LEO Need Opinions for Light Bar

**houston_four** · 09-23-2009, 02:07 AM

I'm putting my Charger in service. I only drive 15 miles a day and it will get me paid and extra $500 after taxes every month. I have been shopping lights and have 2 very competitive quotes. I'm pretty sure of who I am going to go with but I will break down the quotes below:

1) Federal Legend Light Bar, Axixtech Commander 8 Head (for rear deck), two grill lights (Federal I think), Whelen Speaker (the only one that will mount behind my grill) and a Federal 6 switch control panel (a mini Cencom with a 3 position slider and 6 buttons). Installed I'm looking at around $2500 which is reasonable.

Here is the control panel

2) Whelen justice fully populated led lightbar alley and takedowns,Undercover siren/light remote with speaker, Brookings rear deck (dominator). I'm looking at around $2800 installed on this one.

I've never heard of Brookings but I have also never heard of Axixtech. I went and saw the first package today and boy were they bright. I attached a couple of videos so you can help me decide. I am leaning more towards the 1st package.

First the Whelen Light Bar:

And here is the Federal Legend:

And here is the Axixtech 8 Head

So give me a hand here guys.

**Green_Manalishi** · 09-23-2009, 09:05 AM

It looks like the Federal is the only one with halfway decent takedowns.

What are you using the car for?

As far as quality, lightbars aren't complex pieces of equipment, especially with them all going l.e.d.

I'd be more concerned with the quality of the mounting brackets, availability of replacement lenses, and warranty, than the fancy flash patterns.

What is your expected life of the bar? 5, 10 years?

Honestly, I'd give up my l.e.d. bar for one of the older Code 3 rotator bars.

**houston_four** · 09-23-2009, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Green_Manalishi

It looks like the Federal is the only one with halfway decent takedowns.

What are you using the car for?

As far as quality, lightbars aren't complex pieces of equipment, especially with them all going l.e.d.

I'd be more concerned with the quality of the mounting brackets, availability of replacement lenses, and warranty, than the fancy flash patterns.

What is your expected life of the bar? 5, 10 years?

Honestly, I'd give up my l.e.d. bar for one of the older Code 3 rotator bars.

The car is going to be used for Patrol. I work for the county but our department has a contract with the 3rd largest school district in the state and I happened to get my transfer to this contract. I know....it's a school police job, but it's not like being an ISD Police. I worked patrol for a while and got tired of my days off and shift changing since I was a district unit. I had day shift and they were constantly changing it so I could cover empty spots.....so they screwed me one year out of my Christmas and Thanksgiving (by changing my off days) so I said screw it and put my transfer in. I have no regrets as of yet. Since we drive our county rides about 15-20 miles a day total the Chief realized that he could take our cars and help out on the shortage for patrol units. The county pays us a stipend of $575/month so in the end I'm putting an extra $270 in my pocket each month.

I do understand what you are saying about warranty etc... I tend to think the vendor/installer does good work, I was referred there by my Lieutenant and if they can keep him happy then they are doing a good job (he's not a generally happy man).

I did talk to them about mounting brackets yesterday and went online to see that Federal offers a removable strap kit and they are going to put a quick release plug on the bar so I can easily take it off. I am pretty sure I'm going with the Federal, that sucker is BRIGHT!!

**Green_Manalishi** · 09-23-2009, 11:54 AM

Christmas and Thanksgiving off? I wouldn't know anything about that.

Well, if you're working nothing but days at the campus, then the takedowns wouldn't matter.

The Federal looks like a good choice.

**houston_four** · 09-23-2009, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Green_Manalishi

Christmas and Thanksgiving off? I wouldn't know anything about that.

Well, if you're working nothing but days at the campus, then the takedowns wouldn't matter.

The Federal looks like a good choice.

Indeed I am, off by 3:15 every day with weekends off. And I have built in extra jobs (sporting events and school events) paid by the district. I was really apprehensive coming over to work here but I just do what I need to do. I only deal with the criminal aspect of anything going on so it's not that bad.

**RobsSXT** · 09-24-2009, 07:49 PM

Wait- your putting your personal car in service??

I have a Soundoff lightbar on my car- I love it. You can put it on "Cruise Mode" where the end caps glow and not flash, and not full brightness.

**houston_four** · 09-25-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by RobsSXT

Wait- your putting your personal car in service??

I have a Soundoff lightbar on my car- I love it. You can put it on "Cruise Mode" where the end caps glow and not flash, and not full brightness.

Yes, county pays me $600/month and I only drive 15 miles a day to park it in front of a campus.

Never heard of soundoff, I'll have to check it out thanks for the info though.

**mexi** · 09-25-2009, 10:52 AM

id go with the federal if i was to do it...but me if i had to use my car i would use the lights that line the visors and lights the rear deck and in grill and stobes in the stock light housings. i wouldnt put a light bar on my car.

**Mymopar** · 09-25-2009, 11:20 AM

A local Charger patrol car uses red and blue lights in place of the fog lights, LED's in the grille, a strip where the windshield tint is and lights on the rear deck along with the usual brake light and headlight flash tie in.

Is it mandatory to put a light bar on top? I'd avoid that if possible just to keep a clean looking car.

**houston_four** · 09-25-2009, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Mymopar

A local Charger patrol car uses red and blue lights in place of the fog lights, LED's in the grille, a strip where the windshield tint is and lights on the rear deck along with the usual brake light and headlight flash tie in.

Is it mandatory to put a light bar on top? I'd avoid that if possible just to keep a clean looking car.

Lightbar is mandatory since we are tied into patrol. I am going to get a quick disconnect so I can completely remove the light bar if I want to for trips or whatever. I think I'm going to end up going with the Federal package with the Axixtech rear deck light, it should all work out just fine. I'm checking into Soundoff Signal and sent a pricing request, anyone else used them and have any personal experience.

[Hank Hill Voice]A couple of good things about the company is their products are made right here in the good 'ol US of A and they offer a 5 year warranty on their products. [/Hank Hill Voice]

**gremlinsteve** · 09-27-2009, 02:04 AM

i run a slick top with visors in the front and rear. i have the fog light system also and strobes in the four corners. if you need to see what mine is like, i am available to show you.

i am thinking you are in the greater houston area?

steve

**Sharp Charge** · 09-27-2009, 11:21 AM

Here's an idea, of your going to be removing and installing your light bar, why not just run a magnetic mini LED bar, and add hide-aways front and rear?

**houston_four** · 09-27-2009, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by gremlinsteve

i run a slick top with visors in the front and rear. i have the fog light system also and strobes in the four corners. if you need to see what mine is like, i am available to show you.

i am thinking you are in the greater houston area?

steve

Originally Posted by Sharp Charge

Here's an idea, of your going to be removing and installing your light bar, why not just run a magnetic mini LED bar, and add hide-aways front and rear?

I am in Cypress actually but I can't run slick top. Only supervisors get to run slicks and since I'm tied into patrol it's a no go on the mini led also. If I could go slick top I would be all over it!!!

Believe me, I've tried every way possible to get around it, even questioned about putting a luggage rack on top and attaching a couple of Dominator D8's to it (We have some people who drive Tahoe's that do that) but they said no.