Small waterproof LED pods (KC Cyclone, KC Cyclone Universal, Baja Designs S1) mounted under the rocker panels, axles, or inside fender wells to light tire placement.
Rock lights illuminate the tire placement zone for night crawling — you can see exactly where the front and rear wheels are without leaning out the window. They're nearly mandatory for night rock crawling.
Typical install: 4-6 pods total, two per side under the rockers angled at the tires, and optionally one at each wheel well shining at the steered tire. Each pod is 2-5W; the whole set draws under 5A. Wire all through a single relay with a switch.
Mounting tricks: use 1" tube clamps to attach to lower control arms or trackbar mount; weld nuts to rocker pinch seam for clean install; magnet mounts work temporarily but vibrate off eventually. Seal the wiring connections with heat-shrink — these get wet, muddy, and bashed.
Color: white is most useful (true color rendering for inspecting damage); amber cuts through dust; some use RGB for camp lighting. KC Cyclone and Baja Designs S1 are weather-rated and survive trail impacts. Avoid stick-on LED strips — they last one trip.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| KC Cyclone (single) | KC HiLites | ~$75 |
| Baja Designs S1 pod | Baja Designs | ~$120 |
| RGB rock light kit (8-pack budget) | MicTuning | ~$80 |
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.