Choosing the right size light bar for your ATV can significantly enhance your riding experience, especially in low-light and nighttime conditions. With the myriad of options available, selecting the ideal light bar that suits your specific needs and vehicle can be challenging. This comprehensive guide explains the key factors to consider, ensuring you make an informed decision. We cover everything from the types of light bars and their mounting options to the quality of components and the importance of proper wiring.
Can You Put a Light Bar on an ATV?
Yes, you can put a light bar on an ATV, and it is a popular modification among off-road enthusiasts. Adding a light bar to your ATV significantly enhances visibility during nighttime rides or in low-light conditions, improving safety and navigation. Light bars come in various sizes and brightness levels, allowing you to choose one that fits your specific needs and preferences.
Installation is relatively straightforward, often involving mounting brackets and wiring the light bar to your ATV's electrical system. By choosing the appropriate light bar and following the manufacturer's installation instructions, you can enjoy improved illumination and a better off-road experience.
Upgrade your ATV or UTV with PERFEX Industries' off-road lighting solutions
The Importance of Adding a Light Bar on Your ATV or UTV
Adding a light bar to your ATV is not just about aesthetics; it's about safety and functionality. Here are some reasons why investing in a quality light bar is a smart choice:
- Enhanced Visibility: A powerful light bar provides ample light, improving visibility in low-light conditions, ensuring you can see and be seen.
- Safety: Better lighting helps you navigate rough terrain and avoid obstacles, reducing the risk of accidents.
- Extended Riding Hours: With sufficient light, you can enjoy your off-road adventures even after the sun goes down.
- Versatility: Light bars are useful for various applications, including work tasks, nighttime rides, and emergency situations.
Why Choose Perfex Industries for Your ATV Accessories?
In addition to light bars, we offer a wide range of accessories to customize your vehicle. Here's what sets us apart in the world of ATV and UTV:
- High-Quality Products: Perfex Industries is renowned for producing durable and reliable ATV accessories, ensuring superior performance and longevity.
- Expertise and Innovation: With years of experience in the industry, Perfex Industries continually innovates to provide cutting-edge solutions tailored to ATV enthusiasts.
- Customer Satisfaction: Excellent customer reviews and a strong reputation for exceptional service highlight our commitment to meeting customer needs.
- Wide Range of Options: Offering a comprehensive selection of accessories, Perfex Industries ensures you can find the perfect fit for any ATV model and requirement.
5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Light Bar
When choosing the best-LED light bar for your offroad vehicle, several factors come into play.
1. Size Light Bar
The size of the light bar is crucial and depends on the type of vehicle and your specific lighting needs. Light bars typically range from 4 inches to 30 inches. Here’s a breakdown of what size might suit your ATV:
- 4-10 Inches: Ideal for handlebar mounts or adding extra light to smaller ATVs.
- 10-20 Inches: Suitable for medium-sized ATVs, providing a balance between visibility and compactness.
- 20-30 Inches: Offers a broader beam of light, excellent for larger ATVs and those used in rough terrain.
2. Types of Light Bars
Different types of light bars offer varying benefits. Here are the main types:
- Spot Lights: Emit a narrow, long-range beam, perfect for seeing far ahead on the trail.
- Flood Lights: Provide a wide beam of light, illuminating a broader area but with less range.
- Combo Beam Pattern: Combine spot and flood beams for optimal visibility, offering both range and breadth.
- Driving Lights: Designed for on-road use, enhancing visibility without blinding oncoming traffic.
- Fog Off-Road Lights: Specialized for cutting through foggy conditions, enhancing safety.
3. Mounting Options
How and where you mount your light bar can affect its performance and utility. Consider these options:
- Handlebar Mounts: Great for smaller light bars, providing direct light where you steer.
- Roof-Mounted Light Bars: Offer a high vantage point, ideal for illuminating a large area.
- Grill-Mounted Light Bars: Provide lower, forward-facing light, useful for spotting obstacles on the ground.
- Flush Mounts: Sleek and integrated into the ATV’s body, providing a clean look and reducing the risk of damage.
- Cage Brackets and Custom Brackets: Allow for flexible mounting options tailored to your vehicle’s design.
4. Quality Components
Investing in a light bar with quality components ensures durability and reliability. Look for features such as:
- LED Lights: Modern LED technology offers energy efficiency, long lifespan, and bright light output.
- Durable Aluminium Housings: Die-cast aluminum or heavy-duty billet aluminum construction provides excellent durability and heat dissipation.
- Quality Bulbs and Reflectors: Ensure a powerful and consistent beam of light.
- Rocker Switches and Pre-Wired Switches: Simplify installation and operation.
5. Wiring and Power Draw
Proper wiring is essential for safe and effective operation. Here’s what to consider:
- Wiring Harness: A high-quality off-road wiring harness ensures reliable power delivery and protects against electrical issues.
- Power Draw: Check the amp draw of the light bar to ensure it matches your ATV’s electrical system capacity.
- Energy Efficiency: LED lights are typically more energy-efficient, reducing the strain on your ATV’s battery.
Off-road lighting solutions for ATV and UTV
What is the Best Type of Light Bar for an ATV?
When selecting the best type of light bar for an ATV, LED lighting stands out as the top choice due to its durability, energy efficiency, and superior brightness. For optimal performance, consider a combination light bar that includes both angled light and beam light options. Angled lights provide excellent coverage for ambient light, illuminating a wide area around your vehicle, which is particularly useful for rough driving conditions and off-road adventures. Beam lights, on the other hand, offer focused, long-distance illumination, ideal for road riding and spotting obstacles far ahead.
If you frequently drive on public roads, it's important to ensure your light bar setup complies with local regulations to avoid blinding other drivers. Additionally, incorporating reverse lights can greatly enhance safety and visibility when backing up in low-light conditions. Always choose a light bar that is designed for your specific vehicle type and can withstand the rigors of off-road use, ensuring reliable performance even in the harshest environments. By considering these factors, you can select the best light bar to suit your ATV's needs and enhance your overall riding experience.
Popular ATVs and the Recommended Light Bar Sizes
Selecting the right ATV light bars involves understanding the specific needs of different models. Popular ATVs require tailored light bar sizes to ensure an optimal range of light and adaptability to various road conditions.
1. Polaris Sportsman 570
The Polaris Sportsman 570 is a versatile and powerful ATV, popular for both recreational riding and utility tasks.
Ideal Light Bar Size: 20 inches
Reasoning:
- Versatility: A 20-inch light bar offers a good balance of coverage and compactness, making it suitable for various riding conditions.
- Mounting Options: Can be mounted on the handlebar, grill, or even the roof for maximum visibility.
- Power: The Sportsman 570 has enough electrical capacity to support a 20-inch light bar without overloading the system.
2. Yamaha Grizzly 700
The Yamaha Grizzly 700 is known for its rugged build and excellent off-road capabilities, often used in challenging terrains.
Ideal Light Bar Size: 30 inches
Reasoning:
- Enhanced Visibility: A 30-inch light bar provides extensive light coverage, essential for navigating rough terrains and low-light conditions.
- Mounting Flexibility: Suitable for roof mounting or grill mounting, ensuring broad illumination ahead.
- Durability: The Grizzly 700 can handle the additional load and size of a larger light bar, making it a reliable choice for extreme conditions.
3. Honda FourTrax Rancher 420
The Honda FourTrax Rancher 420 is a reliable and versatile ATV, commonly used for both farm work and recreational riding.
Ideal Light Bar Size: 10 inches
Reasoning:
- Compact Size: A 10-inch light bar is sufficient for most tasks, providing adequate light without overwhelming the ATV’s design.
- Easy Installation: Can be easily mounted on the handlebar or grill, offering flexibility and ease of installation.
- Power Efficiency: The smaller size ensures minimal power draw, preserving the ATV’s battery life.
4. Can-Am Outlander 850
The Can-Am Outlander 850 is a high-performance ATV, built for speed and handling the roughest terrains effortlessly.
Ideal Light Bar Size: 30 inches
Reasoning:
- Maximum Visibility: A 30-inch light bar provides extensive illumination, essential for high-speed rides and navigating through dense woods or trails.
- Mounting Stability: Can be securely mounted on the roof or front grill, ensuring it stays in place during rough rides.
- High Power Capacity: The Outlander 850’s robust electrical system can handle the power requirements of a larger light bar.
5. Suzuki KingQuad 500AXi
The Suzuki KingQuad 500AXi is a reliable and powerful ATV, suitable for a variety of terrains and uses.
Ideal Light Bar Size: 20 inches
Reasoning:
- Balanced Illumination: A 20-inch light bar provides a good balance of range and spread, making it ideal for diverse conditions.
- Mounting Options: Offers flexibility in mounting positions, whether on the handlebar, grill, or roof.
- Electrical Capacity: The KingQuad 500AXi has sufficient power to support a 20-inch light bar, ensuring consistent performance.
The different types of off-road vehicles
Customize Your ATV with High-Quality Accessories
Perfex Industries offers a comprehensive range of high-quality ATV accessories designed to enhance your off-road experience. Our selection includes durable components crafted to withstand the toughest conditions, ensuring reliability and longevity. We focus on innovation and performance, providing products that meet the highest standards.
Feel free to explore our wide range of products for leading brands like Can-Am, Honda, Yamaha, CFMoto, Polaris, and more:
- Fairlead
- Foot pegs
- Winch rope
- Fairlead
- Winch rope
- Light bars
- Light mounts
- Pod lights
- Wiring harnesses & switches
- Complete skid plates
- A-arm guards
- Central skid plates
- Footwell skid plates
- Lift kits
- Wheel spacers
Our commitment to customer satisfaction drives us to continually improve and expand our offerings, making us your trusted partner for all your ATV accessory needs.