Tow Truck Lighting Setup
Tow Truck Lighting Setup
Light bar, rear and grille strobes, and a 360° scene light, synced as one system. Pick the bar by truck, add the strobes, done. Lifetime warranty. Designed and engineered in Sarasota, Florida.
Start With the Truck, Not the Light
Recovery lighting is bought by truck and duty. Find yours, and that is the setup we quote most.
Watch It Run Before You Buy
Traffic advisor sweep, the full flash-pattern set with smart memory, and the 360° Halo scene light. This is the bar doing its job on a real truck.
Pick Your Size
Measure the flat mounting surface on the cab or headache rack, then take the largest bar that fits. A wider bar reads as a vehicle-width hazard from farther back, which buys reaction time from closing traffic. The 55", 61" and 68" ship with rear-facing tow-package sections that put amber at the back of the bed where a recovery operator works.
Color options vary by size; each product page lists what is available for that bar. Prices shown are the lowest configuration.
Pick Your Mount
- Door jamb: stainless straps run over the roof edge and anchor at the door seam, contoured to the roof line. No holes, no leaks, door opens freely, and with the door shut the mount disappears.
- Headache rack: the bar sits flat on the rack's top rail. The 55", 61" and 68" use a 4-bracket set.
- Magnet: tool-free for a bar that rotates between trucks or comes off between jobs. Offered on the 11", 17" and 30".
- Wiring reach: a 12-ft lead ships in the box, 22-ft and 27-ft at checkout. Mount the controller where a gloved hand reaches it.
One Truck, Full Coverage. Build It Light by Light.
Tap each switch to turn that light on or off. The bar, the rear strobes, and the front grille strobes all flash the same pattern in sync, alternating amber and white, exactly like a synced system on a real wrecker. Add the white 360° Halo any time, flashers on or off.
The 360° Halo is the bar's second row of white LEDs, recessed below the warning row and wrapping the perimeter: switch it on and it floods the whole scene around the truck like a spreader, flashers on or off. XDR-4 surface strobes mount flush in the grille and on the rear body, centered in each half, and sync to the bar's pattern. Running a bar? You do not need a separate beacon; beacons are for support vehicles without one.
Every Piece of the Tow Truck Warning System
Shop every bar in the tow truck light bars collection, add strobes and beacons for the bed and grille, or jump straight to a product below.
On the Truck
What Actually Matters on a Wrecker
Amber, rear-facing first. Amber is the permitted warning color for tow and recovery in every US state and needs no permit. The signal that matters is the one facing traffic closing from behind while you are out of the cab, which is what the rear tow-package section is for. State rules on amber-plus-white and 360° visibility are in our amber warning light laws by state guide.
Daylight is the real test. Any bar looks bright at night. The shoulder at 2 PM in July is where a bar earns its keep. The pattern set includes high-contrast day modes and softer night patterns that warn without blinding the motorist you are trying to slow down.
Sealing decides lifespan. Pressure washes, salt spray, 70 mph rain. Every Low Pro housing is sealed for that duty; per-size ratings are on each product page.
Smart pattern memory saves time on every call. The bar comes back on in the pattern you left it in.
Mounting height, headache rack clearance and where the strobes go are covered in tow truck light bar requirements: what to mount and where.
Certified Where It Counts
Emergency lighting is a legal requirement before it is a feature. The same certifications our fleet and government buyers procure against:
Outfitting a Fleet? Request Fleet Pricing.
Mixed sizes, mixed mounts, one PO. Department and government POs accepted, certification paperwork included for bids. Tell us what you are outfitting and Matt Arnold, who leads Black Oak LED emergency fleet and government operations, will call you shortly with pricing and availability. Prefer the full fleet page? It is at Fleet & Government Pricing.
Tow Truck Lighting Questions, Answered
What size light bar does a tow truck need?
Measure the flat width of the cab roof or rack, then take the largest bar that fits. Most light-duty wreckers and flatbeds land on the 43" or 49"; medium and heavy wreckers and rotators take the 55", 61" or 68" with the rear tow-package section.
Which bars have the tow package?
The 55", 61" and 68" Low Pro. The tow package is a dedicated rear-facing section that puts amber output at the back of the bed, toward traffic closing from behind, instead of only across the cab roof.
What color should tow truck warning lights be?
Amber is the permitted color for tow and recovery in every US state and needs no permit. Red, blue, and white are restricted by vehicle class in most states. Verify your state statutes; this page is product guidance, not legal advice.
Do I need a beacon if I run a light bar?
No. A Low Pro bar already gives you 360° coverage plus the white Halo scene light, so it is one or the other. Beacons are for support vehicles without a bar.
What is the 360° Halo?
A second row of white LEDs below the warning LEDs, wrapping the bar's perimeter. Turn it on and it floods the scene around the truck like a spreader light, with or without the flash patterns running, so you can rig a car all the way around the truck.
Where should the strobes go on a wrecker?
The common tow setup is a pair recessed in the grille, centered in each half on either side of the badge, and a pair flush on the rear body or bumper. They sync to the bar's pattern.
Magnet mount or permanent mount?
Permanent (door jamb or rack) if the bar stays on one truck. Magnet if it rotates between trucks or comes off between escort jobs. Magnet is offered on the 11", 17" and 30".
What comes in the box?
The bar, your selected mount hardware, and the wiring lead with controller: 12 ft standard, 22 ft and 27 ft options.
What is the warranty?
Lifetime, on every Low Pro bar and XDR warning light.
Can I mix sizes and mounts across a fleet?
Yes, that is the normal case. Use the fleet pricing form above and Matt will spec the whole list on one PO.
Why do Move Over laws matter for my lighting?
Every state requires drivers to slow down or move over for stopped vehicles displaying warning lights. Your lighting triggers that legal duty, and it only works if they see you in time.
How long will delivery take?
It varies by size and color. Call 1-800-348-1287 with your configuration and we will give you a current answer before you order.
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www.blackoakled.com · 1-800-348-1287 · sales@blackoakled.com
