Where Should I Mount a Light Bar on my Truck?

LED light bars have become a popular phenomenon in the truck world in the last several years. If you look around much, you will find them being mounted onto just about any location on or near the front end of trucks, jeeps, and SUV’s. If you decide you want to put a light bar on your truck, you will will be faced with a number of choices of where you should mount it.

Where should I mount a light bar on my truck? You should mount a light bar as high as possible if you are using it for off road driving at night or to light up an area like a campsite. Mount the light bar low if you are trying to see better to avoid deer, cattle, or animals on a low traffic back road at night.

Of course, what you will use the light bar for really is only part of the puzzle of deciding where you should mount, although it’s a very important piece. There are also things to consider such as style, wind noise, and ease of mounting. Let’s take a closer look at these influencing factors for where to mount a light bar.

Mounting Location Based on Uses

Lights are used to help you in dark situations, typically at night, and light bars are no exception. Most people use light bars for off road driving although others just care about cool style and looks.

Off Road Use

If you are going to be using your light bar primarily for off road driving, then mounting it as high as possible will cast shorter shadows than it would mounted down low. Think about your long shadow in the evening when the sun is setting compared to your shadow, or the lack thereof, around mid day when the sun is high in the sky. Mounting your light bar high won’t make as big of difference as the sun does when it is at its zenith high above, but it still can make a difference.

A high mounted light bar off road just might help you avoid thinking “there’s another shadow” when its actually a deep hole.

Campsite or Worksite

Having your light bar mounted high can also light up a larger area more easily such as your camp site or a work area like in an accident assistance situation. You may also be building a house or shop and you don’t want to quit when the sun goes down.

When mounted high, a light bar is blocked less by things such as tents, tables, or trash cans so you get a more effective and even spread of light across your site if you use it that way.

Backroads with Cattle & Wildlife

Many people travel a lot of back roads with very little traffic but with lots of deer, wildlife, or open range cattle. Broader, brighter light can be helpful in these situations and a light bar used for this purpose will work well mounted lower on your truck. A low mounted light will usually point and shine farther ahead for higher speed driving.

Keep in mind, you need to make sure the light bars you purchase for this purpose are legal and safe for on-road use like the ones here. Such lights should never be shined on other traffic or used on roads that experience high volumes of traffic. They should only be used with your high beams and should be shut off when other traffic approaches.

Also, keep in mind that the laws vary depending on where you live and some states have outlawed the use of any and all types of light bars on public roadways. You will need to check the laws for your location before using a light bar on public roads.

Mounting Location & Wind Noise

An extremely important, but often overlooked, aspect of where to mount your light bar is wind noise. That’s right, many light bars create wind turbulence in transit in ways that can make for some noise or even whistling.

Wind Noise Up High

Most high mounted light bars are attached to the cab towards the front of roof. As such, if they generate any wind noise or whistling, it is right above the driver and can get really annoying. The benefits of having a well placed light for hard core off road maneuvering may keep many from caring about a little wind noise. However, for many of us the thought of a constant wind drone or whistle will stop us in our tracks, and turn us to mount our light bar elsewhere.

Wind Noise Down Low

A low mounted light is usually near the front grill or front bumper and can generate turbulence or whistling just like it would on your roof. The difference, however, is that it isn’t right above you so you likely won’t hear the wind noise. And if you do, it’s bound to be much less invasive to your ears than it would be pounding directly above your head.

Reducing Wind Noise

There are some products designed to bring back your sanity and allow you to mount your light bar where you please while reducing or eliminating wind noise.

One option is to install a wind valence, kind of like a chin spoiler, to the bottom of your light bar like the one found here. You could also install a wind diffuser cover like the one here or a full fabric light bar cover like this one here.

Whistling or vibrating resonance is usually caused at high speed by the cooling fins on the back of a light bar. Another option to reduce or stop this noise is by using rubber isolators like the one found here.

Mounting Location Based on Style

Another factor to consider when deciding where to mount a light bar on your truck is “How do I want this thing to look?” Here are some things to consider:

Looks Mounted High

When mounted high, your light bar will easily be identified and set your truck apart from a stock truck without one. This location is definitely an attention getter. Some people love that, others don’t. We all have different tastes and it’s all good.

When mounting high, most people will mount their light bar across the upper brow of their truck, right above the front windshield. This can certainly make your truck look tough and aggressive. This location also will usually be the most effective high mount location to spread the light effectively without parts of your truck getting in the way of the light.

Keep in mind that when mounted at the upper brow of the windshield and roof line, a light bar can look a lot like the old cab visors of the 80’s & 90’s. This isn’t a bad thing but it depends if you like that look or not.

Other places for a high mounted light bar would be attached to the front or top of a roof top rack or to the top of some roll bars if you have either of those items on your vehicle.

Style Going Low

There are a number of different mounting location options when dropping it down a bit from the roof top of your truck. Most of the lower mounting points are a bit more discrete, which for many, can be more pleasing to the eye. After all, not everyone wants to draw the attention of other drivers on the road. Enough said, here are some options for mounting your light bar lower and what makes each subtly stylish.

Grill Mounted Light Bar: A light bar can be mounted behind the grill of most trucks. Often it can be placed in a location that almost makes it undetectable to the untrained eye, or least the one not looking for it. For a less subtle, and perhaps more stylish look, a light bar can be integrated into the design of an aftermarket grill, often being framed in to be accented and highlighted, no pun intended.

Bumper Mounted Light Bar: Bumper mounted light bars are very popular as it is very easy to do. Mounting this way may not look as “finished” if you just drill some holes on top of your bumper and bolt one on. For a more “finished” look, mount light bars inside the openings found on many bumpers. Better yet, mount them to the fabricated openings on a custom bumper, giving a very “integrated” look.

Bull Bar Mounted Light Bar: Many custom bumpers also have a bull bar which is a great place to mount a light bar. Mounting to a bull bar does leave a lot of the raw shapes of a light bar on display yet provides a very natural looking location. It really is just an extension of the aggressive looks that already come with having bull bar.

Licence Plate Bracket Light Bar Mount: This may be one of the easiest ways to mount a light bar low on your truck or any vehicle. Style wise, it’s not the integrated look you get on a grill or bumper mounted light but it looks decent. If you want a very easy and affordable option, then it’s a solid alternative you can find here.