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Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:18 pm

The factory headlight / fog light setup is a little dissapointing on unlit roads and in the woods. It seems to only light up a vertically-narrow beam of light across the road. I can't see directly in front of the jeep and I can't see very far up or down the road either.

I'd like to add some more lights to increase the light height and depth. The question is - how, how much, and which lights? I don't want to go nuts with lighting, just enough so that I have that extra level of light if I need it. I'm leaning towards the renegade lightbar - I would have gotten it factory, but with the heated seats, they wouldn't let me. The ideal solution would be something that mounts where the renegade lightbar mounts, but doesn't cost $400. I get the feeling that's not a possibility, since there aren't exactly a lot of easy ways to mount to that part of the roof.

Here is how the roof rack currently looks (thule crossbars, yakima basketcase low-mounted, bike racks on top, ski racks in winter. Sometimes a canoe):

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:32 pm

The bumper lights would probably be best. They will light up everything ahead of you. Roof lights are cool but you get a lot of the light lighting up the windshield and hood. The roof ones will sure light up things far ahead of your Jeep. Get em on the roof and the bumper!

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:58 pm

I like the Renegade lightbar. I have one, and the lighting of the windshield and hood does not bother me, kinda wierd at first, but ok. The lightbar shines nice and bright over 200 yards. I like the look of it, and there is no air whistling on the road, and doesnt effect the sunroof either.

I would also check your state laws. Some states do not allow off-road lights mounted higher than the hood unless it's factory installed.

CarNutCertifies · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:25 pm

Well to answer your three questions....Yes put them in all those places. that should give you enough light.

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:32 pm

With the low-profile look of your roof rack, I think putting lights on it wouldn't look right. Putting lights in between your fog lights would give you the rally car look and I'm not sure that's what you're going for. The Renegade light bar doesn't whistle and might be a better fit when you have the canoe on there. Just some things to think about.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:45 pm

I have the Rennie w/roof bar. Remember, there is drilling through the roof involved as well as accurate placement. If ure windshield isn't clean all the little dust specs light up like Tinker Bell!
I'm still gonna add front lights (and rear ones for when some a.....ole tailgates me!)

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:47 pm

The Lord said; "Let There Be Light"... and there was light.

KC said; Let there be Choices... and there were choices.

Long Range lites will light up the night sky. Just don't use them on the hwy.

Mango~Ridge · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:22 pm

I like em on the bumper, looks good. Easier install, easy to maintain/cover up if needed.

Liberator84 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:33 am

Se7enLC Where could I find the renagade fender flares? I love the look of your Jeep with them un painted!

~JUD

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:06 am

Liberator84 wrote:

Se7enLC Where could I find the renagade fender flares? I love the look of your Jeep with them un painted!

~JUD

I'm a fan of them, too. They don't show scratches too bad at all, and from what I've heard, when you hit a tree or something, they pop right back out (I know my rear bumper already has).

My guess would be that you'd have to order the parts through the dealer or pick them up from a junkyard. Note that all the liberty models have different flares, now:

Sport: grey plastic, small, no bolts
Renegade: grey plastic, larger, "bolt-on" look
Limited: body colored, small, no bolts
Rocky Mountain: body colored (larger, "bolt-on" look? not sure, either way, it's not the plastic)

So if you just want the grey plastic, you can get them from any Sport or Renegade, but if you want the larger flares with the fake bolts, it'd have to be from a renegade.

If you don't mind getting sport flares, you may be able to find them used - a few people with sports have been swapping out their flares for body-colored flares, so they might have the old ones sitting around still.

Liberator84 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:09 am

Se7enLC wrote:

Liberator84 wrote:

Se7enLC Where could I find the renagade fender flares? I love the look of your Jeep with them un painted!

~JUD

I'm a fan of them, too. They don't show scratches too bad at all, and from what I've heard, when you hit a tree or something, they pop right back out (I know my rear bumper already has).

My guess would be that you'd have to order the parts through the dealer or pick them up from a junkyard. Note that all the liberty models have different flares, now:

Sport: grey plastic, small, no bolts
Renegade: grey plastic, larger, "bolt-on" look
Limited: body colored, small, no bolts
Rocky Mountain: body colored (larger, "bolt-on" look? not sure, either way, it's not the plastic)

So if you just want the grey plastic, you can get them from any Sport or Renegade, but if you want the larger flares with the fake bolts, it'd have to be from a renegade.

If you don't mind getting sport flares, you may be able to find them used - a few people with sports have been swapping out their flares for body-colored flares, so they might have the old ones sitting around still.

I have the sport with the grey plastic but after the libby backed into a light pole I was trying to figure out where i could get some fake bolt on grey ones. THanks for the info!!

~JUD

mb818 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:14 am

actually, not all renegade flares are grey... mine are khaki colored... i think the dark khaki (like mine) and light khaki renegades all have the khaki colored flares...

mb818

Ed · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:22 am

CarNutCertifies wrote:

Well to answer your three questions....Yes put them in all those places. that should give you enough light.

Indeed!

The problem with the Renegade light bar is it's too far forward, which is why it lights up the windscreen and the bonnet. The factory headlights and fogs light up the near stuff just fine, and for 'normal' long distance lighting spots on the bullbar (or bumper) are perfect. For offroad use you could make up a removable bar that attaches to your roofrack/crossbars which you can take off and unplug when you're not wheeling. If your local cops are that fussy.

I've got a combination of floods and spots on my roof, they're not removable but I do have black covers for on-road. They're mounted further back (about level with the front of the factory rails) so the roof shields you from any glare on the windscreen and bonnet (err, hood in the US?) but it still lights up the trail like you wouldn't believe.

KJTX · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:56 pm **Posts:** 216

Ed- What position are the floods and spots on your roof in? I've thought of doing that combo but am unsure of what positions would be best.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 9:59 am

Mine, they are very bright, but bounce alittle when i hit big bumps.

I love the rally look it gives it, and i wouldnt mind at all to have more lights!!!

Ed · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:24 am

KJTX wrote:

Ed- What position are the floods and spots on your roof in? I've thought of doing that combo but am unsure of what positions would be best.

They're here, just behind the roof rails. I've actually just gathered up the parts to move them up a couple of inches (and re-jig the wiring) since they're a bit close to the roof at the moment.
(click for a different view with the covers on)

KJTX · **Joined:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:56 pm **Posts:** 216

Thanks Ed, but I obviously didn't explain myself very well. I meant what order are the lights in? Are the fogs on the outside and the spots on the inside? Vice-versa?

JAMSKJ · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:13 pm

Here is an upgrade I did for my 05 Rene. It is fabulous! I use the PIAA driving lights as my headlights now as they are SOO much brighter! When I need broad light, I flip on the factory fogs which are located on the front bumper but in the center instead of on each end. The light bar is very simple and doesnt require the front bumper to be removed, or cut. The setup uses the existing bolts for the factory fogs! The PIAA light system came with complete wiring harness, fuses, dashboard switch. I simply connected to positive power, ground screw. See the post in the tech section for wire penetration through firewall. The photos/writeup apply for 05 Rene's as well!

See previous post for more details:

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=678

Here is a closeup of the lightbar, lights mounted. I have since added PIAA lightlocks. If you intend to add lightlocks, make sure you L bracket leaves enough room to fit the locks. Mine were a real tight fit.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:17 pm

Quote:

Here is an upgrade I did for my 05 Rene. It is fabulous! ...

That looks really nice like that. Out of curiosity, why did you decide to move the factory fogs instead of just installing the new lights directly on the bumper in the center? I would think it would be easier to leave the factory lights where they are and just set up something new for the new lights.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:38 pm

KJTX wrote:

Ed- What position are the floods and spots on your roof in? I've thought of doing that combo but am unsure of what positions would be best.

I would think, straight ahead works best. :wink:

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