For Offroad Drivers
Good Lighting for Tough Terrain
What kind of lighting is right for off-roaders? For those who tackle the toughest terrain, don't shy away from the nastiest mud holes, and winch themselves up the steepest hills? Certainly not a light that projects an extremely narrow, ultra-bright beam over vast distances.When off-roading, lights belong up high—on the roof. This contrasts with driving on tracks where speed is required—think of corrugated tracks, whether in Iceland or Africa. On fast tracks, lights should be mounted below the windshield, at the same level as the vehicle's standard headlights.
For off-road driving, an LED headlight or light bar should offer a combination beam pattern rather than being optimized solely for long-range projection. A combination beam provides lateral illumination in front of the vehicle; in forests and rough terrain, extreme range isn't necessary. In fact, if the light is too bright, it can cause glare that reflects back at the driver in wooded areas.
This makes a combination high-beam light—or better yet, a work light—the right choice. Work lights are designed to illuminate a wide area effectively. The natural mounting spot for off-road lighting is the roof rack; the added height allows the light to spread out and cover a wider area.
Smaller side-mounted work lights ensure you can see everything alongside your vehicle and—importantly—move safely around the vehicle itself. It does little good to have excellent forward lighting if you can't even see where you're stepping beside or behind the vehicle.