.

Some anti theft screws from tacoma screw and youd wouldnt have much to worry about.
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89 Westy. 2wd. Manual.

[Tom Powell]

I've thought about a light bar when going over the Pali at night. It might dispel the Night Marchers, but I'll still carry a bottle of gin just in case.

Aloha
tp

[shadetreetim]

[Mellow Yellow 74]

[newfisher]

" Unless you are hunting escaped prisoners or something, why would you need to have lighting as bright as the 288W LED shown in the video - seems way over the top to me."

You really have to drive with them to fully understand how " comfortable" night driving becomes. It really is like driving in daylight. No tunnel vision, no eye fatigue etc. When we caravanagon with 5-6 vans, the ones behind me can turn thier lights off and still see whats happening. I also have 4 85w LED 5 inch lamps on the sides of the van. when camping off road/off grid it's amazing how well you can see under the trees and find a camp spot.

[Syncro Jael]

[ThankYouJerry]

^^^^^

SOLD!

1. Which brand/model 7" LED headlights do you have in your outer SA grill?
2. Are high quality 5.5" inner SA grill LED high beam headlights available yet?

Thank you SJ!
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1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[Timwhy]

Really like the LED bar on my grill guard. Helps when getting at a campground at night.

The bar is 20" an fits perfectly under the guard, thanks too Newfisher for the tip.

Also using LED cubes for backup lights, I can see clearly now!

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'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[Syncro Jael]

[WestyBob]

Thanks Tjet and Syncro Jael. The info and links have now got me fired up a bit. I'm still old school with my lighting array and am happy with it but I can see some potential there. Especially when we speak of those remote back roads, critters and boulders at night.