DIRTBEAM

Design Notes

The logic, drawn out.

Vehicle photos show you what a build looks like. Diagrams show you why it works. These are ours, so the ideas travel from one rig to the next without a specific truck attached.

SPOTFLOODSpot reaches. Flood fills.
Beam patternsFIG. A

Fig. A

Beam patterns: spot reaches, flood fills

A spot throws a tight column far down the trail; a flood spreads a wide wash up close. Most builds need both on separate switches, not one light bar trying to do everything at once. Match the pattern to the moment, not to the marketing.

DUSTbar → glare backLow + amber lands on trail
Light placement vs. dustFIG. B

Fig. B

Light placement vs. dust

Mount high and a beam hits airborne dust at eye level and bounces straight back at you. Mount low and amber, and the light passes under the cloud to land on the trail. Placement and color beat raw lumens in the conditions you actually drive at night.

LOW / REAR ✓HIGH / FWD ✗Keep mass low, behind the axle line.
Weight distributionFIG. C

Fig. C

Weight, kept low and rearward

Every pound on the roof or ahead of the front axle costs you grip, turn-in, and approach angle. Keep mass low and behind the axle line. A roof tent is a real choice, not a free one, and the bill comes due on the first off-camber climb.

APPROACHDEPARTEvery bumper is an angle tradeoff.
Approach & departureFIG. D

Fig. D

Approach and departure angles

Every bumper, step, and hitch is an angle tradeoff. Hang gear off the corners and you shorten the ramp the truck can climb or descend. Know the angle you are spending before you bolt the accessory that spends it.

Want this logic applied to your rig?

We’ll look at your build the way we look at these: lighting, storage, recovery, weight, and angles.

Get Help With a Build