Best Lightbar Setup for GMC Sierra HD Night Driving?

[reynsi]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a GMC Sierra HD and want to install a lightbar for better visibility during highway driving, off road trips, and winter weather. I am trying to decide between a roof mounted bar, grille mounted option, or bumper setup.

I would appreciate recommendations on brightness, beam pattern, wiring kits, switch placement, and brands that hold up well over time.

I also want something that looks clean without causing too much wind noise or battery drain.

If you have photos, installation tips, or lessons learned from your own Sierra HD build, please share your advice.

 

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[reynsi]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a GMC Sierra HD and want to install a lightbar for better visibility during highway driving, off road trips, and winter weather. I am trying to decide between a roof mounted bar, grille mounted option, or bumper setup.

I would appreciate recommendations on brightness, beam pattern, wiring kits, switch placement, and brands that hold up well over time.

I also want something that looks clean without causing too much wind noise or battery drain.

If you have photos, installation tips, or lessons learned from your own GMC Sierra HD lightbar build, please share your advice.

thanks in advance for any help

 

[gemarsh]

Don't condemn the ditch light option...

I also have a set of bumper lights that are a blessing in the environment your asking about.

Both sets of lights run off a separate button on the oem upfitter switches.

Battery drain shouldn't be an issue if your HD is a dual battery setup.

 

[john151ama]

I personally don’t care for windshield or roof mounted. Just about all will create wind noise. Additionally light shining down creates glare, off the hood, and looking through the downward pointed light beam. Some trophy trucks do use high mounted lights but they are aimed out long distance I believe due to same issues.

On our trucks I think the behind the grill mounted light bar is a great option. Easy to take grill off and lot of space to mount a light bar in there. Top of bumper also works well if your willing to bend some metal to make mounts.

I went with the Prolite bumper insert. That got me a 12k winch mount, 30” light bar mount, and fog light mount.

I did a 30” Rough Country Black Series dual row curved. I am very happy with it. Great light for my needs, no fogging or moisture. Has held up well for a couple years so far. I have Rough Country Black Series all over my truck and Jeep and haven’t had a single failure or problem.

There are many other way more expensive light options. Really got to decide how much light you really need/want and how much you want to spend. The Rough Country Spectrum series light bars are a higher lumin output and good quality which you pay more for, but there are many other brands that will be more light output but also over $1k.

I have Auxbeam panels in both the truck and Jeep. Have worked great for me. Lot of guys on here seem to use those as well. A number of mount options now available on Etsy for mounting those on A pillar or roof mount which are pretty cool.

Good luck on the research and decisions. Some photos attached for reference.

 

[pinebaron]

I use some pretty powerful DD SS3 amber fog lamps on my AEV and can leave them on at night without blinding oncoming vehicles, yet provide much needed curbside illumination while driving through curvy mountain roads, plus they work great on the straight too.

 

[R467X]

I run a bodyguard bumper with 4x rigid midnight edition light and a 30" rigid light bar. I have them all hooked up to a Garmin power switch and they are Bluetooth controlled. I used blaze off-road for the wiring.

My power switch is mounted through the passenger side fuze cover. I drilled holes and used generic bolts / nuts to hold everything in place. Does not drain my battery whatsoever and overall a clean look without messing with anything inside the cab.