Are you looking for off-road lights for your Jeep Wrangler JK? If you plan on going on off-road trips with your Jeep, you need to have off-road lights. Off-road lights will help you navigate if you get lost at night in an area with no natural lighting.
A good floodlight and spotlight combination is this 50″ (127cm) LED light bar. If you want to replace your Jeep’s headlights, get these Cowone lights. Make sure to look for a light that fits your needs, whether you drive in the fog or the desert. Some lights are better suited for specific purposes.
In this article, we will show you the best off-road lights for your Jeep Wrangler JK. We will also explain why you need off-road lights, even if you only plan on off-roading during the day.
What Are Off-Road Lights?
Off-road lights are aftermarket lights that you add to your Jeep or off-road vehicle. Although your Jeep will already have built-in headlights, these are often not enough for off-roading. Off-road lights go on the top of your vehicle, on the front, on the hood of the engine, or near your built-in headlights. We will go over the different types of lights you can buy later.
If you place them on your roof, above the driver’s seat, you might see them referred to as light bars because they come as a series of lights placed on a bar.
Why You Need Off-Road Lights
If you already have headlights, why bother getting off-road lights? The truth is that for off-roading, your headlights often will not be sufficient.
Here are some of the reasons you might want to buy off-road lights:
- Your built-in lights are not strong enough: Off-road lights are often a lot stronger and brighter than built-in lights. Built-in lights are made for the road. Your car will have a high beam, but that might still not be enough for off-roading. When off-roading, you will drive in areas where there are absolutely zero lights from houses or city posts. You might encounter heavy fog on a mountain, of the type you don’t get in the city.
- Your built-in lights are not wide enough: The main goal of some off-road lights is to illuminate a much wider area than your built-in headlights do.
- You will spot obstacles and animals: You will be driving in remote areas, where there may be many obstacles, including rocks, logs, and bushes. You need to be able to see all of those obstacles quickly and clearly to stay safe. You will also have to spot animals running in your path, including deer, bears, and any other common animal in your area.
- They are cool and stylish: Off-road lights make your Jeep look cool. There are many types and styles to choose from. A Jeep without off-road lights is not a complete rig, in a sense.
The Types of Off-Road Lights To Choose From
As mentioned before, there are several types of off-road lights you can get. Here, we will talk about the different types and the benefits of each one:
- Light bars: We already mentioned the light bars above. Lightbars are placed on the roof of your Jeep, though you can also place them on the bumper. Placing them high up has the advantage of allowing their reach to extend far into the distance, increasing your visibility.
- Floodlights: Floodlights focus on widening your visibility as opposed to extending it. They don’t reach very far, but they have a wide range. You place flood lights next to your high beam lights to boost your short-range visibility.
- Fog lights: The goal of fog lights is to illuminate how you are driving in a heavy fog. They also go near your headlights, and you can use them together with your headlights in foggy conditions.
- Spotlights: Spotlights are the opposite of floodlights. The goal of spotlights is to extend your visibility far ahead, into the distance. Put them on your roof to extend their reach.
- Replacement Lights: You can also buy lights that replace your stock, built-in lights. These off-road lights will be stronger, brighter, and more powerful. You should make sure that the lights are DOT approved if you use them to replace your built-in stock lights.
It is also worth noting that there are many bulb types available to purchase. If you purchase LED lights, you can expect them to last longer and use less energy – but expect them to be more expensive. Standard halogen lights are cheaper, but they use up a lot more energy, burn out quicker, and are not as bright as LED lights. HID (high-intensity discharge) bulbs are even stronger than LED lights, though, and they reach a lot further as well.
This Youtube video does a good job of helping you choose the right off-road lights for your rig:
COWONE 7″ Round LED Projector Headlights with DRL
This pair of headlights is DOT approved. It is compatible with Jeep Wranglers JKs, as well as several other types of Jeeps. It has a voltage of 16 volts, and it comes in two versions: Black and Chrome. We think the chrome version looks better, but both are the same price, so it all depends on your preference.
It has built-in EMC anti-flicker functions. The beam that it produces is 2.5 times brighter than that produced by the stock headlights your Jeep Wrangler JK has. On a high beam, it produces 6,000lms, and on a low beam, it produces 4,000lms.
These LED projector headlights have a lifespan of 70,000 hours, so you can use them for a long time without worrying about them burning out on you in the middle of a journey. They are also waterproof, with an IP67 certification, so you can use them in rainy and foggy weather without worrying about them getting ruined.
Since these lights are high-intensity LED lights, they produce a very powerful beam that lights up your way, even if you are in an area that is blanketed in total darkness. The lenses are both impact-resistant and scratch-resistant.
Having scratch-resistant lenses is very important for off-road lights. As you drive through heavy brush, you are bound to get your lights scratched. A scratch-resistant lens will ensure that your lights don’t get damaged and continue to light the way for you.
These lights replace your original lights. That is why it is so important for them to be DOT approved. They fit most Jeep Wrangler JKs, as they have a diameter of seven inches. The product comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Customer reviews on Amazon are pretty good. As of this writing, the average rating is 4.5 stars, with over 60 reviews. Many of the reviews mentioned that the lights were easy to install. Many reviewers mentioned that the new lights were “much better” than their built-in stock lights, while others commented on the difference and how the lights looked:
50″ LED Light Bar T-Former Curved Off-Road Lights
This product is a light bar. Unlike the previous product, it can not replace your built-in headlights. Instead, you place it on your roof (or wherever else it fits) to supplement the light your headlights give off.
This light bar comes in several versions:
- 42 inches (107 centimeters)
- 50 inches (127 centimeters)
- 52 inches (132 centimeters)
Obviously, the wider the bar is, the more light it will give off. However, the smaller ones are somewhat cheaper, so if your main goal is to save money, you can get a smaller one.
This light bar is so great because it is a spotlight and floodlight combination. The fact that it is a combination light means that it will brighten up your way in the front, with both a wide range (the floodlight part) and a long-distance range (the spotlight part, as explained earlier in this article).
The lifespan of this light bar is over 50,000 hours, so you can use it for many road trips, and even for long overland trips, without worrying about whether you will lose your light.
It has a rugged breather, which helps protect it from rain and moisture. It is also IP67 waterproof, so you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged in the rain. It is also shockproof, which will help protect it when it bangs into a tree or branch, and it is dustproof, meaning it won’t get damaged when you drive through desert or sandy areas.
A cool thing about this light bar is that it is adjustable. You can adjust the lights at 45 degrees in either direction. The fact that you can adjust it gives you more flexibility in where your light will shine.
The reviews for this Amazon product are pretty good. As of this writing, the average review is 4.4 stars. The top review that we saw had the headline “Bright as H***.” This review can help you be confident that the light bar will light up your path in even the darkest conditions.
Nilight – Spot Flood Combo Off-Road Light
This product is another light bar for those looking for light bars. It is much cheaper than the previous light bar that we mentioned – this one costs less than $50 as of this writing. As such, even those on a strict budget will be able to afford it.
However, like the previous light bar, this light bar is also a combination. It includes both a floodlight for a wide range of light and a spotlight so you can see far off in the distance.
The bracket is sturdy, and there are rubber inserts. These rubber inserts will help prevent vibrations as you are off-roading. They will help protect your Jeep Wrangler from getting damaged by the light bar. The wires are also made of good quality, will last a long time, and bend well.
The lights have high-quality LED chips, while the bar itself is made of Aluminum Alloy. The lights are waterproof, with silicone protection to help prevent water from getting inside. A useful mounting kit comes with the package, which will help you install the light bar easily. Using the mounting kit, you will be able to install the light bar without needing to drill holes in your vehicle, potentially damaging your vehicle.
It is easy to turn the lights on and off with the on/off switch.
What are people saying about this product? On Amazon, this product has an average 4.5-star rating, which is pretty good. One reviewer said that it blew his mind, while another reviewer mentioned that while the light itself was good, he did not like the universal mount, as it led to too much bouncing. However, many other reviewers said that this product is a great steal for the price (which is less than half the price of other light bars).
Yorkim 2-Pack Off Road Led Spot Flood Combo
This two-pack is also a combo. It serves as both a spotlight and a floodlight, illuminating the distance in front of you, far and wide. This combination is due to the light distribution’s unique structure, which lights up your way in every direction.
There are two variants of this product. You can get it in an angel eye shape or an X-light shape. Either way, the lights have a long lifespan, and their cooling fin helps dissipate heat. The presence of the cooling fin means you can use these lights even in extremely hot and sunny weather conditions.
The lights are waterproof, with an IP68 certification. They are also shockproof and dustproof, allowing you to use them in all kinds of situations. These factors help keep the lifespan of these lights at 50,000 hours, which is pretty long. You will be able to use these lights for years without getting new ones all the time.
These lights are great for clearing up the heavy fog. If you drive your off-road vehicle in areas that tend to be foggy and misty, you can use these lights to improve your vision and increase your visibility.
These lights have an average 4.5-star rating on Amazon. One of the things that stood out from the reviews was that these lights were “good quality.” Many people said that they were worth the money, and others said they were easy to install. Another thing that stands out from the reviews is that these lights are “nice and bright.”
Nilight – Amber 2PCS Triple Row Spot LED Light Bar
If you are looking for lights to brighten up the darkness for off-road driving at night, these lights are a perfect choice. The Nilight NI18A is high-quality, lasts for 50,000 hours, and has anti-scratch lenses that help the product last a long time. In addition to being anti-corrosive, the product is dustproof, shockproof, and quakeproof.
The triple rows in the light make the product give off more light than standard light bars with double rows. This product has more LED chips, thus illuminating your way with a brighter light. There is also a heat-dissipating system to help the product be more durable. The silicone covering helps protect it from water and moisture, in addition to dust and sand.
The mounting bracket is adjustable. Not only can you slide it to the left or the right, but you can also slide it up or down. The mounting bracket is adjustable, which gives you more flexibility, which allows you to focus the light on where you need it most.
If you need help using your light bar or have a problem with the product, you can always call the Nilight customer service team. The Nilight customer service team tends to respond to emails within 24 hours.
Reviews on Amazon are pretty good, as the product has a 4.5-star average rating. Many reviewers said that they would highly recommend it, while others said they work great.
Fog Light + Round CREE LED Headlights Replacement
This package comes with two types of lights. You will get four-inch fog lights, which will help illuminate the way when it is foggy outside. However, you will also get a seven-inch LED headlights replacement for your Jeep Wrangler JK. Using the fog lights and the off-road replacement lights will give you a powerful combination that will illuminate the darkness at all times.
You can get this in the standard version or the halo version. Also, if you wish, you can get just the headlight replacements, without the fog lights.
The headlight replacement gives out a clear white light of 4500 lumens. There is also a CAN bus chip that comes with the lights, which helps stop flickering. The lights are DOT compliant so that you can use them on your Jeep Wrangler JK without any worries.
Reviews on Amazon are excellent, with many reviewers saying that the product was easy to install.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you get replacements for your Jeep Wrangler JK’s built-in headlights or get additional fog lights or a light bar, you will have a much better and safer off-roading experience if you add some brightness. The extra lights will help you avoid obstacles and stay safe at night.
Sources
- Know-How Blog: THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFF-ROAD LIGHTS FOR YOUR RIG
- CJ Pony Parts: ARE LIGHT BARS LEGAL?
