need new spotties
Submitted: Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 15:16
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Katherine
After spending the weekend driving on roads with corrugations general 4x4ing, my narva spotlights were broken (plastic housing). I want something that is strong and has the durability!!! Any tips on brands or what to look for????
Reply By: Member - Hughesy (SA) - Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 15:22
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 15:22
If you can, go on E-Bay, as you can get some real bargains on brand new spotlights including Hella, Lightforce, Cibie, IPF etc. They usually go for between 2/3 and 1/2 the price of regular retail. Worth a look.
AnswerID:
167360
Reply By: Trevor R (QLD) - Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 15:40
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 15:40
I've had 3 main brands of spotties, Hella, IPF and Lightforce. For long straight roads you won't go past the lightforce for distance but not much side lighting. The IPF 9000 are an allround top light. The Hella's break their mounts
too easy also so I would go for something else.
IPF or L/Force would be my pick depending on how much outback driving you do.
Regards Trevor.
AnswerID:
167363
Follow Up By: Keepleft - Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 15:47
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 15:47
Ensure offroad engineered lamp support, the kind bearing a rubberised washer system etc. Pretty obvious I guess, but some folk do come unstuck with some otherwise excellent lights really designed for soft stuff.
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Follow Up By: MATT.D(WA) - Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 17:07
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 17:07
Trevor,
What type of hella's have you had problems with cause I've had rally 4000 for years without a drama. Are you talking about some of the smaller ones?
Cheers Matt.
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422505
Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 18:44
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 18:44
Matt,
I have broke 3 mounts on a set of Ralleye 2000's. I still have the lights in the shed but the mounts are stuffed and at $25 - 30 per mount I think not much of them. Light themselves give out decent light, but mounts useless.
Cheers Trevor.
FollowupID:
422529
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:49
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:49
Trevor said........."For long straight roads you won't go past the lightforce for distance but not much side lighting."
My opinion is that Trevor is correct ....BUT if you purchase the transition lenses (or whatever they're called.........I mean the ones that difuse the light), they are much better.
I have recently changed the covers on my Blitz 240s over to the Crystal Blue type, and the one on the passenger's side is difused, whilst the driver's side one is the pencil beam one.
These Crystal Blue covers make the light a more "white" colour. Before doing this, they looked VERY yellow when compared to the brilliant white light put out by my new XenonOz HID headlights.
The crystal blue covers are available for the 170's and 140's too as far as i know.
Cheers
Roachie
FollowupID:
422999
Reply By: Exploder - Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 23:43
Monday, Apr 17, 2006 at 23:43
I have got a set of Cibie’s and can’t fault them, light out-put is good, they are built solid no plastic anywhere on them. I have re-aimed them once in 2 years and I have never had them come loose or move around.
Would not hesitate to buy then agene.
AnswerID:
167490
Follow Up By: Member - Des - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:30
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:30
We have Cibie Oscar SC - metal housing, solid mounts, seem durable. Wouldn't get them if you want max distance vision (long straight roads) but superb wide angle, great for windy mountain roads.
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422996
Reply By: Member - John - Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 08:14
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 08:14
Hella make a bracket that goes on top of the light, stops it moving when on corrigations etc, never had a mount break since using these supports.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Des - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:31
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:31
Cibie make these for their lights too. Maybe other manufacturers also.
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Reply By: flappa - Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 09:09
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 09:09
Never had a problem with my LF's. Lightweight , and Aussie made.
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167515
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 09:16
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 09:16
Katherine,
You will not do any better than Light Force.
When I first saw them a few years ago I thought that would not make it across the Blue Mountains.
After having a set for the past few years and not even blowing a globe I think that they are the best.
Wayne.
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Follow Up By: Katherine - Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 19:59
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 19:59
Wayne
Do you use rubber mounts when bolting your lightforce spotties to the bullbar??
Our previous and current 4x4's have all had
driving lights on them when purchased.
Ive never had to buy or replace spotties in the past, hence the question..
katherine
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Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 20:15
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 20:15
When you say Rubber mounts, do you mean rubber washers over the bolt and above the bull bar?
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Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 20:43
Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 at 20:43
Katherine,
The Light Force lights have been on two vehicles now and have travelled most of Australia.
50,000klm in the last 12 months on the Troopie alone.
If you have ever driven in a Troopie you would know that all bumps are taken personally. The lights do get a good work out.
I have not used any type of dampening for the mounting of the lights, but I did have to make a bracket to get them behind the front of the bull bar.
Wayne
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Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:42
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:42
I've had my LF for 4 years with plenty of corrugations and no problems. Was sold on them when the salesman drop kicked one to the other side of the shed and then threw the lense as hard as he could onto the concrete floor. Convinced me that they might be durable.
Kind regards
AnswerID:
167791
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:52
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:52
hahahahahaha
Great test.......hope that wasn't the ones he sold you though!!!!!!!!!! hahaha
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Follow Up By: flappa - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:56
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:56
Same demo , same result.
Bought em next day.
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Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:58
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:58
As confident as I was, I went for the new ones in the box. He probably used them for the previous demo. Gotta love a good salesman!!
Kind regards
PS like the water pumps on your
tyres Bill. Did you get the missus to walk that for the kodak moment?
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Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 14:17
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 14:17
No mate, she was in the vehicle with me. Photo was taken by a mate of ours (member of our 4x4 club) who had already gone across. It is on the
Birdsville Track last July.
BTW, I'm now onto my 2nd set of Lightforce 240s. Nothing wrong with the 1st set, except that some F_cking Mongrel decided he needed them more than I did and he flogged them during the night of 18th/19th June last year, while my mother was literally on her death-bed (passed away around 6am). Of course the scumbag wasn't to know that....but if I ever catch-up with him in Narrandera, I'll rip his bloody throat out with my bare hands.
Cheers mate
Roachie
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Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 14:28
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 14:28
I guess they're not thief proof and in my opinion about the only way these things stop working is if they are pinched. Sorry to hear about your mum.
Kind regards
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Reply By: Member - Robert G (WA) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:59
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 13:59
I have had the best run out of lightforce and now IPF. Corrugations will kill all lights on a bullbar given enough time pounding such roads. If you will do a lot of this then consider fitting light stays which help to eliminate some vibration and movement
AnswerID:
167794
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 15:22
Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 at 15:22
as everyone else has said, Lightforces are without a doubt the way to go if you want good light, and something that will last, go with them - you will never look back.
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