What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[Rick W]

Batteries are so disappointing these days. It seems like we're going backwards in battery quality. And they want us to rely on them totally for our cars' propulsion.

Sheesh!

When the F250 diesel needs batteries, about every five years, I get some of the best I can buy. Same for the Lincoln Continental Mark V with the 460. But for the town cars and the Rangers, I keep my eyes open when I go to the pull a part, and I buy what I know will fit, and I always have an extra one. They’re about $35. But I don’t have to worry about commuting every day anymore, and really cold weather is rare down here.

 

[Rick W]

What's an annunciator bar? Is that the one that looks like a police light bar?

It’s like a police light bar, maybe more like what you see on top of a tow truck, but they’re used on any kind of service vehicle. It can float from left to right, from right to left, from center out, and mine has 14 other flash patterns. I like the ones with the display controller, so you can go straight to those three. I rarely use all the rest of it. An afterthought, but in most states you have to have a “code 3“ light permit. In Georgia that cost $2 a year for amber, But if you misuse it you lose it for life. For my real estate and the engineering that I still do, I have to stop in a lane or on the shoulder sometimes, once in a blue moon behind a wreck if I run up on it, but really it’s all just big toys. I have smaller ones in both the town cars, and I’m about to install one in the Mark V.

 

[JoshT]

When the F250 diesel needs batteries, about every five years, I get some of the best I can buy.

I'm dreading that day with my F-250. Two batteries, somewhere around $200 a pop. Fortunately it didn't need them right away when I got it. I need to get a battery maintainer to install and postpone it as long as possible.

I really need to do that for a few of mine that don't get driven all that often.

It’s like a police light bar, maybe more like what you see on top of a tow truck, but they’re used on any kind of service vehicle.

That's the main place I see them used down here in my part of GA, service vehicles (IE: tow trucks, road side assistance, etc) and escort/pilot vehicles for wide/oversized loads. I've never noticed them used for real estate or engineering type jobs down here, but I imagine the area you are working in has a few more hazards.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Does the fact that there is no road in front of him have anything to do with his age?

Yup, just bumping along in low first. GPS says roughly 2mph.

Only "out of towners" use the roads in Iowa.

Roads? Where we are going we don't need... roads.

 

[Rick W]

I've never noticed them used for real estate or engineering type jobs down here, but I imagine the area you are working in has a few more hazards.

For serious use, it’s one of those things you never need until the moment you really need it. I’m probably paranoid because I’ve been rear-ended really hard twice. Like a second floor escape ladder, it’s in your way all the time until the house is on fire!

But again, it’s a lot of fun to play with when the opportunity arises

 

[Curious Hound]

I put one on the Ranger. It was marketed as a “chase light”. Not sure if there’s really a difference. Mine only points to the rear. I had heard recently that it’s illegal to use on the road. I got it mostly so people could see me from the rear in dark, dusty, foggy conditions in trail rides and in off-road parks. But, honestly, if I come up on and accident or disabled motorist in a dangerous location, I’ll turn the thing on and ask for forgiveness later.

 

[Rick W]

Ok, Code 3 lights 101: blue, red, green, purple and amber/yellow are restricted.

First, my experience is 99% Georgia and one percent New Jersey/New York, and this is for informational purposes only. Code 3 lights are highly regulated and there can be extremely severe penalties for misuse, mostly with the red and blue lights. Absolutely check with your local law enforcement or your state department of Public Safety before even thinking about using these kinds of lights.

“Code 3“ refers to the section in the law that covers these lights in most states. In Georgia, there are five regulated light colors: blue, red, green, purple and amber/yellow.

I think everyone knows blue lights are police. If you display a blue light on your car, even if you didn’t do anything with it, in Georgia it is a felony with a $1000 fine minimum.

Red lights are fire/ambulance/emergency response. I’m not sure of the penalty, but I’m sure it’s similar. Note, my third brake light interrupter (three quick, three slow and then constant brake light) technically falls under this law as a flashing red light, but I think something like that would only be enforced if you were doing something crazy with the vehicle.

Green lights are also typically police, fire, ambulance or emergency response vehicles that act as incident command centers or such. While they can be independent, they are usually coupled with blue, red and amber. Green is used to identify the center of operations in a larger response. Oddly, Greene can also be licensed to security operations in a mall or a large office complex or such. Can you imagine those guys in charge of a real emergency?

Purple lights are for funeral Directors for a funeral procession. The lead car/hearse has to have the two dollar a year permit, and cars in the procession can display purple lights temporarily, only during the procession.

Just about anybody who has any reason to slow down or stop in traffic, or do something strange in an intersection (legally) can get the two dollar per year permit in Georgia for the Amber strobes. At no time does displaying the lights allow you to break any traffic law or any law. I’m not even sure if initial applications are reviewed for anything more than the applicant stating the reason why he or she might want them, which is always based on interfering with the flow of traffic for a public safety purpose.

Just a point, white strobe lights are not regulated by color, but they are regulated by the type and kind of lights you’re allowed to put on any vehicle. If you have a white strobe light, it won’t be illegal because of the color, it will be illegal because cars are only supposed to have headlights, tail lights, etc. That is another section in the law that I suggest you review if you’re going to do the crazy stuff I do. Half of my lights would be illegal in New York or New Jersey if the truck was registered there. And if I use them in New Jersey, I can also be fined, but I don’t have to remove them to travel into New Jersey with a Georgia license plate. It’s very common for white lights to be intermixed with any of the other colors simply to make them brighter and more noticeable. In such cases they will be covered by the code 3 light color permit.

A traffic advisor bar is the same as a traffic annunciator bar, I think I brought “annunciator“ back from Africa or England when I worked there. And again, I advise always buying one with one of the controllers that displays the light pattern in the cab. You can save about $25 by having a controller that simply has an on off switch, with another button to scroll through the flash patterns. Yeah, you know, it’s never set at the one you need in an emergency and who wants to step out of the vehicle in traffic to see if the light is flashing correctly.

There are a lot of versions. They range from 12 inches to 6 feet. This is what I found pretty quickly on eBay:

These are plenty bright. The ones with the COB LED lights are even brighter, but they cost about 50% more. I’ve had a bar on BIG Red for 30 years. It has halogen bulbs that I am about to change to LEDs. The Missing Linc has COB LEDs, alternating Amber and White. The Lincoln‘s and the Road Ranger all have regular LEDs.

If you’re a good Samaritan and you stop in traffic, I’d be pretty amazed if you could get in trouble assuming it’s a real hazard. Whatever you’re thinking is, if you’re stuck in traffic, don’t even dream of going down the shoulder with the lights on to bypass the traffic unless you have a very good public safety reasons. You get the idea.

Finally, while I am not a sheriff, I am in the Georgia Sheriff’s Association. That ID card is glued to my license if I have to step out of the car for an officer. I have never really needed it to get out of trouble, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt.

Did I mention check with the Department of Public safety in your state?

Drive safely!!!

 

[sgtsandman]

Ok, Code 3 lights 101: blue, red, green, purple and amber/yellow are restricted.

First, my experience is 99% Georgia and one percent New Jersey/New York, and this is for informational purposes only. Code 3 lights are highly regulated and there can be extremely severe penalties for misuse, mostly with the red and blue lights. Absolutely check with your local law enforcement or your state department of Public Safety before even thinking about using these kinds of lights.

“Code 3“ refers to the section in the law that covers these lights in most states. In Georgia, there are five regulated light colors: blue, red, green, purple and amber/yellow.

I think everyone knows blue lights are police. If you display a blue light on your car, even if you didn’t do anything with it, in Georgia it is a felony with a $1000 fine minimum.

Red lights are fire/ambulance/emergency response. I’m not sure of the penalty, but I’m sure it’s similar. Note, my third brake light interrupter (three quick, three slow and then constant brake light) technically falls under this law as a flashing red light, but I think something like that would only be enforced if you were doing something crazy with the vehicle.

Green lights are also typically police, fire, ambulance or emergency response vehicles that act as incident command centers or such. While they can be independent, they are usually coupled with blue, red and amber. Green is used to identify the center of operations in a larger response. Oddly, Greene can also be licensed to security operations in a mall or a large office complex or such. Can you imagine those guys in charge of a real emergency?

Purple lights are for funeral Directors for a funeral procession. The lead car/hearse has to have the two dollar a year permit, and cars in the procession can display purple lights temporarily, only during the procession.

Just about anybody who has any reason to slow down or stop in traffic, or do something strange in an intersection (legally) can get the two dollar per year permit in Georgia for the Amber strobes. At no time does displaying the lights allow you to break any traffic law or any law. I’m not even sure if initial applications are reviewed for anything more than the applicant stating the reason why he or she might want them, which is always based on interfering with the flow of traffic for a public safety purpose.

Just a point, white strobe lights are not regulated by color, but they are regulated by the type and kind of lights you’re allowed to put on any vehicle. If you have a white strobe light, it won’t be illegal because of the color, it will be illegal because cars are only supposed to have headlights, tail lights, etc. That is another section in the law that I suggest you review if you’re going to do the crazy stuff I do. Half of my lights would be illegal in New York or New Jersey if the truck was registered there. And if I use them in New Jersey, I can also be fined, but I don’t have to remove them to travel into New Jersey with a Georgia license plate. It’s very common for white lights to be intermixed with any of the other colors simply to make them brighter and more noticeable. In such cases they will be covered by the code 3 light color permit.

A traffic advisor bar is the same as a traffic annunciator bar, I think I brought “annunciator“ back from Africa or England when I worked there. And again, I advise always buying one with one of the controllers that displays the light pattern in the cab. You can save about $25 by having a controller that simply has an on off switch, with another button to scroll through the flash patterns. Yeah, you know, it’s never set at the one you need in an emergency and who wants to step out of the vehicle in traffic to see if the light is flashing correctly.

There are a lot of versions. They range from 12 inches to 6 feet. This is what I found pretty quickly on eBay:

View attachment 90570
These are plenty bright. The ones with the COB LED lights are even brighter, but they cost about 50% more. I’ve had a bar on BIG Red for 30 years. It has halogen bulbs that I am about to change to LEDs. The Missing Linc has COB LEDs, alternating Amber and White. The Lincoln‘s and the Road Ranger all have regular LEDs.

If you’re a good Samaritan and you stop in traffic, I’d be pretty amazed if you could get in trouble assuming it’s a real hazard. Whatever you’re thinking is, if you’re stuck in traffic, don’t even dream of going down the shoulder with the lights on to bypass the traffic unless you have a very good public safety reasons. You get the idea.

Finally, while I am not a sheriff, I am in the Georgia Sheriff’s Association. That ID card is glued to my license if I have to step out of the car for an officer. I have never really needed it to get out of trouble, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt.

Did I mention check with the Department of Public safety in your state?

Drive safely!!!

I didn’t know about green and purple lights. Those aren’t a thing here in PA, at least not in Western PA.

Police often have Blue and Red here, maybe a smattering of white but more for spot lights and some times amber. The same goes for Fire Police.

Fire Department vehicles are red, as are Ambulances. They can sometimes have white strobes as well.

Blue is used in Volunteer Fire Department fire fighter’s private vehicles and can only be used when responding to a fire.

Amber, if it’s regulated, no one seems to care. Pretty much most anyone with job in contracting seems to have one. Postal workers on rural routes have them too.

School busses have white strobes on top near the rear of the vehicle. Not sure why with the bright yellow/orange paint job and the yellow and red flashing lights but it must be a law since they all have them.

I think I can technically have a blue flashing light for Search and Rescue but I don’t feel like testing those waters and the lights I’d want to get aren’t cheap.

 

[Bgunner]

I believe the white strobe on the top back of the bus is for when the bus is occupied as I've only seen it flash with kids on the busses but I have never seen them flash on an empty bus with just the driver in it. We have them also here in Ma. So it must be a law now to have them.

Here in Ma. red and white are for fire and ambulance, blue and white for police with the amber being use caution around the vehicle with them flashing.

In New York I know they have red white and blue on fire trucks with red white and blue for police.

 

[Curious Hound]

Ok, Code 3 lights 101: blue, red, green, purple and amber/yellow are restricted.

First, my experience is 99% Georgia and one percent New Jersey/New York, and this is for informational purposes only. Code 3 lights are highly regulated and there can be extremely severe penalties for misuse, mostly with the red and blue lights. Absolutely check with your local law enforcement or your state department of Public Safety before even thinking about using these kinds of lights.

“Code 3“ refers to the section in the law that covers these lights in most states. In Georgia, there are five regulated light colors: blue, red, green, purple and amber/yellow.

I think everyone knows blue lights are police. If you display a blue light on your car, even if you didn’t do anything with it, in Georgia it is a felony with a $1000 fine minimum.

Red lights are fire/ambulance/emergency response. I’m not sure of the penalty, but I’m sure it’s similar. Note, my third brake light interrupter (three quick, three slow and then constant brake light) technically falls under this law as a flashing red light, but I think something like that would only be enforced if you were doing something crazy with the vehicle.

Green lights are also typically police, fire, ambulance or emergency response vehicles that act as incident command centers or such. While they can be independent, they are usually coupled with blue, red and amber. Green is used to identify the center of operations in a larger response. Oddly, Greene can also be licensed to security operations in a mall or a large office complex or such. Can you imagine those guys in charge of a real emergency?

Purple lights are for funeral Directors for a funeral procession. The lead car/hearse has to have the two dollar a year permit, and cars in the procession can display purple lights temporarily, only during the procession.

Just about anybody who has any reason to slow down or stop in traffic, or do something strange in an intersection (legally) can get the two dollar per year permit in Georgia for the Amber strobes. At no time does displaying the lights allow you to break any traffic law or any law. I’m not even sure if initial applications are reviewed for anything more than the applicant stating the reason why he or she might want them, which is always based on interfering with the flow of traffic for a public safety purpose.

Just a point, white strobe lights are not regulated by color, but they are regulated by the type and kind of lights you’re allowed to put on any vehicle. If you have a white strobe light, it won’t be illegal because of the color, it will be illegal because cars are only supposed to have headlights, tail lights, etc. That is another section in the law that I suggest you review if you’re going to do the crazy stuff I do. Half of my lights would be illegal in New York or New Jersey if the truck was registered there. And if I use them in New Jersey, I can also be fined, but I don’t have to remove them to travel into New Jersey with a Georgia license plate. It’s very common for white lights to be intermixed with any of the other colors simply to make them brighter and more noticeable. In such cases they will be covered by the code 3 light color permit.

A traffic advisor bar is the same as a traffic annunciator bar, I think I brought “annunciator“ back from Africa or England when I worked there. And again, I advise always buying one with one of the controllers that displays the light pattern in the cab. You can save about $25 by having a controller that simply has an on off switch, with another button to scroll through the flash patterns. Yeah, you know, it’s never set at the one you need in an emergency and who wants to step out of the vehicle in traffic to see if the light is flashing correctly.

There are a lot of versions. They range from 12 inches to 6 feet. This is what I found pretty quickly on eBay:

View attachment 90570
These are plenty bright. The ones with the COB LED lights are even brighter, but they cost about 50% more. I’ve had a bar on BIG Red for 30 years. It has halogen bulbs that I am about to change to LEDs. The Missing Linc has COB LEDs, alternating Amber and White. The Lincoln‘s and the Road Ranger all have regular LEDs.

If you’re a good Samaritan and you stop in traffic, I’d be pretty amazed if you could get in trouble assuming it’s a real hazard. Whatever you’re thinking is, if you’re stuck in traffic, don’t even dream of going down the shoulder with the lights on to bypass the traffic unless you have a very good public safety reasons. You get the idea.

Finally, while I am not a sheriff, I am in the Georgia Sheriff’s Association. That ID card is glued to my license if I have to step out of the car for an officer. I have never really needed it to get out of trouble, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt.

Did I mention check with the Department of Public safety in your state?

Drive safely!!!

Thank you. Very informative.

 

[superj]

No green or purple here either. I do know the red and blue laws because i read the light color rules when i went through the bike laws

 

[Rick W]

School busses have white strobes on top near the rear of the vehicle. Not sure why with the bright yellow/orange paint job and the yellow and red flashing lights but it must be a law since they all have them.

I believe the white strobe on the top back of the bus is for when the bus is occupied as I've only seen it flash with kids on the busses but I have never seen them flash on an empty bus with just the driver in it. We have them also here in Ma. So it must be a law now to have them.

Uh oh. Now you guys have me looking at the back of the little kids’ school buses. I feel like a pedophile. No more talk about anything flashing.

 

[superj]

Nilight Traffic Advisor Emergency Strobe Light Bar 35Inch 32LED 21 Fla – Nilight Led Light

nilight makes those bars too. they make them with all the color options for law enforcement, emergency services, and amber or amber white. but they just use a cord with a button set for changing hte flash options, though it does save your last setting.

the link is for the solid amber bar

 

[Curious Hound]

I got mine here,

Xprite USA

I am now a dealer of Xprite LED lights and products. I chose this company because they sell reasonably priced LED chase bars for trucks and side by sides. They also carry economical LED emergency lighting. I will be adding Xprite product to JamesOaksEnterprises.com in the coming week. In the...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[Lefty]

Batteries are so disappointing these days. It seems like we're going backwards in battery quality. And they want us to rely on them totally for our cars' propulsion.

Sheesh!

Funny. I bought a top-of-the-line battery this year. It failed after 2 months. I had to take it back