LED spotlight for off-road recommendations please.

[Orangecurry]

...but it's for a hire vehicle, so I can't drill any holes, and I can't hack the wiring.... so

Do rechargeable/battery lights do a good enough job? Mounting using velcro?

The vehicle should be a Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger, single cab.

Thanks!

[eth2190]

How about a couple of the magnetic ones that plug into a 12v socket

[Orangecurry]

Sounds great - specific make/model?

But we might need the 12v socket for other things, which is why I thought modern battery technology would be good enough?

[Mammasaid]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charger-Cigarette-Splitte...

[paralla]

This is cheap, plugs into a 12V cigarette lighter socket and has a magnetic base.

https://amzn.eu/d/f4vjZhz

[eth2190]

Orangecurry said:

Sounds great - specific make/model?

But we might need the 12v socket for other things, which is why I thought modern battery technology would be good enough?

I'm only aware of the generic Chinese ones like: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185481034586

[Orangecurry]

So has anyone actually bought any of these cheap lights? Are they any good for driving?

[Orangecurry]

...thought I'd update this - I bought something relatively cheap; a 23inch light bar.

It has 24 'flood' LEDs, and 24 'spot' LEDs (by having different reflector-bowl types). Long cabling, and it has eyelet connectors which go straight onto the battery. Magnetic soft-surface feet.

Chucks out a decent amount of light, but I don't know if it'll be good enough in the real world to throw enough light at a useful distance to avoid holes and animals.

If you hear nothing from me by the end of May, you'll know it wasn't fit for purpose

(headlights were off, LED sidelights were on in this photo)

Edited by Orangecurry on Sunday 2nd March 17:28

[paralla]

Consider putting some matt black wrap on your bonnet and front wings to minimise glare from the light bar or maybe even try the light bar towards the front of your bonnet (if it’s steel) to completely avoid any glare.

[Orangecurry]

Good idea in principle, but as I said it's a hire vehicle. It is what it is. The great thing about the magnetic feet is it can easily move, so I'll experiment.

[Rangeroverer]

Hi surprised no one else has said about taking a hire car, road tyres no recovery points, offroad, would have thought that was outside T&Cs. That aside I have offroaded at night, lanes I know well, and found headlights adequate. The mass of lights I see on some trucks seem more a fashion statement than a practicality.
My opinion I am sure many will disagree.

[MustangGT]

Rangeroverer said:

Hi surprised no one else has said about taking a hire car, road tyres no recovery points, offroad, would have thought that was outside T&Cs. That aside I have offroaded at night, lanes I know well, and found headlights adequate. The mass of lights I see on some trucks seem more a fashion statement than a practicality.
My opinion I am sure many will disagree.

Agreed, particularly with modern LED headlights, secondary lights will not be 'necessary'.

Try off-roading at night driving a 4wd HGV with no more than a convoy light to follow. Lead vehicle had side lights only.

[Orangecurry]

MustangGT said:

Rangeroverer said:

Hi surprised no one else has said about taking a hire car, road tyres no recovery points, offroad, would have thought that was outside T&Cs. That aside I have offroaded at night, lanes I know well, and found headlights adequate. The mass of lights I see on some trucks seem more a fashion statement than a practicality.
My opinion I am sure many will disagree.

Agreed, particularly with modern LED headlights, secondary lights will not be 'necessary'.

Try off-roading at night driving a 4wd HGV with no more than a convoy light to follow. Lead vehicle had side lights only.

Not sure I understand? Are you both answering a load of questions that I didn't ask?

Edited by Orangecurry on Friday 18th July 18:37

[MustangGT]

Orangecurry said:

MustangGT said:

Rangeroverer said:

Hi surprised no one else has said about taking a hire car, road tyres no recovery points, offroad, would have thought that was outside T&Cs. That aside I have offroaded at night, lanes I know well, and found headlights adequate. The mass of lights I see on some trucks seem more a fashion statement than a practicality.
My opinion I am sure many will disagree.

Agreed, particularly with modern LED headlights, secondary lights will not be 'necessary'.

Try off-roading at night driving a 4wd HGV with no more than a convoy light to follow. Lead vehicle had side lights only.

Not sure I understand? Are you both answering a load of questions that I didn't ask?

Edited by Orangecurry on Friday 18th July 18:37

No, merely pointing out that modern cars lighting is efficient enough not to need additional lights for off-roading at night.

[Orangecurry]

So I asked a question, which was answered months ago, and now you tell me I don't need extra lighting, as you made an assumption that the vehicle I hired had LED headlights?

Gosh that's amazing. Are all of your other 13,000 posts as helpful?

[Rangeroverer]

Hi, just a friendly comment as to whether you had checked with the hire company that you would be covered by crash waiver if you went off road.
So how was it? where did you go and any pics?

[Orangecurry]

Cape Town. North the full length of RSA on blacktop. North the full length of Namibia mostly gravel to Etosha to the Angolan border. Turned east alongside the Kavango. Into Botswana and the Okavango Delta. Then turned south-east and the full length of Botswana back into RSA and Joburg.

We didn't have road tyres.
We did have 'recovery points'.
It's a specialist safari vehicle.

All of which is irrelevant to my original question.

You never ever drive at night in Africa. Obviously if you have a medical emergency/delay/breakdown/anything, you may have to.

Edited by Orangecurry on Sunday 20th July 15:37