LED upgrade

[ReelDuel]

I have an 04 2500 and have a cab light leaking. I want to go with LED lights and figured seeing I only have just over 100K on my truck to might just as well upgrade all the lights (Head and Tail lights) so it will give the CTD a new look. . Im sure some of the lights out there are poor quality so Im looking for some advice on which brands to go with or where to buy them from.



Thanks, Fred

 

[JMarketos]

I don't have knowledge to recommend specific lights, but will give you a caution from another direction- for things like tail lights and maybe even some of the orange parking lights- I'm pretty sure the electrical system monitors the amount of current draw through the individual lights, and checks it against some range. That's what makes it able to tell you when you have a tail light out etc. The new LED bulbs often draw a fraction of the current as compared to the original bulbs- so you might find that those nice LED lights result in some unexpected dashboard messages. I know that has also been a problem with some Volkswagens. Good luck ! BTW I used to live in Anniston- loved it down there.

 

[steved]

Most of the drop in tail light assemblies have the needed resistor to fool the computer so they don't throw a lamp out MIL. I had a set for a long time, and only got rid of them because they don't do snow country very well and cover quite easily where a normal bulb will most times keep the lens clear.

For the other replacement bulbs, you'll probably need to add a small resistor to the wiring.

 

[Bernie]

they don't do snow country very well and cover quite easily where a normal bulb will most times keep the lens clear.

I came here to make that point. I live in a very snowy area, and I sell fire trucks for a living.



Fire trucks have gone almost exclusively to LED lights. The low draw, high light output, and long life are all especially important to fire departments. However, some have learned that the LEDs don't make enough heat to melt away snow. It is possible for an all LED truck to be invisible after a few minutes in the right snow conditions!



We have been specifying standard halogen rotators on the rear of fire trucks as a result. Old tech, but they keep the snow off.

 

[steved]

I came here to make that point. I live in a very snowy area, and I sell fire trucks for a living.



Fire trucks have gone almost exclusively to LED lights. The low draw, high light output, and long life are all especially important to fire departments. However, some have learned that the LEDs don't make enough heat to melt away snow. It is possible for an all LED truck to be invisible after a few minutes in the right snow conditions!



We have been specifying standard halogen rotators on the rear of fire trucks as a result. Old tech, but they keep the snow off.

That's the reason I removed them. Traveling cross country, there were times that I know I went hundreds of miles with covered lights, and being a silver truck; that doesn't make for a very visible scenario.

 

[Lumpy]

I've had great luck with RECON led light on previous rigs. I have their led cab and tail lights on my 2nd gen, and had a clearance light go out. They were very nice to deal with and promptly sent me a new one. With the tail lights though, i had the same problem in snow, they didn't generate enough heat to keep the snow melted off of them, which severely decreases their visibility.

 

[ReelDuel]

I like the RECON lights. It is so strange that the car builders are putting LED lights in so many vehicles. I live in the SE US so snow is not much of a problem...

 

[goodguys75]

I had a Left brake light out yesterday and I had no dash warning... Was i supposed to?????

 

[Lumpy]

If you don't have the snow issue, then go for it! I know recon uses the resistor for the MIL lamp for tail lights and such.

 

[MChildress]

Have the Recon blacked out cab and marker led lights on my black 04. 5 dually

 

[Hammer]

I have the Smoke tinted Recon LED cab lights on my 05 ride and have had no issues with them at all,either lighting or leaking. I still use the stock 3rd brake light and tails as I have not found a LED that I like yet.



As for the headlights... .

I took them apart and painted the black to match the truck then resealed them. Then I went and had the HID's installed in both the fogs and headlights. They were wired in with relay kits and now all the factory switch does is trigger the lights and the lights get full voltage right from the batteries. It was a nice clean install and all I can say is WOW!. I did not get any before shots but will take some this weekend of the truck at night with the HID's lit... . Andy