Head Lights

[Don]

I picked up my Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 yesterday afternoon. By the tame I got home it was dark and I am not very impressed with the head lights. Has any one found something that is street legal and is a good replacement for what comes in the trucks?

Don

 

[EGroeneveld]

I added two KC 130 watt driving lights and two KC HID all 8" lights to a KC light bar but have not needed to change out the stock bulbs yet but am waiting to do so really quick. The stock lights including driving lights SUCK. I will switch to PIAA bulbs sooner then later...

 

[Don]

How did you mount the driving lights?

Don

 

[EGroeneveld]

How did you mount the driving lights?

Don

KC light bar

 

[SSchang]

I'm in the process of getting quotes on HID retrofits for the factory lights. My wife's BMW has Bi-Zenon headlights, and they are awesome! Never knew headlights could be so bright. I guess you can buy cheap ($50 - $200) HID replacement kits that will fit in your existing bulb sockets, but the light isn't evenly dispersed and when they are on lowbeam they really glare at oncoming traffic. These are not street legal. The key is to have a perfectly flat top cutoff to the light pattern so you don't blind oncoming motorists with the lowbeams. You can only accomplish this with a retrofit. The correct way to do it is to pull the headlight pods out of the truck and send them to a shop for a retrofit. They separate the clear front lense from the plastic back, then separate the chrome reflector from the black plastic back. Then they cut out an appropriate sized hole in the chrome reflector and epoxy the new projector headlight into the enlarged hole. They seal the clear front back onto the black back & ship it back to you. You then install two ballasts, run wires to the battery & plug the new lights into the old light plugs.



Not cheap, I expect the quotes to be in the $800 - $1000 range.



Scott

 

[RMecum]

SSchang who's doing this?

I'm going to buy a new 2012 next spring and I hate having crappy headlights... I'm going to want to this mod. Send me a PM if need be, I'd appreciate the heads up.



Mike

 

[TNT]

I picked up my new 12 Longhorn last Saturday and am happy with the headlights. This is the 5th CTD that I've owned, so maybe I've just adapted to what Dodge has produced?

 

[RonD]

My 2012 lights are fine also, the lights in my last 2005 were very poor, the 12 could be better, but there much better than the old one and I don't have any complaints.

 

[SSchang]

Well, I sent the deposit for the HID retrofits for my 2011 3500, I can't stand the factory lights. I honestly can't tell the difference between the low beams & high beams. I will pull the headlights out Thursday night, ship them to the retrofit guy on Friday. He should have them by Monday, will ship them back after the 2 or so day retrofit work, I should have them by next Thursday. He's installing new Infiniti FX45 headlights with Denso ballasts. I will reinstall the headlights, he's providing a harness that will connect to the original headlight plugs, I will run wires from the ballasts to the battery. Can't wait.

 

[Dman]

Like SSchang, I can't stand the factory headlights on my 2010. I tried a set of 80/100 watt bulbs from E-bay. They were not as brite as stock bulbs. I have a HID conversion coming tomorrow. I have heard pro and con. Giving stock setup a try with HID before modifying if necessary.

 

[MoparBob]

Well, I sent the deposit for the HID retrofits for my 2011 3500, I can't stand the factory lights. I honestly can't tell the difference between the low beams & high beams. I will pull the headlights out Thursday night, ship them to the retrofit guy on Friday. He should have them by Monday, will ship them back after the 2 or so day retrofit work, I should have them by next Thursday. He's installing new Infiniti FX45 headlights with Denso ballasts. I will reinstall the headlights, he's providing a harness that will connect to the original headlight plugs, I will run wires from the ballasts to the battery. Can't wait.

I am looking forward to seeing how this works out for you as I am interested in doing the same thing.

 

[ArmandoCantu]

SSchang - can you provide the contact info for the vendor doing your headlights conversion? Thanks.

 

[SSchang]

I shipped the headlights this afternoon (Thur). Caesar sent me good directions on how to pack them so they won't break in shipment.



Remember, I don't know anything about this company other than talking to Caesar and what I see on their website. He has been very responsive and knowledgeable. The website is HID Projector Headlight Retrofit for Subaru, Honda, BMW, Scion and More | LightWerkz.net



For more detailed info on this type of retrofit, check out

HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum



FYI, because of the size of the headlight in the Ram & the type of sealant used, this ended up being more than I thought, probably around $1500 by the time it's all done.



I did get cheaper quotes, but was impressed with what I heard from Caesar.



I'll keep you up to date on how things go.

 

[ddivinia]

I wonder how much they would be for a 2005.



It could use better lights for sure.



D.

 

[RMecum]

Man thanks for posting this!

Thanks for the info! I've bookmarked it. I have a Hella conversion on my '01 that I bought from a guy in Alaska that I love but he's long out of business. I'm going to have these lights made for my '12 when I get it. I'm deployed in the middle east (U. S. Air Force guy) at the moment but when I get home I'm either gonna buy a loaded truck off the lot or order one... my retirement present to me



Mike

 

[Dman]

I got around to installing my HID conversion. Was concerned about aiming and pattern issues but stock lights were so bad I decided to take a chance. Results are amazing! The stock light assy / reflector was so bad with halogen bulbs. I now think that possibly it was designed for HID because it works so well. Nice patterns and cutoffs. Only adjustment necessary was height adjustment. My truck has the lights with high and low beams in one bulb. I noticed the Laramie package mentioned above has high and low beams in 2 separate bulbs. So my results woudn't necessarily apply to 2 bulb lights. Having said that, I am pleased and surprised that install went so smoothly and results are exactly what these old eyes need!. Also, I have an inspection license in PA and this setup would pass inspection anywhere. No blinding opposing lane drivers!



Dave

 

[RMecum]

Update please

I shipped the headlights this...



I'll keep you up to date on how things go.

Did you get the new headlights? Do you love 'em? Any pics?



I'm not crazy about my headlights and I'm curious about your experience.



Mike

 

[SSchang]

HID Headlight conversion

I did get them done - incredible difference. The light is pure wihite. I take the same route to work every morning, there is a straight stretch where I can see how far the headlights reach. I can see reflective signs 3/4 of a mile down the road. It wasn't cheap - by the time it was done with the parts, labor, and shipping it was ~ $1500. Also had to go a week without headlights. It was definitely worth it to me.



Scott

 

[MoparBob]

Could you take some pics for us?

 

[RMecum]

Thanks Scott. I'm going to get on this soon. As I get older more light makes me happier! What was the turn around time? Are replacement bulbs readily available? Are they adjustable?

I bought some custom Hella Headlights for my 01 Dodge and they were supposed to be adjusted when by the builder... they were if you were a midnight tree trimmer! I was able to aim them and get them out of oncoming drivers eyes.