Lighting is one of those things in the 4X4 world that you either get right, or you don’t bother with at all. And when we started putting together the lighting package for Pat’s new Ranger, we knew we needed something that looked right, punched hard, and wouldn’t fall apart halfway into the season. Enter the Nacho Quatro. A seriously tidy bit of gear now available through ARB in Australia.
If the name Nacho rings a bell, it’s probably because of their following in the US off-road scene. These things are built with desert racing and long-haul overlanding in mind, and it shows the moment you pick one up. They’ve got a kind of motorsport DNA to them. Solid, sharp lines, metal where you want it, and a serious attention to detail in the finishing. They look at home on a pre-runner, and that’s exactly the vibe we’re going for with the Ranger.
We opted for the Combo beam setup on the roof rack, pairing them with a set of 7-inch Bushrangers down low for pencil-beam distance. The end result? An absolutely massive spread of usable light, with everything out to around 500 metres lit up like daylight. Trees, dips, ruts, cattle grids, nothing escapes these things. And that’s without even firing up the spots.
On paper, the specs back it up. We’re talking over 10,000 effective lumens per pair, 55,000 raw for the row, and a beam that’s wide without being too fluffy around the edges. The spot version bumps that peak candela up to a whopping 212,000, so if you’re going for distance, they’ve got options to suit.
What’s Standing Out
One of the coolest features so far is the swappable lens system. We’ve fitted ours with the amber covers, partly for looks, because let’s be honest, they look tough, but also because amber light tends to work better in dust, fog, and low contrast environments. You’re not getting that harsh white glare that bounces back at you in bad weather. It’s easier on the eyes and genuinely more usable in variable conditions.
We also like the three-mode functionality. There’s a Trail Running Light mode, which is basically a DRL and perfect for daytime or camp lighting, plus low and high beam outputs depending on how much light you need to throw. It’s simple, smart, and controlled via a clean wiring harness that made install refreshingly painless.
And while this is just a first impressions review, we’ve already noticed the build quality is top-tier. No rattles, no dodgy plastics, no misting. The housing is solid, the mounting hardware is stout, and everything clicks together the way it should. You’d expect this level of finish on aircraft parts or proper racing gear.
The Trade-Offs (Sort Of)
Now look, no product is without its quirks. But we’re splitting hairs here. Mounted up high on the roof like we’ve done, these lights can catch fog, mist and airborne moisture more than a bar-mounted setup. That’s just the nature of roof lights. They’ll always sit in the soup a little more than something down low. We’ve worked around that on Pat’s F-150 by mounting them low in the bar, which solves the problem nicely.
And yes, the price tag might raise a few eyebrows. These aren’t bargain-bin lights, but they’re also not meant to be. They sit in the same tier as Baja Designs or KC HiLites. Premium gear for people who want the absolute best available and are happy to pay for it. Whether it’s for the tech, the performance, or the aesthetics, these things bring a lot to the table if you’re willing to invest.
The Verdict (So Far)
This isn’t a full-blown review just yet. We’ll save that for after a few months of heavy use. But early signs are promising. The light output is phenomenal, the beam control is excellent, and the build quality is up there with the best we’ve tested. Add in the fact that they’re now available through ARB (with local warranty and support), and the Nacho Quatro looks like a seriously compelling option for anyone building a capable touring rig or something with that race-truck edge.
If you’re chasing that big light energy with some actual brains behind it, Nacho is definitely worth a look.
