Light bar placement?

Yes, good thought, I will check with Qld Transport.
Thanks

This is probably what you are after:
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Safety/Vehicle%20standards%20and%20modifications/Vehicle%20standards/Vehicle%20standards%20instructions/G150.pdf

It also needs to be read in conjunction with "Australian Design Rule 13/00 Installation of Lighting and Light Signalling Devices on other than LGroup vehicles", which states:

7.3. ‘DRIVING LAMPS’
7.3.1. Presence: Optional on motor vehicles. Prohibited on trailers.
7.3.2. Number:
7.3.2.1. Two or four.
7.3.2.2. To be used in conjunction with headlamps.7.3.3. Arrangement:
No individual specifications
7.3.4. Position:
7.3.4.1. In width no individual specifications.
7.3.4.2. In height: no individual specifications.
7.3.4.3. In length: at the front of the vehicle and fitted in such a way that the light emitted does not cause discomfort to the driver either directly or indirectly through the rear-view mirrors and/or other reflecting surfaces of the vehicle.

So, the bush lawyer in me reads this as long as they are driving lamps, come on with high beam and don't blind the driver or other road users, then go for your life.

One thing to be careful of though is that there is aways talk of a 'Crack down' on bull bars, particularly things that stick out above or in front of them.

Thanks Tim

Blinding other drivers not a problem. My reason for fitting a bar is to travel early morning to a lagoon about 40k from home ( private road and still on the property I work) to photo birdlife.

Thanks

ADR13 is the relevant document. It used to limit the height of driving lights to no higher than the line of the original headlights, but that restriction has been removed. However, lights must be fitted to the front of the vehicle, so by law you can't put them on the roof (yes, I know that many people do!!)

It also says that lights must be in pairs so a single light bar wont qualify. It also still says that above the bonnet line is a no no in the drivers line of sight.

There has been animated discussion on 4wd forums about these and it seems some put a piece of metal about 150 mm wide in the centre to make it appear as two lights.

I wont comment further as it seems a very sensitive subject.

The best advice I can give is get on the phone and ask QLD TMR technical section. NOT the muppet that answers the phone at the call centre.

Thanks to all

May try to rig up fitting to enable me to remove them if travelling off property especially if I go roof rack mounted. No legal issues then. May also rig up similar for bull bar and can test both options over a period.
Wacked a pig the other morning (luckily small dent only) so looking to increase my visibility when travelling early morning.

Thanks to all.

If used ONLY OFFROAD you wont have any trouble. Just dont flash a Highway Patrol car by accident LOL

Single light bars ARE legal in qld. Other states are following and expected to have regs in within months. I have just fitted a 28 inch one to the top of my bulbar so as not block air flow to radiator. . It works well and as I live in Cairns I do not have a real need for HID driving lights for long distance sight. Also the HID can take a second or two to turn off. Not really what you want if approaching someone with high powered HID lights coming at you. If on roof put a adjustable shelf under them so you get no light on your bonnet or bulbar. Was reading somewhere that if roof top mounted the lights must in no way distract a driver. Legal?,,I don't know. I get a great spread of light for several hundred meters and that's all I want.
cheers

On my 100 series I have a 32" light bar on the front of the roof rack.

I had an aluminium housing fabricated for it which covers 2 of the issues raised above:

1). It has a "floor" that extends out in front of the light by about 6"....this prevents the light from hitting the bonnet and causing a distraction.

2). It has a fold down "lid" that covers it completely...held down by a magnetic door closer.

I will now see if I can add a pic:

]In the open position[/url]

]Showing lid in the closed position.[/url]

Roachie

By the way, as a general comment.....

I wouldn't rely on the lightbar solely.

I have a pair of Fyrlyt 150s on the bullbar and these leave EVERY other brand of light I've ever used (including Lightforce 240s with HID) for dead.

I'm just tossing up whether to leave the 150s on the Cruiser when I sell it or transfer them to my new Silverado. If I don't move them over, I will be buying a set of the new Fyrlight Nemisis and won't be worried about the light bar at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2BtvQa0hVA

Roachie

Roachie,

the new ADR, in the process of being adopted by all states and territories, says that a single light bar is OK, as long as it is mounted at the front of the vehicle. Whether your friendly copper thinks the front of the roof is the front of the vehicle is a matter of conjecture.

However, enclosing it in an aluminium box like yours would probably solve the problem (although unless you have used translucent aluminium it won't assist illumination very much).

Bob

Thanks Bob....the idea is that it stays covered (ie: the flap/lid closed over) except when it is needed.

This is usually only when I'm out on long deserted highways (eg: the Hay plain or up the Stuart Hwy), and the instances of coming across constable plod in those circumstances is very rare (....never?).

So, during normal daytime driving or when night driving on "busy" roads, the light bar stays covered.

Roachie

I am a member of several 4wd forums and the general feeling is that a lightbar is sufficient for normal road use. I personally cant see the need to see a kilometre down the road. Yes, I had 2 large lightforce 240s fitted to my troopy. Useless on tight twisty tracks. Quite a few people are going away from HID,s and putting good quality Philips globes for their high beam and buying a good quality lightbar. The new LED driving lights mentioned in this thread are also excellent and give great light. A bit pricey though. However like everything else, shop around and a Chinese company will be making them for half the price! On very long straight stretches of outback road a decent set of HID,s may be an asset. It all depends on where you do most of your night driving..

A good set of driving lights be it halogen or HID and a LED lightbar and you have all situations covered

That's true Alby. In that case go with the twin LED driving lights that have good spread and distance. Expensive but good gear.

BUT....

Young bloke up here had 2 expensive HID driving lights and a lightbar fitted. Only lasted a week and some mongrel knocked them off. $1500 worth..

If your going to spend dollars on the lights it would be a good idea to get tamper proof nuts and bolts.

Bigfish - At last someone with similar feelings about seeing what's straight down the road at 1Km.

Even at 120 KPH that's 30 seconds away for 1KM and about 45 seconds at 80KPH. I am sure I will see it with my headlights before then and in pleanty of time to stop. Light spread to the side is different. That is where you would get the most benefit over standard headlights.

And we also don't drive that much at night. Besides - that's happy hour and campfire time!!!!

I would rather put the money towards a set of lockers or a cruise or whatever. (PS I don't want lockers - just an example)