2003 Ram 3500 headlight upgrades.

[slowmover]

I got a new pair of housings off AMAZON a couple of years ago. Still like new. About $100.


" . . One of the best upgrades you can do to crappy 3rd gen headlights is install Phillips XtremeVison or Xtreme Power bulbs.

The PHILLIPS Nightguide is better yet (having tried the above previously). Might seem like a gimmick (tricolor), but works very well and virtually unnoticeable. Give me color rendition (accuracy; Nightguide) over brightness (relative glare; Xtreme Vision) any day. But whatever lamp one chooses, having 13V+ is key. The usual OEM 11V is a loser. Run it off the BATT with a relay.

 

[seafish]

I got a new pair of housings off AMAZON a couple of years ago. Still like new. About $100.


" . . One of the best upgrades you can do to crappy 3rd gen headlights is install Phillips XtremeVison or Xtreme Power bulbs.

The PHILLIPS Nightguide is better yet (having tried the above previously). Might seem like a gimmick (tricolor), but works very well and virtually unnoticeable. Give me color rendition (accuracy; Nightguide) over brightness (relative glare; Xtreme Vision) any day. But whatever lamp one chooses, having 13V+ is key. The usual OEM 11V is a loser. Run it off the BATT with a relay.

Have NOT heard of the Nightguide bulbs till just now...(they DO get more then decent reviews on Amazon)...The XtremePower/Xtreme Visions are outstnding halogen bulbs...what do YOU like about the Nightguides and HOW are they different then then the Xtreme series??

 

[CKESSEL]

I was using the Brite Box on my 04. Was very happy with it. On the high beams, it lit off both of the bulb filaments plus the fogs. After a couple of years useage, I had the rh bulb keep blowing out. I saw that Genos no longer carried the unit due to issues with the manufacture that were not corrected. I ended up taking it out and am now back to standard. Mopar's replacement housings are made over seas now too. No more made in the USA. Depo lamps are less dough from other outlets than Mopar. I too would like to get a better setup sometime as when you get older, you need better lighting at night to see.

 

[AH64ID]

I was using the Brite Box on my 04. Was very happy with it. On the high beams, it lit off both of the bulb filaments plus the fogs. After a couple of years useage, I had the rh bulb keep blowing out. I saw that Genos no longer carried the unit due to issues with the manufacture that were not corrected. I ended up taking it out and am now back to standard. Mopar's replacement housings are made over seas now too. No more made in the USA. Depo lamps are less dough from other outlets than Mopar. I too would like to get a better setup sometime as when you get older, you need better lighting at night to see.

Interesting, I had not heard about issues.

I installed my brite box in December of 2010 at 63K miles. I am currently at 103K miles, and still on the OEM bulbs everywhere but the fogs (went bulbzilla), the clearance lights (went clear lens with amber bulbs), and one license plate light.

 

[deaner70]

That is my biggest complaint about my 03...headlights are marginal at best. I have the fog lights and sure, it helps in front of the truck, but not much help out the road a bit

 

[crabman]

But whatever lamp one chooses, having 13V+ is key. The usual OEM 11V is a loser. Run it off the BATT with a relay.
I agree 100% with slowmover.
Until you buy/make a complete set of 12 gauge wiring & relays to power whatever lamps you install in the headlight assembly, you are wasting your time. The bulb has to HAVE 13 V to work at its rated brightness.
My 98 (w/o fog lights) with the sport head light upgrade and wiring harness is way brighter than my 06 with the bright box.

 

[TGVET]

Do you guys that don't like your OEM lights have fog lights?

I find that everyone I know locally that doesn't like their OEM lights doesn't have fogs, the people with fogs never complain.

If that's the case why not add fogs and a Brite-Box... it's a LOT of light.

I have the brightest fog's and also the brightest mains (Sylvania SilverStar Ultra) and, I still complain. The days are slowly getting longer but I am still working dark to dark. YES, the fog's in conjunction with the SSU's is a big improvement. However when I flip to HB, out go the fog's and the path ahead is still horrible. I've contemplated using Brite-Box for some time now. When I manually hold on the MFS to high beam along with the low's and fog's, yes it is a big improvement. But still, not the flame throwers I need on long dark roads I travel. As such, I'm on here again searching threads this to see what's new if anything with other TDR members.

 

[seafish]

The problem with the Briteboxes is that when their circuitry goes south, you might lose all your lights. Instead, consider this upgrade, "poor mans brute box" …it does involve dealing with small parts after you remove the multifunction switch, but it also allow you to run low, high and fog beams simply by pushing the MFS switch forward, and then return to normal by pulling it back. It is actually one of the favorite mods that I have done to my truck, cuz ;ike you said, the headlights have MUCH better forward lighting when running the bulbs on hi and low at the same time. I have had ZERIO problem burning out bulbs, sockets or circuits after running this mod for over 5 years now.

One more thing, I think that it is both possible and likely that the Phillips Xtreme Power bulbs are better the the Sylvania SSU bulbs. I have never done a sid by side, but Daniel Stern touts the Xtreme Power/Xtreme Vision bulbs over the Sylvanias.

 

[TGVET]

The problem with the Briteboxes is that when their circuitry goes south, you might lose all your lights. Instead, consider this upgrade, "poor mans brute box" …it does involve dealing with small parts after you remove the multifunction switch, but it also allow you to run low, high and fog beams simply by pushing the MFS switch forward, and then return to normal by pulling it back. It is actually one of the favorite mods that I have done to my truck, cuz ;ike you said, the headlights have MUCH better forward lighting when running the bulbs on hi and low at the same time. I have had ZERIO problem burning out bulbs, sockets or circuits after running this mod for over 5 years now.

One more thing, I think that it is both possible and likely that the Phillips Xtreme Power bulbs are better the the Sylvania SSU bulbs. I have never done a sid by side, but Daniel Stern touts the Xtreme Power/Xtreme Vision bulbs over the Sylvanias.

Awesome info. Thanks for that, was going to just get a set of new SSU's since they are now about three y.o. Instead, I'll look into the Philips which is also the brand I use form my fog's and are very bright.
.

 

[seafish]

No problem...I have started running the Phillips bulbs in all my vehicles becuase they ARE brighter, (with the yellow/white halogen shade of lcolor that I prefer for forward lighting ... NO blue for me, thanks!!) and they have proven to last a LONG time, at least in my cars, and even in my truck that is with many times running them on high AND low beam at the same time with the MFS switch modification that I talked about.

By the way, here is a link to that mod in case you are interested in it--

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/94631-BOMBed-Multifunction-(high-beam)-Switch

 

[Hammer]

I use these headlights for my replacements when I did that a year ago or so.

http://www.carparts.com/details/Dod...53&c2cid=254b2945-20bd-4718-9843-b5600cbd6a16

I also have a set from Pro Tuning Lab that are smoked for show season...

http://www.protuninglab.com/02doram...medium=adwords&id=18283950120&utm_content=pla

I run 55w Digital HID's in ALL my trucks from Retro Solutions.They are the only ones who have made a kit that installs easily,is all plug and play and leaves no "Lamp Out" messages on your dash.

http://www.retro-solutions.com

Hope this helps.......Andy

BTW...FYI....I have NEVER found a "dual Bulb" Sport style headlight for the 3rd Gen trucks,UNLESS,you go to a euro style with halos and LEDS on the top or bottom.

 

[RDeFayette]

I have the brightest fog's and also the brightest mains (Sylvania SilverStar Ultra) and, I still complain. The days are slowly getting longer but I am still working dark to dark. YES, the fog's in conjunction with the SSU's is a big improvement. However when I flip to HB, out go the fog's and the path ahead is still horrible. I've contemplated using Brite-Box for some time now. When I manually hold on the MFS to high beam along with the low's and fog's, yes it is a big improvement. But still, not the flame throwers I need on long dark roads I travel. As such, I'm on here again searching threads this to see what's new if anything with other TDR members.

try this mod. I did it a couple years ago. works great. fogs are ALWAYS on with headlights on. Hi or low beams.
http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/3...-high-beam-fog-light-mod-easy-cheap-free.html