Baja Designs: General Discussion Thread - GEN 2

[Nick@Apollo-Optics]

I’m now considering 2 pairs of SAE’s. That’s 10k lumens, should be pretty bright on the road. Based on recommendations maybe the S1’s in wide cornering as well.

Amything in the spots may spend more time off than on. Is it my understanding low mounted spots will create a narrow beam of light on the road or just put nothing down close ahead of you? Raptor36 I value your findings when you utilized these lights and what the spot’s lacked to provide. Should help me make my choice in lights much easier.

I'd advise against 2 pairs of SAE lights especially with the S1 Wide. I'd look at doing a Spot or at least a Driving/Combo pattern for one of the Squadron Pairs and then go with Squadron SAE. Maybe an amber Wide S1 to tie everything together and give you some color variation for different situations where amber may be desired.

 

[Slow6]

Some states have laws about how many sets of lights you can have on at a time with oncoming traffic or even just on a maintained road or hwy.

So regardless of two sets of SAE fog lights and factory headlights, you might only be able to have one set of fog lights on at a time with the headlights. So why have two sets only at SAE level? Look into your local laws, I’d hate to see you spend the money and not be able to do what you plan.


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[K223]

I’m going to utilize the upfitter switches as most do. I would like to wire both pairs of Squadron SAE’s into one switch and the S1’s into a second upfitter switch. Honestly if I could some how easily wire this into the trucks lighting system and be able to make it work in auto mode, for SAE’s, I probably would. But I’ll stay with an easy upfitter switch install.

Going to use FRL.com 3 light bezel and harness kit as well.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

Was looking to run 3 of these lights on each side of the bumper. Mainly for on road use.

Squadron SAE
Squadron Sport(driving combo)
S1 Spot

I realize the S1’s can only be utilized on empty roads or off road.

Or am I wasting lights maybe not being able to utilize them all the time? Or might S1 wide cornering have more use for some on road situations? I just would like to have a pair of lights with some throw if needed.

If you plan to run that setup, the S1 spots would get "lost" essentially. S1's have 2,375 lumen each whereas the Squadron SAE have 2,480 lumen each. So let's just say they are the same for arguments sake. Now they do have different patterns but if you put a spot on, you wan it bright and to throw light down range. So Squadron Pro or Squadron Racers is what i'd recommend for Spots.

I'd say if you want the best setup go with your Squadron SAE for your daily driving then do Squadron Driving/Combo and Squadron Spots (in pros). That'll give you that added light when you need it.

If you went with Sports, they'd match up similar in output as the SAE (only a little taller output). You would have a different pattern but for my $$, upgrading to Pros to throw that light far for off-road use is ideal.

You can configure the lights as you want with the SPP Triple Fog Light Kit btw: http://www.4x4truckleds.com/2017-ford-raptor-triple-fog-light-kit-w-baja-designs-lights/

 

[smurfslayer]

I’ve so far settled on 1 each - SAE, s Pro combo, s pro spot. I’m thinking I may swap out the spot for combo and run 2x combos, and 1x SAE. The lights are low enough that it’s a chore to aim them so they are level and I didn’t notice a whole lot of difference between the combo and spot distance wise, but the combos create a little wider throw pattern that helps up close. If I go to the extra combo set up front I may consider some pillar mounts, maybe some xl80s. I’ve got an s8 that pushes out pretty far. I’m sure not as far as a focused spot, but quite nice.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

I use the combos myself for the same reason. Wide Cornering are not enough for me and spots are not enough. So Driving/Combo pros work great for me to light EVERYTHING up.

I run S2 Pros Wide Cornering, Squadron Pros Driving/Combo and Squadron Pros Wide Cornering Amber now.

I never use my ambers because pros are too much I feel for street use. The ambers are for bad weather.

I plan to swap everything out to

Squadron SAE
Squadron Driving/Combo Pro
Squadron SAE, Amber

This way I have street legal use for all weather and then my driving/combos to act as "high beams" as I have the LVJ Motorsports relay system so i can trigger any lights from my highs.

We just got a huge shipment of SAE in yesterday so we have PLENTY of SAE in stock right now. It's one of our most popular lights I think right now.

 

[K223]

Now from further feedback I may lean towards Squadron SAE’s wide for daily driver on road, Squadron Sports or Pro’s In driving combo and the S1’s Wide flood on the outside of the three light bezel.

I would like max lighting I can use on road on a regular basis. But questioning dual pairs of SAE’s due to laws or just too much of the same light and wasting options.

I imagine I can run the S1 Wide floods often even on road if properly aimed and not heavy traffic. The Squad pros/sports for extra punch off road or when extreme light needed.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

1 pair of SAEs would be the max you could have on, in most states. Most states mandated a max of four (4) forward facing lights (this is why triggering high beams on turns fogs off in other Ford trucks).

So you would not want/need to run 2 pairs of fogs whiel on regular roads. Remember, one set should be for FOG/DRIVING conditions. So you only really want 1 set of "fog lights" on if you are on public roads. And those lights should not be blinding. So SAE lights are perfect for that. Then as you said Driving/Combos are great for a 2nd set as they REALLY light up the road. Then you can have a 3rd pair such as Spots or Racers to throw light way down range.

You would not want to have SAE & S1s on at the same time for public roads. Too much light and in most states you'd be breaking the law.

You could probably run the S1 in wide cornering on the road IF it was the only set of lights you ran down there. S1 wide cornering would be similar to S2 Pros in Wide Cornering as far as light output goes. I run S2 Pros in Wide Cornering myself, but im going to upgrade to SAE because it's the right thing to do AND we have lots in stock I want to run what we sell.

For you maybe do

Squadron SAE (everyday use lights)
Squadron Pro Driving/Combo (I like these for "brights", great for back-roads when you need to light everything up
Squadron Pro Spots OR Squadron Racer Editions (great for when you're on a trail or something or just NEED to throw light down range).

As I mentioned, on my own truck which is a daily driver, im going to do 2 sets of SAE (one white, one amber) so that I can pick which lights I want based on the weather. I'll never use them both at the same time. I'll then use my Squadron Pro Driving/Combos as my "high beam" mode lights.

You can design your system here: http://www.4x4truckleds.com/2017-ford-raptor-triple-fog-light-kit-w-baja-designs-lights/

 

[Speeddeacon]

Thanks for your feedback. This helps to explain it vs trying to picture beam patterns. The spots are really just that tight spot beams. They do sound useless for on road. Lights that light up the road is what I need most. Lighting up mountainsides won’t serve me that often. I’m really thinking 2 pairs of Squadron SAE’s and 1 pair of S1’s wide cornering for when I can use them for extra punch. Doesn’t sound like I can go wrong in most cases with this setup.

You might be wasting your money if you do that setup. in wide cornering, which is the only way the SAE comes, one pair will provide plenty of output. A second pair would be redundant unless one is clear and one is amber. The S1 could be a spot version, but if you are going to go with a spot, the squadron would provide more output down the road. Probably the best combo is what the guys at Offroad Alliance posted, S1 wide cornering or SAE in amber for the fog/dust scenario (or just DRL), SAE clear for night on road use then a Squadron in spot or driving combo for "offroad" use.

 

[K223]

Thats what I think the final configuration will have. Being that one pair of Squadron SAE’s will do the job for all on road situations why go redundant.

Squadron SAE’s
Squadron Sport/Pro driving combo
S1 Wide cornering

All clear lenses. I think this provides a nice mix of lighting.