Fog & Driving Lights

[Stout72]

I got a cool set of Hella Optilux dual fog/driving lights for Christmas. I was thinking about mounting them under the front bumper. Any ideas/experience on how far apart for optimum performance? Should the fogs be inboard or outboard?

[Palf70Step]

For fog lights, the best position is as far outboard as you can. Probably on our trucks the best position would be below the headlights.
Remember with fogs you want to focus your beam to the outer edges of the road/centerline, not straight ahead as if you had driving lights.

[Lippyp]

I've always fitted front fog lights as directly under the headlights as possible in terms of width. You also want them as low as possible as fogs throw a flat wide beam in order to minimise the scatter (glare) effect that fog causes. Driving lights give out more of a cone shaped beam and should be aimed stright ahead for best effect. I have a 67 and am toying with the idea of putting some slimline mini front fogs in the grille opening, but they may be a bit too high up.

I was given four chrome Hella Jumbo rectangular driving lights last christmas (my friends best man at his wedding happens to be the Marketing Manager for Hella UK!) After a year of debate I have decided to remove the overly large and out of character stainless roll-over bar from the back of the truck (fitted by previous owner and designed for a different truck!) and have a more subtle lighting bar made that will mount in the front stake pocket and that follows the line of the cab better. This pic below is what I have to go on the bar but with a plain clear lense. They are BIG! (Light aperture: 182 x 100 mm)

[Lippyp]

My driving lights, just imagine 4 in a row above the cab! (illegal for road use in the UK as they will be too high up, but hey who's gonna be able to see my number plate when they're on!)

[Stout72]

These are combination fog and driving lights, both in the same housing (see attached). I sent an e-mail to Hella, asking them what they recommended, and the reply was to place them about a foot apart. I thought wider was better. From what Hella said, I thought I'd compromise and mount them between the license plate spot and the directionals. Palf, from what you said, maybe below the headlights is better.

For those interested, here's where I bought 'em:
http://www.autosupermart.com/shop/hella01670.html

[Stout72]

Attached photo didn't attach, trying again...

[Palf70Step]

I was going to put fog/driving lights on my 70 by using a 71/72 bumper and mouting the fogs in the space for the 71/72 trun signals. Since I found a good stock 70 bumper, that idea got put on the back burner

[Reumster]

Lippyp

Them lights in the picture you posted look really nice. I want to hide a set of driving lights behind the grill on my 72. I want them to be hella bright, and project down the road pretty far. Are the ones in the picture good for this? I want to hook them up to come on with the high beams. You know for high speed driving, and to keep a look out for the damn deer! LOL

[Longhorn Man]

I wouldn't wire them to your high beams...that'll fail you on your PA inspection.

[Lippyp]

I haven't tried them out yet, but in believe they commonly get used on big rigs and put out a lot of light. These are pretty big lights to hide so I would try some of the slimline lights or the little round projector lights to conceal in the grille. I have always viewed driving/front fog lights as consumable items and usually bought cheapish ones. They invariably get busted by stones or the reflector loses it's silvering (maybe because i've bought cheap ones!) I have even had a set of fairly expensive 100 watters stolen from the front bumper outside my house some years ago.

There will be various regulations governing how you mount your lights and how they are wired up, I don't know what they will be as you probably have both state and federal laws. In the UK we just have one set of rules called the highway code. Over here you can have spotlights wired into main beam, if they are not you have to have a warning light with the switch, there are rule governing bulb power and placement height , width etc.

This may be a useful site for you as it has a lot of technical info on it as well as selling lights. http://lighting.mbz.org/

Hope this helps

[Lippyp]

Heyyy......I just noticed I'm now a senior member! Good going for a man that doesn't know his a** from his elbow about these trucks! (my first American classic)

[Reumster]

I was planning on running a toggel in series with the power from the high beams that way I could shut it off for inspection reasons. And I have a hook up at the inspection station anyway! LOL

But I like them lights.

[JoetheMobster]

Originally posted by Lippyp
My driving lights, just imagine 4 in a row above the cab! (illegal for road use in the UK as they will be too high up, but hey who's gonna be able to see my number plate when they're on!)

LMAO!!!! Good one!

[ChevLoRay]

If you spend enough time down here (Arkansas) you'll run into somebody who has at least four, and probably a half-dozen, of the 100000 watters mounted cab-high, or higher. Usually, they're driving a 4WD, and it is jacked-up. This gets the light out of the way but where it does some good in the woods....as long as you don't knock them off going under some limbs. Beats dragging them off on speed bumps and parking curbs.