Australia’s Lightforce has long been known as one of the kings in auxiliary vehicular lighting. They offer up superior LED driving lights, and their round 140W LED Genesis 8.3-inch diameter model is no exception. Our 4×4 needed secondary lights for dedicated off-road use. We’re constantly traversing uneven terrain at night (or in thick forests) and needed a powerful light source to help guide our way. Since the Genesis was a newer model on the market, and the dimensions and lumen output were close to what we’re looking for, we decided to give them a try.
Genesis lights embellish both sides of our 1992 right-hand-drive Mitsubishi Pajero’s ARB front bumper, which has wiring allowances that made installation easier than projected. After installing the first light with a 17-millimeter socket wrench, we noticed an issue. The top of the powder-coated aluminum light housing was touching the bottom of the upper bull bar—that wouldn’t work. Luckily, Lightforce designed the Genesis LED lights with reversible brackets and after a few quick minutes, the bottom bracket was reversed and the problem solved. Everything else installed seamlessly.
Since we live in the Pacific Northwest, we were pleased to find that Lightforce’s plugs and sockets are waterproof, along with the meticulously constructed lights. The supplied hardware was also made from high-quality stainless steel, so corrosion and leaks won’t be an issue.
Lightforce Genesis lights come with two switches: the first switch is an on/off, and the second changes the lights to a dim mode (similar to a daytime running light or DRL). The switches are solidly made, are an adequate size, and have a bright red LED light that turns on in the switch when the lights are on.
These oversized LED lights boast a projection of 1 lux output at up to 3,455 feet—which is more than half a mile. They illuminate the surroundings fabulously and have a very long beam spread to light pathways with intensity. The Genesis lights include 13,850 raw lumens (7,336 effective lumens) and are fully sealed with an IP69K waterproof rating (the best available), which provides protection against dust and high-temperature intrusion, as well as high temperature spray downs, grime, and mud.
The Genesis model is sold individually and comes with a reversible mounting bracket, clear spot filter, waterproof harness adaptor, and stainless steel mounting hardware. Our installation included the Genesis and Venom LED wiring harness kit, which is sold separately at $79. These lights come with clear spot filters, but light blue or yellow filters are options as well. Black covers (with the same signature Lightforce logo) are also available. Non-clear filters/covers are sold separately.
Over the last several months, our Lightforce Genesis LED driving lights have demonstrated excellent performance and have been a welcome addition to our Mitsubishi. We’ve taken them through driving rain, thick dust, mud, snow, and severe heat and they haven’t shown any signs of wear. To us, they’ve proven their mettle and are worth the price. If you’re in the market for high-quality, high-lumen LED auxiliary lights, be sure to check them out.
Lightforce Genesis $449 each | Venom LED wiring harness kit $79 | www.lightforce.com
Pros
High quality
Durable
IP69K rated
Reversible bottom bracket
Cons
Expensive