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Posted by: dazed&confused
I put a set of 55 watt lights on a honda 350 and had to up grade the generator. A trip to a local auto electric shop and few bucks, it was fixed. A buddy of mine put 2 kc daylighters on the handle bars of his Kodiak. He has had no problems or mods needed. You see this guy coming out of the woods from a long way off. He also fabricated the mount out of angle iron. Its not pretty but it works.
Posted by: esears
If I remember right, they put out about 125 watts, which equates to about 10 amps at 12 volts. You can find out for sure in the propaganda that all of the manufacturers publish. Some of the bigger utes (Sportsman 500, Grizzly etc.. put out more because they have aux plugs near the dash.
Posted by: cowboy
VMAX12:
Hey, do you happen to know if PIAA makes lights for atv's? After going through several sets of various lights on my old Chevy pickup, I finally broke down and bought 4 PIAA lights. They were by far the best light I had ever owned. Stronger, tougher than hell, and by far brighter than anything I'd seen. If they made an atv light, I'm sure it would be just as good as their bigger brothers. Problem with them was they drew too much power. A buddy of mine actually bought them for his Toyota for nearly $800 or so. By the time he hooked them up and actually tried using them, with all four lights on, they killed his truck. He got mad, sold them to me for $200 for the set, then I ended up rolling my truck two years later. Believe it or not, but after rolling 8 times end-over-end, two of my 4 PIAA lights were still on, even with the housing completely crushed flat, and no lens's at all. If that ain't tough, I don't know what is.
Just curious if they make a smaller version that could be powered off of a normal atv unit. Thanks for the help!
Mike
Posted by: cowboy
Yeah, I like those H.L. daylight kits too. Should be fairly efficient, I would think. That would be pretty cool to have 6 headlights up front! I wonder though if the machine could generate enough power to handle that many? I definately need some reverse lights on my 'Cat. I'll probably have to do that before I add anymore up front.
Mike
Posted by: cowboy
Well, I'd have to say reverse lights. I'd assume tail lights to be like on a pickup-just the red ones. I do a lot of driving at night up in the mountains, and like you said, it's pretty difficult to see in all the trees. Well, backing up is even worse, so I'm going to try to wire up a set of dual reverse lights on a three way switch. That way, when I put my 'Cat in reverse, the lights will come on. Also, I can trip the switch to turn on whenever I want extra light back there. And, there would be the standard "off" position as well. I've winched out too many full sized rigs now, last time including an old Jeep Willyz, at night with my trusty old two D cell Mag lite. I would much rather prefer a set of dual 55watt halogens back there. Besides, when you are winching out a stuck full sized rig with your atv in the dead black of night, middle of a rain or snow storm, you can never have enough light. Makes things safer as well while operating under those circumstances.
Good luck with your new light setup!
Mike
Posted by: cowboy
Up where I ride in my elk hunting area, there are tons of 4x4 only Jeep trails. Some of them are completely impassible without a winch, yet it always seems that somebody thinks they can get through. Well, I know for a fact, when it says "winch required", you had better listen. Seen too many people try to go through these area's without a winch, and none of them ever make it. Most of the time, it's at night, and like you said, the moonlight don't get through the trees, so it's as black as you could ever imagine.
When I go in and winch out these guys at night, I'd like to have the reverse lights on there to light up the trees I have to tie off to in order to keep me from sliding forward. Flashlights aren't always enough, as I was trying to hook around one tree on a side-hill once at the edge of the road, couldn't see my footing and slipped over the edge. Luckily I got caught in some other branches, and hung up so I didn't fall very far, but with good lights, that wouldn't have happened.
I've got a set of 55w halogen ion lens bulbs up front from Cabela's which work pretty good, but I'd also like to get that Highlifter Daylight kit as well. Can't ever have enough light in the dark of night when there's work to be done!
Take care,
Mike
Posted by: trailboss450
My neighbor and I fabricated a handlebar mount light for Ranchers. We used a 55w halogen driving light. It lights up the trail like daytime and was relatively inexpensive. It also doesn't look tacky and it is easily removable.
Highlifter also sells a kit I believe, so thats an option too.
Posted by: MrElussive
Hi,
As you can see from my signature, I have two ATVs. Both of these ATVs have two headlights and one tail light. I must say, this combination is barely sufficient. I mean, when people go riding ATVs at night, it is pitch black in the woods, being no light posts like there are in the streets. Plus, the trees block most of the moonlight on nights with a full moon. Personally, I think all ATVs should have three headlights in the front. Two regular headlights and one handlebar-mounted headlight on the front that you can swivel up and down. Not only would this be brighter and more flexible to where you need the light, but the light shines when you turn the handlebar, which is where the quad is going to be. As for the back, every quad should have two tail lights. Having one tail light in the back makes it visible for other riders, but two is obviously more effective. Plus, having two you get a better picture of exactly where the quad in front of you is. Maybe this is all just me, but I drive in the woods at night like crazy, especially since it gest dark at around 4:40PM now. Anyone have any suggestions/comments about lights and what one could do to improve lighting? Please don't suggest buying a whole new quad that has three lights in front and two in the back. =P
Posted by: MrElussive
Hi,
I took a look at the Highlifter lights and I think I am going to the dual handlebar-mounted 55W light kit. Does anyone know how many watts a 400cc engine (Yamaha Kodiak) or a 330cc engine (Honda Rancher 4x4) can handle? Because I am really interested in putting on a strobe light on each ATV along with more headlights so people who ride with me get a better sense of where I am in the dark. Thanks!
Posted by: MrElussive
cowboy,
I think PIAA does make lights for ATVs. But at the PIAA web site (Http://www.piaa.com/), I cannot find any information about the company making lights for ATVs. Either way, I think I am going to buy the dual handlebar Daylight Kit from High Lifter at Http://www.highlifter.com/.
Posted by: MrElussive
Hi,
Okay, I decided on exactly what I am going to get. First, I am going to buy the Candlepower XB3 Xenon bulbs for my Kodiak's current headlights. The bulbs cost $15 each, and are 55 watts per bulb. I am also going to buy the Highlifter Daylight Dual light Kit for $140. Each bulb is 55 watts and they mount in front of both grips on the handlebar. If the ATV can handle any more power (I doubt it, though), I will buy two of those rack-mounted removable spotlights for around $60 each that put out 60 watts. I want to mount these two spotlights on the front rack. How cool would it be to have six headlights? =)
Posted by: MrElussive
Hi,
cowboy, what are reverse lights for? Do you mean tail lights?
Posted by: MrElussive
Hi,
Heh, well, I don't really take cars off-road and get stuck since I'm only 16 and I only have my permit. Also, I need the lights for riding in the woods. As you have probably already experienced for yourself, driving at night in the woods (trees block moonlight) it is literally pitch-black dark. So, the brighter the trail, the better and safer. Plus, it looks cool as hell to have six headlights on a quad, assuming it can handle the power. =)
Posted by: MrElussive
Hi,
Heh, well, I don't really take cars off-road and get stuck since I'm only 16 and I only have my permit. Also, I need the lights for riding in the woods. As you have probably already experienced for yourself, driving at night in the woods (trees block moonlight) it is literally pitch-black dark. So, the brighter the trail, the better and safer. Plus, it looks cool as hell to have six headlights on a quad, assuming it can handle the power. =)
Posted by: VMAX12
have you checked out yamahas web site and there accesories. i think you can add PIAA lights they are much brighter and stronger
