This awesome new device allows you to direct off-road lights from the driver's seat.

      Baja Designs, edited by the author

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      Baja Designs, a premium off-road lighting brand, has introduced a clever new accessory called the Reflex Actuator, which allows you to adjust off-road lights from a switch inside your vehicle. As the name suggests, it’s simply a small 12-volt actuator that you install on a single pod or light bar, connect to a wiring harness linked to a switch, enabling you to easily tilt your lights up or down within a 20-degree range while on the move.

      Many modern trucks include active headlight aiming or at least some adjustability to optimize light usage. This feature is crucial because when towing or carrying heavy cargo, the rear of the truck may sag, causing the lights to point upwards. On the other hand, if you position your lights while your truck is loaded, they may not be optimally aligned when it's empty. The tilt can be more pronounced in smaller off-road vehicles and UTVs, especially during long Baja-style races when the fuel load changes significantly.

      These actuators would simplify any light installation. Rather than securing a light and having to repeatedly adjust it by removing and reattaching bolts, you can use these devices to make precise adjustments from the comfort of your cab at any time.

      This product is definitely specialized, but it is both impressive and innovative. For accessory enthusiasts like myself, it's an exciting concept.

      Baja Designs lights come at a premium price but receive high ratings. I haven’t personally used them, but I commonly see them on well-equipped vehicles. The new Reflex Actuators are approximately $100 for a single light controller, and $200 for a model that can adjust a larger light bar. Additionally, a wiring harness with a switch is available for $70, while the linking harness to synchronize multiple lights costs $42.

      While you could potentially replicate this setup with an actuator from Temu and your own controller, the convenience of a plug-and-play solution makes these very appealing.

      The Reflex Actuators work with Baja Designs LP Series, XL Series, S8, and OnX6+ light bars. You might be able to create a small mount for use with lights from other brands, but it wouldn't offer the same plug-and-play ease.

      When properly installed, these actuators can provide up to 20 degrees of tilt, and as you might expect, multiple units can be connected together.

      Here’s a promotional video showcasing them:

      Introducing Reflex Actuator – Aim Your Lights On the Fly | Baja Designs

      This video features some Baja Designs team members praising the product and sharing additional insights on its development:

      Reflex Light Actuator – Behind the Engineering Aiming Your Lights | Baja Designs University

      On the other hand, my approach to light mounting is much less advanced—I have a couple of old chrome cop lights attached to my 1975 Scout with farm gate hinges. I don’t recommend this method; they vibrate and shake excessively and will be removed when the truck is operational again this spring. All jokes aside, I really appreciate this idea from Baja Designs and would gladly use these if I had Baja Designs lights on my vehicles.

      Baja Designs

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