BUYER’S GUIDE: LED WHIPS

BUYER’S GUIDE: LED WHIPS

The latest in visibility and style By the staff of Dirt Wheels

USFS rules for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area require a red or orange 8×12-inch safety flag be mounted to all vehicles and be at least 9 feet off of the ground. California, Idaho, and Utah require a 6×12-inch brightly colored flag be mounted on every vehicle, and it must be at least 8 feet above sand level. These are safety rules, but what about duning at night? Do we aim LED cube lights at the flag(s) like we must when flying Old Glory at night? LED technology has not only extended our dune night rides well into the night, they’ve revolutionized the light whip into an art form. Here are the latest in LED light whips for enhanced visibility (safety) and style. Note: All LED whips must be installed with a switch.

MB WHIPS FLASH PRO V2 WHIPS

Price: $419.95

MB Whips’ latest whip is the Flash Pro V2, and the pair of LED whips are 2 feet long with a 2-inch diameter and 600 LEDs per whip. MB Whips’ quick-release bases are universal to fit all of their whips, and Pro V2s use the same controllers as the Flash series. So, if you already have MB LED whips, the Pro V2 whips are only $209.95. They have street-legal integration. Kits include two whips, stainless-core quick-release bases, MB Whips flags, flag clamps, dust caps, controller harness, remote and quick-installation instructions. They’ll also link to your phone via Bluetooth. 

Contact: www.mbwhips.com

MOOSE 2-INCH QUICK-RELEASE WHIPS
Price: $516.95

Moose Racing also has 2-inch-diameter, 2-foot-long whip pairs with all of the wiring built into the powered quick-release bases, but the whips are not flexible. Your phone gives you Bluetooth control with 300 colors and 200 patterns via a free app. These whips have more LEDs than 5-foot chasing LED whips, and kits include two whips, remote, wiring harness, Moose Racing and American flags, dust caps, flag hardware, and installation instructions. 

Contact: www.mooseutilities.com

GORILLA CHUNKY MONKEY WHIPS

Price: $280 (13”), $360 (22”) a pair

Gorilla Whips makes six styles of LED whips, with their Chunky Monkey being the newest, thickest, strongest, and most advanced. Whips have a 2-inch-diameter resin epoxy tube and three-pin RGB LEDs, and the whip mount is integrated into the whip. They flash, strobe, blink and have unlimited color modes, and they also sync with Gorilla’s rock and glow lights with your music. Chunky Monkey whips have no flex, and they’re covered by Gorilla’s lifetime warranty. 

Contact: www.gorillawhips.com

WHIP IT ANGEL WHIPS

Price: $372–$430 (2-foot/3-foot) a pair

Whip It Light Rods’ newest LEDs are the Angel whips with Chip-On-Board (COB) LEDs that are brighter, more durable and more efficient. Large LED chips encompass multiple diodes to increase illumination while decreasing glare and hot spots. Bases have built-in springs for greater durability, and Whip It Light Rods are distributed by Parts Unlimited.

WHIP IT SOL PRO WHIPS

Price: $170–$230 (3-foot/5-foot) a pair

Whip It’s Sol Pro whips offer unequaled visibility, style, durability and ease of use. They have 20 colors and 22 modes with music sync, total adjustability, and brake- and turn-signal sync. They also have a barrel-spring base for added durability. SOL Deluxe series are $195–$260. 

Contact: See your Parts Unlimited dealer or whipitlightrods.com

MARSHIN GAME CHANGER WHIPS

Price: $399–$524 (1-foot/6-foot)

Marshin Whips’ newest LEDs are Game Changers, as they have 5/8-inch whips as opposed to 1/2-inch. Marshin claims their LEDs will last 50,000 hours, and there are 1100 LEDs per 4 feet of whip. CNC’d billet-aluminum bases are powdercoated with 12 color choices, and they have magnetic bases for quick removal. Game Changer kits are sold in pairs and have all the features, colors, and patterns we crave with controls via your phone. They do not flex, but Marshin has springs that can be added to the bases. 

Contact: www.marshinwhips.com, [email protected]

MOOSE RACING 360 WHIP

Price: $257.95

Moose Racing’s 360-degree, 4-foot LED whips are spiral-wrap LEDs in flexible and durable polycarbonate tubes, and the billet-aluminum base ($39.95) has quick-release function. Kits come with two whips, a wiring harness, flag, wafer-proof controller, and wireless remote with 300 colors and 200 patterns.

KEMIMOTO UTV WHIPS

Price: $139.99 a pair

Kemimoto’s 3-foot UTV LED whips have full function at a great price, and the LEDs and 5050 waterproof chips are configured in a 360-degree spiral, and covered with heat-shrink tubing and high-toughness silicone. Aluminum mounts are 12mm diameter with quick-release bases, and the whips passed 55,000-plus-hour tests. They’re topped with American flags with clamp mounts, and they’re controlled by an included RF remote or your phone via Bluetooth and app. With the app, the whips have 212 lighting modes, music-sync mode, schedule timing function, 100 light-speed adjustable levels, and 100 brightness levels. With the RF remote, there are 366 light modes, 10 solid-color modes, six speed-adjustment modes, and 10 brightness levels. 

Contact: www.kemimoto.com

TUSK LED WHIPS

Price: $120.99–$150 (4-foot/6-foot) each

Tusk LED whips are spiral LED whips with quick-release billet-aluminum mounts, and they feature 350 modes via an RF remote. White is so bright that the whips can be used as work lights. 

Contact: www.rockymountainatvmc.com

WHIP IT MAGLINK WHIPS

Price: $430–$460 (3-foot/5-foot) a pair

Whip It’s MagLink whips have a magnetic coupler for quick removal, and the base is 6063 aviation-grade aluminum. These RGB chasing LEDs are housed in a hard, heat-shrink EVA tube, and the base incorporates a barrel spring for articulation and durability. Controlled by Bluetooth or a dedicated remote, there are 300 colors and 200 preset patterns. Whip It’s lit rocker switch is $15.

5150 187 CHALK LINE WHIPS

Price: $260–$485 (1-foot/6-foot) a pair

If you had to translate “5150” into one word, it would be “crazy,” as in crazy strong and crazy bright. 5150’s newest LED whip is the 187 Chalk Line, which is based on the original 187 but in all-white construction. These whips feature tough fiberglass-resin poles and patent-pending stainless steel quick-release base mounts with rugged construction throughout. They’re Bluetooth controlled via the Bledin (not Bledin2) app or by the included RF remote, which has seven quick-color buttons. They have 20 colors and 19 modes, but the 3×3 water-proof controller is sold separately. 

Contact: www.5150whips.com

BOONDOCKER PLUG N’ PLAY 3’/5’ LIGHTED WHIP KITS

Price: $249.99 a pair

BoonDocker has 3-foot and 5-foot LED lighted whip kits for Polaris RZRs and Can-Am Mavericks, and all two whip kits with Boondocker flags are $249.99. While not the newest, the LED whips are notable for the great price and features, like 300 colors and 200 patterns controlled by your smartphone app, plus they sync to your music. Also, when you turn on the ignition, they go green, and when you brake, they go red for enhanced safety. See boondockers.com or call (208) 542-4411.