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Lighting Inside & Outside the Vehichle Lighting Inside & Outside the Vehichle
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 6 Feb 2010
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Lighting Inside & Outside the Vehichle
Just wondering how much lighting people have in and outside their vehicles to use at campsites, or when stationary in general at night.

The Trooper is going to an Auto Electrician soon to have the split charger installed and now is the time that we need to let him know what we want.

On one hand I think that is to go all out with lots of lights everywhere, some in the rear of the vehicle for finding things at night, and then more around the outside for cooking /relaxing in the evening, etc

But on the otherhand - do we really need them, or would more portable type lanterns be the way to go?
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Old 6 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbarton7 View Post
Just wandering how much lighting people have in and outside their vehicles to use at campsites, or when stationary in general at night.

But on the otherhand - do we really need them, or would more portable type lanterns be the way to go?
IMO I would get a good LED based light riged up in the rear load area for finding your way around there in the dark and then for the outside have something more portable.

We carry 2 x headtorches, 1 coleman lantern and an ARB 12v LED lightstick thing. there is also a maglite in the front just in case.

I am against too much light at camp as we get that 24/7 in the city!

G
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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Depending on where you are going, but if you are heading to where there are lots of bugs, take portable lights for outside. Usually we used as little light as possible because more lights more bugs.
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Old 10 Feb 2010
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For outside we used 12v florescent tube-type things, if you wrap them in yellow cellophane/film you don't get as many bugs bothering you.
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Old 11 Feb 2010
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I just bought some of these LED lights off fleabay 2 x 50cm LED light Boat Caravan camping 12v waterproof - eBay Batteries, Electrical, Parts, Accessories, Boats, Watercraft, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 08-Feb-10 00:33:57 AEDST) , low current draw, .2 amp per hour and heaps of white light. Why would you ever go back to using flouro's? Cost about $25 AUD each

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Old 11 Feb 2010
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I use LED's inside to keep power draw low (still pretty bright though) and a flourescent tube lamp on a long cord outside.
Apparantly insects can't see red light, so we're going to try out some red lighting for our Africa trip, mainly where the 'skeeters are worst.
There is a strong possibiity that the red lamp will be the first useless item we jettison on our way round
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Old 28 Feb 2010
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I'm the same as 8pot - led's inside the rear of the vehicle, and 12v flourescent on a LONG cable outside. The advantage here is when bush camping hook the light up in a tree away from where you're sitting/eating and the insects will be attracted to that rather than you! Simple and you still benefit from the light it sheds.
Don't forget to turn it all off occasionally and enjoy the night sky though!
J
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Old 28 Feb 2010
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Headtorches are fab!! Variable output ones especially, mostly you only need the lowest output, but having a decent spotlight too is handy.
I splashed out on a rechargable Maglight too, £85 off fleabay was the cheapest I could find. Hugely more powerful than a normal one, charges from the cradle that clamps it in the cab when not in use, its like a spotlight on the vehicle for finding streetsigns etc. Fab.
A 12v worklight with a sucker base and cigrette lighter power is next on the list for anywhere short term light, and a pair of LED? white fog lights as occasional reversing lights. Although big red fog lights may be better?
Possibly a small orange/red light (like a landy side light) around the rear wheels shining down to illuminate where the rear wheel is about to roll on to when reversing also
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Old 28 Feb 2010
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LED's are the way to go. We have 2 Hella 9-32 volt bright lights on flexible arms in the back. The even can bend outside our campingwindows, so they are outside lights as well!!! Very economic..

Adventurous greetings,
Coen
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