Light Configuration

[mothersworry]

I own a 2007 Toyota Tacoma that I want to add offroad lights. I live in the mountains of NC and visibility is important. Bears and deer cross the road to much and sometime hang out in the middle. I also own 10 acres and would like to have a distance light to see at night. I will be installing a Westin light bar on the truck which sits level with the front bumper. The light bar holds 3 lights.

Now for the question. What would be a good configuration of Hella lights? I am thinking 2 Rallye 4000 Euro beams on the outside and 1 Pencil beam in the middle.

I really need a configuration to see far and wide.

Lastly, the truck has 35 w HID headlights and fog lights

Thoughts or suggestions on the configuration and or lighting type. I really would like to stick with Hella as they are just quality lights in my opinion.

Thanks in advance....

 

[Alaric Darconville]

The '07 Tacoma didn't have a factory HID option-- remove the HID "kit" and install the Philips X-Treme Power 9003. (If you have aftermarket HID projectors with names like "Trendgear" and such, get rid of those and return to the factory assemblies, and use the Philips X-Treme Power 9003. Installing a set of relays, ensuring the lenses are optically clear, and ensuring the are aimed will go a long way in making the lights better. Articles on these subjects are available at www.danielsternlighting.com.

There are many people who live in the mountains of NC, or SC, or WA, or OR, or AK, or any number of places that have bears or deer or cattle, or pedestrians. The ones that live in your area do not need to be blinded by HID kits or cheap aftermarket projectors.

Most jurisdictions only allow one pair of auxiliary high beam driving lamps to be operated with in conjunction with the high beams (and not at all if the high beams aren't lit). Make sure your third lamp isn't used with the other two while you drive on public roads.

The fog lights are mostly for show-- and certainly are not to be used at highway speeds as they won't help you see that deer, bear, ninja, moose, or anything else in time to stop or swerve for them. Leave them off except to creep along the road at 15-20mph in deep fog.

Like many brands, Hella has higher end and lower end stuff. Additionally, they don't make their own bulbs, so ensure you purchase ones made by Philips or Osram (avoiding any blue-coated 'super white' junk) rather than getting whatever bulbs they picked out of some factory's reject bin.

 

[-Virgil-]

the truck has 35 w HID headlights and fog lights

Get that dangerous junk out of there, pronto. No matter how much you may think you like them, "HID kits" in halogen-bulb headlamps or fog/auxiliary lamps (any kit, any lamp, any vehicle no matter whether it's a car, truck, motorcycle, etc.) do not work safely or effectively, which is why they are illegal. See here for full detail.

 

[mothersworry]

Great article on the HID. Looks like I will be removing the HID stuff andgoing back to halogen. I have used Daniel Stern before on a headlight setup formy vette. Top notch! I still would like to get the light bar and lights for theproperty and when I hunt, etc. I planned on having the 2 driving lights on a separaterelay/switch than the 1 middle pencil beam.

Does this configuration make sense and what is the quality of the HellaRallye 4000 lights? High, medium or low? Any other light or setup recommendations?

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Thank you for removing the HID's. I and all the other drivers on the road thank you.

 

[-Virgil-]

Good move removing the HIDs. The Hella Rallye 4000 is a quality product, definitely. You might also want to look at Cibie alternatives. Bosch also makes some very good ones, but they're tough to find in the US. I would avoid LightFarce (LightForce), PIAA, Catz, and the many off-brands.

 

[mothersworry]

This brings up one last question. I see where others are converting the Rallye 4000 to HID. Is the Rallye 4000 Halogen Reflector the same as the HID reflector. If not, I assume the same results as a typical headlight conversion. Thoughts?

 

[Alaric Darconville]

This brings up one last question. I see where others are converting the Rallye 4000 to HID. Is the Rallye 4000 Halogen Reflector the same as the HID reflector. If not, I assume the same results as a typical headlight conversion. Thoughts?

No, it is not the same. As mentioned before in Daniel Stern's article on HID conversion, by necessity the reflector for an arc light source must be different from the reflector for a filament light source. This is true regardless of brand, country of origin, or "innovations". As you might guess, converting them to HID results in a poorly-performing lamp.

 

[-Virgil-]

I see where others are converting the Rallye 4000 to HID.

People do all kinds of dumb things, then they get on the internet and babble about how smart they are for doing it…all without knowing what the he\\ they're talking about.

> Is the Rallye 4000 Halogen Reflector the same as the HID reflector[/quote]

No. There is no such thing as a halogen lamp with the same optics as the HID version of the "same" lamp. Not a single reflector, not a single projector, no low beams, no high beams, no auxiliary lamps…it just doesn't work that way.

I assume the same results as a typical headlight conversion

Pretty much!

 

[mothersworry]

Now that I have been educated, thanks again, you can see in the product pictures that the lens is even different. If appers to bubble out more on the HID.

On another note, now that I am back to Halogens, HID are removed now, which bulb would you recommend for a 2007 tacoma both headlight and fog light? I email Daniel Stern a few days ago, however he never responded.

As far as off road lights, I ended up purchasing 2 cornering and 2 euros. Should be a nice setup.

 

[Lightdoctor]

Now that I have been educated, thanks again, you can see in the product pictures that the lens is even different. If appers to bubble out more on the HID.

On another note, now that I am back to Halogens, HID are removed now, which bulb would you recommend for a 2007 tacoma both headlight and fog light? I email Daniel Stern a few days ago, however he never responded.

As far as off road lights, I ended up purchasing 2 cornering and 2 euros. Should be a nice setup.

As to recommended bulbs, that depends on what you want from your headlamps. I own a Toyota Tacoma as well and I'm using (brighter than any stock wattage bulb) Osram Rallye 70/65W +50 H4 (US DOT9003) bulbs in my headlights...also with a direct feed harness to minimise voltage drop, which makes your headlights brighter. Or you can stick with stock wattage and use Philips Xtreme Power +80 9003's. Everything else seems dull in comparison.

 

[mothersworry]

Lightdoctor - Where did you get your direct feed harness?

-Matt

 

[Lightdoctor]

Lightdoctor - Where did you get your direct feed harness?

-Matt

From Headlightservices.com...they are in the Denver CO metro area. They build an excellent harness with porclean sockets that include Tyco relays with internal diodes. It's a plug and play kit of the highest quality. They are made with either 14AWG or 12AWG wire.

 

[mothersworry]

Thanks so much. Will call them Monday.

-Matt

 

[mothersworry]

One last question. Decided to go with 2 cornering and 2 euro Hella 4000. Will I need to upgrade my alternator or battery. A friend fn mine is running 4 Kragen HIDs. They are really bright; however the pattern is funky. He states that power comsumption is not a concern with HIDs. I understand Kragens are cheap China lights, but do I have a concern about power? Again I have a 2007 Tacoma.

 

[irsa76]

Stick with 55watt bulbs and you will be fine. One of my previous cars I had 80/130w in the main headlights, 100w in the highbeams, 100w in my Cibie Oscar SC and 55w in my foglights. Never had issues with current draw, only had an 80amp alternator. Cooling issues however, not happy.
By the way, I've seen terms cornering beam and euro beam used to describe the same beam pattern before. Although I've also euro beam described as inbetween corning beams and long range spot beam.

 

[mothersworry]

Stick with 55watt bulbs and you will be fine. One of my previous cars I had 80/130w in the main headlights, 100w in the highbeams, 100w in my Cibie Oscar SC and 55w in my foglights. Never had issues with current draw, only had an 80amp alternator. Cooling issues however, not happy.
By the way, I've seen terms cornering beam and euro beam used to describe the same beam pattern before. Although I've also euro beam described as inbetween corning beams and long range spot beam.

Thanks irsa76. Anymore thoughts on power issues?

 

[Hamilton Felix]

If you don't already have a voltmeter, you might add one. Then keep an eye on it while you run your maximum lighting load with the engine at various typical driving rpm's. If your voltage sags under the load, then think about improving your charging system. If it doesn't sag, don't worry about it. Motorcycles often have tiny charging systems, so a voltmeter was the first thing I stuck on my bike, then experimented with different added lighting loads.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

If you don't already have a voltmeter, you might add one.

I wish cars still had the dashboard ammeters, too... A combination of the two would be extra gadgety :)

 

[mothersworry]

Light Doctor

Did you upgrade your fog lamp bulbs? What bulb did you use?

Thanks again.