Small LED pods (Baja Designs Squadron, Rigid D-Series, KC Cyclone) mounted on A-pillar brackets to light the trail edge and corners. Most useful aux lights for actual offroad driving.
Ditch lights point outward at roughly 45 degrees from the front corners of the vehicle, illuminating the trail edges that headlights miss. They're more useful than a 50" bar for slow technical driving because they show you the line.
Mounting: A-pillar brackets bolt to the upper windshield hinge bolts or replace the upper cowl trim screw. XJ-specific brackets are made by JCR Offroad ($90), Hyline Offroad ($80), and various Etsy fabricators. They don't require drilling the body.
Light selection — keep them small (2-3"):
Wire as a pair through a single relay, draw is typically 2-5A per pod. Use wide cornering beam pattern, not spot — you want to see SIDES of the trail, not 500 yards down.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Baja Designs Squadron Sport (pair) | Baja Designs | ~$340 |
| Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport (pair) | Diode Dynamics | ~$260 |
| JCR Offroad XJ A-pillar brackets | JCR Offroad | ~$90 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.