General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.
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View Poll Results: Skid plate and light colors?
Red Skid plate, Red center KC covers, white sides KC covers
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Black skid plate, Red Center KC covers, White Sides
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Black skid plate, all 4 kc covers white.
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  #1  
Old 08-22-2014
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Skid plate and light color?

Going to get 4 KC slim lights and mount on bumper. I'm thinking 2 long range spots in the center. 2 driving on the side to illuminate side roads and help while turning. I am going to mount all 4 of them right infront of the grill. with the 2 center ones mounted 3 or 4 inches higher. I dunno why I like when the center lights are either higher or larger than the two on the sides. In CA the lights have to always be covered on the highway. Going to get the vinyl covers. I'm thinking red KC in the Center and white on the sides. Like these...

Red
Amazon.com: KC HiLiTES 5110 6" Round Black Vinyl Light Cover w/ Red KC Logo - Set of 2: Automotive Amazon.com: KC HiLiTES 5110 6" Round Black Vinyl Light Cover w/ Red KC Logo - Set of 2: Automotive

White
Amazon.com: KC HiLiTES 5117 6" Round Black Vinyl Light Cover w/ White Brushed KC Logo - Set of 2: Automotive Amazon.com: KC HiLiTES 5117 6" Round Black Vinyl Light Cover w/ White Brushed KC Logo - Set of 2: Automotive


I am also going to get a front skid plate by rci. I could just get the matte black but thought it might look cool powder coated in red.

Ford Ranger Front Skid Plate 1998-2011

Can you picture it?
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In CA the KC have to always be covered.
 

Last edited by stockranger; 08-23-2014 at 11:11 AM.
  #2  
Old 08-23-2014
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Have you looked into some of the hard plastic covers, those would probably be a little better for protection of the lens. I'm not that sure about the slim lights, but my full size 6in lights look fine with the hard covers.
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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Originally Posted by Dewey
Have you looked into some of the hard plastic covers, those would probably be a little better for protection of the lens. I'm not that sure about the slim lights, but my full size 6in lights look fine with the hard covers.
Do the hard covers fit over the stone guards?
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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Crap, I forgot that the slims came with the stone guards. i think they'll only work with the lights that have a bare lens like mine. You might only be able to use those vinyl ones, but when they sit in the sun, they'll start to deteriorate.
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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Yeah I think the sun will damage them. Probably last for a decent amount of time though. They are not too expensive to replace.

What beam pattern are you running?
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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I've got my middle 2 pointed out a tiny bit from center and straight forward if not a little bit down. The outside 2 are pointed to the outsides a little more and they are pointed straight if not up a little too that way it lights up the ditches and i can actually see treetops while driving they light such a large area.
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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Originally Posted by Dewey
I've got my middle 2 pointed out a tiny bit from center and straight forward if not a little bit down. The outside 2 are pointed to the outsides a little more and they are pointed straight if not up a little too that way it lights up the ditches and i can actually see treetops while driving they light such a large area.
What I mean is do you have spot, driving, or fog beam pattern? I'm not sure if I should get 4 spot or 2 spot center and 2 driving for the sides. I guess the driving is a little wider beam for light up the sides of the road.

Right now my biggest problem is not looking ahead. It is seeing the side roads. I do tons of night wheeling to scout for rabbits and hogs.
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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My visibility is from like 45* out from the front out to 45* from the other side. i can see everything that is in front of me right now, so i guess it would be driving. If you're doing a lot of scouting you might want to consider doing the expo roof rack mod with lights all the way around that way you can see 360*
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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Can you run all 4 lights off of 1 of the supplied switches in the KC kit or do you have to use 2 switches?
 
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Old 08-23-2014
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You can probably get away with just the one switch. Just be sure to run them off a relay! You don't want that much power running into and out of the cab. Do you have 55 watt bulbs or 100 watt? I used a 50 amp relay for my 4 100 watt lights.
If you point the outside ones out too far, you might consider 2 switches, one for the inside and then one for the outside. Then you should use 2 relays for that.
 
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Old 08-24-2014
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I'm going to get the kit with each light. It comes with wires, relays, and so on.

I have a 6 gang fuse block with 8 awg solid copper running to it mounted where the jumpsets would go if I had them. Was thinking of running off that but its a pain in the *** cuz you have to take the carpet up to run the wire.

I'm going to run dual batteries and mount the second one in a box in the bed. I am going to end up re-wiring everything to run off the spare battery with it isolated when ignition is off and get a better alternator. Have to look into where I will eventually need to connect the lights to the spare battery so I will either need to wait to wire them or leave slack.
 




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