We need a BLF lightbar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for 4wds/4x4

Ok, so this is a bit of a sideways step from a torch (aka flashlight). Although the underlying tech really isn’t all that different.

At present LED lightbars or spotlights seem to fall into two main categories:

-Cheap and completely rubbish
-Hugely expensive but generally still with poor light quality.

Nearly all the lightbars at any price seem to have 6000-6500k poor tint & low CRI LEDs. Which frankly makes them a bit crap.

Is there anyone on BLF who could help make a BLF lightbar?

Of course there is potential for an entire range of lights. But let’s start off with just a middish sized lightbar. Say 20”, as it would be small enough to fit to a UTV/ATV or pretty much any 4x4. And you could always run a pair of them if you need more light for a bigger vehicle.

Must Haves:

  • 4000-5000k
  • 90CRI+
  • Good water proofing
  • Good mounting
  • No stupid blinky modes, just on/off
  • BLF pricing point

No sure on exact specs, I think that would be open for debate/discussion. Also would be housing dependant. But conceptually a 20” bar would give enough room for ten C8 heads or reflectors. If each housed a moderately driven SST-40 or XHP50.2 it should perform very well.

I don’t have the know how or contacts to even start a project off like this. So, I’m hoping there is someone on here who maybe has such a contact. Or would it be conceivable that someone like Manker/Lumpintop/Astrolux etc would be interested? Surely vehicle lighting is only one step away from flashlights. And I bet a lot of people would be very glad to buy a genuine good quality vehicle lightbar with good tint!

This would sell like hotcakes in my neck of the woods, country boy USA!

Here in the US, Mtn Electronics makes made some pretty good lightbars already… http://www.mtnlitebar.com/

Looks like they’re not taking any new orders, so it seems like your post is aimed in the right direction.

"We need a BLF lightbar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for 4wds/4x4"

Needs more exclamation marks.

Thanks. Didn’t know about those. Although they don’t seem to ship to the UK, so not an option. They also seem a little “premium” priced.

I like the idea of using multiple C8 reflectors, each with it’s own 16mm or 20mm MCPCB… so both the reflectors and LEDs can be easily swapped out.

Yeah, I was interested in theirs but they are pricy and they don’t seem to be doing them anymore. I would love to be able to buy a good BLF lightbar, I’ve held off on getting one for a while because none of the good manufacturers really make what I want. Your specs are pretty much identical to what I would want- 4k-5k (as warm as we can go without taking an output penalty) , high CRI, weatherproof, on-off only. A good mix of throw/ flood would also be a necessity for me.

A whole lineup would probably be possible. I would be interested in a ~12”, a ~50”, and a couple of cube lights depending on price.

Make sure it has lots of low frequency PWM too !!!

Maybe make every other one a speaker so it can be a light and sound bar .

Very interested in a 4000k one. Maybe some smaller pods as well.

Another previous BLF member light bar…
Rydel light bar

I need this!

Yes ridell tried making some and they didnt sell well. Everybody was hung up on price.

Seems people would rather spend big bucks on a flashlight, and run cheap chinese crap on their vehicles. I find that strange.

Thats the issue with a large light bar. By the time you get the custom parts and the labor of making one off lights the price is gonna be sky high. Most people aint gonna want to spend it.

Another issue is aiming for middel of the road stats or price point. The cheep guys will say you are price gouging and there lights aRe Gude’Nuff. The high end guys will just trash your product for being over priced imported crap made at the same factory and just charging more.

It is a no win situation for the manufactures. Even I would like a few light bars, I just don’t like the mounting options for my daily commuter rig.

If price will surely be an issue in a 20” light bar (with C8 reflectors/XHP50.2), I suggest just a shorter one that can house let’s say 4 reflectors per modular, EXPANDABLE housing, as nowadays a single C8 is already quite impressive compared to a pair of car OEM headlights.

I understand that to actually sell a light bar it would have to have at least the appearance of having a ton of emitters even if they weren't needed . What about a mixture of high power and interlaced with B.S. cheaper annoying colored emitters and a supersonic stupid mode which dazzled and hypnotized the less led literate .Maybe a moon mode of High Cri 5MM leds for map reading :p

This guy had what looked to be a great light bar going, but just fell off the map a year ago. Maybe got beamed up by aliens, who knows.

I’m keen. Need to measure if 20” would fit on a ‘standard’ nudge bar as well as a full on bull bar to keep the market open. I will do some measurements and come back.

I guess as a first attempt a 12” bar would work fine.

But looking on banggood, they seem to offer a selection all under $140

Now don’t get me wrong. I know that those ones are likely dreadful.

But we all know that a good tint LED doesn’t really cost anything more than poor tint ones.

Just as we have with flashlights (Kronos X6, BLF A6, etc). I’m sure an existing housing could simply be utilised with different emitters and electronics. I was thinking for a 20” bar to be in the $120-300 price range depending on exact size.

I know this is all fantasy. But I can see it being feasible. And should places like Banggood want to stock and sell such an item (maybe with involvement from someone like Lumintop/Manker etc). Then I see such an item being potentially a good seller too.

I thought about this a few times. If I were to make it, it would be just to do it. There isn’t a way to make them cost effectively for the non-bulk manufacturer. Materials just cost too much.

You got me interested again though. I haven’t made a light in a while. I might put this on my TO DO List.