DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - Roof Light Bar

↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Roof Light Bar - any recommendations

Page 2 of 3

Print this entire topic ·

Landyrob

Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 93

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 HT Alpine White

i received the light bar from first four today, have had to make a small mod to get in between the roofrack and the airintake

will post some pictures tomorrow. LANDROVER Defender Best 4 x 4 x Far
Defender TD4 90 Hardtop 2.4
Defender TD4 110 Hardtop 2.2

17th Aug 2011 8:58pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

Hi John, I keep hearing people say lights behind the front axle are illegal.

However I can find no reference to that in the UK Vehicle Lighting regulations. No one is willing to tell me which UK law is being broken.

One prolific poster on another forum keeps telling me this but is either unwilling or unable to tell me where in the Vehicle Lighting regulations it states this.

The other fallback position is that it is illegal under EU law but without any reference.

One argument is that roof lights on lorries are in front of the front axle. However what about US style lorries which operate on UK law with roof lights.

I am prepared to be proved wrong but it will have to be backed up with reference to the appropriate law/regulations

Brendan

17th Aug 2011 9:15pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

You're absolutely right, Brendan. As long as they are wired to the main beam so that they go off automatically with them, there are very few restrictions and requirements on these 'optional' lights. The appropriate extract from the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations can be read HERE.

If you wade through the other schedules (particularly schedule 2) then there are some details about things like distance from the side of the vehicle that may be a bit questionable on some set-ups, but there isn't anything about longitudinal position or relationship to the front axle.

What I think would be illegal would be independantly switched lights, i.e. those not wired to go off with the main beam. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

17th Aug 2011 9:52pm

JSG

Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

Hi Brendan,

I believe that the paragraph refering to fog lamps in the regs covers it along with the aux high beam lights

A traffic cop I knew also said he would issue a ticket if they were used.

I'll see if I can find reference to it.

Edit - Looking at the regs link I can't see anything in there

Interesting discussion

John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS

Last edited by JSG on 17th Aug 2011 10:18pm. Edited 1 time in total

17th Aug 2011 10:07pm

Landie Boy

Member Since: 14 Jan 2011
Location: Essex
Posts: 431

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

Quote:
(Regulations 18 and 20)
SCHEDULE 5

PART I
Requirements relating to obligatory main-beam headlamps and to optional main-beam headlamps to the extent specified in part ii

1. Number–

(a) Any vehicle not covered by sub-paragraph (b), (c) or (d):

Two
(b) A solo motor bicycle and motor bicycle combination:

One
(c) A motor vehicle with three wheels, other than a motor bicycle combination, first used before 1st January 1972:

One
(d) A motor vehicle with three wheels, other than a motor bicycle combination, first used on or after 1st January 1972 and which has an unladen weight of not more than 400 kg and an overall width of not more than 1300 mm:

One
2. Position–

(a) Longitudinal:

No requirement
(b) Lateral–

(i)Where two main-beam headlamps are required to be fitted–

(A)Maximum distance from the side of the vehicle:

The outer edges of the illuminated areas must in no case be closer to the side of the vehicle than the outer edges of the illuminated areas of the obligatory dipped-beam headlamps.
(B)Maximum separation distance between a pair of main-beam headlamps:

No requirement

i reckon that guy is talking out of his arse, but saying that i cant think of a car where the lights are behind the front axle

Jack

17th Aug 2011 10:18pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

My understanding is in agreement with Darren.

Yes I believe their Is a restriction on height of fog lights.

It is not illegal to have additional lights wired separately from the main beam.

However it is illegal to use such lights on the public highway. The main reason as I understand it is to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.

Having had the main light stalk burn out, I was glad I had my optional/additional lights wired separately.

Brendan

17th Aug 2011 10:25pm

JSG

Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

It looks as though the regs do allow them if switched as high beam - I wonder why Landrover disabled them then?

Live and learn

John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS

17th Aug 2011 10:28pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

leeds wrote:
It is not illegal to have additional lights wired separately from the main beam.

However it is illegal to use such lights on the public highway. The main reason as I understand it is to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.

Sorry, should have clarified - illegal to use on the road, not merely illegal to have fitted.

JSG wrote:
It looks as though the regs do allow them if switched as high beam - I wonder why Landrover disabled them then?

Probably for the same reason that some police seem to think they're illegal - they don't understand the regs

Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

18th Aug 2011 6:02am

Landyrob

Member Since: 07 Jul 2011
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 93

here the light bar from "first four" fitted to my landy today.

Click image to enlarge
i bought the option with Lamps.

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

LANDROVER Defender Best 4 x 4 x Far
Defender TD4 90 Hardtop 2.4
Defender TD4 110 Hardtop 2.2

19th Aug 2011 6:50pm

bob neville

Member Since: 30 Apr 2009
Location: Marbella
Posts: 3248

Hi Brendan

Would the person who built your double light bar build another one ???

I would be very interested if the price was reasonable.

Bob

2nd Sep 2011 3:39pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

Hi Bob, will send you a pm with contact details.

Brendan

3rd Sep 2011 7:48am

BigMike

Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2253

My rec is simply dont get one - they're not needed unelss you expect kangaroos - pretty infrequent on the M25. Just replace your headlamp bulbs with extreme brilliance ones and job done. 19 quid

3rd Sep 2011 3:22pm

twopoint6khz

Member Since: 18 Aug 2011
Location: North Lakes
Posts: 654

Apologies for digging up an old thread, but Brendan do you know of any UK suppliers of the Rhino bars on the first page? Are you a supplier? Been looking all over the internet but I can only find full roof racks for Transits etc.

I'm guessing they're expensive...

8th Feb 2012 2:09pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

Hi twopoint, yes we do stock Rhino Rack bars. Have a look here

There are about 3 companies in the UK making/selling roof bars/racks with Rhino in their name. The Australian Rhino Rack were the original and are still the best for roof bars.

Brendan

8th Feb 2012 3:16pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

Once you have the bar you'll need one of these ... LED 40" E Series light bar from Rigid Industries

http://youtu.be/4uW8PR5aBqs

8th Feb 2012 7:43pm

Page 2 of 3

All times are GMT

Jump to

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum