A-pillar only lights?

[WyrPldn]

Hello, the board. I knew since I got my Willys that I’d eventually get some additional forward lighting, but I also knew I’d only want two A-pillar LED lights. No plan to put on a roof light bar or any bumper pods (I do plan to get Diode Dynamics rear hatch-hinge mount light bar for illumination to the rear). I do have the factory aux switches so I’m looking forward to being able to wire them into those and not install a separate switch.

Looking for personal experience from those running just A-pillar lights and what they’ve experienced. Since these are the only front-facing, they’ll have to serve as combo (spot/flood). I’m looking at KC Flex-Era 4s, Diode’s SS5s, and Baja’s LP6s. Night runs would be primarily USFS roads.

Thanks in advance for your input!

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[Opus]

I went the cheap route and attached some Nilight lights I bought from Amazon.

all-in (lights, wiring, connectors, etc.) I spent a little under $100.

 

[Grayhound]

I’m running dynamics SS3 sport in Amber and White. I really like their cowl mount because I can still lay down my windshield if I choose, and I do that sometimes.

The sports have been plenty bright for me. I have the whites aimed just above my low beams and out to the sides for deer and I have my Ambers set just above my highbeams for snow and dust environment. They have been great

 

[longfiredragon]

I wanted the ridged. I know they are top quality, pricey but good. I got lucky at the great Smoky mountain jeep invasion and snagged these for $160. Brackets were the hard thing for me. Found the DV8s on sale from ET with free shipping. Really like the DV8 good quality.

They make a crazy amount of light. Have never needed more lighting yet.

Edit: the DV8 brackets will hold 4 lights, just haven't got the other two yet.

 

[rcadden]

This is lining up to be my next mod, as well. Personally, I actually want two on each side. For one, It think it looks better, but it also gives me the flexibility to have one facing forward and the other at an angle, to light up the sides a bit better.

I found these brackets, which I like because they're small but also they support two off-set lights.

Was planning to go with the Nilight so glad to hear you've liked them @Opus

 

[WyrPldn]

I wanted the ridged. I know they are top quality, pricey but good. I got lucky at the great Smoky mountain jeep invasion and snagged these for $160. Brackets were the hard thing for me. Found the DV8s on sale from ET with free shipping. Really like the DV8 good quality.

They make a crazy amount of light. Have never needed more lighting yet.

Edit: the DV8 brackets will hold 4 lights, just haven't got the other two yet.

Digging those brackets!

 

[WyrPldn]

I’m running dynamics SS3 sport in Amber and White. I really like their cowl mount because I can still lay down my windshield if I choose, and I do that sometimes.

The sports have been plenty bright for me. I have the whites aimed just above my low beams and out to the sides for deer and I have my Ambers set just above my highbeams for snow and dust environment. They have been great

I hadn’t thought about planning for a bracket that could mount 2 per side, but you’ve given me food for thought…

 

[GATORB8]

I wouldn't recommend combo beams on the pillars. If you're going to do forward facing, spots are probably the least likely to light up the hood with glare.

 

[jbcrane]

I went with the Mopar solution and am very happy. If I were to do it again I might choose a different mounting bracket (like @longfiredragon's DV8's) - but if I ever mount a snorkel (questionable) I think I'll be glad I went with the Mopar bracket. The lights themselves are insanely bright - and provide plenty of light for my night time escapades, used mostly to avoid deer on the road. I have them wired to the factory AUX switch.

 

[Golden Power]

I currently have the KC Flex era 4 and I love them. Yes I have the pro 6 light bar and some bumper stuff but I find myself using these A pillar lights the most on trails with other people. Previously I ran the KC gravity pro 6 in driving beam at the a pillar and they weren't giving the up close super bright light I was looking for. I have both spot and flood beams and with this light the flood beam lens is 100% the better option. I have a buddy that runs the Baja designs LP6 on his front bumper and they definitely have more output than the Flex 4 however they are also huge and I am not sure if they would look good on a jeep A pillar.

Sorry I dont have any great up close photos but these are my Flex 4's

And these are some photos of the LP6 while they are not on the a pillar I think they still preform extremely well at the low level. He also has the BD squadron sports at the a pillar and they are only ok and not something I would buy for how much BD asks for them.

Hope this can help you make an informed decision on what you go with. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.

 

[limeade]

I've got Rigid spot lights on a set of KC mounts, which bolt to the hood hinge and cowl. For me, I prefer spot pattern lights up high (such as the A pillar). Mounting floods or even driving lights on the A pillar causes a lot of light to reflect off of the hood and into your eyes and not on the road/trail where it should be. This is due to the more diffused light pattern, whereas the spot beams are more concentrated. I have driving lights and fog lights mounted on my bumper, where the diffused light patterns are best utilized and won't blind me.

I have the spots and driving lights wired to separate Aux switches, while the BD floods are connected to the factory fog light switch.

 

[AcesandEights]

GatorB8 is spot on.

Also, pillar lights are not very efficient in most cases. It'd be best not to put a light so close to the hood. You lose so much of the usable light, it's one of the worst places to mount them.

 

[WyrPldn]

I wouldn't recommend combo beams on the pillars. If you're going to do forward facing, spots are probably the least likely to light up the hood with glare.

Ooooof… thanks for pointing that out; I hadn’t considered glare coming out of a combo beam. It makes sense and I can see how that would be an issue. Hmmmm…

 

[JLeco2022]

those lights on the rear of the hood are for looks not for real offroading. lol

 

[Gunfighter]

I just went from cubes to 6" KC pillars - both are great as spots. Mine are slightly slayed outward to help watch for deer on Michigan back roads at night. Can see quite of bit down each side of the road.

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