What's the best place to mount LED lights on a truck? Off-road adventures are challenging. The terrain makes driving difficult, especially in low light. Many drivers and weekend warriors upgrade their vehicles with LED lights. The extra light makes off-road navigation much easier. We're exploring six popular mounting locations. We'll give you detailed insights about each one so you can make a smart choice for your vehicle.
Key Takeaways
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Bumper Mount: Offers a secure and stable location, providing maximum visibility for off-road adventures. Low height reduces shadows.
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Grill Mount: Combines aesthetics with functionality, integrating the light bar into the vehicle's design. Much less visible than a hood mount or roof mount.
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Below the Windshield: Will light the area in front of the vehicle really clearly. Can also act as powerup for your stock headlights and high beams.
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Windshield Pillars: Provides a higher vantage point, improving illumination and navigation. These are best for smaller pod lights that can be adjusted to shine on different locations.
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Roof Mount and Roof Racks: Offers a broad spread of light, ideal for wide-area illumination. It's possible to mount huge bars for a super bright light source.
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Under Glow/Under Carriage: Adds additional lighting around the vehicle, making night driving and rock crawling much easier. They also look great!
Let's take a closer look at each mounting location.
1. Bumper Mount
Mounting your light bar on the front bumper offers several advantages. This location ensures a secure and stable installation, which is great when the going gets rough. The front bumper mount positions the light bar closer to the ground, minimizing shadows, glare, and unwanted stray light. Tuning the light's direction really enhances how much you can see without blinding other drivers.
Installation Options:
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Fixed Installations: Robust and durable, providing a stable platform for your light bar.
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Flush Mounts: Integrate seamlessly into the bumper, offering a sleek appearance while protecting the light bar from damage.
There are a few ways to make this a better setup. You could install two light bars, each angled slightly outwards, to get more side illumination. You might also choose a combo light pattern. This incorporates a spotlight for maximum distance and floodlights for area lighting.
For a high-quality front bumper light bar, consider the Black Oak 20" Double Row Series.
2. Grill Mount
Adding a light bar into the grill combines good looks and great performance. This position keeps the light bar protected and offers a sleek appearance. Grill mounted bars, especially flush mounts, feel stealthy and tactical.
Some choose to mount their light bars on the front of the grill with a bracket. This is stronger than a bumper mount as the light is generally above and farther back compared to a bumper light. It will be less likely to get bashed on an off road trip.
Installation Options:
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Single Row LED Light Bars: Fit well within the grill, maintaining a low profile while delivering bright light.
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Custom Grill Mounts: Tailored designs that match the vehicle's aesthetics.
The Black Oak 20" Single Row Series is a great choice for grill mounting. For more information on the best light bars for off-roading, read this comprehensive review and buying guide.
3. Below the Windshield
Mounting the light bar below the windshield helps prevent light pollution. Having the light bar in front of the driver creaates less chance of reflections off the hood. You get the benefit of having your light bar higher without risking it bouncing back in your eyes.
Installation Options:
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Bracket Mounts: Securely attach the light bar below the windshield, adjustable for optimal light direction.
To make this setup work well, use a smaller light. A heavy, bulky light could just become an eyesore you catch yourself staring at while driving. Choose a small double row light or you can opt for a longer light if you use a single row variation.
Consider the Black Oak 10" Double Row Series for this position. For step-by-step installation guidance, refer to how to wire a light bar.
4. Windshield Pillars
Opting for a windshield pillar mount elevates your light bar to a higher position, offering improved illumination of the surrounding area. However, most drivers don't put bars on their pillars. Instead, they choose LED pod lights. These are easy to mount and can be adjusted for work lighting, ditch lighting, or anything else.
Installation Options:
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Pillar Mounts: Perfect for LED pod lights, providing focused lighting that can be directed where needed.
For an excellent pillar-mounted pod light, the Black Oak S2 Pro Series is a great choice. For more insights on choosing the right pods, see the best LED light pods of 2024.
5. Roof Mount
A roof-mounted light bar can be the biggest size. The mounting brackets are easy to install on your roof. Light bars of 40" or more are common since there is no real limit to their size - other than how wide your vehicle is! Larger light bars also feature combo light patterns, with multiple flood and spotlights pointing in the same direction. This gives you really full coverage and more visibility.
Installation Options:
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Full-Length Light Bars: Provide maximum light coverage across the vehicle's width.
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Adjustable Mounts: Allow for precise positioning and angling of the light bar.
Larger roof bars are brilliant but can also be a problem for other drivers. Check with your state's laws to make sure your installation complies with any regulations. Usually, this means you'll need to shut off your LEDs while driving on normal roads to avoid dazzling other drivers.
The Black Oak 40" Double Row Series is perfect for roof mounting. Explore different off-road light bar options in this article on off-road LED light bars.
6. Under Glow/Under Carriage
Underglow is useful for rocky terrain, but let's be honest. If you love your truck, then you'll love it even more with some ground effect lights. They really do add serious style to your rig. You can install rock lights in your wheel arches if your vehicle is boosted. Spread out four or six lights around your chassis to make a real impression.
Installation Options:
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LED Strips: Flexible and easy to install along the undercarriage.
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Rock Lights: Durable and bright, designed to withstand harsh conditions.
An added bonus with underglow lights or rock lights is installing one or two at the rear. This can add a lot of light for people with reversing cameras. It can also help when you need a bit of light for hooking up trailers and working at the back of the vehicle.
For under glow lighting, the Black Oak Rock Lights are a reliable choice. Learn more about the benefits and uses of undercarriage lighting in this ultimate guide to LED rock lights.
Conclusion
Choosing the right mounting location for your light bar depends on your specific needs and preferences. Evaluate your requirements, consider the visual aesthetics you desire, and weigh the benefits of each location. Each mounting option offers unique advantages that can significantly enhance your off-road experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to mount LED light bars?
The front bumper provides optimal illumination and visibility for off-road driving while protecting the lights from debris and obstacles. Mounring a light bar on the roof can provide maximum illumination due to the larger sizes possible.
Where on a vehicle can I mount a light bar?
A light bar can be mounted on the front bumper, grill, below the windshield, on the windshield pillars, on the roof, or under the vehicle, each offering unique benefits based on your needs and preferences.
Where is the best place to mount a light bar on a UTV?
The front bumper or roof are the best locations for mounting a light bar on a UTV, ensuring maximum visibility without obstructing the driver’s view. With smaller bodies, pillar lights with LED pods are also great options.
Should a light bar be above or below the windshield?
Mounting a light bar below your windshield is a solid choice, but can put something in your line of vision. It might also create more glare from the paint on your hood. Opting for a roof mount gives you more room and elevates the light as well.
