The question we get most in the lighting bay is “how big a light bar should I get?” The better question is whether you want a bar at all. Pods have gotten so bright and so cheap that for a lot of trucks they do the job better, for less money, with less glare.
Here’s what you’ll find below:
- What’s the difference?
- Side by side
- When a light bar wins
- When pods win
- Where to mount them
- Are they legal on the road?
What’s the difference between a light bar and pod lights?
A light bar is one long housing with a row of LEDs, from 10 inches to 50 inches or more. It mounts in one spot, usually the bumper, grille or above the windshield, and throws one big wall of light forward.
A pod light is a small square or round housing, usually 2 to 4 inches, with a few high-output LEDs. You run them in pairs or sets and aim each one where you need it: A-pillars, bumper corners, roof rack, rear bumper.
Light bar vs pods side by side
| Light bar | Pod lights | |
|---|---|---|
| Light output | Most total light from one unit | Less per pod, but you can place them where it counts |
| Beam control | One beam, one direction | Aim each pod separately: spot, flood or combo |
| Hood glare | Roof bars reflect off the hood and light up dust | Minimal when mounted at the A-pillars or bumper |
| Look | Bold, “built” look | Subtle, closer to factory |
| Mounting | Needs a bracket or bumper slot sized for it | Fits almost anywhere with a small bracket |
| Wind noise | Roof bars can whistle at highway speed | None |
| Power draw | High, always needs a relay | Lower, still gets a relay |
| Cost | More for the bar plus a bracket | Less to start, grows as you add pods |
When a light bar wins
- You drive fast on open trails or fields and need a wall of light far ahead. Nothing beats a 30 to 50 inch bar for distance and spread.
- You want the look. A bar in the bumper or on the windshield frame says “off-road truck” in a way pods don’t.
- Plow and work trucks that need a huge amount of white light on a lot at night. A bar on the headache rack or roof, pointed down, lights up the whole area.
When pods win
- You want to see around corners. A-pillar ditch pods aimed out to the sides light the tree lines and ditches a forward-facing bar never touches.
- You hate hood glare. Pods at the A-pillars or bumper don’t light up the hood or your own dust.
- Daily driver first, trail second. Pods look closer to factory and don’t whistle at 65 on I-95.
- Budget. A pair of quality pods and a bracket costs less than a good bar, and you can add a second pair later.
- Rear and scene lighting. Pods on the rear bumper or roof rack for backing up, camping and working on the truck.
For most trucks that see a trail a few times a year and the road every day, a pair of A-pillar pods and good LED headlights beat a roof bar.
Where to mount them
- Bumper: the best spot for a bar. Low, no hood glare, protected. Many aftermarket bumpers have a slot sized for a 20 or 30 inch bar.
- Grille: a small bar or a pair of pods behind or in the grille. Clean and subtle.
- A-pillars: pods on brackets at the base of the windshield, aimed out. Our favorite spot.
- Windshield frame or roof: the biggest bars live here. Expect hood glare and some wind noise, and use a wind deflector.
- Roof rack: pods front and rear for camping and scene light.
- Rear bumper: pods wired to your reverse lights or their own switch for backing up in the dark.
Whatever you mount, it gets its own fuse, a relay, sealed connections and loomed wiring. The same rules we use for rock lights apply to every light on the truck.
Are light bars and pods legal on the road?
In Delaware, light bars and off-road pods are for off-road, parked or at a show. The law caps extra front lights at 2 spot lights and 2 fog lights, with no more than 4 extra high-intensity lights lit at the same time, and a 50 inch bar isn’t a spot light. Keep them on their own switch so they stay off on the road, and some owners add a cover.
Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey have their own rules. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Source: Delaware Code, Title 21, Chapter 43.
Light bar vs pods FAQ
Is a light bar brighter than pod lights?
One bar puts out more total light than one pod. But two or four well-aimed pods usually light the parts of the trail you actually need to see better than one bar pointed straight ahead.
What size light bar should I get for my truck?
20 to 30 inches in a bumper slot for most pickups and Jeeps. 40 to 50 inches on the roof or windshield frame if you want maximum output and can live with hood glare and wind noise.
Spot, flood or combo beam?
Combo for a single bar. For pods, spot at the A-pillars for distance to the sides and flood on the bumper or rear for a wide, close spread.
Can I drive with my light bar on?
Not on public roads in Delaware. Light bars are off-road lighting. Wire it to its own switch so it stays off on the street.
Do you install light bars and pods?
Yes, on trucks, Jeeps and SUVs, with brackets, relays, fused wiring and a switch panel. See our lighting installs or get a quote.