Ditch Lights

Here we go, I'm asking the internet for an opinion, lol. But my ******** is prepared.

I'm looking at Baja XL 80's and kind of wondering what most people think is a good beam pattern for off on the sides of the vehicle towards the edges of the road.

I was thinking wide, but I'm wondering if spot is better or a driving combo. I dunno.

I've been going out on recoveries this winter and a few times at night on snow-packed roads I know are the side of a mountain and I can't see the edges of the road. And it's disconcerting. Especially when you're not trying to be the second guy stuck, lol.

Anyways, trying to improve my offroad lighting situation. The only lights I've had on the truck have been Baja Squadron Pro's in the bumper. Adding a 20inch S8 and already have mounts for ditch lights.

I was looking at combos but I guess it’s more how you use them. I’m looking at installing some and angling them about 30° out so they’re still illuminating forward so I can see what’s beside the path ahead of me. If you aim them farther to the side of the truck maybe wide angle if you are using them more for what’s immediately next to you. That’s just my opinion though.

BoldAdventure said:

Here we go, I'm asking the internet for an opinion, lol. But my ******** is prepared.

I'm looking at Baja XL 80's and kind of wondering what most people think is a good beam pattern for off on the sides of the vehicle towards the edges of the road.

I was thinking wide, but I'm wondering if spot is better or a driving combo. I dunno.

I've been going out on recoveries this winter and a few times at night on snow-packed roads I know are the side of a mountain and I can't see the edges of the road. And it's disconcerting. Especially when you're not trying to be the second guy stuck, lol.

Anyways, trying to improve my offroad lighting situation. The only lights I've had on the truck have been Baja Squadron Pro's in the bumper. Adding a 20inch S8 and already have mounts for ditch lights.

View attachment 193862

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So I have wide beam style on my 1500, and I threw ****** tractor supply PODs on my jeep. The wide beam has a nicer cut off, and is better for road driving where I may see some traffic. The lights on the jeep are bright as ****, and just put light everywhere. I like the wide pattern for that since it's just filler light so I can see peripheral better. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like spots are more for a specific goal, like down the road sight etc at distance. In the picture you provided i personally would want a whole lot of light off to the right, in no particular area so you can see as much as possible.


I know the pics aren't the best representation but you get the just. The top is a wide beam. It's a nice filler for the dead areas in my headlight pattern, but it really doesn't do much down the road except make my headlights seem a TON brighter. The picture of the floods is ****, but you can see the light is all over. When it's truly dark out, they throw light so much it's insane.

Where are you gonna be mounting them? A pillar/hood, bumper......idk just toss a 68" light bar on riveted to the roof.... MoArEr OvErLaNdErRrRr

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hodge-xj said:

Where are you gonna be mounting them? A pillar/hood, bumper......idk just toss a 68" light bar on riveted to the roof.... MoArEr OvErLaNdErRrRr[

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Well, I have lockers, so I guess that means I can do ALL THE LIGHT BARS!

These will be a-pillar mounted. I think the S8 will cover me down the road.

BoldAdventure said:

Well, I have lockers, so I guess that means I can do ALL THE LIGHT BARS!

These will be a-pillar mounted. I think the S8 will cover me down the road.

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Personally I'd run a flood up there. You really won't be using them at a high enough speed where you're gonna over run them, and it will give you the best light dispersion possible from the drivers seat. At least in my head.......but I'm not a light nerd by any means, and I treat most of my **** like it's a rental, so I refuse to put expensive stuff on that I'm gonna break so I can't comment on how a quality combo beam will do. I can say, I've run a TON of lower output mediocre at best flood/work lights for ditch lights and when aimed properly I've never had a reason to *****.... aside from wants, not needs out of the lights.



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I've got some cheap floods that were freebies in Baja Designs A pillar mounts that do a nice a job. Here's one of my "just detailed" images that just so happens to show them decently well. I was going to put some Baja Wide Cornering pattern cubes up there, but I just can't bring myself to spend the money since the floods have worked surprisingly well for being free.

joshuaeb09 said:

I've got some cheap floods that were freebies in Baja Designs A pillar mounts that do a nice a job. Here's one of my "just detailed" images that just so happens to show them decently well. I was going to put some Baja Wide Cornering pattern cubes up there, but I just can't bring myself to spend the money since the floods have worked surprisingly well for being free.

View attachment 193872

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Looks like hot garbage

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I would do wide corning as a ditch/ side peripheral lighting. Good job being a big boy and considering quality lighting. The XL80’s are a great option. Might be rather large on the hood Mount. I have been told they are prone to shaking with cheap mounts. So, get a thick quality mounting bracket to support that large light.

The squadron Pro’s might be worth looking into also.

For viewing pleasure, not relevant to your post, but here is my BD 20” ONX+. Should get you excited about running a BD light.





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HemiPower36 said:

I would do wide corning as a ditch/ side peripheral lighting. Good job being a big boy and considering quality lighting. The XL80’s are a great option. Might be rather large on the hood Mount. I have been told they are prone to shaking with cheap mounts. So, get a thick quality mounting bracket to support that large light.

The squadron Pro’s might be worth looking into also.

For viewing pleasure, not relevant to your post, but here is my BD 20” ONX+. Should get you excited about running a BD light.

Click to expand...

I've run crap lights in the past. Pretty much never going back. Been running Squadrons in the bumper for a while now. I still need to figure out how I'll mount my 20-inch S8.

I've considered the Squadrons, but I have pretty beefy mounts for the XL80's.

For a truck like that, with beefy hood mounts, the XL80’s are a no brainer . I would do all wide corning if you are still intending on utilizing as ditch lights.


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