In which I ponder lighting for my truck...
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In which I ponder lighting for my truck...
After having about a billion and a half thoughts on what I could do about lighting on my truck, I figured I'd bounce it off y'all here and see what you'd recommend.
First off, the requirements are simple. All I need is some rear facing amber lighting. I've considered and dismissed corner strobes and lightbars as being to complicated or expensive.
I've got a camper shell on the truck, so the lighting would hang down inside the rear window of the camper, which is tinted. I had considered a traffic advisor, but one of my requirements was strobe like action, and the 8 element units with strobes on the end is way too wide to fit inside the shell. In addition, the 3rd brake light is mounted at the top edge of the rear window, thus I would have to mount the advisor below that, which would cut down on my rear visibility. So...
What I'm thinking is a pair of dual LED deck style lights, one mounted on each side of the 3rd brake light. They would be permanently mounted, and controlled from the cab. Ideally, I would be able to activate each set independently, and possibly be able to have each set with a different "flash" style.
I have considered units such as the Whelen Talon Double Deck Light TLN2, and the Able2 L.E.D. Dual Light Stick. However, it appears that most lights of this style are the cig lighter plug w/ power and selection switch on the unit style - not exactly what I want.
So, any suggestions?
First off, the requirements are simple. All I need is some rear facing amber lighting. I've considered and dismissed corner strobes and lightbars as being to complicated or expensive.
I've got a camper shell on the truck, so the lighting would hang down inside the rear window of the camper, which is tinted. I had considered a traffic advisor, but one of my requirements was strobe like action, and the 8 element units with strobes on the end is way too wide to fit inside the shell. In addition, the 3rd brake light is mounted at the top edge of the rear window, thus I would have to mount the advisor below that, which would cut down on my rear visibility. So...
What I'm thinking is a pair of dual LED deck style lights, one mounted on each side of the 3rd brake light. They would be permanently mounted, and controlled from the cab. Ideally, I would be able to activate each set independently, and possibly be able to have each set with a different "flash" style.
I have considered units such as the Whelen Talon Double Deck Light TLN2, and the Able2 L.E.D. Dual Light Stick. However, it appears that most lights of this style are the cig lighter plug w/ power and selection switch on the unit style - not exactly what I want.
So, any suggestions?
mikeh,
I've considered mounting stuff outside the shell, but I'd rather not, mostly because this is my personal vehicle, and I use it for regular work, as well as for volunteer communications. Plus, it's just one less through-skin hole to drill. In short, I'd like to stay low key, and like to keep them inside.
I've considered mounting stuff outside the shell, but I'd rather not, mostly because this is my personal vehicle, and I use it for regular work, as well as for volunteer communications. Plus, it's just one less through-skin hole to drill. In short, I'd like to stay low key, and like to keep them inside.
LEDs
Have you considered something like 4 TIR3s (going for approx $55/each), and synching say...the inner 2 on one pattern, and synching the other 2 on another pattern? As for drilling holes, I'm sure you could come up with something to minimize any holes.
http://store.yahoo.com/sirennet/newwhtisuled.html
http://store.yahoo.com/sirennet/newwhtisuled.html
Well, we seem to have a consensus here... (sorry, Monty Python reference).
I remember seeing a picture of just the unit, and I always thought that they were a little dinky, but after searching around and seeing some pictures of installs, man, them suckers are bright.
Anybody on the board here sell them? If not, are there any recommendations for online vendors?
I remember seeing a picture of just the unit, and I always thought that they were a little dinky, but after searching around and seeing some pictures of installs, man, them suckers are bright.
Anybody on the board here sell them? If not, are there any recommendations for online vendors?
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 3:00 pm
I encourage you to look at the Sound-Off's Predator II series. They are synchable, come in either single or twin units, and I believe they have a much wider off-axis area of coverage than the Whelens. They're gen. IV LEDs, so you can rest assured they're bright as blazes. http://www.soundoffinc.com/ Click on the Predator II logo at bottom left of the page.
How about Whelen's TA4437M Traffic Advisor? It is a two-piece unit that uses six "Super-LED"s per lamp, with four lamps per 22 3/4" section. It's on page 37 of the Whelen catalog. http://www.whelen.com/pb/automotive/Catalogs/11032.pdf
How about Whelen's TA4437M Traffic Advisor? It is a two-piece unit that uses six "Super-LED"s per lamp, with four lamps per 22 3/4" section. It's on page 37 of the Whelen catalog. http://www.whelen.com/pb/automotive/Catalogs/11032.pdf
eeyore1351,
Thanks for the suggestions. I searched high and low, and the best price I could find on the single surface mount PredatorII modules was about $150. I could buy three TIR3 modules for that :/
I had considered the split advisor idea, but the main problem is that the total length remains unchanged - a 44-47" lightbar will simply not fit into the camper shell, split or not. It gets worse if I try and fit the split model next to the 3rd brake light.
I think I'm going to get a couple TIR3's and try them out. If I don't like them in the camper I can always mount them in my grill, I guess :)
Thanks for the suggestions. I searched high and low, and the best price I could find on the single surface mount PredatorII modules was about $150. I could buy three TIR3 modules for that :/
I had considered the split advisor idea, but the main problem is that the total length remains unchanged - a 44-47" lightbar will simply not fit into the camper shell, split or not. It gets worse if I try and fit the split model next to the 3rd brake light.
I think I'm going to get a couple TIR3's and try them out. If I don't like them in the camper I can always mount them in my grill, I guess :)
here's a video: http://www.lshlights.net/video/Whelen/TIR3.HTM
http://www.lshlights.net
http://www.vlsusa.com are good places to buy
http://www.lshlights.net
http://www.vlsusa.com are good places to buy