Lousy headlights! Ideas?

[BHolm]

The high beams on these trucks stink! They have no range improvement whatsoever and I think the low beam/fog combo actually provides a little better lighting.



I have kind of given up on improving the headlights, I suspect it is just a poor reflector design. What I am considering is a major upgrade to the fogs. What I need is some range because I do some driving at night in rural areas with lots of potential roadkill. Has anybody found a powerful (100w+) pencil beam that might fit and look stock in the fog location? I think my best bet is to be able to run the low beams and a powerful long range light in the fog position so I can easily turn them of if needed. I would probably run the high power lights off a relay to avoid cooking the factory wiring.



Any other suggestions?

 

[Jeff Clark]

There was a thread a couple weeks ago about BOMBing the factory fogs. That might help. Have you tried a Bright Box? That might help as well. How about some of the new bulbs on the market?

 

[Marty1]

BHolm, Have you installed a levelling kit on your truck? I installed one on mine & on my last road trip I noticed my headlights really sucked on high beem. I noticed they were pointed into the sky & come to think of it... I get lots of people flashing at me! It suddenly dawned on my that they need to be readjusted.

Just a thought... they still might suck though!

By the way... nice fleet you have there!

 

[CLAYTON]

Brite box

Throw a BRITE-BOX with FOGZILLA on there from BAKER AUTO ACCESSORIES. I noticed a HUGE difference with this on the truck. You will love the extra light.

Just make sure that you go to Baker Auto "Accessories" instead of Baker Auto "Sales" .com...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I have the Brite Box system that keeps low beams on with the high beams, and also the fog lights stay on. I also put on the Fogzilla and went to high beam 9005 bulbs in the fog lamp housings. Overall this triples the lumens of lightiing vs. stock. You can get there with www.thebritebox.com

 

[BHolm]

I have my doubts about the brite box. Keeping both filiments lit isn't going to help a whole lot if the reflector itself is the problem, which is my current theory. I think I may bite on the more powerful bulbs for the fogs to start. I am a little skeptical of that as well though. The reflector is designed for a wide spread there as well. I am really looking for some range without having to resort to adding lights.



Problem is, and I don't intend this to sound snobbish but, the headlights on my euro buggies are thousands of times better. The bi-xenons on the Cayenne make it seem like daytime and, you couldn't overdrive the lights even at over 100mph they throw so far.



What I was hoping was that somebody had sourced a pencil beam type light that would be an easy replacement for the stock fogs. I am willing to be the first though I will take some measurements and begin the search. I will post the results when they are in. Thanks for the inptu guys.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

You can mimic the Brite Box by using the turn signal/multi-function stalk to activate both low and high beams while the stalk is held.

The fog lamps work very well as they are two additional high beams, if you adjust them to the height you want. It takes a T20 torx bit.

 

[David Muench]

I replaced my bulbs with Sylvania Silverstars, and I think the improvement is very noticable. I'm happy.

 

[bighammer]

You can mimic the Brite Box by using the turn signal/multi-function stalk to activate both low and high beams while the stalk is held.

The fog lamps work very well as they are two additional high beams, if you adjust them to the height you want. It takes a T20 torx bit.

And if you like the effect, a simple (and FREE) BOMBing of the high beam switch will make it stay there so you don't have to hold it. Made a big difference for me.

 

[desertryder]

has anyone figured a way for the passing lights to come on all the time when you click the stem to high beam ?



I say passing lights but you know the ones that turn on when on highbeam and you pull in the lever and hold it ???

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Thsoe passing lights are merely the low beam and high beam bulbs both being on. that is what Brite Box does. Also, even though the fog lamps are low on the truck, they can be adjusted to whatever height you want, and if you use Fogzilla to install high beams, they are 1700 lumens each, while the stock Dodge high beams are only 1350 lumens each. Therefore, they are pretty good. And the bulbs cost 5% as much as those $400 bulbs.

 

[BHolm]

I did the brite box "simulation" last night. It gives you a bunch more light right in front of the truck but the range is unchanged. This clearly a poor refelctor design. Maybe I'll just drive something else at night but the huge Dodge is my first choice if I have to participate in the roadkill follies around here

 

[Blakers]

If you put a "pencil beam" type light down in the fog housings and you are in hilly country, the lights won't illuminate your field of view when going over hills. The roadway will creat a vast shadow as you crown a hill. If you get aftermarket lights, put them up as high as your stock headlights.

 

[BHolm]

The problem with mounting aftermarket lights anywhere is that they are required to be covered as they are for off-road use only. Now you run the risk of running afoul with the law.



I think the fog location may work better than some of you guys think, that bumper is higher than many cars headlights. If I run the brite box I will have a bright area in front of the truck that should compensate for the low mounted lights in the hills.



It sure would have been easier if they would have designed the lights better to begin with. I didn't have this problem on my '03 Chevy

 

[Bertram65]

This solved my headlight problem, 130 watts each, I never cover them and have never had any problem, I am just carefull when using them, 520 watts is pretty bright.

 

[Blakers]

The problem with mounting aftermarket lights anywhere is that they are required to be covered as they are for off-road use only. Now you run the risk of running afoul with the law.



I think the fog location may work better than some of you guys think, that bumper is higher than many cars headlights. If I run the brite box I will have a bright area in front of the truck that should compensate for the low mounted lights in the hills.



It sure would have been easier if they would have designed the lights better to begin with. I didn't have this problem on my '03 Chevy

If you get street legal driving lights, you don't need them covered. I ran aircraft landing lights (not street legal) for years with no problem. Of course, I always dimmed them when someone approached. They work great - all the sheriffs cars around here run them up on their light bars.



The fog location is too low if you are in hilly country. It does not matter how high they are as it's the relative height between your eyes and where the lights are mounted. If you are a flatlander, I doubt you will have a problem.



Yea, the brite box may fill in the voids enough. I think I am going with the brite box. I drive 60 miles to work and most of that is on 2 lane state roads with farms and woods on the sides. Hilly and winding too. Lots of venison!



Blake

 

[bighammer]

Blake, save your $$$ and BOMB the switch. Same effect for free.

 

[Blakers]

Bighammer, can you draw out a clearer diagram of what needs to be done to make the switch work? I hate this integrated electrical stuff! All to save a few wires.

 

[RDietze]

Blake, save your $$$ and BOMB the switch. Same effect for free.

bighammer,



now all you have to do is figure out how to keep the fogs on at the same time - for free! :-laf



i wish i had never opened this thread - the brites do SUCK!!!!!!!!!



what about replacing the fogs with piaa 525s - dual beam (fogs/driving lights) - $cha-ching$

 

[bighammer]

bighammer,

now all you have to do is figure out how to keep the fogs on at the same time - for free! :-laf

i wish i had never opened this thread - the brites do SUCK!!!!!!!!!

what about replacing the fogs with piaa 525s - dual beam (fogs/driving lights) - $cha-ching$

The fog lamps DO stay on with my mod-- You can keep ALL the lights lit. I no longer have fog lamps since replacing my bumper with a Bambi buster.