Is there any good headlight upgrades?

[RSchwarzli]

Is there any good headlight upgrades for a 2008? I don't need funky colored, or angel eyes etc. Just a good bright headlight. I do alot of driving in remote areas that are pitched black and the stock lighting stinks.



Any good kits that actually do what they say they are going to do?



Thanks!



Robert

 

[CKelley1]

i do not know of any kit that is legal. they can not pass dot beam pattern and blind the oncoming driver. to do it correctly you need to use by lexion projector's from a wrecked car. i use the ones from honda accord's but it takes a lot of mechanical skills to do it. but the effort was definitely worth it.

 

[bheiting]

This has been discussed previously here in the forms, do a search. Years ago I ran across an article with photos by a guy who converted his from stock to Lexus projectors. I believe he had a Jeep Grand Cherokee or something similar, but I think the average person could adapt it. Our neighbor's Lexus has an amazing narrow beam that covers the road from ditch to ditch. I can understand why folks pick the Lexus for conversions. A Google search may turn up some good info.

 

[seafish]

Here is the thread you are looking for...



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...discussions/191334-how-hid.html?highlight=hid



I will be doing this myself soon, but with a Bixenon version, maybe from the Lexus LS460 instead of the LS430. The bi-xenon projectors provide low and high beam in one projector, while the LS430 is low beam ONLY which gives you excellent foregorund light, but will NOT give you high beams, so you wil have to use some auxiliary lamps mounted elsewhere to get high beams if you use the LS430 projectors. It is also crucial to have some sort of way to adjust the headlights uop and down if you are ging to be carryng different loads in your truck, as these WILL blind oncoming drivers if not properky adjusted in all situations. You can simply use the factory jheadlight adjustyment screw to move them up or down ,but MUST be willing to do this when you are acrrying aload at night. If you are not carrying different loads, then simply adjusting the headlights once after the modification is done will achieve very satisfactory driving lighting results without blinding oncoming drivers.

 

[p-Bar]

Here's one I did a while back see #130
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...3-2005-owners-who-want-better-lighting-4.html

 

[RSchwarzli]

Thanks guys! I think that answers the questions for now! I will look into this!Oo.



Robert

 

[firefighter_2000]

Headlights

Here's one I did a while back see #130

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...3-2005-owners-who-want-better-lighting-4.html

How did you remove the front lens of the headlight. I have an idea for my 06 that would require removing the front lens. Anyone know if its possible on the 06's?

Craig

 

[seafish]

How did you remove the front lens of the headlight. I have an idea for my 06 that would require removing the front lens. Anyone know if its possible on the 06's?

Craig

In short, you need to remove the entire headlight assembly from the truck and then heat it up in an oven (gas or electric, NOT microwave!! ) set at no more then 160* to 180* for about about 20 minutes, but, and this is VERY important, you do NOT want to let your wife see you doing it !! Also VERY important, you do NOT want the headlight assembly getting TOO hot. Anything much over 200* will be too hot... . the goal is simply to heat the butyl rubber sealant that the factory uses to seal between the headlight lense to the body to the point where it softens enough to begin lifting the lense off the headlight body as you pry between the lense and the headlight with a flat screwdriver. If the lense does not pry off relatively easily, it is likely still not warm enough... put it back in for another 5 minutes while you have a beer and/or GENTLY turn up the oven ... remember the goal is hot but not TOO hot... go for that 160* to 180* .



When prying, set the headlight on a rag/towel and pry slowly and carefully around the edge where the lense meets the body. On my 2005, there were a few places on the housing and lense that had interlocking tabs and these need to be pryed up in addition to prying around the circumgrence of the lense. I used both a flat screwdricer as well as a hard plastic "body panel remover" pry par. Do be slightly careful as to how hard you pry, because you can put small chips in the edge and probably even crack it if you are not feeling for the release of the butyl rubber sealant. The trick is to FEEL for the release of the butyl rubber... if the headlight is not opening as you pry, it likely needs to be a little hotter.



ALSO, know that when the sealant is hot/warm it is also STICKY AND STRINGY!!!

As you pull the headlight apart... be careful NOT to let it drip down on your wife's favorite casserole dish, the inside of the headlight lense, and even MORE importantly, do not get ANY of it on the chromed reflector inside the headight housing, beacause then you won't be able to clean it off without scratching or removing the chrome!!! (don't ask me how I know that!! )



Ok that about sums up taking it apart... Putting them back together is till another story. If you want, there is PLENTY more information on this process, as well other headlight modifications at HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum - The Buzz



If you visit the forums, you also get to see what and how other people are doing to get more light from their oem headlights. . it is an intersting AND informative website. .





So, after all that, youve got me curious-- what are you planning on doing once you take em apart... . ??

 

[firefighter_2000]

Just a thought

Just THINKING about it at this point, but thinking about using it as a mounting location for some LED warning lights. My goal, once I begin installing the equipment I want, is a clean, effective, professional looking install. I COULD go the hideaway strobe route, but thats old and I want something that no one has done yet. Thinking of mounting some small linear LED heads inside the housing halfway in between the headlight & parking light reflectors. Not 100% sure I will even attempt this but is something I've been thinking about trying.

Thanks

Craig

 

[seafish]

That's a pretty nice idea... certainly unique to have the strobes mounted INSIDE the headlight. On our chiefs truck, they are just mounted behind the grill.
Are you on a professional or volunteer department??

 

[seafish]

You'll have to be carefull and use ONLY butyl rubber tape to seal the headlights afterwards. That's the ONLY way to keep them from leaking again after you break the oem seal.

Have you checked out HID planet yet??

 

[firefighter_2000]

I'm both actually. Full time firefighter, full part time emt, and when I'm home I volunteer with the small community I live in. It will probably be more trouble than it's worth to do what I want and I may end up just going the hideaway strobe route. BUT... The ledighthead inside the housing would be pretty neat.

 

[seafish]

I'm both actually. Full time firefighter, full part time emt, and when I'm home I volunteer with the small community I live in. It will probably be more trouble than it's worth to do what I want and I may end up just going the hideaway strobe route. BUT... The ledighthead inside the housing would be pretty neat.

Taking apart the headlights is NOT a big deal, nor putting them back together again. Mounting of the strobes inside also should not be an issue as long as they physically fit where you want them to go. Since they do not need to be precisely aimed, like a projector headlight, you can likely mount them straight thru the reflector to the headlight housing and use long screws and nylock nuts to set them. I think your idea is a nice one!!



I am in themiddle of taking a leave of absence from the VFD where I live.

 

[Shadrach]

I find the headlights on my 03 suck and plan to add some good driving lights on a N-Fab light bar for when I am outside the city. I probably mount only 2. N-fab: Manufacturers of Nerfsteps, Prerunners, Harley Bars & Truck Accessories
Shadarch

 

[steved]

I find the headlights on my 03 suck and plan to add some good driving lights on a N-Fab light bar for when I am outside the city. I probably mount only 2. N-fab: Manufacturers of Nerfsteps, Prerunners, Harley Bars & Truck Accessories
Shadarch

I'm running two cheap 55-watt ProComp 5-inch round off-road spot lights mounted on the front bumper... it really makes a difference when your out in the dark. I researched things a bit before settling on auxiliary lights, but there aren't too many bulbs made for our headlight housings that will double the wattage AND provide a better reflector at the same time. Add to that, it places no added load on the truck's wiring...

I installed mine for those long late night interstate drives out west... even with those cheap 55-watters, I can light up well over two miles of road; giving you time to see those four legged critters.

I'm actually considering upgrading... the wiring is heavy enough that I can run two 100-watters.

 

[EDankievitch]

Recon makes a projector headlaight asy to replace our stock unit. It has 4 headlamps and is plug and play. They also offer higher output bulbs if you really ant that stadum light effect. I think their sight is GORECON. COM

 

[RSchwarzli]

Ed



Thanks. Will check out that site too.



Robert

 

[CRuth]

Be very careful of what you're getting. I just checked the recon stuff. They're using H1 bulbs for the low beam. Those aren't headlight bulbs, mostly used in fog lights, and I'd be surprised if they can make those work adequately. Its not enough to be bright, you can't go around blinding people.

If I had the money, I'd find whoever has the cheapest projection housing and install these
Hella 90mm Headlamp Modules

Read up on:

Drivers | Hella USA and Canada

Bulbs 101-A Primer on Auto Bulbs

I was going to include Daniel Sterns Faq but its down atm. Btw, I emailed Daniel a few years ago about our trucks. He basically said we're screwed.
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

[seafish]

On Daniel Sterns recomendation, I am using these Phillips Xteme Powere Bulbs 9007 bulbs in my 2005 truck.

<b>Philips <font color="red">Xtreme Power</font> 9007 65/55W / HB5</b> (TWO PACK)

They use a redesigned filament and gas mixture and DO provide more light. They are a DEFINITE and inexpensive upgrade to our trucks lousy forward lighting. They are also on sale right now.

ALSO, while I still hope to do an HID retrofit in my cr*ppy oem headlights, with these bulbs I have gone from complaining ALL of the time while driving at night, to being mostly satisfied, at least while using low beams and fog light (legal in CA), but also by using the "poor mans brite box mod" as described here at TDR--

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...31-bombed-multifunction-high-beam-switch.html

The above mod allows the driver to choose between driving with fogs, low beams and high beams, or any combination of all 3, on ALL at the same time. , which while not legal , provides more then adequate forward lumens. And it does so without using expensive relay circuits that soemtimes burnout leaving you with NO headlights. Of course, I ONLY use this mode when there are NO cars approaching. If I see soemone driving, like any courteous driver, I turn off the high beams. Check out hte post--it is a relatively easy and definitely inexpensive mod.

 

[RDHamill]

I have supplemented the factory lights with a set of Hella FF1000. They'll light up your world.