Aftermarket Dorman Dual Beam Headlights

[William Loving]

I have a 2001 2500. I few years ago I purchased a pair of Dorman dual beam headlight's to replace the original units. I was unaware that the new units had two light bulb sockets. My truck only has one wired socket. Does anyone know how to wire a second socket so I can use both bulbs? The spec's on the units say they require "12.9 volts 2H" not sure what the "2H" means......maybe because there are 2 lamps? The lamps I am using are 12v 65/55W L11E. If I run two lamps per unit, will the original wire size handle the voltage/amps/watts or will I have to increase the wire size and perhaps install a larger fuse. Look forward to reply's.

Bill

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I think this can be done with the Brite box? In my case I bought a new wiring loom from Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply and there may be other sources too. Basically all of these plug into existing headlight wiring and split the high/low beams so you have four bulbs inside of two with power.

 

[BigPapa]

I just did the Sport conversion on mine a few months ago. The lamps on the Sport headlights are a 9004 and a 9007. The lamp on the big side for high and low beam is the 9007 and the lamp in the smaller side is the 9004 for high beam only. There are cheap harnesses available on Amazon but I wouldn't use them. I built my own, but I'd suggest going with the Daniel Stern Harness that Shelby referenced. You can wire the 9004 for high and low but the reflector isn't designed for low beam operation.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

There are cheap harnesses available on Amazon but I wouldn't use them. I built my own, but I'd suggest going with the Daniel Stern Harness that Shelby referenced. You can wire the 9004 for high and low but the reflector isn't designed for low beam operation.

After going through two of those cheap harnesses, I bought the one from Daniel Sterns and been working fine.

Now if there was a GOOD aftermarket sport headlight replacement all would be good. I have been using the depo ones and life is pretty short, maybe five years if lucky. They are fairly inexpensive, but just a PITA to have to change them every few years.

 

[BigPapa]

Why are you having to replace them?

 

[Shelby Griggs]

@BigPapa UV damage, leaking, etc. As with most things from Asia, the UV resistance is poor and out of both sets I have had, at least one assembly in each pair leaked from day one, they are basically junk from get go, but we don't seem to have much choice. You get what you pay for, sometimes less and hardly every more...

 

[BigPapa]

I went with the Dorman’s. I also treated them with Cerakote before install. They’ve been installed for @ 3 months and so far no leaks. We’ll see if the Cerakote does what they claim.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

@BigPapa maybe next round I will try Dorman. Besides the UV issues with Depo, the rubber welt sun rots very fast too, throwing way the OEM rubber was a huge mistake and they aren't available as far as I can tell. The adjusting screws are not near OEM quality either, just overall a very cheaply made Chinese copy and not a good one at that.

Be interested in hearing your or others long term experience with the Dorman version.

 

[Brian Neal]

I went with the Daniel Sterns sport light upgrade kit with the Dorman housings back in 2019 and am still amazed how well I can see at night, after driving for almost two decades with the factory lights. Ditches and curbs are really lit up so I can see where I'm turning and any wildlife that might want to bolt out over the hood; downrange lighting is still strong and rarely have anyone flash their highbeams at me. The Dorman housings are still clear and blemish free.

 

[William Loving]

I have a 2001 2500. I few years ago I purchased a pair of Dorman dual beam headlight's to replace the original units. I was unaware that the new units had two light bulb sockets. My truck only has one wired socket. Does anyone know how to wire a second socket so I can use both bulbs? The spec's on the units say they require "12.9 volts 2H" not sure what the "2H" means......maybe because there are 2 lamps? The lamps I am using are 12v 65/55W L11E. If I run two lamps per unit, will the original wire size handle the voltage/amps/watts or will I have to increase the wire size and perhaps install a larger fuse. Look forward to reply's.

Bill

Well, I sent an email to Daniel Stern and he said that there is no solution to the dual beam head lights for my 2001. There is for every other year around the 2001 , but not the 2001. Bummer. Amy suggestions on brighter headlights? I hate night driving and want to see the road better.

 

[Chief USA]

If you are not able to make the Dorman headlights work, these are the light I ordered for my truck on the advice of a number of other same year truck owners on Mopar1973Man's forum.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FJVPWYF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are the lights I ordered

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N01QEK9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have not gotten around to installing them yet but others who I have talked to about them said they worked well. Hope you are able to figure out a way to make the Dorman lights work.

 

[BigPapa]

Well, I sent an email to Daniel Stern and he said that there is no solution to the dual beam head lights for my 2001.

There must be some miscommunication between you and Mr. Stern. There is no difference between a 1999, 2000, and a 2001. The Sport headlights you have were offered originally on your truck. You have a few options, get you this Brite Box:

https://www.genosgarage.com/product/bb-4-2-7-4b/accessories-lighting

build your own harness, or tell Daniel you have a 1999 or 2000.

A good friend used the Brite Box for his Sport Conversion on his 2001.

 

[Road Dog]

In Canada the DRL (daylight running lights) is the high beam lamps at half intensity. Going to the 4 lamp sport setup requires a different solution. According to the wiring diagrams for 2001-2002 the second high beam lamp is driven off the high beam indicator which is controlled by the central timing module. The power distribution center has a socket for a second high beam relay. I don't know if it's connected to anything.

Note: I haven't done this yet. I just have the regular headlights.

 

[The patriot]

I seem to remember they switched the wires on the later years.
Or something like that.
I got mine from "rndeper" or something like that a few decades back. They were depot brand.
I lucked into some OEM's brand new in the box.

 

[SAndreasen]

Let’s us know if the Dorman are any good because none of the other ones are tried everything and they are complete sh**

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Daniel Stern is a perfectionists, he doesn't really recommend any aftermarket housing, at least cheap Asian imports. I run the Depo currently, but the 2nd set is now about ready to be replaced, so might try the Dorman next.

As far as wiring from Daniel Sterns, I ordered a harness for my 2001, installed it and works fine, so not sure what the issue is there with the harness. Maybe he isn't offering it because of only aftermarket crappy light housing being offered.

 

[SAndreasen]

Why are you having to replace them?

The cheap plastic housings break and let’s the light flop around like a dead fish . Genos normally sells pretty good stuff but headlights are complete junk

 

[Joe Mc]

My truck has fog lights and originally was a 1 lamp per fixture (non-sport). I did the 2 lamp (sport) conversion around 2017. I called bright box and was told which box to order that would work. Low beam - just low, pull switch for fogs - low and fogs, hit high beam - all on (low/high/fogs) whether you have fogs on or not. Sorry I forget which box, call brightbox. I used the Depot lamps with LED rings and 3 LED dots on top, the turn signal is integral to the lamp. As mentioned, adjustment for high and low is a real pia.