I have a 05 kodiak, and the lights suck! Did a search on the site and found lots of ideas, but would like to know what is the best/cheapest upgrade for the lights on this machine. I end up using it at night to work around the farm, as well as some nighttime riding and hunting. Your input is appreciated!!

 

yes they do SUCK

ok, my quick fix to my kodiak lighting was the 8-9$ utility lights. Since your on a farm too, im assumin you know what im talkin about, the ones you get to replace broken ones on the tractor. Get a couple of switches and some in line fuses. I mounted mine to the front rack of my kodiak, had 2 to replace to stockes cuz those bulbs kept comin out. I also had one on rear rack, and had that on a seperate switch for a backup light. For all of the lights, switches and wires, it should only cost 30-40$ at most. The utility lights are extremely durable too. had brances pop the lens and bulb right out of the rubber case, and they still worked good. If you dont have it mounted to the rack, make sure its grounded to something. As for wiring, we just ran a wire straight from the lights into a switch, which to led to the inline fuse, which went to the battery.

 

Hello and here is my way around poor lighting. I have just put these light recently (not wired yet though). So far I just have them installed but will finish the project very soon. I have them in under my rack and not sticking out farther than my bumper so it can't get hit. My step father has the exact set and they are extremely bright. the lights are so bright when my step father follows me that I cant even see my factory headlights on the ground.

http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kod...ff.jpg&.src=ph

 

Hey Kodiac400, what brand/type of lights are those? I like how they're mounted. Have any of you thought about mounting lights to the handle bars so they can point where you're steering? I think this would be a good idea unless you have your front racks loaded, in which case the light would just reflect back into your face.

 

I will check the brand tonight when I get home. The lights are mounted on a 1x1 square tubing. The tubing is attached on to the rack from the top. Because of the flat surface where the front of the rack connects to the bumper you can not even see the ends of the tubing. That makes for a nice clean job.

 

i don't have a problem with my lights but anyways..... why don't you guys go and a cheap pair of fog lights for cars... thats what those small lights look like to me.... here i can get a pair of halogen buld fog lights (white or blue) for $40-50 with mounting hardware and a switch.... plus they are small rectangles and should fit under the racks like Kodiac400's

 

hey there, lighting was just 1 of the many problems i had with my 2003 kodiak 400. easy fix i took 1 inch by 1 inch angle aluminum and mad a light bar and attached it between the the 2 vertical bars of the front bumper. pick up a good set 55w halogen driving lights- you don't want yellow fog lights. they'll come with all the wiring and switches. i suggest you wire up a relay right off the battery for power- so that all your wiring is completely seperate from the stock wirring. 1 it will make future electrical additions simple and powers on and off with ignition. 2nd i guarantee if you have any electrical problems and you've spliced ANYWHERE on the stock wiring the dealer and yamaha won't want to cover anything on warranty and link the problem to your wiring job, whether your at fault or not. they really don't support their machines.

last of all if you ever decide to add heated grips or anything you're ready to take the power right off the other side of the relay, and makes additions quick and simple.
good luck.

 

do those 55w halogens take the abuse well? the WARN trails lights lasted me 2-3 months and they became junk...utilities lasted me a year and a half

 

check out my pics for some nice lights.

 

i installed them last fall, a set on the honda, and a set on the yamaha. so far so good. they make a world of difference. my buddy put i set of cheapies on his "rated at 55w" but no comparison. i picked them up at a canadian tire for about 60$ canadian a set. worth eveery penny.