2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission new headlight assy opinions

[jeepit]

Doing the Sport Light swap on your 2002 truck is easy.



Here's my writeup on the Dodge Ram Sport Headlight Conversion for earlier trucks - just ignore the parts about trimming your headlight buckets because yours already has the needed clearance. My writeup includes a link to the suvlights.com Dodge Ram (Sport Headlights) Conversion Harness w/4 relays.



The Sport Light conversion with relays made a HUGE improvement in light for night driving!

Charles,

I am about to start on this conversion and want to make sure I am doing this correctly. Get the harness you state above and get some Sport lights from the salvage yard or order them on internet. I am correct here?

 

[SSolderitch]

the bulbs you have now will be reused in sport lights, so you only have to buy 1 pair of silverstars... .

 

[SSolderitch]

Another source is to get the wiring harness (adapter) from a snow plow shop. That way you also get the female plugs... . and make them into what you need. The "Blizzard plow" ones were about $30-$35 each. they also use a relay bank for truck/plow light switching which could be used for external power and save your headlight switch.

 

[LBARTLETT]

Dieselwrks, I like you have been reluctant to do the sports light upgrade, even though I don't have to do any sawing but, once I get my new front springs and control arm bushings and my electric heated seats installed that will be my next project



if you go that way keep us posted how it goes

 

[SRath]

If you are going to spend the time and money to replace and/or upgrade, why not do it the best you can and do the Sport conversion and be done with it?

If I added up all the money I have spent on bulbs and more bulbs and harnesses and relays and lense polishing kits etc, I could have probably come close to paying for a Sport upgrade by now. And my headlights still suck.

 

[Extreme1]

I agree with MRoberts and Charles, I don't know why you are against the sport light swap. I did it, and it was "IMHO it is one of the best BOMB's I've done". The difference between the stock and sport is night and day (pun intended).

Ditto that. The Sport lenses are clear and the lamps rely on the reflector ro aim the beam, not the lens. I've done light upgrades on other vehicles and my old Volvo has a couple of Hella Ralley 2000's but the Ram sport light upgrade was the biggest improvement of all. The stock lamps are that bad, especially when they start to yellow.



I got my lights off eBay ($25 each) and made my own harness which uses a relay and routes the bulb wiring directly from the battery. Use old bulb bases for the female plug (that's what certain vendors use).

 

[budnate]

follow post #19 to the T. . ! just went through this all myself, did the sports and the wireing... NICE!!! I have a set of those ill fitting lenses also, the azz that built them needs them rammed where the sun done shine!



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...smission-discussions/214573-headlights-2.html

 

[charlessmith]

Charles,
I am about to start on this conversion and want to make sure I am doing this correctly. Get the harness you state above and get some Sport lights from the salvage yard or order them on internet. I am correct here?

Not exactly.

First - make sure you understand what "Sport Lights" really are. The Dodge Sport Lights, and the aftermarket ones described in my web page have two (2) bulbs in each headlight, plus the parking light bulb. Several of the earlier posts in this thread, including pictures, are a SINGLE BULB - CLEAR LENSE headlight. As several people above said, those stink.

Just make sure you get a OEM or aftermarket DUAL BULB - CLEAR LENSE Sport Light set. That plus use of relays for the light current (as the harness I described) will make you very happy.

 

[jeepit]

Not exactly.



First - make sure you understand what "Sport Lights" really are. The Dodge Sport Lights, and the aftermarket ones described in my web page have two (2) bulbs in each headlight, plus the parking light bulb. Several of the earlier posts in this thread, including pictures, are a SINGLE BULB - CLEAR LENSE headlight. As several people above said, those stink.



Just make sure you get a OEM or aftermarket DUAL BULB - CLEAR LENSE Sport Light set. That plus use of relays for the light current (as the harness I described) will make you very happy.

Thanks... thats what I neede to hear.

 

[jeepit]

Charles,

Another question. . I do have a snowplow that has its own lights. Does this in any way affect this conversion?. . ??

 

[SRath]

That's the best thing about winter and snow, jeepit: I get to put my plow on and actually have great headlights then: Simple halogen sealed beams.

 

[jeepit]

I like plowing more than cutting the grass...

 

[Wiredone]

As a person who is a devout Hella lighting product user I only have one complaint with my 2002 2500. The stock headlights suck and the real pain is that there are no retrofits allowing a H4 application nor a glass lens. I have retrofitted every vehicle I have ever owned with Hella products and will continue to do so. But to remove that silly sport front bumper and put in a Road Armor one is going to be worth in in the long run as the four auxiliary ports will make up for it.



The biggest factor with any light from any manufacturer is lenses that are made of glass not silly little plastic the yellows. Dodge really could have given Ford a run for the money by making a headlight that is user friendly by swapping it out.



In regards to user friendly and on coming traffic I know a H4 is not allowed for on highway use and I do not use high beams on the highway. When I am going through private property I light up the place just like daylight and keep H2 spares just in case I meet the officer who got dumped by his girlfriend and wants to inspect the lights. Always use wisely and you never have a problem.



But back to square one there is not a lot to work with and this USA illfitting stuff is just not worth it as they do not have the research and development that Hella does. So it looks like replacing with stock to me.