As someone who drives trucks, you already appreciate the value of headlights, especially while driving at night, bad weather, or in darkness. Without a doubt, a light bar improves visibility and makes your truck appear even more fierce. The challenge, however, comes when you try to select one from the many options available. Depending on what you choose, the light bar may be too dim or may end up killing your battery. This is why there is a need to comprehend a light bar’s qualities and what makes it right for your truck.
Understanding the Purpose of a Light Bar
One thing to note is that a light bar does not serve only cosmetic purposes. If you need them, make sure their execution is top-notch to allow better visibility when your car’s headlights are ineffective. A light bar can be useful when driving on rural roads, off roads, or working at night. While the purpose may differ from one truck owner to another, the owner intending on using it for emergency situations or outdoor activities such as hunting or camping also requires the right bar that serves whichever purpose they intend.
Choosing the Right Type of Light Bar
Understanding the functions of the various types of truck light bar will help you make the best decision. Spot beams, flood beams, and combination beams are the three primary varieties. Long-distance lighting is the primary function of a spot beam light bar, making it ideal for broad spaces and highways. A flood beam is helpful for off-road driving and work locations since it disperses light across a larger area. By combining width and distance for complete vision, the combo beam offers you the best of both worlds.
Comparing LED, halogen, and HID lights is another crucial consideration. Because they use less energy, last longer, and provide strong light, LED light bars are the most widely used. Although halogen lights are less expensive, they consume more energy and have a shorter lifespan.
Finding the Right Size for Your Truck
From tiny 4-inch models to enormous 50-inch bars, light bars are available in a wide variety of sizes. How much additional illumination you need and where you want to install it will determine the appropriate size. A 20-inch to 30-inch bar is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a light bar for everyday use. These sizes offer goodwill coverage and fit most trucks nicely.
A single-row LED light bar is a good option if you need something smaller because it’s small yet still bright. If you travel in extremely dark places, a double-row LED light bar is a superior option because it provides twice as much light. Make sure you have adequate room in your truck to install the light bar correctly before making a purchase.
Checking Brightness and Color Temperature
Brightness is important when purchasing a light bar. The brighter the light, the higher the lumens, which is the unit of brightness measurement. Look for a light bar with 10,000 lumens or more if you need one for work sites or off-road driving. Something between 5,000 and 8,000 lumens should be plenty for typical highway driving.
Color temperature is also important. Cool white light that is comparable to sunshine is produced by light bars with a color temperature between 5,000K and 6,500K. This lessens eye strain and facilitates clear object vision. A light bar with a lower color temperature (3,000K to 4,000K) is better at cutting through fog if you need one for wet or foggy weather.
Understanding Power and Efficiency
Find out how much power a light bar requires before installing it. If you’re not careful, high-wattage light bars can quickly deplete your truck’s battery. The ideal option is an LED light bar since it uses very little electricity while providing a high level of brightness. The majority of LED light bars run between 120W and 300W, which strikes a nice mix between efficiency and brightness.
Checking whether your truck’s alternator and battery can manage the additional load is also crucial. You may need to replace your battery if you utilize additional electrical attachments, such as a winch or additional speakers. Instead of causing power issues, a light bar should enhance your truck’s functionality.
