Auxiliary Lighting Front Bumper Mounts?

Been thinking of the best place to put a small set of round auxiliary lights - most likely on the front bumper somewhere. I see a few different options - wondering about some of the pros and cons of the different options. I have standard front bumper with a Ramsey winch on the front and some tow hooks that must be considered in the equation, as well as I would like to keep the OEM turn signals as functional or visible as possible:

Here is my current set-up:



1) Mount on the bumper outside of frame rails - this was pretty standard spot for YJ and TJ mounts


I don't love the aesthetics of this look - but they are out of the way of the winch and don't block the turn signals or air flow over the radiator. Maybe a tow rope that has to pull at a very sideways angle could cause a problem.

2) Mount above the winch - I can probably mount them on the winch 'cross-bars' or maybe even to the top of the fairlead.
Kind of like this pic from today - but my REP 8000 isn't nearly as tall as the 8274: Thinking this could be a good spot as long as it doesn't block too much air flow.


3) Mount in the bumper - would have to cut hole into bumper and potentially weaken it, so might have to be located outside of the frame rails. This would be sorta like the JK lights. I like how out of the way this is, but don't want to cut into the bumper and not like it.



Open to thoughts, suggestions and experience - thanks. Or feel free to post up your own set-up that you like.

 

This too.

 

Want to use a small round light - something like a 4-5" diameter, 55W each Halogen with either a driving or fog light beam. The HID and LED lights are nice, but probably out of my price range. And while they are completely functional, I am avoiding light bars strictly for aesthetic purposes - while my jeep is by no means OEM, and I don't mind nice upgrades, I have some personal preference as to what appears age or time appropriate for a ecj5 and prefer not to add on stuff that looks too modern (again - total personal aesthetic preference, not a functional choice). KC, Hella, PIAA and so on all make a variety of choices, but it gets pretty limited when looking for something less than 6" diameter - so may end up there eventually.

 

The best spot would probably be on top of the fenders.

Funny how no one ever does that.


H.

 

I think that is a great place for them if only being used off-road. I intend to use these on road (gravel and 2lane) in rural areas as well - as well as for snow - so lower is better. I already get enough glare back from the normal headlights.

A small short light bar right on top of the fairlead might acceptable - certainly would work well. I am running a 60amp alternator. While pulling 10amps for the lights is significant, the 60 amps should cover it pretty easily as well as normal amp useage? OEM alternator was 35 amps I believe and I don't run any additional accessories except a slightly hotter coil. I realize a lot of the LED put out the same lumens for maybe 20% amps...if I can get LEDs at the right price, then I like them...

I am not as familiar with HID as compared to Halogen - what are those advantages?

 

This was my setup on my '42.

 

One of my upcoming projects will be a single light mounted to the bumper that will turn as the steering wheel is turned.