How Beneficial is an LED Light Bar for Your 4x4

 A 4x4 is certainly a more capable vehicle than most just because of its drivetrain which sends power to all four wheels. This is not just a gimmick even if it's on a regular sedan as it means you get traction on every corner of your car.

Being capable of off-roading, 4x4 vehicles require certain accessories with one of them being auxiliary lights. These added lighting fixtures help make exploring the wild at night a lot easier and they also make it easier for other to see you on a beaten path. Auxiliary lights come in different form factors with the most versatile one being a light bar.

Benefits of LED Light 

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Efficiency

An LED light of any kind is one of the most efficient lighting solutions you'll come across. LEDs are made so that they have very little to no power loss no matter the application. This makes an LED light bar for 4WD vehicles the most fitting especially if you have lots of power reliant accessories fitted to it.

Power

Another big reason to go for an LED light bar is the fact that it generates a high number of lumens meaning it's quite powerful. This means that you'll get a bright enough light to illuminate your way through unknown trails and pathways with ease.

Longevity

With LED lights comes a long lifespan and that's mainly because of the lack of a bulb and the efficient use of power. This gives them a reputation for being the most long-lasting lighting fixtures as some of them can be used for about 50,000 hours.

Versatility

LED lights are incredibly versatile since they can be used to generate different colours of light as well as different types of beams. Moreover, you can use LED lights in different scenarios where you need less light since they can become dimmer at the press of a button or turn of a knob.

What to Consider in a Light Bar

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Beam Pattern

The type of beam you go for in an LED light bar for 4WD cars is going to determine how you use said light bar. For instance, if you go for a bar with a flooded beam pattern you'll be able to illuminate in close proximity to your vehicle or what's in front of it but know that you get a wider beam angle this way.

A spot beam pattern lets you illuminate at a greater distance than a bar with a flooded beam pattern does but you don't necessarily get a wide beam angle meaning you can only illuminant an object or two. There's also a third option of getting an LED bar for a 4x4 with a combination beam pattern that uses both a flooded and a sport beam which you can combine to get a mix between the two.

Lumens

The number of lumens a light bar comes with determines how bright of a light it produces and how much you'll improve visibility. Keep in mind though, that a light with a high lumen count is not necessarily better since it can also end up blinding others and consume a lot more power.

Shape

You can get either a curved or a flat light bar. The difference between the two is that the former gives a much wider angle meaning you can see in a broader field of view than what you get with a flat LED light.

IP Rating

Since you'll be traversing the bush in all kinds of weather conditions it's important to go for a light bar with a solid IP rating. An IP rating is essentially a measurement that tells you how well-protected the light is from water and dust. The greater this two-digit number is the better as it means the bar is quite well sealed off. This rating does increase the light's price but also the chances of it surviving through the most adverse weather conditions.

Rows

A light bar can have up to 3 rows of light. The more there are the more powerful and more versatile the bar is. You get more lumens to work with but also different beam patterns to switch between. Although these LED lights are more power-hungry and heavier, they are a true off-roader's best friend in the darkest of hours.

Placement

Where you mount an LED bar for a 4x4 will affect almost all of the above features and properties. You can have it on the bumper, bullbar, bonnet and roof. The best place for all-around use is the roof as you have a position from which you can illuminant far away and in close quarters quite well. There is little compromise in both scenarios but you don't get the most in either as well. You can go for the bonnet but know that you won't be able to have good visibility if the bar comes with more than one row of lights.