Lighting and Front Bumper Bull Bar Suggestions

Stealth7

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2021
Messages
165
Reaction score
123
Location
Orange County, California
Current Rides
N/A
Like many others I'm currently waiting for my 392 XR Recon to arrive. During this interim. I am collecting a few items to add. My 392 will be used mostly on the roadways and occasionally for light off-road use. I think I will avoid adding a winch at this time. I plan to go with the Ironman 4 x 4 Raid Rails/Step and would also like to add a few lights. Most likely I will add two (2) of the same lights below the lower front corner of each side of the windshield, a small light bar along the top of the OEM Bumper, and possibly something at the rear of the Jeep, but not on the top.

1. Are there any lights that can be added that are legal to be used on road? (I am located in Southern California).

2. Must any lights have an Amber lens vs clear?

3. What types and powers of lights do you recommend, and where can I get the best deal on the lights? If at all possible I would like to use existing mounting points by adding brackets rather than drilling into the body.

4.What type of front Bumper Bull Bar do you recommend for mounting on the OEM Bumper that will be useful, strong and will not unduly interfere with the trail camera, and where should I look to purchase the same?

Thank you very much for your efforts and I appreciate your thoughts!

Happy New Year!
 
Last edited:
Like many others I'm currently waiting for my 392 XR Recon to arrive. During this interim. I am collecting a few items to add. My 392 will be used mostly on the roadways and occasionally for light off-road use. I think I will avoid adding a wench at this time. I plan to go with the Ironman 4 x 4 Raid Rails/Step and would also like to add a few lights. Most likely I will add two (2) of the same lights below the lower front corner of each side of the windshield, a small light bar along the top of the OEM Bumper, and possibly something at the rear of the Jeep, but not on the top.

1. Are there any lights that can be added that are legal to be used on road? (I am located in Southern California).

2. Must any lights have an Amber lens vs clear?

3. What types and powers of lights do you recommend, and where can I get the best deal on the lights? If at all possible I would like to use existing mounting points by adding brackets rather than drilling into the body.

4.What type of front Bumper Bull Bar do you recommend for mounting on the OEM Bumper that will be useful, strong and will not unduly interfere with the trail camera, and where should I look to purchase the same?

Thank you very much for your efforts and I appreciate your thoughts!

Happy New Year!
Here is the california vehicle code section on lighting

California Vehicle Code
 
Maxiumus 3 and LP6 Baja Designs drops right in the existing holes.

I bought a new bar for my Gladiator so I have a brand new in the box Maximus 3 bar if you are interested.

let me find a pic, be careful, some bars block the forward camera

Wait, I also have a brand new set of LP3's and harness also.

Here is same bar and light on Gladiator, lights are white and have the yellow halo that matches the side markers on the Jeep. If you have Aux switches I have 3 set to orange light and stays on day and night, aux1 ti high beam, aux 2 to low beam

all drops in the existing Rubicon bumper holes
 

Attachments

  • A8B496F9-54B4-4829-9E19-87D01BEB50E0.webp
    A8B496F9-54B4-4829-9E19-87D01BEB50E0.webp
    211.3 KB · Views: 327
another option is this Maximus 3 bar but cant use LP6 only LP4 but 4's are plenty for road use. 6's are not offroad

when I have high beam on people walking dogs at night flip me the bird

I have 4's on one Jeep and then the Squadron Pro matching fog lights to get all my lumens back, if you go 6's then the regular squadron fog lights are all you need.

LP6 high beam on the road is very illegal, oncoming car gets a one second blast and you might have a head on collision. they are no joke.
 

Attachments

  • 8DB98113-530A-4BE1-9056-3FFBCA3B6E68.webp
    8DB98113-530A-4BE1-9056-3FFBCA3B6E68.webp
    294.2 KB · Views: 283
Like many others I'm currently waiting for my 392 XR Recon to arrive. During this interim. I am collecting a few items to add. My 392 will be used mostly on the roadways and occasionally for light off-road use. I think I will avoid adding a wench at this time. I plan to go with the Ironman 4 x 4 Raid Rails/Step and would also like to add a few lights. Most likely I will add two (2) of the same lights below the lower front corner of each side of the windshield, a small light bar along the top of the OEM Bumper, and possibly something at the rear of the Jeep, but not on the top.

1. Are there any lights that can be added that are legal to be used on road? (I am located in Southern California).

2. Must any lights have an Amber lens vs clear?

3. What types and powers of lights do you recommend, and where can I get the best deal on the lights? If at all possible I would like to use existing mounting points by adding brackets rather than drilling into the body.

4.What type of front Bumper Bull Bar do you recommend for mounting on the OEM Bumper that will be useful, strong and will not unduly interfere with the trail camera, and where should I look to purchase the same?

Thank you very much for your efforts and I appreciate your thoughts!

Happy New Year!
Regarding camera interference: here is a photo of the front camera view of a Jeep with the MOPAR Grill Guard and MOPAR Lights.
MOPAR Lights.webp
 
I am also in Orange County. California has some pretty tough restrictions on lighting. Only a few "off road" lights are street legal. Look for ones that are DOT approved. Baja Designs makes one but you could not run it while using the fogs. It is meant to be a fog replacement. I replaced my fogs with their sport version, brighter than the DOT's but less than the pro to keep the CHP away. I went with the amber fogs for contrast but both amber and white are legal. Like Smess above I installed 2 LP6's on the bumper with the reversible bar from Maximus 3, mine leans back. For me the bar is mostly for looks, not sure how useful it is unless you mount lights to it. It would block the camera more. Except for tight parking the trail cam is not that useful on trails. I would like to move it near the skid plate or a bracket of the protruding oil pan plug. I also removed the hooks made some carbon fiber plates for the holes and made the mounting hardware, no drilling required. I added the Maximus 3 front tow loops for recovery. I also made some carbon fiber A pillar mounts for LP4's. I repurposed my Rigid back up lights and installed on the ends of the bumper facing out to the sides. Fairly adjustable using all 4 aux switches. Probably overkill on light but I once got lost at night in Azusa canyon back in the 70's, before cell phones, GPS and LEDs.
 
Last edited:
Maximus has the higher loop, that is the classic above. The higher one accommodates the LP6's but interferes with camera. Honestly the camera to me is irrelevant because you can relocate it and how often is it used.

Mopar bar is not a good comparison it sits very low.

The older I get my night vision is getting worse and side vision is even worse so I like to light up as much as I can in residential areas so I dont hit anyone or an animal.

I like the quality of the finish of the Maximus product, smittybilt and Rugged Ridge are not 392 caliber in my opinion and I like how the mount in place of existing so takes minutes to install with a T45 Torx and a drill.
 
I am also in Orange County. California has some pretty tough restrictions on lighting. Only a few "off road" lights are street legal. Look for ones that are DOT approved. Baja Designs makes one but you could not run it while using the fogs. It is meant to be a fog replacement. I replaced my fogs with their sport version, brighter than the DOT's but less than the pro to keep the CHP away. I went with the amber fogs for contrast but both amber and white are legal. Like Smess above I installed 2 LP6's on the bumper with the reversible bar from Maximus 3, mine leans back. For me the bar is mostly for looks, not sure how useful it is unless you mount lights to it. It would block the camera more. Except for tight parking the trail cam is not that useful on trails. I would like to move it near the skid plate or a bracket of the protruding oil pan plug. I also removed the hooks made some carbon fiber plates for the holes and made the mounting hardware, no drilling required. I added the Maximus 3 front tow loops for recovery. I also made some carbon fiber A pillar mounts for LP4's. I repurposed my Rigid back up lights and installed on the ends of the bumper facing out to the sides. Fairly adjustable using all 4 aux switches. Probably overkill on light but I once got lost at night in Azusa canyon back in the 70's, before cell phones, GPS and LEDs.
Sounds impressive! You are obviously far more skilled than I at doing these types of things. I must say that so far the shops that I have visited were... Not impressive and the prices were just silly (even in Orange County California where we are used to paying a significant premium). I will concentrate on making modifications that will be useful for my purposes. There are many Jeeps that look awesome and ready to serve in combat or climb mountains, but that is probably beyond my projected use.
 
I would strongly recommend getting the “wench,” mine has been faithful for these last 18 years and we have 3 lovely daughters.
Agreed have wench but do not need winch! Although when I consider maintenance for a second... Just kidding and happy New Year to all!
 
Every time I call mine a wench, I get a well deserved dope slap.
 
Here is the california vehicle code section on lighting

California Vehicle Code
Hmmm... some interesting provisions! Of course some of the other provisions require that the lights be very weak.

(a) Not more than four lamps of the following types showing to the front of a vehicle may be lighted at any one time:

(1) Headlamps.

(2) Auxiliary driving or passing lamps.

(3) Fog lamps.

(4) Warning lamps.

(5) Spot lamps.

(6) Gaseous discharge lamps specified in Section 25258.

(b) For the purpose of this section each pair of a dual headlamp system shall be considered as one lamp.

(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any authorized emergency vehicle.

(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 234.)


24406.


Except as otherwise provided, the headlamps, or other auxiliary driving lamps, or a combination thereof, on a motor vehicle during darkness shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations, and the lamps may, in addition, be so arranged that the selection can be made automatically.

(Enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3.)
 
I am also in Orange County. California has some pretty tough restrictions on lighting. Only a few "off road" lights are street legal. Look for ones that are DOT approved. Baja Designs makes one but you could not run it while using the fogs. It is meant to be a fog replacement. I replaced my fogs with their sport version, brighter than the DOT's but less than the pro to keep the CHP away. I went with the amber fogs for contrast but both amber and white are legal. Like Smess above I installed 2 LP6's on the bumper with the reversible bar from Maximus 3, mine leans back. For me the bar is mostly for looks, not sure how useful it is unless you mount lights to it. It would block the camera more. Except for tight parking the trail cam is not that useful on trails. I would like to move it near the skid plate or a bracket of the protruding oil pan plug. I also removed the hooks made some carbon fiber plates for the holes and made the mounting hardware, no drilling required. I added the Maximus 3 front tow loops for recovery. I also made some carbon fiber A pillar mounts for LP4's. I repurposed my Rigid back up lights and installed on the ends of the bumper facing out to the sides. Fairly adjustable using all 4 aux switches. Probably overkill on light but I once got lost at night in Azusa canyon back in the 70's, before cell phones, GPS and LEDs.
I just ordered the LP4s and plan on mounting them directly to the bumper, probably to the winch filler plate so I’m drilling through something that can be easily and inexpensively replaced, should I change my mind later. Florida Laws are similar (only 4 lights on at once), so if I want to light up the LP4s I will have to keep my OEM foglights off.
 
another option is this Maximus 3 bar but cant use LP6 only LP4 but 4's are plenty for road use. 6's are not offroad

when I have high beam on people walking dogs at night flip me the bird

I have 4's on one Jeep and then the Squadron Pro matching fog lights to get all my lumens back, if you go 6's then the regular squadron fog lights are all you need.

LP6 high beam on the road is very illegal, oncoming car gets a one second blast and you might have a head on collision. they are no joke.
I'm confused your pic looks like Maximus XLP with LP6's. Are the brackets angled forward? I've got the XLP from maximus and you can only mount the LP'4 in native holes if reversing the brackets but then the very expensive lights are the most forward thing and first to take a hit. There is a youtube video with alternate hole placement but they are still really far forward. You can use the SLP hoop reversed and use stock holes for everything I believe even LP6's. I've got a set of LP4's I'm trying to figure where to mount. I may go with the laser 10inch bar under the hoop.
 
Has anyone mounted Baja Designs LP6 lights on the factory 392 front bumper when they have also installed the OEM Mopar (low) grill guard/bull Bar? If so, what type of mount did you use? Did you drill the front bumper? I just spoke with Baja Designs and they indicated that the Lights would normally install where the grill guard (any grill guard) mounts to the bumper so it would be necessary to either drill the bumper or use clamps mounted on the grill guard bar. Baja Designs sells clamps to accommodate up to a 2 inch diameter grill guard bar-- I do not know the diameter of the OEM Mopar grill guard bar. Any ideas and photos would be appreciated. I ordered the Mopar OEM grill guard bar because I do not want to have any filament issues or obscure the OEM trail camera with higher bars. I have not ordered the lights yet so I could make a change if you think there is a better solution. The Baja Designs person that I spoke with also suggested not mounting either LP6 or LP4 lights in front of the lower corners of the front windshield due to glare from the hood, etc. I'm not looking for overkill here, just some coverage. This Jeep is unlikely to see hard-core off-road use so the lights will be of limited utility anyway on the roadways (Vacant Rd., Parked, etc.). Thank you for your thoughts!
 
Has anyone mounted Baja Designs LP6 lights on the factory 392 front bumper when they have also installed the OEM Mopar (low) grill guard/bull Bar? If so, what type of mount did you use? Did you drill the front bumper? I just spoke with Baja Designs and they indicated that the Lights would normally install where the grill guard (any grill guard) mounts to the bumper so it would be necessary to either drill the bumper or use clamps mounted on the grill guard bar. Baja Designs sells clamps to accommodate up to a 2 inch diameter grill guard bar-- I do not know the diameter of the OEM Mopar grill guard bar. Any ideas and photos would be appreciated. I ordered the Mopar OEM grill guard bar because I do not want to have any filament issues or obscure the OEM trail camera with higher bars. I have not ordered the lights yet so I could make a change if you think there is a better solution. The Baja Designs person that I spoke with also suggested not mounting either LP6 or LP4 lights in front of the lower corners of the front windshield due to glare from the hood, etc. I'm not looking for overkill here, just some coverage. This Jeep is unlikely to see hard-core off-road use so the lights will be of limited utility anyway on the roadways (Vacant Rd., Parked, etc.). Thank you for your thoughts!
I was headed down a similar path (LP6s on the MOPAR Grill Guard), but had second thoughts about obscuring the camera....so when the parts distributor lost track of my MOPAR Grill Guard, I cancelled the order, ordered LP4s instead and mounted them directly to the winch cover plate. I like the lower profile, the size of the lights, the visual obstruction is acceptable, and if I change my mind I can always replace the winch cover plate.
 

Attachments

  • tempImage5xHhmI.webp
    tempImage5xHhmI.webp
    140.6 KB · Views: 235
  • tempImageyVqiU7.webp
    tempImageyVqiU7.webp
    114.4 KB · Views: 244
  • tempImage57dRym.webp
    tempImage57dRym.webp
    181.6 KB · Views: 237
Last edited:
Looks like a very clean install! I still want the grill guard so I may try the clamps and see if that works. By the way I believe I've been dealing with your linked dealer on the parts that I have ordered!
 
Looks like a very clean install! I still want the grill guard so I may try the clamps and see if that works. By the way I believe I've been dealing with your linked dealer on the parts that I have ordered!
Thanks. Still a work in progress; the lights are mounted but I haven’t run the wires yet. I have nothing against the dealership that lost track of my grill guard. I bought a new Challenger from them in 2019; had a great experience and have received parts from them twice with no issues. I was told the package with my grill guard was rejected at a UPS center and sent back to the sender. Another week went by with no status, no contact, no returned calls so I cancelled it via their website. I hope your grill guard comes through soon.
 
Last edited:
Please let me know if anyone has ideas regarding a front grill guard which can be mounted on the OEM front 392 bumper and permit the mounting of 2 Baja Design LP6s under the grill guard while still retaining the use of the front tow hooks and reasonable visibility from the OEM trail camera. I do not mind some obstruction of the camera but would still like some functionality without relocating the camera. I canceled my order of the Mopar low grill guard since it appears that it would not accommodate the LP6s below.
 

Create an account or login to comment

Join now to leave a comment enjoy browsing the site ad-free!

Create account

Create an account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Back
Top