Planning Your Off-Road LED Light Installation

Let’s assume you’ve already done your research, and you know the types of off-road LED lights that are legal in your state. You’ve chosen a reputable vehicle lighting supplier – which, we hope, is LED Equipped – and you’re ready to rig up your ride. What’s next?

If you’ve never planned an off-road LED light installation, you might want to have a little expert advice. To help your project go smoothly and ensure that you end up with the best lighting solution for your car, truck, or SUV, follow the tips below.

Think About Installing Multi-Level Vehicle Lighting

For optimal visibility when you’re off-roading, plan to install LED lights at multiple levels. Consider options that mount on or close to your vehicle’s rooftop – like light bars and spotlights – along with grill lights, running board lights, floodlights or other products for mounting at the bumper level. With the right types of LED lighting, you’ll have ample illumination for safe off-road driving.

You may also want to keep a task light on hand for added visibility when you’re in a pickle. A beacon light, which has high-powered magnets that attach to any metal surface, can provide you with the bright lighting you need to plan a safe driving path, dig yourself out of the muck, change a tire, repair your vehicle or set up a campsite after dark.

Decide on a Setup Before You Begin Shopping

Once you’ve determined which types of LED lights you want for your car, truck or SUV, you’ll be ready to start shopping. And, of course, you’ll want to look for products that fit within your budget. But know this — you don’t have to install all of your vehicle lighting at the same time. As long as you plan out the setup carefully, you can start with one or two lights and add more as additional funds become available. By going that route, you may find outfitting your vehicle with the right LED lights to be much less of a financial strain.

When deciding on the perfect setup for your off-road LED lights, make sure to take power distribution into account. LEDs are highly efficient, but the draw on your vehicle battery could be a concern. If you plan to use other power-hungry equipment along with your LED lighting, give some thought to investing in a second battery.

Consider How You’ll Mount Your LED Lights

When you’re off-roading, the terrain is anything but smooth and even. You’re driving on mud, rocks, sand dunes and grassy fields – not on paved surfaces. You can expect your vehicle to get jostled around, so your LED lighting must be securely mounted.

You can choose from several different types of LED mount configurations, including:

• Tab mounting, fastening the LED lights to the built-in tabs on your roof rack or cargo bar
• Flush mounting, installing the lighting in recessed areas to blend in with the aesthetics of your vehicle
• Clamp mounting, attaching the lights to the vertical or horizontal bars on the bumper, grill or rooftop with heavy-duty clips
• Surface mounting, securing the LED lights to your vehicle with strong bolt-and-lock fasteners

Off-road LED lights often come with universal mounting brackets, and those may meet your needs if you avoid extreme driving situations. However, you might want to opt for specialized mounts – either custom-fabricated or vehicle-specific hardware – to ensure that your lighting remains secure no matter how rough the terrain.

Get the Right LED Light Control Box at the Start

If you’re planning for your off-road LED light installation to be done in stages, make sure the appropriate control box is among your initial purchases. It wouldn’t make sense, for example, to buy a two-button switch plate when your ultimate vehicle lighting setup includes a total of six lights.

Instead, get the control box you’re going to need in the future right now. If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll end up spending more money – plus, you’ll need to rewire your lighting setup when you upgrade the switch plate. As rewiring can increase the risk of issues with your LED lights and accessories, it’s a step you’ll want to avoid.

Can You Handle the Installation on Your Own?

Anyone with basic handyman skills can install their own LED lights. Most vehicle lighting – including the products sold here at LED Equipped – have detailed instructions that walk you through every step of the process. Gather the tools you need and take the necessary safety precautions, and installation shouldn’t present any problems.

However, for multi-light setups, the wiring can be rather complex. If you don’t have much expertise in this area, you might want to leave the task to a professional. Doing so will add to your project costs, but you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that your LED lights have been properly installed. Many off-roaders – particularly those who go with dual battery setups – prefer to have an expert handle the wiring.

Do You Need Help Planning Your LED Light Installation?

As you make decisions about your vehicle lighting, you’ll need to consider a number of factors. From power distribution and the configuration of your car, truck or SUV to the terrain where you plan to go off-roading, your budget for LED lights and more, there’s much to keep in mind – and you don’t want to make the wrong choices.

If you need more information about LED lights, searching online can be a solution. But a far better option is to contact the friendly and knowledgeable experts at LED Equipped. Our professional team is dedicated to providing the very best customer service, and we’re always happy to answer questions, give advice and make suggestions on planning light setups.

Why turn to LED Equipped? Off-roaders have many reasons to trust us to meet their vehicle lighting needs. We’re proud to say that our company:

• Has accreditation and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
• Is Shopper Approved, with 4.6 out of 5 stars and nearly 800 customer reviews
• Is a preferred lighting supplier for fire departments, ambulance fleets, law enforcement agencies, towing services, utility providers and construction companies across the country

We’ve been in business for quite a few years, and our team knows the vehicle lighting industry. We’re familiar with all of the top brands, and we carry a selection of affordable, high-performance LED lights from leading manufacturers – all of which come with an impressive 3-year warranty. We also have mounts, sirens, public address (PA) speaker systems, control boxes, extension cables, wiring harness kits and a range of other products to meet your needs.

You’ll find everything you want at LED Equipped. Our LED lighting specialists can assist you in planning your project via email, or you can pick up the phone and give us a call. Either way, you’ll get the help you need to complete your off-road LED light installation. We’re here to provide support in any way we can, and we’re confident

Reach out to LED Equipped, and you can count on having an outstanding customer experience. To learn more about our company and the state-of-the-art vehicle lighting products and equipment we have in our inventory – or for expert assistance making a plan for your off-road LED light installation – visit our website or contact us today.