CALLING ALL 2003 - 2005 OWNERS who want better lighting...

[MoparBob]

I'm calling on my fellow 3rd Gen brothers and sisters to help me out if someone would...



I am assisting someone (I won't say who just yet) who is in the business of designing and manufacturing much improved headlamps for vehicles. Through offering to help, I have been able to convince them to design some better headlights for our trucks. This company is working on its DOT certification (and TUV certification), has been in business a while, and has a good track record so the end product will be designed and manufactered to high standards.



What I need is for someone to do us a big favor (as I am overseas and won't get to my truck for a while yet) by taking some pictures of the headlight housing on a 2003 to 2005 CTD. I need pictures of the housing installed on the truck with a ruler (in cm please) showing dimension and clearances and pictures of the housing and ruler removed also. Any other measurements that would help him get started with a plan of attack would also be greatly appreciated (such as clearance between the housing and the closest componentry behind the housing while installed, etc). I would do this myself, but my R&R time at home was delayed and the pictures I told him I would get are now also delayed (not to mention the more important headlights I was going to loan him). If anybody has the time to do this (or maybe already have pics like these), I would be very grateful.



Just to be up front about things... I am not being paid nor will I profit from this venture. I simply want better headlights and I haven't found anything currently on the market that is DOT legal or what I am looking for. I believe that the end product will be of very high quality, somewhat expensive (hopefully not too bad, but you get what you pay for), and hopefully aesthetically pleasing (though I believe that will be the biggest challenge). As soon as I get more information about the product, I will pass it along to the TDR community and let you know how it works. Who knows, my helping out will hopefully benefit all of us in some way... at least all of us with stock lighting looking for an upgrade!

 

[p-Bar]

I have my pullouts from my 04 , can I ship one of these somewhere for you?

PM me

Don

 

[bighammer]

I would think a set of actual lights could be bought on ebay then go from there.

 

[MoparBob]

Don... PM is on the way.



bighammer... I've been looking, but the few I have seen have been to expensive at this point to justify since I am not driving my CTD while overseas. It's much less expensive for me to just send mine... the major drawback is my schedule delaying it all. If it absolutely came down to it, I would purchase a set if it was absolutely necessary, but I am trying to keep my expenses down as I don't see mself getting any return out of the deal other than some good headlights for us Dodge owners and maybe wrangling a TDR Discount.

 

[pipeguy]

Any update on this???

 

[MoparBob]

It will be approximately March going into April before there will be some first run models being beta tested. As soon as I get one of the first runs in my hands, I will post an update here on TDR to let everyone know how they work.



Thanks again Don for helping out...

 

[mberry]

I volunteer to be a beta tester.

 

[Arkapigdiesel]

I volunteer to be a beta tester.

I'm game also. I'll pay the freight charges to get 'em here if you'll let me test 'em. I put about 4000 miles per month on my truck so I should be able to give you some good input.

 

[coobie]

It will be approximately March going into April before there will be some first run models being beta tested. As soon as I get one of the first runs in my hands, I will post an update here on TDR to let everyone know how they work.



Thanks again Don for helping out...

I would also be a beta tester for these new headlights. coobie

 

[Mobius1]

I would also be a beta tester for these new headlights. coobie

I will also like to be a beta tester! Thank You!

 

[DSpears]

I will also like to be a beta tester! Thank You!

add me to the list too

 

[J&LRam]

man, it would be nice to have some headlights to drive at nite with here in the hills. These '03 headlights are downright dangerous as they have a horizontal limit that is to low [they need to have more verticle light] . They have plenty of light out in the fields/ditch on both sides of the truck. Comming to a hill at nite and the road going up thehill is black. All my other trucks and cars will light up the same hills just fine. Count me in.

JIM

 

[MoparBob]

WOW! Thanks for all the volunteers for Beta Testing. I will keep everyone in mind when they roll the assemblies out. I doubt the manufacturer will need more that just a couple for Beta Testing as the lamps being used will be proven name brand DOT approved lamps that have worked with success in other applications. I will keep everyone informed and post pics as quickly as progress will allow.



If everyone would like to chime in and comment on what they would like to see as an end product, I will be happy to forward along all information I receive from you.

 

[mymtnhauler]

For me it would have to be fully plug and play. Also I would like to see two lamps on each side a total of four, like the second gen sport models.

Are they going to be High Intensity Discharge?

 

[fkovalski]

I currently use a BriteBox on my '05... . I assume that this would go away with the new set- up?



Also... any idea as to the price of the lights?

 

[bighammer]

I just bought an 07 Honda CRV and DC could take a lesson or 2 from them on headlight (among others) design. Great pattern and brightness.

 

[Yo Hoot]

It is strange that a company would design a lousy headlight, get literally 100% complaints, and keep putting out, four years now, the same lousy lighting performance.



MoparBob your man has a huge customer base waiting to upgrade.



I simply added offroad driving lights. . but not everyone wants to go this route. .

I no longer keep the HELLA covers on. They are driving lights and come on with the high beams only.



#ad

 

[MoparBob]

I believe he has a huge customer base as well... that was one of the bargaining chips I used to get them to start this project.



Initially, HID will probably not be in the design plans due to expense. After the first set of headlamps is designed and successful, an HID or Xenon projector setup may be an available option. At this (early) stage, 4 separate halogen lamps is the game plan and they will be DOT approved.



Concerning pricing... we'll just have to wait and see (though, with as many Dodge owners here who want upgraded lights, I'm sure I can work out a group buy later if the product is as good as I hope it is).



As far as a brite box goes, there is a good chance that it will be compatible (with the halogen setup). That will be something I will pursue after we have a better idea what the end product will look like.



It will be designed as plug and play as long as there are no problems that creep up somewhere that prevent it. The goal is to simply remove the factory lamp housing, install this aftermarket housing and adjust.

 

[MBergman]

Any chance these will be in E-code compliance as well? The non-DOT Hella's on my 91 are by far, the best headlights I've ever had. My 04 has the worst.

Marc

 

[MRosinski]

A lense protector would be nice. I've cracked 2 lenses on mine so far. Or just a super thick lenses. Out here nobody enforces the whole mud flap on semi's, so most run around with out em And yes i'd be super interested in these. aux driving lights wont work for me because the darkest and longest nights are in winter, and I need fast access to my plow.