2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Head light brightness

[SMalafy]

I am going to order a brite box for 01 and was wondering if I should replace the bulbs too. Not sure what to get as far as bulbs but I do not want to blind people coming the other way with the low beams on like some of the blue bulbs do. Hard to see the road line here in WV on a dark night and I am not sure if the brite box will be enough but I certainly do not want to over do it either.

 

[SAndreasen]

I have a brite box it’s bright but not that bright

 

[SMalafy]

I have a brite box it’s bright but not that bright

I can see the difference when I hold the hi/low beam stick which is why I think it should work good but I was wondering about upgrading the bulbs too.

 

[SAndreasen]

I can see the difference when I hold the hi/low beam stick which is why I think it should work good but I was wondering about upgrading the bulbs too.

Upgrades bulbs are nice . And yes having all the lights on certainly helps. These trucks have terrible lights that’s I bought the brite box . I had piaa bulbs in my 01 it was a sport and those bulbs made a big difference

 

[petersonj]

I am going to order a brite box for 01 and was wondering if I should replace the bulbs too.

Is your truck an OEM two bulb system, or an OEM Sport four bulb system?

I can see the difference when I hold the hi/low beam stick which is why I think it should work good

Is this before installing the brite box, or after?

- John

 

[GAmes]

View attachment 143022 Just adding relays to the system, which substantially reduces the load on the headlight switch, will give you more light. For the cost of two relays the only thing you gain with a Britebox is a lighter wallet.

Ram headlight switching modifications

This is my diagram.

The diode allows both filaments to be on at the same time and is optional.

 

[SMalafy]

Is your truck an OEM two bulb system, or an OEM Sport four bulb system?



Is this before installing the brite box, or after?

- John

One bulb lighting

 

[SMalafy]

Is your truck an OEM two bulb system, or an OEM Sport four bulb system?



Is this before installing the brite box, or after?

- John

2 bulb

Just adding relays to the system, which substantially reduces the load on the headlight switch, will give you more light. For the cost of two relays the only thing you gain with a Britebox is a lighter wallet.

Ram headlight switching modifications

This is my diagram.

I wish I would of seen this sooner. I ordered the brite box

 

[SMalafy]

Is your truck an OEM two bulb system, or an OEM Sport four bulb system?



Is this before installing the brite box, or after?

- John

2 bulb

I wish I would of seen this sooner. I ordered the brite box

Is your truck an OEM two bulb system, or an OEM Sport four bulb system?



Is this before installing the brite box, or after?

- John

Before the brite box

 

[petersonj]

@SMalafy , In my opinion, the second generation truck has one of the worst two-bulb headlights systems ever designed. There are three basic flaws:

1. A long ground circuit of undersized wire starts from the bulbs in the engine compartment and passes through the headlight switch and multi-function switch in the cabin and eventually leads to a ground.

2. A 9004 bulb is used. This bulb offers only 45 watts on low beam! Standard low beam wattage is 55 watts.

3. The reflectors inside the headlight housing are of poor design. The reflectors by design should put the light onto certain areas of the roadway and to the sides of the roadway. The OEM reflectors do not do this.

Whether you use the Brite Box or a relay system as @GAmes has shown, this will take care of #1 and will show an improvement of light output, but it will not help with #2 and #3.

The Sport headlight system is an easy and cost effective modification - especially with a 2001 truck. It is a four bulb system and the reflectors are designed to put the light where it should be. Both low beams and high beams light up the sides of the road well. And, because four bulbs are used during high beam, the roadway and the sides of the roadway will be especially well lit.

If you decide to go this way, everything can be purchased through Geno's, including an installation write-up from the TDR. Because you have a 2001 truck, I don't think you will have any metal cutting to do. Also, don't be tempted to buy headlights from other sources that have cheap prices- the bargain prices will be reflected in the reflectors - pun intended.

In order for any bulb to display its full light output (in lumens), the bulb must receive a specific voltage at the bulb with the headlights on and the engine running (battery voltage approximately 14 volts. That rated voltage is:

* 12.8 volts (USA bulbs)
* 13.2 volts (European bulbs)

If you were to check this voltage at the bulb on your truck, you will probably find that it is around 11 volts or less. This means that your current lighting system would be reduced to less that 50% of its lighting capacity in lumens. This is why relays will significantly help.

- John

 

[Macarena Man]

'02 RC 4x4 . . . Went from the OEM 2 bulb system to the OEM 'Sport' system. Daniel Stern heavy guage wiring harness/relays. Good upgrade, well worth it.

 

[K7NUT]

"In my opinion, the second generation truck has one of the worst two-bulb headlights systems ever designed"
I second that!!!
My wife would ask me, driving at night, "are your candles on"?
That is all the stock HL are on the RAM, I ended up getting some parts from a guy stripping an '01, the headlights were one of the items.
The headlights it had were Sonar SK3301

https://shop.spyderauto.com/products/5010094?_pos=12&_fid=e917a27e5&_ss=c&variant=49767296794916

I love them...I can see!!

 

[Matt42]

Just before I got my 1996 painted, I did a sawzall job to put in 2001 sport headlights. Then I used industrial 1/4 inch rivets to reconnect the inner and outer steel parts together. Clamped with with a vise to get the setting right.

I bought an off brand headlight set, so I will have to report back on the success. Wiring is not done yet. Have not decided if I want the inner brights to come on with a separate switch (more work & wiring) or if I will hook 1em into the regular brights. Either way, they will get relays. I installed Brite Box relays circa 1998.

 

[petersonj]

Have not decided if I want the inner brights to come on with a separate switch (more work & wiring) or if I will hook 1em into the regular brights.

No reason to add an extra switch. The factory sport headlight system uses all four bulbs for high beam operation - the way it should be. In fact, they work exactly like the four bulb headlight systems used in the 60's and 70's.

- John

 

[KBurgoyne]

I got the 40$ amazon set. So far so good since September. They are significantly brighter, and they dont light up anyone's back window.
Plug and play just like the factory bulbs.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CW9QZVDY?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[petersonj]

@KBurgoyne , would you mind posting some photos from the driver's seat showing your new headlights lighting up the roadway in front of the truck - both low beam and high beam?

- John

 

[KBurgoyne]

This is from September. Low beams. Its hard to get a good pic with the street lights and my phone auto adjusting brightness. Short version..... I dont drive with the high beams on anymore and theyre 10 bucks more than the crappy sylvania halogens that have never lasted more than two years.

 

[KBurgoyne]

Same pic twice. It cant delete the second one for some reason.

 

[Ozymandias]

That's pretty decent light you have there.

 

[petersonj]

@KBurgoyne , thank you for posting the photos. It does look like an improvement over the OEM setup.

- John