LightPODs are significantly different from the usual LED conversion, and show the usual ORO attention to design, strength, ease of installation, and quality
1) LightPODs are surface mounted. You do not have to drill a massive hole in the tub to install them. They mount using the two lower stock taillight mounting inserts which you tap out to ¼-20 thread to accommodate the supplied stainless steel screws.
2) They are completely sealed units. If you smack them, they are not going to break apart like the cheap LEDS from the truck stop. And water intrusion is never going to happen.
3) Production units will appear somewhat brighter than the prototypes. The optical epoxy in this pair had some bubbles in it which reduces the light conducting properties.
4) Because they are surface mount, LightPODs contain side marker lights. They also include reverse indicator lights. Notice I said indicator lights. LEDs are short focal length devices, so it is really difficult to use an LED for general illumination. If you want to wheel at night, mount an auxiliary backup light on your bumper. You really ought to do this even if you have stock backup lights. They are pretty useless.
5) Installation is a snap. Remove your old lights. Cut off your connectors and wiring from your stock taillights, and splice them into the LughtPOD wires. Tap the lower two mounting holes on each side to ¼-20, plug in the connector, and mount them using the supplied screws. You now have have taillights, turn signals, emergency flashers, side markers brake lights and reverse indicator lights.
So what else is needed? Aside from the previously mentioned backup light, you will have to address the issue of license plate lighting. If you look closely at the photo above, you will see I cut away the plastic license plate holder to provide clearance for the LightPOD. LightPODs, like all LEDs, do not come with license plate lighting. I will be moving my plate to the spare. I’ll use light bolts to provide plate illumination, and I may mount my new backup light there also.
I also added reflectors to the bumper. Can't forget the reflector requirement.
One final detail is the turn signal flasher. As in all LED conversions, you will have to modify your flasher, or add a resistor in the line to slow the turn signal flashing rate down. ORO is investigating supplying a modified flasher with the LightPODS.
The target price for LightPODs is $125 per pair. It's a target price because if ORO is able to supply a flasher with each pair the price would be slightly higher.
