Ditch lights

Only had em for a few months and happy with them.
Went with the Sports, white combo.

https://www.4x4truckleds.com/diode-dynamics-stage-series-ss3-ditch-light-kit-for-2021-ford-bronco/

I have the diode dynamics stage sports for my fog lights from 4x4truckleds and love them. I bought their Everglades ditch light mount soon after with intent to get some Diode Dynamic sport spots. But I was getting some cheap 3” lights from Harbor Freight to use on our golf cart (we live on a ranch) but decided to mount them to the Bronco and I must say for $60 with coupon these are very impressive lights well built and very bright. In fact had to use them last night to help the neighbor herd their cattle off the highway and back in their pasture. I need to get pictures of them lit up. Maybe I’ll see what the wolfbox captured last night.

Oh a few more pics lit up. Just hard to see in the daylight.

Thanks
Looking at Rigid 3 inch pods
Might check into Harbor Freight before I pull the trigger.

I am personally kind of fond of the Black Oak spreader lights.... a little non-conventional but I think the light throw is better than anything else on the market. Typically most people that want them to illuminate the "ditch" go with a flood light. those usually have about a 60 degree dispersion. These have a 120 degree dispersion. At 3200 lumins they really light up everything on the sides. Then there is the cool factor... Very different looking design and they can be purchased in white as well as black housings. I mounted them on BAM mounts. easy install as far as I am concerned. I also mounted three black ones on the back since I liked their light throw so much....

The throw with Black Oak spreaders on front and rear (and rock lights and low beam headlights)

Rhett

Thanks
Looking at Rigid 3 inch pods
Might check into Harbor Freight before I pull the trigger.

Again these have been on the truck for a week and I have used them two different times one night (the cows got out a second time) so I have no real or long term experience with them. but for the price and the fact that I will ultimately use them when my Golf cart build is complete I figured why not. I mounted the Harbor Freights because they have 3 LEDs on the side that throw light to the sides it is only on one side so they are left/right specific. I wanted to see how they work since it was a simple install and I had them sitting around. I am still adjusting them but I have them slightly off to the side and they do fill in the side of the Bronco nicely on the drivers side the passenger side the snorkel gets in the way,😖 I may need to raise the lights or try a different light or different mount. You can see in that picture I posted above how much light is hitting the snorkel and reflecting back into the cab. But that is just an Everglades issue.

Picked up the Harbor Freight 3 inch pods and wiring harness. The cost was very reasonable compared to the others I have looked at. Now, if I can just figure out the wiring using their harness to my aux switch, all will be good.
Let the build begin….

Rhett

Picked up the Harbor Freight 3 inch pods and wiring harness. The cost was very reasonable compared to the others I have looked at. Now, if I can just figure out the wiring using their harness to my aux switch, all will be good.
Let the build begin….

Ford really made it easy to use the aux switches.
Take a look here. https://thebronconation.com/how-to-use-the-auxiliary-switches-on-your-bronco/

I always recommend Diode Dynamics. Local company, made in the US a couple miles from me. They have a bunch of different options. And if you have a hitch, get the hitch light, too.

I love mine.

Rhett

Picked up the Harbor Freight 3 inch pods and wiring harness. The cost was very reasonable compared to the others I have looked at. Now, if I can just figure out the wiring using their harness to my aux switch, all will be good.
Let the build begin….

I just grounded each pod light harness right to the ground that is on each side of the engine bay. Then ran a wire from the hot of one harness to the hot of the other just stuffed it under the cowl ( red wire) and one of those ends I ran the wire provided by ford for the aux switches. I used the green brown for these I have my fogs on 3-6. Couldn’t have been easier. The hardest part of all this is I lost one of the clips holding the cowl and spend 30 minutes searching before I realized it was a sacrifice to the DIY gods. My BOM was two ring terminals, two waterproof butt connectors, a length of wire, some heat shrink tube and a zip tie.

Installed theHarborFreight ditch lights.Connected to
Aux6switch.
Process was a lot simpler than I expected it to be.They throw off a ton of light.
I like the way that 3 chips are at a 45 degree angle towards the ditch.
Roof rack is next on the list.

Unicorn

I am personally kind of fond of the Black Oak spreader lights....I mounted them on BAM mounts. easy install as far as I am concerned.

Handsome rig there! I deleted your images because of the anticipated pixel shortage--we all must do our part and conserve pixels! 😜

Seriously, I checked out BAM, as I need a ditchlight mount. My search came up "Bad-A**-Mounts," Do I have that right? I noticed that they have a pin-release mechanism that goes between the mount and the light. I like the idea a lot. Your ditchlight looks like it's mounted rather high--did you put that swivel mount on? If so, how do you like it (I gather you do). It's positioning looks a bit high (tall), does it get in the way visually or is it any kind of distraction? My thinking is to direct it straight-forwards for simple backroad driving, but pivot it to the side for irregular backroads and trails.
Whad'ya think?

Jakob1972

I just grounded each pod light harness right to the ground that is on each side of the engine bay. Then ran a wire from the hot of one harness to the hot of the other just stuffed it under the cowl ( red wire) and one of those ends I ran the wire provided by ford for the aux switches. I used the green brown for these I have my fogs on 3-6. Couldn’t have been easier. The hardest part of all this is I lost one of the clips holding the cowl and spend 30 minutes searching before I realized it was a sacrifice to the DIY gods. My BOM was two ring terminals, two waterproof butt connectors, a length of wire, some heat shrink tube and a zip tie.

I actually see 2 zip ties 🤪

Nice work! Not a criticism at all however, I am a wiring fanatic and would also suggest either wire loom or some anti-chafing sleeve on the red lead where it exits the cowl. Constant vibrations coupled with the sandwich between the cowl & trim will ultimately wear through the wire insulation and create a short.

I would hate to hear about anything bad happening to your rare ‘Glades!

BostonBadlands

Handsome rig there! I deleted your images because of the anticipated pixel shortage--we all must do our part and conserve pixels! 😜

Seriously, I checked out BAM, as I need a ditchlight mount. My search came up "Bad-A**-Mounts," Do I have that right? I noticed that they have a pin-release mechanism that goes between the mount and the light. I like the idea a lot. Your ditchlight looks like it's mounted rather high--did you put that swivel mount on? If so, how do you like it (I gather you do). It's positioning looks a bit high (tall), does it get in the way visually or is it any kind of distraction? My thinking is to direct it straight-forwards for simple backroad driving, but pivot it to the side for irregular backroads and trails.
Whad'ya think?

Actually I like the Bad A$$ mounts (that is correct) but I probably would not get them for the ditch lights if I did it over again... And yes they do mount a little high and forward, but I can see over them fine... I just do not use the swivel... Handy if I ever needed it, and really simple and easy... But so far I have had no need to swivel them. They are well made and holding up really well... I guess I do like that they mount forward a bit because it pushes them out to about the same plane as the rear view mirror.... Without the mount they would be about 2 inches back toward the window (as well as being about an inch and a half lower). So actually they really do help the light to clear the mirror when lighting to the side. I guess I am still a little torn... They are good quality, If you are going to use them to point forward you do want the lights up higher... The higher the better... You will lose light as it tries to illuminate the hood rather than the trail.

Bschurr

I actually see 2 zip ties 🤪

Nice work! Not a criticism at all however, I am a wiring fanatic and would also suggest either wire loom or some anti-chafing sleeve on the red lead where it exits the cowl. Constant vibrations coupled with the sandwich between the cowl & trim will ultimately wear through the wire insulation and create a short.

I would hate to hear about anything bad happening to your rare ‘Glades!

I totally agree with you. And thanks for thinking of Darryl don’t want anything happening to him. But this install was meant to be very temporary but I am impressed with the lights so I think I will keep ‘em and remove the cowl totally and install some insulation on the wire and reinstall. Oh and the two zip ties are for my Circuit breaker install I did for my Anderson connector for my Trickflate compressor. 😉

Unicorn

Actually I like the Bad A$$ mounts (that is correct) but I probably would not get them for the ditch lights if I did it over again... And yes they do mount a little high and forward, but I can see over them fine... I just do not use the swivel... Handy if I ever needed it, and really simple and easy... But so far I have had no need to swivel them. They are well made and holding up really well...

Thanks for the feedback. If you decide the swivel mounts are not right for your (very handsome) rig, DM me, we'll talk. As things stand, I'll keep an eye on them for a sale, or maybe a "financially handicapped" discount or something. I do like 'em, and I think I'd get real use out of them.