Thread: Update, went with lightbar customization

I am picking up a 97 crew cab Internaional 4700 flat bed on Monday - will be pulling a 48' trailer and will occasionally have to sit in the street getting loads of cars, freight, etc.

So......

I want to put some amber on it. I am thinking spinners on the corners of the headache rack on the front of the flatbed - either dual Highlighters, Turbobeams, or simple model 14's. I am familiar with the functions and price points on Highlighters and 14's, never seen a Turbobeams.

Also curious if Highlighters and Turbobeams are available with split speed models, meaning everything I have found are either dual 95 fpm motors or dual 175 fpm motors. Can you get a single light with one of each or would it be easier and more cost efficient to order one @ 95 and one @ 175 and then just swap a motor in each?

Also, if you sell these, pm me a price for a pair. Think I will go with clear lenses and amber filters in one and amber/green in the other.

If you want dual minibars with various speed rotators, I say order 1 dual 95 FPM HighLighter and 1 dual 175 FPM HighLighter and swap around. You don't have to unbolt the motors from the rotators, just unscrew the rotator assemblies themselves from the base of the minibars, switch around what you want, re-mount, and now you've got various speed HighLighters. In my personal opinion, the slower the flash rate, the more dwell-time the rotator has to warn others, so dual 95 FPM ones would do the job just fine. You could always get a full-size amber lightbar too. ELB member Bluelightandabat has some amber lightbars that he's been trying to sell for a while. Check it out if interested (just a friendly suggestion ): Everything must go!

As for adding a green with amber....ehh, not sure on that one . Best to just stay amber if you're doing vehicle and freight hauling.

I too think green would draw unwanted attention for you. You'd be better off doing a Amber/Red like AZ DOT. That is if red to the rear is legal for you.

Originally Posted by WS224

will occasionally have to sit in the street getting loads of cars, freight, etc.

If that is the extent of your duties the vehicle is already equipped with sufficient warning lights for this purpose - commonly known as four ways. Twin minibars with amber AND green? Whackerism.

Theres really no difference. the turbobeam plus (raised base) uses the same rotators as the highlighter, just a more aerodynamic shape. the flush base turbobeam uses vector reflectors, simply cropped down highlighter/streehawk/aerohawk rotators. The original turbobeam had massive square (16 square inch) parabolic reflectors that blew both away!

Originally Posted by Solvarex

If that is the extent of your duties the vehicle is already equipped with sufficient warning lights for this purpose - commonly known as four ways. Twin minibars with amber AND green? Whackerism.

Yeah......isn't that kinda the point of the entire site?

So, a truck towing a single car, aka wrecker, a full size lightbar is appropriate. A bigger truck pulling a 48' trailer with 3-4 cars with any "be cautious around me" lighting is inappropriate? Just asking.....

If you want green in the Highlighter, the filters are very hard to find. They are not made anymore, so used or NOS is the only way to go. You might be off picking another bar if you go that route.

Originally Posted by rwo978

If you want green in the Highlighter, the filters are very hard to find. They are not made anymore, so used or NOS is the only way to go. You might be off picking another bar if you go that route.

Thanks for the info. Amber is fine, just thought green would mix it up a lil, and it isn't nearly as regulated as red and blue. I am kinda leaning towards the 14's anyway. Think they would be sufficient.

So new question - can 14's be ordered with a spin direction? I would rather they spin opposite than in the same direction. I guess the same question on the others as well.

Originally Posted by WS224

So new question - can 14's be ordered with a spin direction? I would rather they spin opposite than in the same direction. I guess the same question on the others as well.

I don't think you can from factory, but the simple trick is to switch the polarity around on JUST the motor. So say you get a couple of 14s and they both rotate the same direction. Take one beacon an disconnect the motor's leads from the power source and ground, then put the positive lead of the motor to ground, and the negative lead of the motor to positive. Voila, you now have an opposite rotating 14!
14motorhelp.png

Are you getting the current version of the 14 made today or do you have a lead on an older pair? The older 14s will have a bigger motors since the current ones use the small, regular motors like in lightbars. I'm not sure if you can reverse polarity on the older 14 motors.

Another suggestion if you want sealed beams, this ebay seller has a bunch of these for a real good price a piece. You'd get a vintage look on your truck and meets your need for 360 degree warning ! MARS, TRI - LITE, ROTATING AMBER 2 BULB WARNING LIGHT, 12volt NEW | eBay

Originally Posted by CrownVic97

I don't think you can from factory, but the simple trick is to switch the polarity around on JUST the motor. So say you get a couple of 14s and they both rotate the same direction. Take one beacon an disconnect the motor's leads from the power source and ground, then put the positive lead of the motor to ground, and the negative lead of the motor to positive. Voila, you now have an opposite rotating 14!
14motorhelp.png

Are you getting the current version of the 14 made today or do you have a lead on an older pair? The older 14s will have a bigger motors since the current ones use the small, regular motors like in lightbars. I'm not sure if you can reverse polarity on the older 14 motors.

Another suggestion if you want sealed beams, this ebay seller has a bunch of these for a real good price a piece. You'd get a vintage look on your truck and meets your need for 360 degree warning ! MARS, TRI - LITE, ROTATING AMBER 2 BULB WARNING LIGHT, 12volt NEW | eBay

Thanks for the info and the lead on the Mars lights!! I had always heard you could reverse the polarity on the motors, but never tried it.

You bet, WS224. Good luck in your install!

224,

I know you've probably made up your mind, but my vote for something that big is still a full size amber/clear bar.

I say a big 'ol Force 4 XL!

You'll do great with a pair of FS 14's, but it's pretty much always better to use a colored outer dome than a clear outer dome with colored filters.

I have seen a lot of the highlighters in use (even used 1 on my State Van for awhile)and have always been impressed in how bright they are .

Instead of Model 14s, I'd go with 2 Model 100s. Same size as the 14s, same rotators as the Highlighter, and much brighter than the sealed beams in tha 14s.
A bonus, is they also cost less!

Dan

Originally Posted by dg0223

224,

I know you've probably made up your mind, but my vote for something that big is still a full size amber/clear bar.

I say a big 'ol Force 4 XL!

It's funny you say that. It caused me to recall that I have (2) Force 4 mini XL bars in my garage!! Only problem is they are both red. Do I even wanna know what amber domes are gonna cost?

I'm certain someone on the board would be able to help you out with a pair of amber mini XL domes. You may even be able to do a little horse trading on the board, since there may be someone out there looking for some red mini XL domes.

The two Mini XL's would look good on that rig. I say run it up the flag pole and see if anybody replies.

Dude! NOS Clear Goodness!

force 4 xl emergency police fire safety light clear lens nos nice 9c1 p71 | eBay

I like 14's myself; they look awesome on MDNR Internationals :thumbup:

id say 2 amber whelen guardians, they seem to be one of the brightest halogen mini bars ive seen( correct me if im wrong may just be personal opinion). I think 2 of them would look good and get the job done. Just my 2cents.

You say you're pulling a trailer. Will it be high enough to block the lights if mounted to the headache rack? If so, I'd suggest mirror mounting two amber Sentrys on the cab instead. If you'll be pulling a flatbed trailer with low cargo, I'd still go with the 2 Sentrys on the ends of the headache rack. Much easier to relamp that any of the minibars listed, also easier than the 100/14. And bulbs are much cheaper than the 14. The 14 does have the advantage over any of the other lights, in that the beam pattern is much wider vertically and warns traffic better when mounted high up on a truck.

Just an FYI on the Mars Beacons. I wouldnt use them for anything other than display or show. I recently order two of them both arrived pretty well wrecked. upon inspection one had an elastic type band holding the sealed beam in place, the other had a wire holder. Both sounded horrible when powered up ( my garbage disposer runs quieter) and the Twist lock domes cause the motors to stop turning when tightened down. They are both on the way back to the seller right now. Very disappointed in the light. With the heat off the sealed beams I cant see the elastic bulb holder lasting very long at all........Go with the Federal.

did someone really suggest 4 way flashers?

Originally Posted by Hoser

Just an FYI on the Mars Beacons. I wouldnt use them for anything other than display or show. I recently order two of them both arrived pretty well wrecked. upon inspection one had an elastic type band holding the sealed beam in place, the other had a wire holder. Both sounded horrible when powered up ( my garbage disposer runs quieter) and the Twist lock domes cause the motors to stop turning when tightened down. They are both on the way back to the seller right now. Very disappointed in the light. With the heat off the sealed beams I cant see the elastic bulb holder lasting very long at all........Go with the Federal.

Well....that sucks. Okay, then disregard that post for eBay on those Mars beacons. Good thing you chimed in here on those, Hoser. Shamful for the seller to not be honest or even making sure all the lights work properly or had defects.

I would go with the either 1 or 2 FS 14's on the headache rack, but that is just me. Can't beat the 14 as a sealed beam rotating light. Great warning and a classic look.


Chris

Kudos to OP on wanting to put appropriate lights on this vehicle instead of sticking 300 tiny split flash LEDs on a service vehicle.

Originally Posted by JohnMarcson

Kudos to OP on wanting to put appropriate lights on this vehicle instead of sticking 300 tiny split flash LEDs on a service vehicle.

yeah really!!! +1

I'd do an MX7000 or a similar full size bar to add some worklights to the mix. MX's on E bay go for about $200.

I scratched the original idea of going with Model 14's or highlighters altogether because I got a great deal on a refurbed LP6000 - including new lenses. It was a solid bar when I got it with (4) standard rotators and rear work lights in the (2) center sections.

When I got it, I chopped it in half, rewired both sides, and made them both identical. They now have standard speed outer and middle rotators, fast inner rotators, front marker lights, and rear facing STT lights. I also put a rear facing Whelen Pioneer II as a rear work light.

That build actually looks pretty nice. I'd scrap the green..... it's just confusing to people, or it will be washed out.