3 Best 4WD Spotlights

Hey there my fellow off-roaders and welcome to my post where we will check out my three best 4WD spotlights to light up the night with this year. As we know, driving through rugged terrain at night can demand intense illumination, so you may need spotlights installed on your 4×4.

A good set of lights makes driving at night far safer and more enjoyable, whether to see the state of the road ahead, navigate through unforgiving weather, avoid animals, or simply deal with nighttime driving.  As usual however, there are a number of good options out there so to help you out, I have had a look around and come up with three good options below.

Let’s check them out..

I will review these in more detail below, however if you just want to get moving without all the carry-on, my recommended products are listed here for your convenience: 

	4WD Spotlights	Price	Get it
	Safego Round Off-Road Lights	$	CURRENT PRICE
	AUDEXEN LED Round Spot LED Pods	$$	CURRENT PRICE
	Auxbeam Round  Offroad Spot Lights	$$$	CURRENT PRICE

Spotlights for 4×4 vehicles are lighting installations that assist in keeping the off-road track illuminated, mainly when driving through poor conditions such as fog and mist. Another best thing about spotlights is that they can also be used as camping lights, allowing you to set up your campsite and cook dinner once you have arrived after dark.

In general, spotlights are used to describe a set of single, round lights on each side of the front, or top of the vehicle.  This is as opposed to a light bar, which is a single bar with a rows of LED lights across them.

The following factors should be considered as you look for a good set of spotlights for your four wheel drive vehicle.

1. Type
2. Kelvin rating and color temperature
3. Brightness
4. Beam pattern
5. Durability
6. Additions

Type

Spotlights for your four-wheel drive come in various types. There are three options for you to choose from. I shortlisted them below:

1. Halogen lamps: These work similarly to standard incandescent light bulbs but are vibration resistant. In addition, they last longer and shine brighter than typical incandescent bulbs. Halogen spotlights are the least expensive of the three.
2. HID lamps: The acronym stands for High-Intensity Discharge High-intensity. This spotlight uses an inert noble gas inside a bulb to generate the initial spark, igniting the metallic mixture and significantly increasing the light intensity. HID spotlights typically produce brighter illumination than halogen bulbs and are cheaper than LED lights.
3. LED lamps: Lamps use light-emitting diodes to produce needed illumination. LEDs have a much longer lifespan and use far less power than their HID or halogen counterparts. For this reason, LED spotlights are an excellent choice for all off-road applications and beyond. They are, however, the most expensive of the three.

Kelvin rating and color temperature

This factor describes the color temperature of the light emitted by the spotlight. The higher the kelvin rating, the brighter the illumination. The Kelvin rating ranges from 1,000 to 10,000. 5,500 is the Kelvin rating of daylight.

Spotlights that mimic natural daylight are often recommended as they assist in avoiding eye strain. Overly bright lighting makes it difficult to distinguish objects that would otherwise be visible whereas too dim lighting forces your eyes to squint and focus. Both ends of the spectrum will quickly tire your eyes out. For 4×4 spotlights, the recommended Kelvin rating is between 4800K and 6000K.

Brightness

Another crucial element of bestselling 4×4 spotlights is brightness. Obviously, you want driving lights equipped with sufficient brightness to fully illuminate the terrain you are conquering.

In spotlights and light bars, brightness is nothing more than luminous flux, which is the total amount of light emitted by a source. Brightness is measured in lumens (lm), and the desired light output of 4×4 brightness is typically greater than 5,000 lumens.

Beam pattern

For this feature, thee types emerge:

1. Flood beam: This beam type emits a broad, high-intensity light pattern that covers a large area surrounding and in front of the 4×4. Because of its ability to cast light on the surroundings, it is commonly used as a stationary light.
2. Spread beam: The following beam type is similar to standard driving lights. However, it is not bound by any specific road safety standards. This spotlight is also brighter, more comprehensive, and taller than a standard driving beam.
3. Spot (pencil) beam: The long-range, spot or pencil beam is the most capable deep-penetration beam. Because of its long-distance visibility, its focused circular pattern is typically helpful for high-speed off-roading.

Durability

Off-road driving excursions necessitate a certain level of toughness from your equipment, and aftermarket 4WD spotlights are no exception. Purchase products that can withstand a certain amount of vibration and impact and also be resistant to dirt and weather. Their housing should also be waterproof, depending on your needs.

Mounting brackets are an important component of 4WD spotlights because they often bear the brunt of the impact due to their location on the front bumper, bull bar or roll bar.

Additions

Other potential additions include:

1. Cooling system: This feature prevents the spotlight from overheating.
2. Adjustability: This applies to the spotlight’s mounting brackets, and it helps change the direction of the light with ease.
3. Warranty: Manufacturers that offer a warranty on their products are confident in their quality. This is also another consideration for you in shopping for 4WD spotlights.

How many lumens do you need for off-road driving?

For general country driving at night, you should look to a minimum of around 800 lumens. When off-road however, front lights will need be around 3000 – 5000 lumens for optimum safety.

So based on the information above and my own experience, I recommend the following options:

1. Safego Round Off-Road Lights

This 4WD spotlight comes with construction that protects it from the harsh elements of the off-road world. The brightness is within the recommended range with rows of LED lights that with inbuilt cooling. See its specifications below:

• Brand: Safego
• Type: LED spotlight
• Kelvin rating: 6 000
• Brightness; 30 000 lumens
• Beam type: Spot
• Weight: 4.2 pounds

Other inclusions:

• Adjustable mounting brackets
• Waterproof, IP67 rating
• 24-month warranty

Why have I chosen it?

Even though the 4WD spotlight comes at a low price, it emits a brightness of 30,000 lumens at 6,000 K giving you complete illumination during night driving. Because it has an aluminum housing, the spotlight withstands vibration for more extended use as well.  This is a great budget option for all conditions and driving types.

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2. AUDEXEN LED Round Spot LED Pods

This second spotlight option gives you the necessary brightness to safely navigate any type of rough terrain. It is designed to attain durability, effectively handling the harsh life of off-road driving and can be adjusted to the desired angle as well. See its specifications below:

• Brand: AUDEXEN
• Type: LED spotlight
• Kelvin rating: 6 000
• Brightness; 6 000 lumens
• Beam type: Spot
• Weight: 5.96 pounds

Other inclusions:

• Cooling system
• Waterproof, IP67 rating
• Adjustable mounting bracket
• Breather valve
• 12-month warranty

Why have I chosen this?

This spotlight has a 180-degree adjustable mounting bracket that easily changes its direction with installation that is well protected from water because of its high-grade IP67-rated die-cast aluminum housing and lens. The grooved heat sink fins help eliminate heat quickly, extending the spotlight’s lifespan to over 50,000 hours.  A great option for those who travel a lot on country roads at night.

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3. Auxbeam Round  Offroad Spot Lights

This last spotlight comes with an impressive lifespan, guaranteeing a prolonged use of the equipment. It can be installed on various vehicles, including your favorite four-wheel drive with ease for driving in all conditions both on and off road. See its specifications below:

• Brand: Auxbeam
• Type: LED spotlight
• Kelvin rating: 6 000
• Brightness: 9 000 lumens
• Beam type: Spot
• Weight: 10.58 pounds

Other inclusions:

• Easy installation
• Waterproof, IP68 rating
• Heat dissipation system

Why have I chosen this?

The last item I have on my list is of premium quality . The standard IP rating for durability is IP67, but with this spotlight, you get IP68.  Aside from this, this spotlight can cast light for up to 50,000 hours, thanks to its durable construction.  And for those with a few electronics on board, they do not suffer from electromagnetic interference (EMC), resolving the issue of radio interference and flickering as well.

There you have it, my three best spotlights for 4WD that guarantee safe and bright driving. I would be pleased to know how this article helped you, and as usual,  let me know of your experiences with them.

Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, corrections, or would like me to check anything else out for you.

Until next time.

Have fun

Paul