Mount “ditch spots” on tow hooks? / legality / clamps?

Mount “ditch spots” on tow hooks? / legality / clamps?

Hi all

For times when driving country roads with no one around, it might be nice to have some “ditch” spots to throw more light ahead to help spot deer.

I’d put them on an up fitter switch (I have the Ford ones)

There is no obvious place to hide them behind the 2020 F350 grill, so how about clamps on the front tow hooks?

I’ll have to measure to see if these fit - but they look pretty perfect (if they fit)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-Work-Light-Mounting-Bracket-2-2-3-1CM-Bumper-Tube-Clamp-Bar-Holder-Solid-/152489286430

any other recommendations?

They will be inexpensive LED lights (about $35-60/pair) so I don’t mind if they get munched or stolen.

and…. for a second I thought about using yellow lights as these “ditch spots” so it is a constant reminder for me to turn them off if a car approaches… is that a good or a bad idea?

Looking at these 2 lights as inexpensive and decent options:
any preference between the two options below?

I don’t want to get fancy and do any fancy wiring / integration. Just on an up fitter switch or two. :-)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H3VBF5Z (I would have to use 2 x 25 watt up fitter switches, I believe as they are 25 watts each)

or the SPOT version of these (40 watt total, for the pair, so I could put on up fitter #5 or #6, together)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q14YV19

also - with them in place (but off) any chance any highway patrol in any state (perhaps fussy California?) would be upset with them just being there? (but turned off) Serious question.

p.s..... I have thought about these details.

:)

I will have the correct tool to remove the lights off the tow hooks, in the unlikely event I need them. Would take about 20 seconds if I use the mounts I posted a link to on eBay

And I don’t want to mount them on the bumper as I don’t want to drill any holes.

So this all strikes me as being …. a simple option. :-)

thanks!

Seeking Advice

mleekamp
Explorer
Jan 27, 2020
I believe as long as you don't have 'em on with oncoming traffic, they should be good. Check with local laws of course.

That said, we used to have a cig lighter handheld light, forget the details, but was hand at times backing into or driving at night into the woods.
schlep1967
Nomad
Jan 27, 2020
If they are "Off Road Lights" they must be covered when on the road or you risk the chance of being fined. That is why the old "K.C. Lights" on the roll bars had covers on them.
LosAngeles
Explorer
Jan 27, 2020
schlep1967 wrote:
If they are "Off Road Lights" they must be covered when on the road or you risk the chance of being fined. That is why the old "K.C. Lights" on the roll bars had covers on them.

Cool. I suspected as much

Any inexpensive generic covers that won’t blow off on the road?

The cheap lights I am considering don’t have covers as an option.

Little bags with a drawstring? Or ...?

Must be a clever cheap option ......Hmmmmm

:-/

Thanks all. :-)
2manytoyz
Explorer
Jan 27, 2020
schlep1967 wrote:
If they are "Off Road Lights" they must be covered when on the road or you risk the chance of being fined. That is why the old "K.C. Lights" on the roll bars had covers on them.

Might be true in your area, but certainly not here in FL. LED auxiliary lighting is incredibly popular here. I've never seen any covers in my 39 years of living here.

The two I have on the front of our Jeep only are used when there's no other traffic. I have them canted outwards, to illuminate the ditches. Lots of deer here, hiding on the sides of the roads until the last minute.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jan 27, 2020
Those Jeep lights look good.
SAR_Tracker
Explorer
Jan 27, 2020
Little bags with a drawstring?
romore
Explorer II
Jan 27, 2020
I have almost driven off the road a few times when oncoming drivers don't turn them off. Here they must be wired into the high beam circuit but there a few idiots who have to show off by leaving them on.
schlep1967
Nomad
Jan 27, 2020
Since you are in California you should look here California Vehicle Code
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jan 27, 2020
LosAngeles wrote:
schlep1967 wrote:
If they are "Off Road Lights" they must be covered when on the road or you risk the chance of being fined. That is why the old "K.C. Lights" on the roll bars had covers on them.

Cool. I suspected as much

Any inexpensive generic covers that won’t blow off on the road?

The cheap lights I am considering don’t have covers as an option.

Little bags with a drawstring? Or ...?

Must be a clever cheap option ......Hmmmmm

:-/

Thanks all. :-)

Suspected what? That schlep is now the driving light nanny?
You have zero to worry about having any lights mounted to your rig.
When's the last time either of you seen or heard of any of the millions of people with "off road" lights being pulled over because their lights didn't have covers?
Some folks need to find other things to worry about....

LA, find whatever lights suit your fancy and use them. Although "cheap" lights are CHEAP. Personally I wouldn't cobble some junk to the front of my nice brand new pickup with nice brand new camper.
I'd get a decent quality LED light bar or pods and mount it/them in a professional looking manor.

And if you think the lights draw too much for the switch, don't use one switch for each light. Wire them to a relay. (But I'm sure you can run a couple of those little LEDs off of one switch with no issue.)
LosAngeles
Explorer
Jan 27, 2020
Grit dog wrote:
LosAngeles wrote:
schlep1967 wrote:
If they are "Off Road Lights" they must be covered when on the road or you risk the chance of being fined. That is why the old "K.C. Lights" on the roll bars had covers on them.

Cool. I suspected as much

Any inexpensive generic covers that won’t blow off on the road?

The cheap lights I am considering don’t have covers as an option.

Little bags with a drawstring? Or ...?

Must be a clever cheap option ......Hmmmmm

:-/

Thanks all. :-)

Suspected what? That schlep is now the driving light nanny?
You have zero to worry about having any lights mounted to your rig.
When's the last time either of you seen or heard of any of the millions of people with "off road" lights being pulled over because their lights didn't have covers?
Some folks need to find other things to worry about....

LA, find whatever lights suit your fancy and use them. Although "cheap" lights are CHEAP. Personally I wouldn't cobble some junk to the front of my nice brand new pickup with nice brand new camper.
I'd get a decent quality LED light bar or pods and mount it/them in a professional looking manor.

This hit the news a while back. In case you missed it. Just for your amusement Gritty Dog. ;-)

https://www.thedrive.com/news/31975/california-highway-patrol-hassles-toyota-tacoma-owner-for-uncovered-light-bar