Ditch Lights / A-Pillar Pods
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"):
- Baja Designs Squadron Sport ($170 each) or Pro ($240 each): premium, 3150-4900 lumens. Wide cornering or driving combo beam.
- Rigid D-Series Pro: similar tier, slightly less output.
- KC Cyclone V2 ($90 each): mid-tier.
- Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport ($130 each): excellent value, multiple beam patterns.
- Auxbeam / generic ($30 each pair): work, but won't last.
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.
Why it works
- best lights for slow technical driving
- no body drilling needed
- useful for backing into camp
Trade-offs
- catch on tree branches
- more wiring than a single bar
Tools required
- socket set
- crimper
- trim tool
Parts
| 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 |
Sources
Related
- Front-Mount Light Bar (40-50 inch) Mounting Options
- All Jeep Cherokee XJ guides & tools
- Browse the full DIY database
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. How we source guides. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.