By gp (Garrett) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 03:00 am: Edit

looking at getting either the hella 2000's or 3000's. (since my good pal scott nicols never delivered!!) these would be used on the trail as well as on rural roads in new england. i would be mounting them on my brushgard at first and then eventually getting a second set for the roof for even more lighting. any suggestions on pencil beam vs. euro and so on. i would think that a combo of pencil (for distance) and cornering (for slow off-road trails) would be a good idea. thanks

ps: maybe i will be able to spot those pesky maple trees on vermont roads now too.

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 03:04 am: Edit

Hella 4Ks are a much better light. The plastic ones are made in Mexico and are pretty cheesy.

Kyle

By David on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 03:05 am: Edit

Speaking of Hella Lights; has anyone used the FF100 series lights? Any pros or cons? I know they are only 50 watts, but I like the clean, un-obtrusive look of them and they look as though they will mount perfectly to my Yakima Mega Warrior......opinions please...

GP, I have the 1000 Driving light mounted to my bumper. IMHO, I think Driving lights down low on the bumper are good and fogs up top work well. I too live in NE and given some of the driving conditions especially in VT and NH, I think the driving light down low suits - since my rover spends about 75% of it's time on road.

Again, my opinion...

By Gil Stevens (Gil) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 03:15 am: Edit

whatever you do, stay away from the "safari 5000s". those are the LR lights that have a Land Rover emblem (on the outside of my rack in the gallery) They are overpriced, oversized, and not as powerful as the 4000s. If i didnt get them for nothing they would not be on my roof. oh, and the 1000s on the inside of my rack, suck as well, but again, paid nothing for them.

By gp (Garrett) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 04:18 am: Edit

yeah those safari ones just seem way out of line. i would stay away from them unless i saw them on eBay for under $200. there are a few pair on there now.....the 2K and 3K. i could most likey get the 2's for around $50. they are well used but work and no fractures. the 3's are in great shape with no covers. there is a guy on eBay that regualarly sells the 4K lights for about $165. i am waiting for him again, since they sell for over double that in most places. but i think i will snag those 4 year old 2K's just to have. thanks.

By chrisvonc on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 04:51 am: Edit

I have the FF300's on my rack and like them very much. They are larger and stronger than the 100's. I also have 2 FF Micro fogs on the back to use as trail backup lights and bright work lights.
A lot less air damning with the FFs.
The one thing I hate about them is the cheesy mounting kits that come with them. Piss poor design. Nothing as nice as the 3K or 4K mounts.

By David on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 05:06 am: Edit

I agree with you Chris, I received one of the FF100 kits last night. The mounting is cheesy and I'll try and beef them up a little I guess. It's funny, I just saw the FF Micro and ordered them for the rear too. Great minds think alike...

By Stephen on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 05:33 am: Edit

What lights are used on those TReK Disco's on their roofracks - the small oval shaped ones? I imagine they cut down on windage and noise up there - but are they an effective light?

By David on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 05:37 am: Edit

Those are the Hella FF100's, they are only 55W lights, but those are the ones I'm choosing to go with. Given that I can upgrade the bulbs....

By Neil Flanagan (Electriceel) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 05:45 am: Edit

Can you still get the 2000's?

I have 4 3000's(2x100w, 2x130w) on the Disco and 2 4000's on the 90. The light I get from the 4000's(2x130w) is far superior to the 3000's. You also get the added security of the aluminum case. I've smashed and replaces the plastic case on 2 of the 3000's when they were on the rollbar of the 90. There is also a huge difference between the 100w H1 and the 130w H1. If you have the extra headroom of a yello top Optima or a HD alternator, go for the 130's.


check out SusquehannaMotorSports

Competitive prices, Ken has experience with just about every light out there. Also if you mention the D90 Source you get an additional 10% off your order.
I think he even has 4000's on sale with a wiring harness for $250.
(no afiliation, yada, yada, yada...)

Neil
94 D90 #1092
97 Disco

By Christian in New England CT on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 06:01 am: Edit

I received my set of Euro Hella 4000's the other day from Ebay by a fellow from Atlanta?... that is selling them for no lower than $160 or so. I got them under the reserve price of $190 for the pair. He told me I shouldn't have been able to get them but he honored the Ebay mistake and with shipping I got them for $170. I purchased the wiring harness from 4x4 connection and extra clear acrylic lens covers. The lights are mounted on my ARB bumper and the output is incredible. Good luck to you.

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 06:41 am: Edit

What are going rates for new oval Hella FF100's?

P.S. I currently have the cheesy plastic Hella 500's. They are in their sixth year on their second 4X4 and I have NEVER had any problems with them (not even burned out a bulb)...and they do get used & abused...I'm lookin for a solo 500 to mount between the other two, or maybe a pair - one for the front, one for the back - anyone want to get rid of one or two?

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 06:42 am: Edit

P.P.S. Down with Scott Nicols! He's a damn hungry vulture.

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 07:10 am: Edit

i's go with the best light you could afford garret. those lights on the front of my bumper are 6 year old piaa lights (pro 80 xt driving lamps) and the quality is great and they are a little smaller than the hella

click here for PIAA spec's

if you go with the hella's i'd have to go with the 4000 series.

By gp (Garrett) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 07:33 am: Edit

thanks all.

i don't think they are making the 2000's anymore. they do have the metal housing and that is one reason i am bidding on them. they have the larger 100 watt bulbs (could go to 130) and are pretty tough from what i remember from my SCCA days. seems like the 4000's are the most similar to the 2000's. about 8-9" in diameter and die-cast metal housing.

ps: have to go and make my weekly prank call to mr. nicols now. surprised he has not gotten his cell phone # changed.......yet.

By gp (Garrett) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 07:48 am: Edit

blue gill~

there are quite a few sets on eBay for around $55. or the buy now option of $70.

i will have a look around my garage today or tomorrow and see if i have any extras or parts to get one together.

people in philly were always bashing the hell out of mine back when i had them on my GTi. so i went through a few pairs and may have a lone soldier around. i will check.

By Simon on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 08:15 am: Edit

yeah those hungry smelly vultures LOL

Simon.

ps I like the 130 watts out of my cheap IPF complete kit ($150)

2 lights
wiring loom
and a cheesse switch

By Redsrover (Redsrover) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 08:22 am: Edit

I have a set of 3000's but need the plastic mounting bracket (shaped like a "C" that bolts flat to the surface of the ARB and makes a "cradle" for the light). Anyone know where I can find one? I tried Hella, but got lost in there phone system.

By lynden on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 08:24 am: Edit

Are the 3K's that bad? There's a set on ebay, doesn't close for 6 days but if those stay reasonable I thought about making a bid. Sounds like the 4K's are the way to go though.

Any thoughts?
Lynden

By gp (Garrett) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 08:34 am: Edit

the 3k's are not bad, but rather that the 4k's are better. the 4k's have the metal housing. i saw the 3k's on there too. there is a guy who sells the 4k's pretty regularly on eBay and his reserve is $165 for the pair minus the harness. his eBay id is ko4zb if you would like to contact him when he will be reposting some. all his products are new as well. have bought from him in the past and he is AOK.

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 09:01 am: Edit

4Ks.
go witht he 4Ks.
you might save some money now if you go with lessesr lights.
but later, you'll wish you had gotten the 4Ks.

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 09:11 am: Edit

How many watts are the 4Ks? Also, does anyone swap over the bulbs for IPFs?

Dean

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 09:17 am: Edit

4Ks come with 100 watt bulbs on the cornering, euro and pencil beams. 55w on the fog beams.

you can get H1 - 130 watt bulbs, sold separatly.

By Leslie on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 09:50 am: Edit

Any preferences on cornering versus euro versus pencils, or in combinations?

-L

By Ho Chung (Ho) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 10:12 am: Edit

how many pairs you looking into getting?

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 01:42 pm: Edit

I have 3 4000s on my bumper - 2 fogs and one euro driving. These things turn night into day, they are awesome.

Alex

By peter matusov on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 02:03 pm: Edit

all these lights have a few things in common:
(a) when they are behind you at night, you get pissed, when you have them, the guy in front of you get pissed
(b) they all break in different fashions
and
(c) overall, they are useless in most shit except getting chicks to fall into the car.

in the scope of (c), get the biggest MoFo lights ever made.

peter

By Alex Schubow (Alex) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 02:16 pm: Edit

Heh funny Peter, but really, the real use for these lights is for driving on country roads at night, where there is no one on the road to blind. I know I can't use my lights on the trail at night unless I'm first in line, and using them on the highway or in the city is also out of the question (and not necessary because they are generally well lit).

Another thing they're good for is to tell that asshole who just cut you off that you don't appreciate that sort of behavior.

Alex

By peter matusov on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 02:22 pm: Edit

the trails are different; if you're blasting down some desert wash at 80 mph, you do need some serious candlepower. here, however, trails are twisted, rocky, steep, and whatnot. the cooler guys turn even the headlights off, and use little "rock" lights under the fenders to see where the tires are placed.

speaking of the asshole who just cut you off, short of the shotgun there ain't better thing to express your feelings than to pull in front of him and downshift a gear or two.

unless the asshole's driving a schoolbus or garbage truck or 18-wheeler. or a 750iL, in which case it gets difficult to overtake him.

if you're from moscow, st.petersburg, or n.n., you know.

peter

By Andy Nix (Andy) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 02:33 pm: Edit

PIAA are better.

Andy

By chrisvonc on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 02:49 pm: Edit

PIAAs blow for roof rack lighting.
I had 4 of the 520s up on mine and they sucked sucked sucked. More light poured in the windsheild than out on the trails.

By peter matusov on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 03:10 pm: Edit

did you have'em this year in moab?

peter

By chrisvonc on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 03:46 pm: Edit

No I had the Hella FF300s up there. Just put them on before we took off for the trip.

I agree with Simon though. The IPF 900s on the front are my fav.

Chris

By Scott A. Keen (Scottkeen) on Thursday, July 26, 2001 - 07:07 pm: Edit

Anybody bought from these guys? I just saw they have Hella 4000 for $109

http://www.autoaccessory.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/AutoAccessorycom/start.d2w/report?siteID=yahoo&sku=103036

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 01:40 am: Edit

Scott - Yahoo Sopping give them top rating

Dean

By Rob Davison (Pokerob) on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 03:13 am: Edit

come on cvonc,

you had yellow fog lights up there that were put there to look cool, not actually work.

PIAA pro 80xt is a high quality light, i think it's more a question of if you like the look and price and japanese build.

IPF might be just as good, i dont know. My PIAA's have lasted 6 years on two different vehicles and survived the fire on the trooper (harness didn't) so i'm experiencing brand loyalty... i consider their light a good "value"

robert

By Simon. on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 05:33 am: Edit

for the $$$ IPF 130 watts kit ...
that's a lot for the price..

I like hellas...kyle almost burned our(ho and I) necks in moab during daylight.. hehe the only Korean and Venezuelan Red necks hehehe

but Hellas are mucho $$$$

yesterday someone tried to steal one of my IPFs and they couldn't or someone saw them or who knows..replace them is cheap.. hellas are a pain in the pocket.

Simon.
the Vulture Hunter ;.)

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 06:05 am: Edit

Hellas or IPFs or whatever mounted on the front bumper are excellent if you hook them up to strobe when you flick on the brights by yanking the stalk. Phx is the red light running capital of the US - you should see the look on some Miata driver's or passenger's face when they left turn on a red and my 4,500 pound white whale is bearing down on them with a brush guard and 4 (soon to be 5 - thanks Garrett) bright lights glaring at them. I've actually gotten close enough to see the paint crack and peel from the light's heat...

Of course, lights are good for off-road trail running, too

and for getting the chicks to fall into the Disco

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 06:08 am: Edit

any input on a good cost for oval Hella FF100's? That cost of $109 for Hella 4000's is great. I'm interested in the FF100's since I'm severely height-restricted by my garage...

I think that the FF100's would be good for roasting low-flying vultures...

By Simon on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 07:00 am: Edit

humm. the smell of a nice roasted vulture...

lunch time!!! I'm hungry!

hehe

Simon.