HID's

[ntenna]

OK, folks, my wife says the headlights on our new truck are WIMPY!



Can't have no wimpy truck, even if it is a 4x2.



Now, she was used to the 4x4 '01 which had a BriteBox and of course, sat up higher. Quick and dirty option, crank up lamp leveling, but they don't seem that low.....



No Brite Box due to each lamp having separate wiring unlike the '01's which were paralleled.



Other option, look into HID's, knowing that the size of the stock wiring IS wimpy and we'll probably need some revisions to carry more current.



Anyone done HID's yet, and what is the result?



Thanks.

 

[mr plow]

i've done a little research...

so far here is what i found:



if you have daytime running lites, you cannot use the hid lamps unless u disconnect the runningliute module( uses high beams low current)



They do make 9007 replacement hid kits which come with the bulbs, wiring and ballast. Your existing wiring in the truck would not have to change, as the existing headlight wiring would only now be used as a trigger for the ballast which would in turn ignite the xenon bulb.



there are bi-xenon kits available, but do not get them as the bulb is too long and wont fit your truck( bi-xenon is high/low in one bulb)



try this link...

www.brightheadlights-hid.com



hid bulbs typically burn at around 4100kelvin, whereas the brightest halogen u will usually see is around 3800kelvin. PIAA and Sylvania both have halogen bulbs that burn at 4000kelvin, and are street legal and wont melt your light housing.





hope this helps...



_______________________

03 quad 4x4 drw auto 3. 73 sport laramie. Waiting to be bombed... .

 

[Task125]

so which would you go with?I to am looking to upgrade. if you go to these kits you loose high beams? I thought thats what it said.

 

[ntenna]

Re: i've done a little research...

Originally posted by mr plow

so far here is what i found:



try this link...

www.brightheadlights-hid.com



hid bulbs typically burn at around 4100kelvin, whereas the brightest halogen u will usually see is around 3800kelvin. PIAA and Sylvania both have halogen bulbs that burn at 4000kelvin, and are street legal and wont melt your light housing.





hope this helps...



_______________________

Thanks, alot of good info and a good start on better lights!

 

[lgibson]

Here's my thought on brighter lights. Dim lights are so you don't blind people, so the high beams is where the work needs to be done. So I have a pair of PIAA 80XT's. I have them wired so they come on and go off with my high beams, or I can have them turned off all the time. I use a Hella wiring so the extra lights don't run off the same switch as the headlights, so I will not burn up switches.

I have used this system for years and it works flawless. My high beam has a smooth ribbon of light that runs from mirror to mirror. They light up the road even though the road has a 25 mph curve. Dim lights are so you don't blind people, so why would you want them brighter?

 

[DPelletier]

lgibson,



Actually, I'm thinking the exact opposite. I have good PIAA driving lights and the high beams are OK, where the factory lights suck is on low beam. Unfortunately, the brightest driving lights in the world aren't going to help you drive down any of the highways in our area unless you plan on driving from 3:00am to 4:00am! Turning my highbeams and driving lights off every time another vehicle approaches is an extremely frustrating exercise (I think I'm getting carpal tunnel syndrome from the constant switching ) Now, I'm not going to try to blind anybody, I just want low beams as bright as my 1996 F250. I don't want to go to the effort to switch to the sport headlights either. I did some searches here and the concensus seemed to be that the Sylvania SilverStar 9004 replacement bulbs would be my best bet. Soooo I went shopping and surprise, nobody has them (special blank parts man type staring). I ended up purchasing a set of PIAA Xtreme White Plus 9004's. They say 4000K. Cost $104. 00 Canadian. The only part that worries me is the 65/45w = 120/95w. It says this on the box and I only hope that it means that they are equivalent in output to incandescent bulbs of the higher wattage. Going to put them in today or tomorrow and I'l post back with the results.

Dave

 

[lgibson]

DPelletier

Let me know how they work. I was thinking about getting those exact bulbs, but was not sure if they were worth it. I found some in Salem, Or. for $100, which sounds like too much. But if they work... ... ... ... .



Living in Alaska and driving through Canada I needed brighter high beams with all the wild life. I have the PIAA's wired to turn off and on with the high beams. Dim my headlights and the driving lights turn off, high beams and they come on. Makes it easier than hitting dimmer switch than flipping another switch every time.

 

[DPelletier]

lgibson,

Yeah, I can see the attraction in having only one switch to deal with. I installed the PIAAs an hour ago. They seem quite a bit brighter, but I wonder how much is color and how much is brightness. I will have to reserve final judgement until I have driven around in the dark a few times. Driving around town with all the streetlights doesn't give me enough for a real test. If I had to guess, I would say 15-25% brighter and they look much better than that sickly dingy yellow color that makes you think your electrical system is sick



Dave



ps If you are driving through BC on a regular basis, you may want to stop at Lordco Auto Parts. Thats where I got mine. There are Lordco's everywhere in BC. $104. 00 Canadian is a lot better than $100. 00 in real money!!