BRIGHT lights for country driving

[blackk5350]

finally i ot another car not much (89 pontiac bonneville) only has 98k and my uncle(mechanic) owned it. i willl be driving out to my dads house...way out in the country down dark dark dark roads and i want to be able to see everything around me(its like a deer sancuary out there one just ran into the side of my dads 07 saab 3 weeks ago. i might go the hid route but thats a little expensive. i was wondering if i could mount airplane landing lights on the bumper,behind grill, on hood.
This car looks like crap so i could car less what i put in it. i have a cb radio and antenna on the way so i want this car to be a straight up highway rig.

QUESTION: so my question is what is a really bright light under 100 bucks i could mount on her? legal/illegal i dont care. thanks guys

 

[greg mgm]

Funny you should mention airplane landing lights. Years ago I went to my local airplane supply store and bought 2 of them and installed them on my VW. Of course they drew so much amperage, I think the alternator was overtaxed, but it worked. If you go that route, the bulbs are pretty cheap, but you need housings for them. Then you'd need very HD relays and wiring. My other lights are Hella rally 2000's and they are darn bright. I have standard driving pattern lights, pencil beams, and wide angle beams (all Hella) It's really a personal choice as to the pattern, but I love the wide angle lights. By the way, the airplane lights draw more amperage than any light I've ever used, but they are very bright.

 

[blackk5350]

i have been looking at the airplane lights but i dont want to have to get another battery and upgrade my wiring,alternator so i think it is becoming a distant cause. i might just go to walmart and buy 3 sets of the 3yr warrenty driving lights for 20 bucks for a set of 2. i want to put all kinds of lights on it back front side ect. i want it to look like a christmas tree. maybe some strobes and tractor trailer lights haha

 

[greg mgm]

I thought I was the only one into that much light!!

I have 2 sets of tractor lights and they're just OK. Good for slow speed driving, but not so good for what you want. If you get 3 sets at walmart, that should work fine. Mount 4 on the front, aim 2 straight ahead, and 2 slightly to the sides. Cool idea about rear lights. Hmmm good idea!

 

[dremu]

Put relays on the ones you have. Coupla bucks for relays and maybe some heatshrink and a bit of time. If you can get even one more volt at the lights you gain something like 10 or 15% brightness.

Also use the halogen bulbs or sealed beam units.

The cheapo "driving" lights are okay for wide disperal, around the vehicle, but for focussed distance, i.e. directly ahead on the road but dooooown a long way, you're gonna want something better. I personally like the Hella's; 'bout $75 will get you a pair of decent H3-bulb units that shine nice and straight.

Or you can go redneck and do two pair of those and a bunch of the el-cheapos on a lightbar ... oh, wait...

-- A

 

[1978Blazerk5]

I agree with dremu on the relays, since i put a relay in my K5 for my reverse lights I use them on everything i can, it amazes me what a difference they make.

 

[Russell]

I personally got a set of H4 conversion lenses for my truck, then put in high wattage H4 drivers. I run the Bosch E code lenses in my 96 with 135 / 125 watt PIAA drivers, and have never been high beamed unless I don't dim my lights soon enough.

My low beams are definitely brighter than my 86 bogger's quad light high beams, and the high beams light up the road as far as I could possibly need to see. Great ditch dispersal too!

I bought a new set today for under $100 bucks after I took a large rock in the driver's side lense and had it split in half. My drivers cost approx 300 bucks for the pair locally, but probably cost less online. I run the intense white H4s, don't like the blue tinge PIAA's other lights put out.