How to install off-road lights on your car

When you're racing off-road after sunset, you need more than just headlights to light up the road ahead of you. Off-road lights come in many shapes and sizes, including:

• Headlights on the bumper
• Off-road lights on the grill
• LED spotlights with remote control
• Light beams on the roof

Lights vary in color, brightness, placement, and purpose. If you want to improve visibility while driving off-road, you will need to choose headlights depending on what is important to you.

• Led lights come in different styles, brightness and colors. They are incredibly durable, most of them rated for 25,000 hours or more. This is the most reliable choice because they do not use a filament that can burn out or dislodge in harsh environments and never need to replace the bulb. LED lamps are more expensive than traditional lamps, often two or three times the original cost.

• Incandescent lamps use a traditional light bulb with an incandescent filament. They have been around for a very long time and are a cheaper option than LED bulbs. They are reliable, and when the bulbs burn out, they can be replaced at minimal cost, unlike LED lights, which cannot be repaired and must be replaced as an assembly. Incandescent bulbs burn out more easily because light bulbs and filaments are thinner and can leave you in the dark at the most inopportune moment.

Part 1 of 3: Choose the Light for Your Needs

Step 1: Determine your needs. Determine what you need based on conditions and off-road riding habits.

If you are driving at high speed, roof-mounted lights that illuminate a long distance are an excellent choice.

If you plan on driving at low speeds, such as cross country or rock climbing, bumper or grille mounted headlights are your best bet.

If you're doing a combination of off-road practices, you can add multiple lighting styles to your vehicle.

Think about the quality of the lamps you choose. Read online reviews to determine if the bulbs are right for your purpose and will last in the conditions they will be used in.

• A warning: Driving on a highway with off-road lights on is dangerous to oncoming traffic as it may dazzle other drivers. In many areas, you can be fined for driving on the road with your off-road lights on, and in some areas you can be fined if your lights are not covered.

Step 2: Get the supplies you need. Buy high-quality fixtures with a manufacturer's warranty in case of failure.

Part 2 of 3: Install headlights on your car

• Functions: Check the packaging that your off-road lights came in to determine exactly what tools you may need for your application.

Necessary materials

• Drill
• Marker or pen
• Masking tape
• Measuring tape
• Electric drill
• Ratchet and sockets
• silicone
• Paint retouching

Step 1: Determine the installation location. Your off-road lights should be installed in a location where wiring can be routed in a relatively safe manner.

The fasteners on the headlights must be accessible so that they can be sufficiently tightened.

The site should be flat if installed on a rooftop so you can seal the spot once the light is installed.

Step 2: Mark the Spots for the Lights. Tape a piece of masking tape to the installation location on one side and clearly mark the exact location with a marker or pen.

Measure the exact location with a tape measure. Place a piece of tape on the other side of your car in the same spot, marking the exact spot equidistant from the first spot.

Step 3: Drill holes for lighting and wiring..

• Functions: Always use the exact size of the drill that is listed in your flashlight's instructions so you don't have any trouble fixing the flashlights in place or patching up the patch afterwards.

Check the installation site to make sure that the drill will not damage anything beyond the installation site, such as the ceiling lining. If there is, move it to the side or move the light sources to another location.

Drill a hole in the metal at the desired location using an electric drill and a suitable size drill bit.

Drill through the masking tape. The tape will prevent the paint from peeling off and help hold the drill bit in place to start the hole.

Be careful not to drill too far. As soon as the tip of the drill enters the metal, immediately pull the drill back out.

Repeat for the other side light. If your wiring must go through metal, drill the appropriate wiring hole at the same time. Some mounting bolts have wiring going through the bolt.

Step 4: Touch up the raw metal.. To prevent rust formation, paint the bare metal from the drilled holes.

Touch-up paint will also make the edges less sharp so the wiring won't rub.

Step 5: Put the lights back in place. Run a small bead of silicone along the edge of the hole where the lantern will be placed. This will seal the hole from water leaks and is especially important for ceiling lights.

Place the mounting bolt from the lantern into the drilled hole.

Make sure the light node is pointing in the desired forward direction. Depending on the lighting style, you may or may not be able to adjust the direction of the light afterwards.

From the underside of the hole, install a washer and nut onto the bolt and hand-tighten until snug.

Finish tightening the nut with a ratchet and socket.

Step 6: Install the sleeve. If the wiring goes through the housing, install the grommet in the wiring hole. This will prevent chafing of wires and short circuits to ground.

Pass the wires through the grommet. Seal the wiring in the grommet once the light is ready.

Part 3 of 3: Install off-road light wiring

Necessary materials

• battery key
• Crimping tool
• Crimp Type Wiring Connectors
• Additional wiring
• Fuse holder with fuse
• Switch
• Electric drill with drill
• Screwdrivers
• Wire strippers

Step 1: Disconnect the battery. To prevent electrical shock, fire, or damage to new lights, disconnect the battery.

First, disconnect the negative terminal from the battery using a battery terminal wrench.

Turn the battery clamp counterclockwise and remove the clamp when it loosens.

Repeat for the positive battery terminal.

Step 2 Install the switch in the desired location..

Select a location that is easily accessible to the driver, such as on the center console, under the radio, or on the dashboard next to the steering column.

Depending on the switch style and installation location you choose, you may need to drill a hole to install the switch or run wires through.

Install the wires to the switch. One wire will go to the battery to supply power to the switch, and the other will connect to the lights to supply power to light them.

Step 4: Connect Your Lights. Connect the wiring to the headlights. The lights will have a black ground wire and another wire that supplies power to the lights.

Connect the wire from the switch to the power wires on the lights. Use connectors if supplied with your fixtures.

If your lights don't have connectors, strip a half inch of bare wire from the end of each power wire with wire strippers.

Insert each end into a crimped wire connector. Crimp the connector onto the wires by squeezing with a crimping tool or pliers. Squeeze hard so that the connector squeezes the wires inside.

Do the same for the ground wires if they don't have a harness. Connect the end of the ground wire to a bare metal spot hidden either under the dashboard or under the hood.

You can use an existing location or drill a new location and attach the ground wire with a screw.

Step 5: Connect the power cable to the battery..

The connection to the battery must be fusible. If the supplied wire with the lights you purchased does not have one, install the built-in fuse holder onto the wire using the same crimp connectors and tool.

One end goes to the switch on the dashboard and the other end connects directly to the battery.

Connect the wire to the battery terminal, then install the fuse.

Step 6 Connect the battery. Connect the positive terminal first, using the battery terminal wrench in a clockwise direction.

Make sure the off-road light power cord is securely attached here.

Connect the negative terminal by turning the terminal clockwise.

Check the off-road lights to make sure they are pointed at the correct angle. If necessary, adjust them according to your needs.