Congratulations to Matthew on Winning Black Oak's July Giveaway!
Every month we give away free Black Oak gear to a customer who's actually out there using it. July's winner runs our lights on a built 70-Series Land Cruiser โ and he took them straight up above treeline in the Colorado high country.
The PrizeWhat Matthew Won
20-Inch Double Row LED Light Bar โ Pro Series 3.0
Our 20-inch Double Row is one of the most versatile bars we build โ short enough to tuck into a bumper or bull bar, bright enough to matter at speed. Matthew's is the 5ย Watt Osram combo (200W total). Every one ships IP69K sealed and covered by the same lifetime warranty as the rest of the lineup.
$680 ValueIn His Own WordsWhat Matthew Told Us
"I chose Black Oak because I wanted a light built to a real standard, not just something a marketing agency wrote on paper and it shows the moment you install one. As a fully service-connected veteran myself, it meant something that Black Oak is family-owned and veteran-operated, and that support isn't outsourced to a call center reading a script Every time I call, someone who actually knows the product answers, and returns calls even if i don't leave a message after hours. I've had questions answered directly and quickly, and that kind of personal touch is rare anymore. These lights are extremely high quality, and between the build and the lifetime warranty, I'll continue getting my lights from Black Oak for every rig I own."
โ Matthew, July 2026 Giveaway WinnerThat first part is a story we hear constantly. Cheap lights are cheap because of what got left out โ and what usually gets left out is the sealing. A housing that isn't properly gasketed will breathe moisture in every time the LEDs heat up and cool down, and once water is inside, it's finished. Every light we build is IP69K sealed for exactly that reason, and it's why we can put a lifetime warranty behind them.
The second part is the fun part.
What's NextMatthew's Going Infrared
Matthew's next step is adding 850nm infrared pod lights so he can run the trail at night under night vision goggles โ no visible light at all.
If you haven't used IR lighting before: an infrared light floods the area with light your eyes can't detect but a night vision device sees clearly. Practically, that means you can drive, hunt, or work in what looks like total darkness to everyone else. It's the difference between announcing your position with a 200-watt light bar and moving without being seen.
We build IR in both 850nm and 940nm, in 2-inch pods and in 10- and 20-inch double row bars. The 850nm puts out more usable light and gives off a faint red glow at the lens; 940nm is fully covert with a bit less range. For driving under goggles, most people start where Matthew did โ a pair of 850nm pods.
See It RunMatthew's Video
Matthew put together a video walking through the truck and the lights. Worth a watch if you want to see the beam pattern in real terrain instead of a product photo.
The BuildA 70-Series Land Cruiser That Actually Gets Used
Matthew's Land Cruiser is set up the way we like to see a rig set up โ nothing on it that isn't there for a reason. Snorkel, winch, full bull bar, roof rack with a tent on top, jerry can on the rear swing-out, and 35s under it. The lighting is layered the same way: distance up high, spread out front, and covert IR on the way.
Matthew and the Cruiser at the top of the pass โ roof-rack bar, bull bar pods, and a winch that's clearly been used.
| Position | Product | Why It's There |
|---|---|---|
| Roof rack, front-facing | 40-Inch Single Row LED Light Bar | Long-range throw. Up high and out of the dust, so it reaches down the trail instead of lighting up the air in front of the hood. |
| Bull bar, outboard | Round LED Pod Lights | The pair Matthew calls out as "very bright and very well built." Main working light โ wide enough to fill the corners on switchbacks where the roof bar is pointed at nothing. |
| Bull bar, center | 2-Inch Pod Lights | Close-in fill for rock crawling and spotting a line at walking speed. |
| Coming next | 2-Inch 850nm Infrared Pods | Night vision driving. Lights the trail for goggles while staying invisible to the naked eye. |
Why We Picked ItWhat Made This Entry Stand Out
Real Terrain
High-altitude Colorado passes, not a parking lot at dusk. Snow, scree, and creek crossings are the environment we build for.
He Tried It The Other Way
Matthew ran cheap lights first and watched them flood. Nothing sells a sealed housing better than owning one that wasn't.
He Showed His Work
Photos plus a full video walkthrough. Entries with footage always get a longer look from us.
You Could Be Next Month's Winner
Send us a photo or a video of your Black Oak lights doing something. Every submission is a separate entry, so more photos means better odds. We announce a new winner here on the blog every month.
How It WorksEntering Takes About Two Minutes
- Take the shot. Photo or video of your Black Oak lights on your truck, Jeep, boat, UTV, tractor โ whatever you put them on.
- Fill out the form. Head to the giveaway page and tell us what the lights are on and which products you're running.
- Upload it. Files up to 20MB each, or paste a link if it's bigger. Each submission counts as its own entry.
- Watch the blog. We pick a winner on merit every month, announce them here, and email them directly.
FAQCommon Questions
Can I enter more than once?
How do I know your lights will hold up like Matthew's?
Who do I talk to about building a setup like this?
Wrap-UpCongratulations Again, Matthew
Thanks for sending in the photos, thanks for taking the time to shoot the video, and thanks for putting our lights somewhere that actually tests them. Enjoy the new 20-inch Double Row โ find a good spot for it. And send us footage once the IR pods are on and you've got the goggles down.
To everyone else: the entry form is open right now, and next month's winner is somebody who hasn't submitted yet. Get your entry in.
