Headlights

[hotram03]

Anyone change to a brighter Headlight bulb? What are the factory wattages for the low-high sides, and what does the aftermarket offer. Does going to a brighter bulb hurt anything, other than the on-coming driver.

 

[WardD]

I've changed my factory bulbs to Sylvania Silverstars. I'm pleased with them as they are definetly superior to production bulbs IMO. They've been trouble free for two years now. I'm not sure on the wattage though.

 

[Grizzly]

I've changed my factory bulbs to Sylvania Silverstars. I'm pleased with them as they are definetly superior to production bulbs IMO. They've been trouble free for two years now. I'm not sure on the wattage though.

Can you tell me where you got them and what they cost. I need better lights. I find that the light on our Dodges are a bit weak.

 

[Hoefler]

I have the silver stars as well. They do work better than OE. I believe DOT approved bulbs are 55/65 watt. I have used 80/100 watt bulbs in my Suburbans and Tahoe with out incident, but they did not have a computer monitoring them either. I am considering bumping up the wattage using relays and heavier wire.

 

[coobie]

Piaa

I have had the PIAA super whites(65/55w installed since 2004. I finally have to replace one this weekend,since the low beam burned out. coobie

 

[CRuth]

You need to do a search on headlights here. Its been covered extensively. Don't waste your money on brighter bulbs. Its not wattage, its a poor reflector design. Yes, its one of our trucks weakest links.

 

[BimmerAgent]

Piaa

I agree with CRuth. The headlights in my truck are a joke. In an effort to boost their efficiency, I changed out the stock bulbs for PIAAs, at around $80for the pair. While there was some improvement, it's marginal, at best. I really wish there was a good alternative. The headlights in either of my Bimmers work fanastically well, especially the 330, which has Xenons. They throw light far enough ahead that you can actually see where you're going. There's really no excuse for our crappy lights in this day and age. Bruce

 

[Grizzly]

While driving with lights on low beam, which is 95% of the time, I use my fog lights to help the near distance lighting. I know, it's illegal to drive with fog lights on when not needed, but it has never been enforced in NM. It does make a big difference.

 

[Jeremiah]

Design flaw

Double dittos on the design flaw in Dodge headlights -- the problem is the reflector. I'm surprised some old guy hasn't sued DC. Factory headlights suck on a dark night and PIAAs don't help much. I installed Brite Box and it lights up the highway right in front of the truck, but it doesn't throw a beam down the highway far enough to make a difference. As someone else put it, this is a huge problem for older drivers. Young ones too if a deer runs out in front of us on the highway. #@$%!

 

[Grizzly]

Anyone drive with fog lights on?

 

[vagabond]

I do. I drive through Colorado, Nebraska S. Dakota and Minnesota The head lites are a joke. I have been blinked down once by a trooper and a few time by truckers.

Tommie

 

[Jeremiah]

Anyone using the Brite Box has fog lights on when the headlights are on bright.

 

[Jeremiah]

Here's proof how dim our headlights are

If you want to find out just how dim our headlights really are, try driving with them on bright and see how many drivers blink you off. I've driven for 20 miles and had no one on the Interstate object. Maybe one car in 20 might object on a 2-lane highway. I try that in my wife's Honda and every car objects.



Even with the Brite Box installed and the lights on bright, no one objects except those going the same direction as me, and then only when I get too close to their back bumper. I rarely drive when my headlights on low simply because I can't see far enough down the highway at night.

 

[Grizzly]

If you want to find out just how dim our headlights really are, try driving with them on bright and see how many drivers blink you off. I've driven for 20 miles and had no one on the Interstate object. Maybe one car in 20 might object on a 2-lane highway. I try that in my wife's Honda and every car objects.

Even with the Brite Box installed and the lights on bright, no one objects except those going the same direction as me, and then only when I get too close to their back bumper. I rarely drive when my headlights on low simply because I can't see far enough down the highway at night.

High beams are are joke. I get better lighting with low beams and fog lights. The headlights on my 95 were just as bad and I had no fog lights.

 

[TKeeler]

High beams are are joke. I get better lighting with low beams and fog lights. The headlights on my 95 were just as bad and I had no fog lights.

I agree 100%... the high beams on my 2007. 5 are a joke, the low beams with the fog lights are OK since I replaced the stock fog light bulbs with Ultra 9005's. I am looking for some good driving lights that will fit in the space by my tow hooks. Right now the Piaa 2100 series with the Extreme White bulb are looking like a possibility.

 

[Jeremiah]

Driving lights the answer?

TKeeler, would you please let me know by PM how those PIAA driving lights work? I've been putting up with my '03 since new, have the Brite Box, etc. , but nothing works well for down-the-road seeing because the reflector is the problem. Thanks a bunch.

 

[JordanB]

I drive with my fogs anytime my headlights are on. I don't think my headlights are that bad. They're better than my '00 Dakota's. It's all relative I guess.

 

[TKeeler]

Piaa 2100's

TKeeler, would you please let me know by PM how those PIAA driving lights work? I've been putting up with my '03 since new, have the Brite Box, etc. , but nothing works well for down-the-road seeing because the reflector is the problem. Thanks a bunch.

Will do Jeremiah. If I didn't do so much rural driving in deer (and other animals) country the stock lighting would probably suffice but I like to see further down the road than these high beams go. The Piaa '1100 X PLATINUM's that I had on my 98. 5 did really well and fit real good in the stock fog light hole. Since I have the fog lights on the 2007. 5 I got to pick another location and the Piaa 2100's PIAA look like they would fit nicely just above my chrome bumper, a little higher would probably be better but there's no space unless I start adding light bars.

 

[Jeremiah]

For TKeeler

Thank you muchly. I have the same problem. Like you, I live in a rural area of Colorado away from city lights. About 30 miles from city lights, in fact. We have deer, elk, fox, animals, everything except people, crossing the highway at night. I'd like not to run into them and so far have managed to avoid hitting anything. But the headlights definitely do not go down the highway any further than I can p**. The lights spread out in front fine, especially since I added the Brite Box, but out here in the boonies we need something more than DC gave us. City dwellers like the last feller who responded wouldn't understand.

 

[JLewis]

Hey guys, what is a brite box? Is it something that allows you to keep your high, low and fog lights on all at one time, like when you hold the lever all the way back? Also where can you buy one of these? Thanks