We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Automotive

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of ATV Headlights?

By Lori Kilchermann
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 6,073
Share

An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) headlight is a feature that allows an operator to use the machine after sundown. There are typically two types of ATV headlights available for choosing: the sealed beam headlight and the projector beam headlight. While the sealed beam type of ATV headlight is commonly offered as a factory original light, the projector beam is usually much brighter and offers a greater area of coverage than the sealed beam light. Some light emitting diode (LED) ATV headlights are also used due, in part, to the reduced space a LED light requires.

Upgrading ATV headlights is one of the better methods of increasing the vehicle's nighttime performance capabilities. While the original equipment headlights typically provide the minimum in lighting capability, adding improved ATV headlights is usually a simple bolt-on application that can be accomplished by a novice in a minimum amount of time. While adding improved lighting to the ATV can be beneficial, adding too many lights can require additional upgrades to the machine. In some cases, the battery and the charging system must be upgraded to meet the additional electrical draw created by the new ATV headlights.

Some manufacturers of aftermarket ATV headlights offer the lights in a kit form that also includes upgraded charging system components. These kits commonly include both the headlights and charging system components, as well as replacement wiring harness to support the increased voltage draw of the new lights. Installing the lights without improving the wiring could result in an electrical short or even a fire. The replacement wiring harness is usually a snap-in fit, with the old harness coming out by releasing a few snap connectors and the new and improved harness snapping into the connectors in its place.

A byproduct of many light upgrades is heat. The headlights are commonly capable of producing enough heat to damage the plastic body panels used on most ATVs. Many manufacturers include templates to allow the user to clear the headlight openings to avoid such a problem when installing upgraded lights. Other manufacturers include mounting brackets that are used to mount the upgraded lights onto the steel rack systems common on the front of most ATVs. When mounted on the luggage rack, the lights can be larger than the body mount will allow, thus giving a greater beam of light as well as remaining in the open to control the heat output.

Share
WikiMotors is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wikimotors.org/what-are-the-different-types-of-atv-headlights.htm
Copy this link
WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.