Aftermarket Projector Headlights

[BHiggins]

Like so many other Ram owners, I feel the factory headlights are somewhat inadequate. I'm thinking of switching to a set of Recon Projector headlights, but at $500. 00 they aren't cheap. I'm sure somebody here has them and can give me a heads-up as to whether they're worth the money. I already did a thread search, but all I came up with are homemade conversions and brite-box/fog light suggestions. What I'm looking for is someone who actually runs aftermarket projectors on a third gen truck to give me their honest opinion. Thanks.

 

[Prairie Dog]

All of the aftermarket setups I've seen don't seem to do much more than blind oncoming vehicles and cause lots of glare for the driver. Seems like the aftermarket has a hard time making a quality unit. Of course, so does GM IMO.

 

[kblranch]

I took mine apart and installed high/low projectors. Really like how they work and great lighting.

 

[retirednak]

Not sure if they are the same lights or not,I ordered projectors from them couple three yrs ago. They were worse then what Dodge saddled us with. I even went as far as installing HID's for better output. I ended up selling them on craigslist. I saw the guy who bought them from me not long ago and he is back to OEM. They did look sweet on the truck,but the light they put out really sucked. Plus there wasn't any way to adjust the lights. They were China specials. Recon may have better lights by now... ... .....

 

[BHiggins]

That's kind of what I expected, that they aren't much better than stock. It's better to know now BEFORE spending $500. 00 on them... I installed the PIAA driving light kit which helped alot, but at the sacrifice of the fog lights (the PIAA kit bolts in the factory fog light location). They work great, but have to be extinguished when there's oncoming traffic. They sell the same kit with fog lights too, but I opted for the driving lights to supplement the crappy factory headlights. I think I might buy a light bar for the front of the truck to mount the driving lights, and put a set of PIAA fog lights back down in the factory position... More money.

 

[pjorlando]

I tried a set of these Recons last summer. What a dissapointment. I tried to aim them, it required removing the entire assembly out each time (No Fun!) I even tried upgrading the bulbs. I went back to stock and upgraded the bulbs to Vision X, VX-HH13. That was the best improvement ever. I think the projector headlights offered in the aftermarket are lacking and never provide the performance expected.

 

[retirednak]

That's kind of what I expected, that they aren't much better than stock. It's better to know now BEFORE spending $500. 00 on them... I installed the PIAA driving light kit which helped alot, but at the sacrifice of the fog lights (the PIAA kit bolts in the factory fog light location). They work great, but have to be extinguished when there's oncoming traffic. They sell the same kit with fog lights too, but I opted for the driving lights to supplement the crappy factory headlights. I think I might buy a light bar for the front of the truck to mount the driving lights, and put a set of PIAA fog lights back down in the factory position... More money.

I saw one of our local cab drivers last evening and he had one LED light bar mounted on his bumper,and I had to look away because it was so bright. I would guess it was around 30 inches long by 4-6 or so inches wide. I've never seen LED's that bright and I'm going to track him down to find out where he bought them. I'd be interested to know if they were a fog type or long range. It would be nice if they would fit in between the tow hooks. Any one running the LED bars?

 

[JFought]

has anyone tried hid replacement lights?

custom HID conversions, HID kits, LED, CCFL specialists - retrosolutions
I read a couple reviews on another forum, but i am looking for real word impressions i our trucks.

 

[BHiggins]

@ retirednak... Did the LED bar look like this? https://www.rigidindustries.com/category-s/129.htm I run these on my ATV, they're quite awesome and come in many lengths/configurations.

 

[p-Bar]

has anyone tried hid replacement lights?



custom HID conversions, HID kits, LED, CCFL specialists - retrosolutions

I read a couple reviews on another forum, but i am looking for real word impressions i our trucks.

If they are doing a "real" conversion that would be fine but don't put the aftermarket ones in your headlight socket

 

[p-Bar]

@ retirednak... Did the LED bar look like this? https://www.rigidindustries.com/category-s/129.htm I run these on my ATV, they're quite awesome and come in many lengths/configurations.

I'm sure these are not DOT approved

 

[SWithrow]

has anyone tried hid replacement lights?

custom HID conversions, HID kits, LED, CCFL specialists - retrosolutions
I read a couple reviews on another forum, but i am looking for real word impressions i our trucks.

Yes, but the first problem was that our headlamps were designed for halogen NOT HID bulbs, the reflectors plus HID bulbs equal flood lights, there is no way to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. Problem two is our trucks lighting system are controlled by a computer, so you have to add more components to fool the computer in order to get the darn things to work also the Hi/Lo function requires another component.

 

[retirednak]

@ retirednak... Did the LED bar look like this? https://www.rigidindustries.com/category-s/129.htm I run these on my ATV, they're quite awesome and come in many lengths/configurations.

Its hard to tell if those lights were like the one I saw,hard to tell at 55 mph. I didn't realize that LED's were that bright. I'm heading to town today and I should see the cab driver and find out who sold him the light bar. I'm not too concerned if they are DOT approved,as long as they are aimed correctly and not blinding oncoming drivers there shouldn't be any issues with the law. (around here) The Troopers use aircraft landing lights mounted on their bumper. I use to run the same lights,but couldn't use them at all with traffic any where near me.

I talked with a guy who retro fits projecter lights into Ram trucks and he uses different reflectors. The oem reflectors won't work. The package he uses has high low projector lights with HID,its a single projector for each side. I may have him build me a pair after XMAS.

 

[JFought]

retro has different reflectors

 

[Got HO?]

The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications