Help a Newb with KC Ditch Lights

[madeinchina]

So I find these KC ditch lights very pleasant looking, something about the gold bezel matching with the tremor badging colors just rubs me the right way. Unfortunately I'm a complete newb when it comes to aux switch usage and lighting install. I have two questions for the group, thanks so much for taking a look.

- KC does not currently have a bracket for 2022 F150 hoods. I'm wondering these things are universal enough for me to use another bracket that does work with the 2022 F150 hoods? (assuming the tremor hood is the same at the relevant locations)

- This light comes with a 3 position switch as shown in the image below. Is it possible to wire this thing into the aux switch panel? I don't necessary need to keep the 3 position functionality, just on/off will be fine.

FLEX ERA® 4 - 2-Light Master LED Light Pod Kit

Standing as the powerhouse big brother of the KC FLEX ERA family, the KC FLEX ERA® 4 LED Light Pods doesn't shy away from challenges. With an IP68 rating, amber backlighting, high-intensity LEDs, and customizable beam patterns, bezels, and covers, it's primed and ready to allow you to Adventure...

www.kchilites.com

View attachment 5632

 

[BDE]

Grimm off-road makes a nice one, sold on stage 3 motor sports.

 

[High_Country]

So I find these KC ditch lights very pleasant looking, something about the gold bezel matching with the tremor badging colors just rubs me the right way. Unfortunately I'm a complete newb when it comes to aux switch usage and lighting install. I have two questions for the group, thanks so much for taking a look.

- KC does not currently have a bracket for 2022 F150 hoods. I'm wondering these things are universal enough for me to use another bracket that does work with the 2022 F150 hoods? (assuming the tremor hood is the same at the relevant locations)

- This light comes with a 3 position switch as shown in the image below. Is it possible to wire this thing into the aux switch panel? I don't necessary need to keep the 3 position functionality, just on/off will be fine.

FLEX ERA® 4 - 2-Light Master LED Light Pod Kit

Standing as the powerhouse big brother of the KC FLEX ERA family, the KC FLEX ERA® 4 LED Light Pods doesn't shy away from challenges. With an IP68 rating, amber backlighting, high-intensity LEDs, and customizable beam patterns, bezels, and covers, it's primed and ready to allow you to Adventure...

www.kchilites.com

View attachment 5632

I agree the amber/gold looks nice. It's hard to tell from their website, but it's sold with a 3 position switch and the install instructions mention a "low" and a "high" setting. Perhaps these lights have selectable outputs - a low and a high? If so, your aux switch overhead obviously couldn't do that - it's a 2 position (on/off). Maybe you wouldn't ever want low so you could run it to just high and off. Also, know the backlight would need a separate power source - either on when the key was on, on when your parking lights were on, etc - your choice. But it would require some more wiring.
I imagine other's ditch light brackets would work with these lights.

 

[madeinchina]

Thanks for looking into this guys. So I spoke with Robert from KC Hilites this afternoon. These lights come with a 3 position switch because aside from the 4 light pods, there is also a low draw amber LED at the center of the cluster. Apparently I can just have the amber LED mounted to its own aux switch if I wanted to. The light is designed to accept any 10mm bracket so I guess I'm going with the one @BDE suggested.

 

[High_Country]

Thanks for looking into this guys. So I spoke with Robert from KC Hilites this afternoon. These lights come with a 3 position switch because aside from the 4 light pods, there is also a low draw amber LED at the center of the cluster. Apparently I can just have the amber LED mounted to its own aux switch if I wanted to. The light is designed to accept any 10mm bracket so I guess I'm going with the one @BDE suggested.

Ah, there you go. "low" might be just the amber backlight while "high" would be the bright lights. Yes, you could wire it up so the Tremor's aux switch turns on both, or wire that amber backlight separately to parking lights or even another one of your aux switches so you could switch on just the amber accent lighting.

 

[madeinchina]

Ah, there you go. "low" might be just the amber backlight while "high" would be the bright lights. Yes, you could wire it up so the Tremor's aux switch turns on both, or wire that amber backlight separately to parking lights or even another one of your aux switches so you could switch on just the amber accent lighting.

I put in the order, will let report back once installed!

 

[Erlo22]

If you want to keep the 3 position switch and mount it inside you could wire the aux switch under the hood to the pass through wires that terminate to the passenger side fuse box. Just keep in mind they will not have power when the truck is off.

 

[Keri4X]

I love the KC flex as well!!! I'm on the hunt for a bracket that will fit a 5" light. Please let me know if you find one. Unfortunately, the one that was recommended from Grimm on fits up to 3" lights

 

[madeinchina]

I love the KC flex as well!!! I'm on the hunt for a bracket that will fit a 5" light. Please let me know if you find one. Unfortunately, the one that was recommended from Grimm on fits up to 3" lights

Yup the Grimm ones resulted in some wiggling when KC Flex lights were installed.

I went with this solution and that solved the problem. These mounts are pricier but between the thicker steel and the two point mounting, it gets rid of the wobble.

SPV Parts Ultra HEAVY DUTY 2021+ F-150 Raptor A - Pillar (Ditch) Mount

These SPV A-Pillar Mounts will hold MANY Pod lights by Rigid, Baja Designs, Diode Dynamics and many others. This heavy duty, one piece design allows you to quickly and easily bolt in the bracket without even removing the cowl. Unlike our standard duty bracket, and many other brackets available...

specialtyperformanceparts.com

 

[Keri4X]

Lights look great! Thank you!!

 

[Calbot]

Yup the Grimm ones resulted in some wiggling when KC Flex lights were installed.

I went with this solution and that solved the problem. These mounts are pricier but between the thicker steel and the two point mounting, it gets rid of the wobble.

SPV Parts Ultra HEAVY DUTY 2021+ F-150 Raptor A - Pillar (Ditch) Mount

These SPV A-Pillar Mounts will hold MANY Pod lights by Rigid, Baja Designs, Diode Dynamics and many others. This heavy duty, one piece design allows you to quickly and easily bolt in the bracket without even removing the cowl. Unlike our standard duty bracket, and many other brackets available...

specialtyperformanceparts.com

View attachment 6654



View attachment 6655

Yup the Grimm ones resulted in some wiggling when KC Flex lights were installed.

I went with this solution and that solved the problem. These mounts are pricier but between the thicker steel and the two point mounting, it gets rid of the wobble.

SPV Parts Ultra HEAVY DUTY 2021+ F-150 Raptor A - Pillar (Ditch) Mount

These SPV A-Pillar Mounts will hold MANY Pod lights by Rigid, Baja Designs, Diode Dynamics and many others. This heavy duty, one piece design allows you to quickly and easily bolt in the bracket without even removing the cowl. Unlike our standard duty bracket, and many other brackets available...

specialtyperformanceparts.com

View attachment 6654



View attachment 6655

For those Spv HD brackets did you just unbolt the hood bolts at the same time? Did the hood shift at all?