Lighting new to us 2000 Ford Expedition

mutantmallow

We just got a new Expedition for our first out EMS Squad Vehicle. We are looking to put a cheap (not Chinese) LED bar on it. We are going to on an very low budget although I don't know the amount at the moment. I don't think it matters whether it is a new or used bar.

I'm thinking a Justice just since it's a cheap bar and a Liberty is would be about $1150ish new. Let me know of any ideas or cheap LED bars you may have and I'll bounce them off the Chief.

Here is a pic of the truck...

It's so new to us it doesn't even have lettering or anything.

EDITAlso if anybody has some ideas for signage or anything chime in. I'm kinda thinking something along the lines of a reflective red stripe down the side and probably a star of life on the back windows.

C420sailor

For a Liberty with decent warning power (and not just corner modules) you are looking at way more than $1150 new.

I would think that the justice would be undersized for that size vehicle, but that's just my opinion.

You could always go with the vehicle's era and get a nice strobe bar.

Newberry13

I'de go with a Justice, wig-wags, and a 6-90 PS with haw in the break lights, frontturnsignals, and a pair of strobes behind the grill.

pdk9

[quote:f05cfd6959=\"mutantmallow\"]We just got a new Expedition for our first out EMS Squad Vehicle. We are looking to put a cheap (not Chinese) LED bar on it. We are going to on an very low budget although I don't know the amount at the moment. I don't think it matters whether it is a new or used bar.

I'm thinking a Justice just since it's a cheap bar and a Liberty is would be about $1150ish new. Let me know of any ideas or cheap LED bars you may have and I'll bounce them off the Chief

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 17:59 Post subject:

if you guys can use red blue there was a liberty for sale on here today for like 800-900. LIN6 in the grill

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 18:01 Post subject:

http://www.elightbars.org/bb/post53097.html

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 18:02 Post subject:

Yeah I'm thinking that a Justice is way to small for something like that but were on little to no budget but still want something good. Atleast I'm keeping them away from China bars. I'm hoping to find a decent liberty even if it's just corners and a couple inner modules. Not sure if there will be money for strobes or anything more like that but I'm hoping they'll give me a little leeway and get more than just a bar.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 18:13 Post subject:

lightbar and headlight flasher at least. you will be fine. add on as you can.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 18:32 Post subject:

Couldn't edit previous post so... It would be nice to find an affordable Freedom. I think it would fit the truck better than a Liberty or Justice.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 18:34 Post subject: Re:

[quote:ecc1406d8b=\"TNFF412N\"]lightbar and headlight flasher at least. you will be fine. add on as you can.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 18:40 Post subject: Re:

[quote:17ff2d4e62=\"mutantmallow\"]It would be nice to find an affordable Freedom

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 18:46 Post subject: Re:

[quote:4f3bf64c44=\"pdk9\"][quote:4f3bf64c44=\"mutantmallow\"]It would be nice to find an affordable Freedom

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 19:08 Post subject:

Just going by your roughly $1150 price range, the Sho-Me Illuminator seems pretty good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCmazaZQyeE&feature=related and the Verve lightbar by Whacker Tech doesn't seem too bad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCmazaZQyeE&feature=related You can get a loaded Illuminator from Big Country Supply for $1200 http://www.bigcountrysupply.com/sho-meluminatorstretch47low-profile3rdgenerationledlightbarwithtakedownsalleysandtrafficarrow.aspx and the Verve from Tac2 for $695 http://www.tac2supply.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=124&products_id=439 I've never seen these bars in person. The only names used in my area are Whelen, Code 3 or Tomar.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 19:32 Post subject:

I am going to guess Whelen, but do you guys have any sort of brand loyalty?

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 19:35 Post subject:

Here's a possibility that I've come up with if we go with a Justice. R/B Justice mounted on the roof rack Red Lin4 on the grille R/R Slim-lighter in rear window WHCS450 with strobes in the tail lights and front corners or possibly use Vertex heads rather than strobes Green Rota/Beam towards the rear since it will also be used as a command vehicle. This package with strobes would be $1542.08 from and LAWs would be $1580.48 all from Sirennet. Although I'm sure it'll be hard getting that kind of cash out of them so I may just need to go with the lightbar and probably a HLF and TLF.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 19:51 Post subject:

Well that is Sirennet pricing... which could go down Contact Sirennet directly and see what they can do. Also look for Whelen distributors in the area that might be able to help you out as well. I don't know how I feel about the LIN4's on the grille... especially considering how awkward the Grille is on the expeditions. What about two 400 series lights (SuperLED not Linear 12's). Those are [again depending where you look] not much more (~$80 or less). If memory serves me, the LIN4's are about $60, 500 series SuperLEDs both TIR and LIN8 style will run around $70 (Strobesnmore pricing) and are much brighter than the LIN4's Also, I know you are looking at budget but it might be worth it to try to just jump up to the Vertex's at $75 each. The CS450 only outputs about 12 watts on each light head, which is about \"low power mode\" on most of their other power supplies. At $100 (sirennet seams to have the best pricing on that) for the power supply, $20 per lighthead and the cables, you are looking at about $200-230 for that where as 4 vertexs would be pushing $300, but be worth it. I guess it all depends on how much \"wiggle room\" you have. Tradeoffs may have to be made... like a TLF instead of hideaways, which IMO are much more effective if you don't care about colors. Have you thought about a siren yet as well?

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 20:03 Post subject:

i really like the mx7000 and its warning power and think that itll give u a lot more ability to spend roughly $1100 all over the truck instead of just a lightbar (even tho the freedom is a hell of a bar!) if ur chief wont budge for more $. -mx-7000 w/ sweeps $200 in good condition - (maybe get new domes and itll look brand new) -2 500-series on grill ($140) -2 400s @ corners ($140) -HLF $35-50 on elb -dual talon on dash ($160 on elb) -4 vertexes (280) - 2 front & 2 rear -2 400's on the liftgate or a slimlighter from elb in rear headliner (140-180)

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 20:03 Post subject:

Yeah I was just using sirennet to get an idea, plus I would much rather use a larger lighthead in the grill than a LIN4. I just priced that in there to try and make it cheaper. I also think that a HLF and TLF would be better for us than strobes, plus cheaper.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 20:10 Post subject:

Yeah a MX7k would be nice. We have one in storage with D-tec rotators but I think they want to go with LED on this rather than halo but I'm not sure at the moment. As for siren as far as I know we have a siren and speaker that we can put in it. I just hope it's not something ancient haha.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 20:20 Post subject:

One more bit of opinion vomit then I will let other people speak their minds.... First, I do not like dash lights on marked vehicles. Period. Dash lights were designed for keeping a low profile, and anything outside the vehicle will be much brighter and more omnidirectional than anything inside. Lights to the rear are okay, that is a different story. Although the way to go is LEDs now a days, there was a point in time where LEDs didn't exist (how did we ever get by?). Strobes are effective if they are well maintained, and power is distributed properly. When I saw this vehicle all I could think of was Hartford District 1 (Chief), which still has an all strobe setup, and although this video was taken as the sun was setting.. it is still a pretty effective vehicle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXfMYQQS-aE Am I saying screw LEDs? No. But strobes still have their place in the world until the price of LEDs comes down. Halogen is still very effective IMO as well. Hartford's old slick-tops they bring out for special events have dual halogen dash-misers behind tinted windows are they are pretty damn bright, especially the amber ones. So leave you options open... I think the MX7000 isn't a bad idea, because it is a flexible light bar, where as the Justice is kind of a set it and leave it deal. I know you can add stuff, but it is not as readily available as the extra stuff for edges.

Posted: Wed 29-Oct-2008 22:11 Post subject: Re:

[quote:7e30453d75=\"Redsquirrel\"]Just going by your roughly $1150 price range, the Sho-Me Illuminator seems pretty good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCmazaZQyeE&feature=related and the Verve lightbar by Whacker Tech doesn't seem too bad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCmazaZQyeE&feature=related You can get a loaded Illuminator from Big Country Supply for $1200 http://www.bigcountrysupply.com/sho-meluminatorstretch47low-profile3rdgenerationledlightbarwithtakedownsalleysandtrafficarrow.aspx and the Verve from Tac2 for $695 http://www.tac2supply.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=124&products_id=439 I've never seen these bars in person. The only names used in my area are Whelen, Code 3 or Tomar.

Posted: Thu 30-Oct-2008 02:06 Post subject:

Any possibility you can go slicktop with this vehicle? If so, with the amount alloted, you could make one heck of a setup. If not, here's a possibility. Go for a Whelen Patriot. Sure, it's not newer style LEDs, but they still give great warning power and look good on vehicles. Lookin' around on fleabay, you can sometimes find them at decent prices. For a decked out unit, you might be able to pay around the neighborhood of $500-700. If you have to get a lightbar (or the powers to be are set on it), then concentrate on that. If the budget gets tight after a lightbar, get a basic siren for the mean time and at least a HLF. You can always add grille, fender and rear deck lighting at another time. As far as labeling the vehicle, I'd try for some reflective striping if you can afford it. Keep the markings simple, perhpas your dept. logo on the door and a small star or life on each rear quarter panel. As far as the green command light, just buy a used one on the forum. If new, get a simple rotator that plugs in the cigar plug. Keep a magnet on it, and just throw it on the top of the truck when it's needed. Saves money and it's simple.

Posted: Thu 30-Oct-2008 03:34 Post subject: Re:

[quote:d8fbdae32e=\"Robert W.\"]First, I do not like dash lights on marked vehicles. Period. Dash lights were designed for keeping a low profile, and anything outside the vehicle will be much brighter and more omnidirectional than anything inside. Lights to the rear are okay, that is a different story.

Posted: Thu 30-Oct-2008 11:37 Post subject: Re:

[quote:75c90b55ac=\"Robert W.\"]I am going to guess Whelen, but do you guys have any sort of brand loyalty?

Posted: Thu 30-Oct-2008 11:47 Post subject: Re:

[quote:276c291b9c=\"Robert W.\"]Although the way to go is LEDs now a days, there was a point in time where LEDs didn't exist (how did we ever get by?). Strobes are effective if they are well maintained, and power is distributed properly. When I saw this vehicle all I could think of was Hartford District 1 (Chief), which still has an all strobe setup, and although this video was taken as the sun was setting.. it is still a pretty effective vehicle:

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