Driving Lights What to Buy

I have had the IPF 800 series on both my 100series and the Prado before that.
The light is acceptable and the lights have been rebuilt twice by IPF/ARB under warrantee without drama - so you cant complain about the backup service BUT I have looked hard at the Lightforce range and think I will change to a set of the 240 prior to my nest trip.
The difference in weight is amazing and I am led to beleive that the warrantee period is longer.
The light has been tested and approved by various 4WD magazine comparisons and always came up well.

The Lightforce are about 20% dearer than the IPF but seem to be much more user friendly.

I have a set of Lightforce XGT 240's and find them to be simply awesome. They are tough as nails and the option of interchangeable lenses means you can change set up to suit the conditions if needed. Possibly the best money I have spent on my vehicle. And to top it off they are Australian owned and made, so your $$$ will stay in this great country.

G'day Worm
The Nite Stalker 170/100W were recently tested as best value for money.
You can get spotties or a combination set for $139.
Hope this helps, Eric.

I have a set of Lightforce XGTs on my Cruiser and am very happy with them both in light output and durability, the light weight is a real bonus. On our constant trips to the Cape we see most of the metal lights reardless of cost and quality shake themselves to pieces. This is the third vehicle I have had these same lights on and apart from wiring wearing through against the bulb retaining spring I have had no problems at all. BTW this was easily fixed with a dab of silicon once we became aware of it after about 150k klms. Cheers Rob

Lightforce and IPF are excellent lights, but expensive to boot! If you can afford them, thats the way to go. In the economical corner are Ziel, they make a "cheapie" and a mid price and the mid price is they way to go IMHO.
I have three on the Patrol, two driving lights and one pencil beam, they're about $140 each and provide very good light!

My hella 4000's are on their second vehicle and have covered approx 450000 klms. One blown bulb, one adjusting screw lost in the simpson desert and fantastic performance from both spot and spread. I will be repacing them with the same brand next time around. Hope this helps.
Rob

I have lightfoece 170's and they are great. I have not found better within the price range.
Given the world we live in though you might like to do a risk analysis of your stopovers and the likelyhood of them being "borrowed". It could be that for the time you actually use them cheaper units maybe more practical.
Just a thought

first question to ask is how often will you be driving in the dark ,if your towing a van around australia. i would suggest based on obsevations over a long period most vanners are in camp well beforwe dusk.
I reqularly do long days on the road (1000km not unusual yet I rarely drive at night when towing the camper)
I do a lot of spot light shooting and use a lightforce light as a spot light ,for driving lights on the cruiser I use a set cheap hella 181's

These sh*t all ove the IPF's my son has on his hilux. Admittedly not as good as the big 8"hellas used on the rally car but those wouldnt fit the bull bar.

Have also used Cibie both super and oscars but found they vibrate to much due to size (depth) of unit.

Dont know what vehicle you have but most new vehicles have better standard lights than the aftermarket ones provides anyway. I only wish the 80 series could throw as much light as the new crapadoor does off the showroom floor.

dont waste money on the big name units unless you really intend to do a lot of night drivind spend the money on suspension or something the truck uses all the time.
cheers
Howard

I support Howards view. Over a year away doing the lap of Oz and don't think we travelled more than 2 hours after dark.

Another alternative is to do an upgrade on the standard vehicle lights. We did and the extra light is significant. Don't have to worry about them being pinched either.

Banjo (WA)

I'm trying to avoid night driving but every now and then you have to, at least for the odd hour or two. Happy with my Lightforce 140s, they're quite small but perfectly formed and really rather bright, bright enough for my occasional use anyway!

Hi Worm73,
I use IPF 900, they are cool, I like them & OSWMBO is really impressed how well they light up the h'way/road/trail/track or what ever we're on! Mine are both wide beam as opposed to spot, my reasons, I like to see what's happening of track, eg: wild game, roos, etc..
Anyway a few forumites have commented on the possible loss of lights through a bit of skull duggery, ie: light hands & nimble fingers permenantly borrowing you lights.
Ahhhh, yes that is a concern, depending on where u live it may be a huge concern.
So I went hunting for lock nuts (like u use on mag wheels on hot cars), nope they don't fit, but I went to a 4wd store & they had these anti theft lock nuts, so cool, you need a special nut remover to tighten or loosen the bolts for my lights, a simple spanner or what ever doesn't work.
Getting set of locking nuts is a very small price to pay to insure my lights (which cost a lot more) stay attached to my truck!!!

Hi Worm73,
from experience, I would stick to Hella every time. They are the only ones that last. Think about how long you plan to keep them, and you may find that they still work long after you have forgotten the price paid. Who the HELL are Lightforce and IPF on a world market? They are cheap products, and can never compete with a huge international company, which specializes in automotive lights. Also, Lightforce actually use old/retired/defunct Hella tooling.
Reflectors are what sorts the chalk from the cheese, and it costs millions of dollars in investment to make good reflectors.
Check out the rallye series from Hella, and you will not be disappointed. I have had many different lamps on my cars, and only one brand seems to go the distance.
Cheers

Check out the new IPF 900XS lights. Simply awesome, without the bulk of the the lightforce. Relativly cheap too.

I run the original Lightforce 240 Blitz on the Jeep, but am looking for another set for the TD42 Patrol. Given that I do a lot of night driving in the Jeep (down to Cooma every weekend after dark for 4 1/2 hours along country back roads) and, like Howard, not in the Patrol (our tourer) we aren't looking for an expensive set.

Has anyone tried the relatively new Narva Ultima 135 blues? They recieved a pretty good wrap a while ago in one of the mags, as they were considered good value for money. I'm willing to gamble on a set....

Update your headlights first, get some 90/130's and big wiring loom with relays, and you wont need spotties.

Howard has hit it on the head I think.