Mount “ditch spots” on tow hooks? / legality / clamps?

[john.]

Mount “ditch spots” on tow hooks? / legality / clamps?

Hi all

For times when driving country roads with no one around, it might be nice to have some “ditch” spots to throw more light ahead to help spot deer.

I’d put them on an up fitter switch (I have the Ford ones)

There is no obvious place to hide them behind the 2020 F350 grill, so how about clamps on the front tow hooks?

I’ll have to measure to see if these fit – but they look pretty perfect (if they fit)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-Work-Light-Mounting-Bracket-2-2-3-1CM-Bumper-Tube-Clamp-Bar-Holder-Solid-/152489286430

any other recommendations?

They will be inexpensive LED lights (about $35-60/pair) so I don’t mind if they get munched or stolen.

and…. for a second I thought about using yellow lights as these “ditch spots” so it is a constant reminder for me to turn them off if a car approaches… is that a good or a bad idea?

Looking at these 2 lights as inexpensive and decent options:
any preference between the two options below?

I don’t want to get fancy and do any fancy wiring / integration. Just on an up fitter switch or two. 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H3VBF5Z (I would have to use 2 x 25 watt up fitter switches, I believe as they are 25 watts each)

or the SPOT version of these (40 watt total, for the pair, so I could put on up fitter #5 or #6, together)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q14YV19

also – with them in place (but off) any chance any highway patrol in any state (perhaps fussy California?) would be upset with them just being there? (but turned off) Serious question.

thanks!

[John Perz]

john. wrote:

There is no obvious place to hide them behind the 2020 F350 grill, so how about clamps on the front tow hooks?

If you get stuck, and some kind person with a tow strap comes along and offers to pull you out, where is he going to hook up?

Regards
John
I don't like to make plans. They cause the word "PREMEDITATED" to get used in court!
DON'T FEED THE VULTURES!
My Body is a Temple! Ancient, Crumbling, Probably Cursed . . .

[John Perz]

john. wrote:

also – with them in place (but off) any chance any highway patrol in any state (perhaps fussy California?) would be upset with them just being there? (but turned off) Serious question.

My understanding is that if something on a vehicle is legal in the state in which the vehicle is registered, other states can’t cite you for it even if it is illegal in their state. AS LONG AS YOU AREN’T USING IT!

Example 1. Most states require front and rear license plates, and will cite residents for having a missing plate. But some states only issue a rear plate, and other states can’t cite them for that.

Example 2. In my state, volunteer firemen have blue lights on their cars. In some nearby states, the police use blue lights, and their residents are NOT allowed to have them. But friends of mine who are volunteer firemen tell me they are fine in those states. They just can’t turn them on when out-of state.

CAVEAT 1: I suppose some particularly money hungry states – I’m looking at YOU, California! – might ignore that and cite you anyway. Just as southern states used to be notorious in running speed traps just to punish the damnyankees for winning the war.

CAVEAT 2: In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that some members of my family claim that I can, occasionally, be wrong. I, of course, strongly disagree with them.

BTW, if I were doing this, I would use three fog lights. The center one pointing straight ahead, and the two outer ones angled out to give maximum side coverage. This would give you double duty – fog lights AND ditch lights.

Regards
John
I don't like to make plans. They cause the word "PREMEDITATED" to get used in court!
DON'T FEED THE VULTURES!
My Body is a Temple! Ancient, Crumbling, Probably Cursed . . .

[john.]

John Perz wrote:

john. wrote:

There is no obvious place to hide them behind the 2020 F350 grill, so how about clamps on the front tow hooks?

If you get stuck, and some kind person with a tow strap comes along and offers to pull you out, where is he going to hook up?

I have thought about these details.

🙂

I will have the correct tool to remove the lights off the tow hooks, in the unlikely event I need them. Would take about 20 seconds if I use the mounts I posted a link to on eBay

And I don’t want to mount them on the bumper as I don’t want to drill any holes.

So this all strikes me as being …. a simple option. 🙂

[Wheeldog]

When I head south from Alaska to Arizona in November most years, I have to drive in a lot of darkness. There are all sorts of critters wandering around on the Alcan. I find I need some good lights. I have 4 Light Force lights 2 large 9.5″ and 2 smaller ones 7″ for a total of 400 watts of lights. I don’t think 40 watts is going to do you much good??? Check into headlight upgrades……think those white light upgrades might do more that the 40 watt lights you are looking at???

https://www.amazon.com/Lightforce-RMDL240T-Mount-Driving-Light/dp/B002DTJ4E4/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Lightforce+Lights&qid=1580260664&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/Lightforce-RMDL170HT-Mount-Driving-Light/dp/B002DTJ3ZY/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Lightforce+Lights&qid=1580260664&sr=8-2

I bought a light bar to mount them, but would have to remove my tow hooks to mount them. I was not willing to do that, so had them mounted on my bumper. Don’t think people are going to steal them. This is the 3rd pickup they have been used on.

Not sure if you need them in the winter or not??? I carry 2 lens covers…..clear if the weather is clear and blue if it is snowing…..can’t see much when it’s snowing with strong white light.

I’ll be at the Boondocking Rally if you want to check mine out.

2016 3500 HD Durmax

1994 S and S 9.5' Camper (SOLD)
1999 S and S 9.5 Camper

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