- First Name
- Mitch
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2021
- Threads
- 26
- Messages
- 2,310
- Reaction score
- 4,013
- Location
- Cape Cod, MA, formerly Flagstaff, AZ
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 2 Door Badlands manual, 2021 Tacoma TRD OR
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
Top line is for the rear, Diode Dynamics will have a similar kit with SS2 that was shown at SEMA but isnāt out yet. I would try and stick with all the same brands. For now, BD is the best option, I would go with the S1 as they are more lumens than the S2 for the same money. I was also looking at flush mounted SS1 or BD S1 in the rear bumper, not sure if this is possible yet. Another option for the rear is the Miso hitch pod for a single S1. I have it on my Tacoma and may just buy another for the Bronco. Itās quick and easy if you have a hitch and only costs $120.
https://hotshotoffroad.com/products/hitchpod-combos?variant=32604811132977
Second line is for the Mod bumper. I prefer some lights I can legally use on the street since realistically thatās where I do 99% of my driving. I have the SS3 Pro amber fogs on my Tacoma, they are awesome, I would put those in the middle position. I want one set of offroad only lights, so the SS3 Pro Combo fits. Those could be swapped up to the ditch light position if desired, will address in the next paragraph. The SS2 Pro white fogs will be useful on the street and offroad. Generally I would use the white fogs daily and save the amber for actual fog and rain. I would want the white SS2 hooked to the factory fog light switch to function all the time.
Third is the pillar lights. I chose the SS3 Pro Driving for the pillar light position because most people run spots up there, driving is a little broader pattern than the spots but still narrow enough to avoid significant hood glare. For road use hooked to the high beams the driving light would be better in the mod bumper spot #1, Iām guessing the pillar position would get you pulled over on the road because of the height. The combo light could be swapped up to the pillars, but there may be more glare on the hood. Since youād have both lenses in your set itād be easy to swap and experiment.
Personally I think the BD lights look better than the DD, but DD makes better beam patterns for street use. The DD housings are a pretty close match for all the gray plastic on the Bronco, the BD is shiny black and will stand out a little more. In my hands the build quality feels slightly higher on the BD, but I havenāt experienced any failures on my DD nor have I seen any reports online. DD is an active vendor on the forums, so Iād think they might be better on customer service but I wouldnāt know as neither my DD or BD lights have had any problems. Comparing SAE fogs there is no comparison, DDās optics are better hands down. BDās street legal fogs failed to meet the standards so they installed steel shutters to constrain the beam and lower power emitters to reduce brightness rather than redesigning the lenses. The DD fogs have a very sharp cutoff, so even the too bright to be legal Pro model doesāt attract attention from police. BD doesnāt offer anything in the SAE Driving pattern that DD does to be able to use it on the road.
One factor I havenāt tested first hand is the color temperature of the BD or DD compared to the stock LED headlights on the Bronco. BD advertises 5000K, DD advertises 6000K. Looking at the beam pattern on my Badlands, it might be closer to the 6000K. I actually prefer a little more yellowish light compared to a harsher blueish light, but I also want the lights to match so the different zones are all the same color when looking out the windshield. I have a pair of BD squadron pros I need to power up next to the stock headlights and see how close they are. I donāt have any DD lights in white to try right now.
Some people may want the amber or white or disco color changing backlighting on the DD lights over the BD. Personally I think that shit looks as stupid as angry eyes on a jeep. The only place I could see value to backlighting is on a flush mounted rear light where a red backlight serves as another running light. Iām disappointed that DD is adding the backlighting across their entire line.
For the Mod bumper mounting, I prefer the more finished aesthetic of the BD bracket over others, but I like the ability to run a second SS3 that an open bracket provides.
BD
KR
All that being said, I have a set of SS3 Pro amber fogs on order with @4x4TruckLEDs.com and will decide on the rest later.
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