Ditch Lights

TimRF

Newbie - I just got my 2024 WildTrak. I want to add some ditch lights but I have some questions.

1. Do I need a relay if I hook the ditch lights up to my auxiliary switches?
2. Does it make any difference on which switch that I use?
3. Is there any kind of consensus of the best ditch lights are the best for the price?
4. Is there a best way to hook up the lights.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time and help.

Which switch/wiring to use... depends on the ditch lights you choose... It all comes down to the amperage draw. You do not NEED a relay because each of the aux switches has a relay already in line.... Personally (and I go overboard) I do not trust that thin little wiring that Ford put in these.... So I made my own relay box so that every one of my switches can handle a 40 amp load. then I run my own heavy wiring to where ever I need.

Unicorn, thank you for your time and help

Unicorn

Personally (and I go overboard) I do not trust that thin little wiring that Ford put in these.... So I made my own relay box

But Ford uses special pure oxygen free multi-strand turbo wound high electron ultra low digital impedance copper wire. You'll be fine :)

I bought the Ford Performance Rigid lights: https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-15200K-BML
No, they are probably not the best lights money can buy but I think they put out more than adequate light. Mine still look brand new after a year and half of use. Plus, I bought them with my Ford Pass points from buying my Bronco. They were basically free besides the shipping. So if you don't have anything planned for those points, this may be the way to go.

Deano Bronc

I bought the Ford Performance Rigid lights: https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-15200K-BML
No, they are probably not the best lights money can buy but I think they put out more than adequate light. Mine still look brand new after a year and half of use. Plus, I bought them with my Ford Pass points from buying my Bronco. They were basically free besides the shipping. So if you don't have anything planned for those points, this may be the way to go.

Yep. Wired mine to aux switch 6.

Ok, gonna ask a dumb question here...the ditch lights I'm looking at are rated at 7.5 amps (Baja Design LP6). So, because there are 2, does that mean my amp draw is 15 amps (7.5 X 2) and I should go with Aux 1 or 2, OR will Aux 3 be ok since it's 10 amps and the light is 7.5. Just not sure if I need to account for both lights in my amp draw, I think I do but not sure. Thanks in advance for any insights.

I have KC Flex Era 3's and really like them. I wanted smaller and also swapped out the gold rim for black. Very bright and no rust/issues after 2 years. Like new.

My "fogs" are Rigids and they are great (Specialty Performance Parts kit with parking backlight). 2 scene and 1 spot per side. Also no rust/issues and these take the brunt of the road abuse on the highway.

I'll leave the electrical to the professionals but the kits with wiring harnesses and a little YouTube made it very easy despite myself being a little intimidated of the electrical stuff. I kept switch 1 open and then matched highest light amp draw in descending switch order.

Lighting is very subjective and true ditch lights should be just that - angled at approx 30* with a wide angle flood pattern to illuminate the sides (ditch). As @Unicorn advised, aux switch selection is based on amperage draw and illustrated in his attachment.

Here’s my setup for turning night into day…

BroncoBetty21

Ok, gonna ask a dumb question here...the ditch lights I'm looking at are rated at 7.5 amps (Baja Design LP6). So, because there are 2, does that mean my amp draw is 15 amps (7.5 X 2) and I should go with Aux 1 or 2, OR will Aux 3 be ok since it's 10 amps and the light is 7.5. Just not sure if I need to account for both lights in my amp draw, I think I do but not sure. Thanks in advance for any insights.

Well... That would be 15 amps of draw sooo.... Your biggest issue is the wires. Use one of the small feed Aux switches and have that lead flip a relay and wire it yourself. The ditch lights are really a very short run and it would be very easy to wire that run.... OH wait... that is what I did... Very easy wiring job. The lights on the back tail gate, now that was harder... and the rock lights...

TimRF

Newbie - I just got my 2024 WildTrak. I want to add some ditch lights but I have some questions.

1. Do I need a relay if I hook the ditch lights up to my auxiliary switches?
2. Does it make any difference on which switch that I use?
3. Is there any kind of consensus of the best ditch lights are the best for the price?
4. Is there a best way to hook up the lights.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time and help.

Here are my answers
1 - No.
2 - Use the lowest amp rated switch you can for your lights. Save Switches 1 & 2 for bigger draw items
3 - Consensus? Absolutely not. There are tons of products out there from cheaper HF lights to more expensive brands.
My personal opinion is that Diode Dynamics makes a great product. I have 4 sets of SS3 pods on my Bronco. 2 sets of ditch lights (one more forward with amber backlit, one true ditch set, a set of SAE fogs in the front bumper & a set of red backlit floods in the rear bumper wired as reverse lights) I think each set was around $200-$230.
4 - I personally like using the pre made harnesses from 4x4truckleds.com that make the diode stuff very much plug & play.
The only ones I have that don't use their harness are my fogs, because my WildTrak had OEM fogs & I was able to just wire direct to a 2pin Deutsch connector for those.

jtgensler

Here are my answers
1 - No.
2 - Use the lowest amp rated switch you can for your lights. Save Switches 1 & 2 for bigger draw items
3 - Consensus? Absolutely not. There are tons of products out there from cheaper HF lights to more expensive brands.
My personal opinion is that Diode Dynamics makes a great product. I have 4 sets of SS3 pods on my Bronco. 2 sets of ditch lights (one more forward with amber backlit, one true ditch set, a set of SAE fogs in the front bumper & a set of red backlit floods in the rear bumper wired as reverse lights) I think each set was around $200-$230.
4 - I personally like using the pre made harnesses from 4x4truckleds.com that make the diode stuff very much plug & play.
The only ones I have that don't use their harness are my fogs, because my WildTrak had OEM fogs & I was able to just wire direct to a 2pin Deutsch connector for those.

Yes, I'll second the harnesses made by https://www.4x4truckleds.com/ . It's not hard to run the wire yourself, but the harness makes it so simple.

Deano Bronc

Yes, I'll second the harnesses made by https://www.4x4truckleds.com/ . It's not hard to run the wire yourself, but the harness makes it so simple.

Im am getting the Diode Dynamics pocket fog light kit from them tomorrow, so I can chime in on installation of that. and now it looks like they have a special backet for the Glades so now I can get some ditch lights for the next upgrade.

WOW Thank you all for your help it is much appreciated!

jtgensler

Here are my answers
1 - No.
2 - Use the lowest amp rated switch you can for your lights. Save Switches 1 & 2 for bigger draw items
3 - Consensus? Absolutely not. There are tons of products out there from cheaper HF lights to more expensive brands.
My personal opinion is that Diode Dynamics makes a great product. I have 4 sets of SS3 pods on my Bronco. 2 sets of ditch lights (one more forward with amber backlit, one true ditch set, a set of SAE fogs in the front bumper & a set of red backlit floods in the rear bumper wired as reverse lights) I think each set was around $200-$230.
4 - I personally like using the pre made harnesses from 4x4truckleds.com that make the diode stuff very much plug & play.
The only ones I have that don't use their harness are my fogs, because my WildTrak had OEM fogs & I was able to just wire direct to a 2pin Deutsch connector for those.

Ditto on the Diode Dynamics. I installed the Stage Series SS3 Pro Ditch Light Kit Backlit Version with KR Off-Road Brackets, Auxiliary/Upfitter Switches and the harness from 4x4truckleds.com. Install was clean and easy. Used Aux 5 for the main white light and Aux 6 for the backlit yellow. Love them.

Saving up now for my next upgrade. The Stage Series Fog Pocket Kit
(https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage...for-2021-2025-ford-bronco-w-steel-bumper.html)

I went with the Morimoto 2 Banger HXB Combo. The pic is only the ditch lights and parking lights.

I went with something entirely different for my ditch lights. I went with Black Oak spreader lights... They are made for nautical vessels on the salt water of the ocean... Very well made. They have a spread of 120 degrees rather than the typical 60 degrees of a flood light.

First pic is low beams only for refrence... second pic is with the ditch lights on (and rock lights)... and the third pick shows how low profile they are. I like them so much I just got three more for the back... 4th pic.

But when I turn on the KCs... Well I can't unless I am running alone or in lead...

TimRF

Newbie - I just got my 2024 WildTrak. I want to add some ditch lights but I have some questions.

1. Do I need a relay if I hook the ditch lights up to my auxiliary switches?
2. Does it make any difference on which switch that I use?
3. Is there any kind of consensus of the best ditch lights are the best for the price?
4. Is there a best way to hook up the lights.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time and help.

First, I'm biased. I live just a couple of miles from the Diode Dynamics factory so I support local, plus I know they're made in the US, and they are incredible lights. I installed the SS3 fogs then added on the SC2 ditch lights even before I became an ambassador for the brand. I swear by these lights. I ended up adding on the hitch light and a set of the Form Headlights. Incredible quality. At their open house every spring you can see a thousand vehicles sporting their lights.
Like I said, I joined as an ambassador. I get almost nothing from it but I support local. If you decide to buy from them you can use my code to get free shipping, if you want. @Laura and @jennafromphiladelphia have seen these when I was at Super Cel East.
Here's my code and a few pics.
Code: donsbronco

Unicorn

Well... That would be 15 amps of draw sooo.... Your biggest issue is the wires. Use one of the small feed Aux switches and have that lead flip a relay and wire it yourself. The ditch lights are really a very short run and it would be very easy to wire that run.... OH wait... that is what I did... Very easy wiring job. The lights on the back tail gate, now that was harder... and the rock lights...

Thanks for the info I really appreciate it. Not sure I'm at "flip a relay and wire it myself" level. I do really like the look of your rock lights though, super jealous of that glow. 😐

BroncoBetty21

Thanks for the info I really appreciate it. Not sure I'm at "flip a relay and wire it myself" level. I do really like the look of your rock lights though, super jealous of that glow. 😐

Just remember all a relay is just an electric switch... does not take much power to flip the switch... but that switch can run a lot of power through it... so it is like running a big heavy line from the battery straight to the lights, but in the middle of that line you just put a switch (relay) that can be turned on and off with very little electricity required to turn it on or off...