When you're driving in inclement weather, you've got to have ample light, as well as the right kind of light. Simply installing the largest and most powerful lighting on your off-roader or truck won't cut it, especially when you're faced with a blinding snowstorm, thick fog, or pelting rain. That's why considering extra lighting on your vehicle can be the difference between a harrowing drive and one safe and secure. Let us help you choose the best LED light bars for trucks or off-roaders. We will show you how with the right light bar, you can easily take your off-roader or truck in the snow without worry.

It's not only light bars that we have, but all types of lighting upgrades, including fog lights, work lamps, mounting brackets, cradles, bulbs, and accessories. Check out our Truck & Jeep Lighting section for the whole range.

The Right Light Color and Intensity

The correct light color and intensity you want for driving in inclement weather, such as snow and fog, is a bit different from what's desired for the road. Typically, road vehicles come with white headlamp bulbs, projector lamps, or LEDs. There are two modes, full beam, where the maximum amount of road and surrounding is lit, plus dipped beam, which lowers the light beam's throw to avoid dazzling drivers of oncoming cars. You'll also find fog lamps in a similar color, but these are driving lamps intended to further increase visibility in the clear to lightly hazy conditions.

However, white light isn't the best for snow and fog. If you've heard of a condition called snow blindness, it occurs when sunlight (which is white) falls on, and glares off the snow, making it dazzlingly white and causing temporary blindness. White lights in snow and fog are going to scatter and dazzle, making it actually more challenging for you to see.

This is one reason why fog lamps in the old days tended to be amber, and most aftermarket fog lamps retain this color. Amber is a better color for cutting through snow and fog, rather than reflecting off it and dazzling the driver of the vehicle. Some LED light bars, and fog lamps may use white LED chips behind an amber lens, while others will use amber LED chips. There's a small trade-off here which we will explain in the next section.

In terms of intensity, you want your light bar's light output in heavy snow or fog to not be too intense, that is, too focused. It should be moderately diffused to cover a broad area, but not so wide as to sacrifice illumination distance for spread. You don't want it to be a bright but narrow spot either, so if you've got a combination light bar, don't solely use the spot mode.

The Size and Power of the Light Bar Matters

The size and power of a light bar for driving through heavy snow and fog is critical. You don't want a light bar that's too small or narrow. You can find light bars that vary from 4 inches to over 50 inches, and you'd ideally want a light bar that's at least 24 inches to offer adequate lighting.

Of course, you can fit more than one light bar, so don't worry if you've selected a 20-inch light bar, for example. This also brings us to another topic, which is the power of the light bar, measured in watts. You want at least 100w of lighting, preferably more, and there are heavy-duty light bars that can go all the way to 800w and beyond. Just ensure that you've installed appropriate heavy-duty wiring, relays, switches, and fuse protection.

The lumen value also matters, which is how much light, or lux, is generated for a fixed amount of power used. The typical unit of measurement is lumens per watt, and the higher, the better, as it signifies that the light bar is more efficient at converting light into electricity. Remember that you will also lose some lighting output if there is a colored lens in front of the LED chip, as in the case of models with white LED chips and amber lenses, as opposed to those with amber LED chips and clear lenses.

Our Picks – What's Best for Heavy Snow

Check out our three best picks for tackling heavy snow, thick fog, relentless rain and pitch-black nights. If you're unsure of what's best for you, we're glad to help.

Rigid Industries Radiance Curve Plus 50" Light Bar (Amber)

This one from Rigid Industries is as large as they come at a whopping 50 inches in length, and packing amber backlighting, a 50,000-hour lifespan, IP68 weather protection, and includes the complete wiring harness too.

Baja Designs OnX6+ Dual Control 30" LED Light Bar (Amber/White)

The Baja Designs OnX6+ is a 30-inch light bar that offers amber, as well as white lighting in a single bar, with 18 large LEDs offering 22,050 lumens, coupled with a 49,000-hour lifespan. It's also IP68-rated, and constructed from high-grade aluminum.

Rigid Industries Radiance 10" LED Light Bar with Amber Backlight

This compact offering from Rigid Industries is just 10-inches in size, so you might want to install two. Coming with amber backlighting in a black housing, it's unobtrusive yet powerful enough for its size.

Light Bars and All Off Road Gear Under One Roof at 4 Wheel Parts

Whether it's a light bar or any other piece of off-road paraphernalia that you are seeking, at 4 Wheel Parts we have the best options under one roof for you to compare and choose from. Simply drop by one of our 100+ stores scattered nationwide, shop online at your convenience. Our friendly experts are always on hand to guide you, and competitive pricing ensures that you receive maximum value for money. You can rest easy in knowing that we also offer all applicable warranties and top-notch after-sales service.