Tractor lighting

[msmoke00]

I've finally got the boss convinced that the lighting on our tractors that we use are the farm are awful. Much easier to keep straighter rows and go straighter working ground if you can see further ahead. So what I'm looking for is cheap, rugged, very bright lights. We are out in the middle of 300 acres fields, so no worries of blinding anyone and we use different lights for the road. So what lights will be best for what we are looking for? Halogen, Xenon, or HID? LEDS are way out of our price range. I was looking at a few long range/driving lights like these:
http://www.jegs.com/i/KC-HiLites/423/634/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/KC-HiLites/423/631/10002/-1


These are mid 90's Case IH tractors we are working with. I know the newer Deere's use HIDs. Are there any conversion kits out there that will work without too much trouble?

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[Zaedock]

KC's used to be really big in the off road world. I like them, but the latest thing are LED's.

They make some pretty neat setups that offer low draw.

LED Google Search

 

[IndyIan]

You might have to go with LEDs depending on how much extra alternator capacity you have left. I wouldn't assume you can pull 50+ more amps with out a problem. On my little tractor an extra 100watts is all I could add. If I need more light I'll have to replace with LEDs.

 

[msmoke00]

We've looked that those, but the normal "tractor lighting" seems to be very dim. Even the 1000 lumen LEDs seem to be hundreds. I saw on KC's website they have a 7000 lumen LED that is a couple thousand dollars. I do like their low draw and life. All of our tractors are normal 12 volt systems. These aren't little tractors, these are 300 hp 4wd's with 8.3L motors, so we've got a little room to pull more amps.

We've tried ones like these and they don't add much.
http://www.gpartsinc.com/p-4563-one-led-...CFetDMgodRyQAKA

 

[xxch4osxx]

Try Rigid Industries and see if anything they have will work. They are a bit more expensive but are made in USA and also made to Mil-spec.

 

[Zaedock]

Well, there are some awesome LED light bar setups, one of which my friend used during the King Of The Hammers race, but you're going to be in for several hundred bucks. It's going to be pay to play in that regard.

 

[The_Eric]

Find an A&I dealer. They offer drop in HIDs. Some of the parts stores (non national chains) are A&I reps, otherwise some of the bigger farmers are also dealers too. If you still come up blank, let me know, as I know 3 dealers in my area.

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: xxch4osxx
Try Rigid Industries and see if anything they have will work. They are a bit more expensive but are made in USA and also made to Mil-spec.


Yeah! Those look awesome. The price isn't really too bad either, when you consider KC's are up around a hundred bucks.

 

[eljefino]

Poke around danielsternlighting.com for ideas, but you can do cheaper elsewhere.

Since you're off road and don't need to worry about glare, I'd consider some 3rd world ebay HID driving light stuff.

I think you'd appreciate a couple "pencil beams" that are meant to augment high beams and shoot a narrow beam far ahead. That'll line up the rows of corn better. Are you going to mount on top of your cab, on the fenders, or ???

 

[msmoke00]

We were thinking a couple pencil beams/driving lights. Our 9330 doesn't have fenders on the front so they'll either go up on the cab or down by the front weights. The MX230 and 8940 will be up front below the headlights. The problem with too many on top of the cab is when we work next to fence rows and catch one on a tree branch.

 

[cpayne5]

Check out http://www.advmonster.com

This guy imports these lights and sells them to the motorcycle crowd over on the ADV Rider website.

The lights are small, but put out a ton of light. Their brightest light puts out 3600 lumens and is priced at $100 per light.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: msmoke00
I've finally got the boss convinced that the lighting on our tractors that we use are the farm are awful. Much easier to keep straighter rows and go straighter working ground if you can see further ahead. So what I'm looking for is cheap, rugged, very bright lights. We are out in the middle of 300 acres fields, so no worries of blinding anyone and we use different lights for the road. So what lights will be best for what we are looking for? Halogen, Xenon, or HID? LEDS are way out of our price range. I was looking at a few long range/driving lights like these:
http://www.jegs.com/i/KC-HiLites/423/634/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/KC-HiLites/423/631/10002/-1


These are mid 90's Case IH tractors we are working with. I know the newer Deere's use HIDs. Are there any conversion kits out there that will work without too much trouble?

Thanks for the thoughts.


I thought modern farmers sat in a control room watching a screen showing the GPS driven tractors out plowing/harrowing/seeding the farm??

My Dad's old Farmall tractor had no lights or battery or starter or alternator. The crank was in the tool box. I even learned how to crank it, if you held the crank wrong and it backfired, broken thumbs.

 

[msmoke00]

We're not quite there yet. The robotic tractors that don't even have a cab are in development though, kinda scary. We do have auto steer on one tractor, but we still have to disengage it to turn around on the ends. I had headlights go out this fall on one tractor planting barley. I still had straight rows thanks to the auto steer, but looked like a drunk trying to turn around on the ends with no lights.

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: msmoke00
I've finally got the boss convinced that the lighting on our tractors that we use are the farm are awful. Much easier to keep straighter rows and go straighter working ground if you can see further ahead. So what I'm looking for is cheap, rugged, very bright lights. We are out in the middle of 300 acres fields, so no worries of blinding anyone and we use different lights for the road. So what lights will be best for what we are looking for? Halogen, Xenon, or HID? LEDS are way out of our price range. I was looking at a few long range/driving lights like these:
http://www.jegs.com/i/KC-HiLites/423/634/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/KC-HiLites/423/631/10002/-1


These are mid 90's Case IH tractors we are working with. I know the newer Deere's use HIDs. Are there any conversion kits out there that will work without too much trouble?

Thanks for the thoughts.


I thought modern farmers sat in a control room watching a screen showing the GPS driven tractors out plowing/harrowing/seeding the farm??

My Dad's old Farmall tractor had no lights or battery or starter or alternator. The crank was in the tool box. I even learned how to crank it, if you held the crank wrong and it backfired, broken thumbs.
Got to love old magneto ignition! My grandfather had an old W4 I think it was, same thing, you had to hand crank it to start it. Was a real bear to start on cold winter days!

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: Donald
I thought modern farmers sat in a control room watching a screen showing the GPS driven tractors out plowing/harrowing/seeding the farm??


like this:

http://i48.tinypic.com/20sy4c3.jpg

love me some autosteer. the homemade looking mount with velcro on it is usually where I have my portable DVD player. And then I run the audio to the AUX on the tractor stereo.

 

[Chris142]

Id grab a set of pencil beams at the auto parts store. Been a while since I bought some but they used to be $25 ea and you could add the 100w bulbs if you wish

 

[tom slick]

Just buy some tractor lights from the local tractor dealer. They are cheap and work very well. Pencil beams are not what you want on a slow moving tractor, trapezoid beams will light your work area better.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Use a good quality halogen flood light. You can find lots of them in the $30/$50 range at pretty much any tractor supply store. Put 2 or 3 on the tractor and aim them to cover the front 180 degrees from the operators seat.