Whip flags are an essential safety feature for OHV riders to help other drivers see them on the dune hill or track. They are bright, durable, and can be controlled by a rocker switch on the dashboard or through a mobile app.
Use this step-by-step guide to get started installing whip lights on your offroad vehicle.
1. Locate the Lights
If you’re a UTV owner, you want to make sure your ride stands out and is easily identifiable. Whip lights and flags are a simple add-on that makes your General look great and will help drivers see you when you’re on the trail. Whether you’re racing around sand dunes or tight off-road trails, whip lights and flags are a great way to improve visibility and increase safety.
Before you start working on your off-road lights installation, it’s important to have all the necessary tools and materials. This includes a wiring harness, electrical tape, wire cutters, and connectors. You also need a voltmeter to check the voltage of your light kit.
The next step is determining where you’re going to mount your lights. You can choose to mount them on the windshield, roof rack, or bumper of your four-wheeler. You can also install them under the vehicle, which requires some drilling and may limit your departure angle.
Another popular option is to mount them in a cluster on the front of your UTV. This gives you a clean appearance, doesn’t limit your departure angle, and provides plenty of light. It’s also easier to adjust them as you need to while driving on the trail.
When choosing an off-road light, you’ll also want to consider the beam pattern. Spotlights emphasize distance, while bars give off a wide and diffused pattern. You can find a variety of different patterns for each type of light, so it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.
It’s also important to note that different types of lights have different wattages. Higher wattage lights require more power and can produce more heat. For this reason, it’s important to only use high-quality products that are designed for off-road use. Lastly, you’ll want to consider the price of your lights. The cheapest option is typically an LED, while HIDs are more expensive but provide the best performance. LED lights are illuminated by electrons passing through a semiconductor, so they don’t require a filament like halogens. This means that they last longer and have a much lower power draw than HIDs.
2. Remove the Base
Whip lights and off road flags not only make your UTV stand out on the racecourse or at a show, they are also safety add-ons that help other riders notice your rig from afar. Whether you want to fly a Trump flag in support of your political affiliation or rep your alma mater with pride, the lights and flags we carry at Everything Can-Am Offroad are sure to suit your needs.
If you have a vehicle that doesn’t have a factory whip light mount, we have a variety of different mounting options to choose from. One option is the Sticky Whips, which attach to your UTV’s fender and utilize powerful suction cups to mount your flags. They are quick and easy to install and are tested to withstand speeds of up to 100 MPH through the roughest terrain.
Another option is to use the XTC Whip It Light Rod, which lets you mount any standard 4ft or 6ft fiberglass flag with ease. This system has an integrated plug and play 3 pin rear harness that makes it easy to run your lights and flags. The XTC system also allows you to switch between your existing 1/4”-1/2” whip mounts. This way, you can switch between your safety flags and decorative flags without having to buy a new mount each time!
3. Connect the Wires
A UTV, ATV, or dune buggy with an off road flag is more visible to other drivers in sand dunes, mountains, and tight off-road trails. This visibility can help them avoid collisions with other vehicles or other objects. The lighted whips also make your vehicle stand out in the dark or when it’s raining. You can even customize them to show off your political affiliation, your alma mater, or just the color and style that you like.
To install the lights, you’ll need a fuse and a power wire that will connect them to your battery. Look for a terminal on the battery that has a positive sign (plus) and a negative sign (minus). Most whip lights use a ring terminal, which doubles as heat shrink tubing. This type of connector isn’t included with most whip lights, but you can usually find it online or at your local hardware store.
The other end of the power wire will go to a fuse. The fuse will protect your UTV or ATV from overcharging the battery, so it’s important to choose a high-quality model. The fuse will also prevent damage from short circuits.
Once you have the fuse and power wire, you can start splicing the wiring together. Be careful when handling electrical components to avoid shock. You can solder or crimp the wires, but it’s often easier to use a splice connector. Some splice connectors are available as kits that include everything you need to connect the wires, but most are sold separately.
Some whip lights will have a dashboard switch that you can use to control them. If yours doesn’t, you can route the wires through the dashboard to the battery on the front end of the vehicle.
After you’ve connected the wires, it’s time to mount the flags. You can mount them on the top of your frame, or you can mount them to the rear of your vehicle. Just be sure to mount them where they won’t interfere with other parts of your vehicle or cause a hazard. If you’re mounting the flags on the back of your ATV or UTV, you can add a strap to hold them in place when driving.
4. Mount the Lights
A lot of off-road vehicles come with mounting holes that are meant for whip lights. If yours does, find one of them and remove the bolt covering it with a socket wrench. Some of these bolts will have a nut at the bottom that you can reach and turn counterclockwise to loosen. Once the nut is off, the base can be removed as well.
Once the base is removed, you should have access to the wires that run from the light to the vehicle. It is important to make sure these are connected properly. If they are not, the lights won’t light up. You should always follow the wiring instructions that came with your particular lights. These can vary slightly, depending on the kind of vehicle and the lights you bought.
The wires will usually connect to the battery, but you may also need to join them to a switch on the dashboard or something else. Some systems also have a remote switch that you can operate with a phone app. If you have any questions, contact the manufacturer of your lights to get more details about how to set up your particular system.
Some whip light kits include wiring harnesses, which means you won’t have to splice the power wires. If yours doesn’t, you can still splice them, but it is recommended that you use a wire connector with a ring terminal on it. These can be purchased online or at some hardware stores. Some of these even double as heat shrink tubes, which you can fit over the connections and warm up gently to help them stay in place.
Once all of the wires are connected, it is time to mount the lights. Most people will hang them on their front bumper, but there are places to mount them on the frame of the vehicle as well. You can also buy flag poles that will let you hold them up on the side of the vehicle. These are especially helpful if you want to flag a truck or other heavy equipment that you need to warn of.…
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