Projector Headlights

[lseiger]

Hi all,

I have a 2012 Ram 3500 4WD Crew Cab and my question is:

Are the new style projector headlights better than the reflective lens headlights?

I switched my halogens out for Sylvania silver star and I'm still not happy with the brightness.

I'm intrigued with the newer style projector headlights.

Larry in Spokane

 

[cumminsturbofreak]

Whether you have duals or quads on your 12, the 2013+ projectors will be a huge upgrade in safety.

They are way better in lighting up the road. I’ve driven a 12 and a 15, so I do know the difference.

Bare in mind, if you do this swap, you’ll need an adapter harness.

 

[lpennock]

The projectors will give a better cutoff but unless you are converting to HID they really aren't a upgrade.

If you just want to improve lighting do a LED Bulb conversion. The LED bulbs these days will beat the silver stars ( (I always found them to be more hype than improvement), I used Sealight H11 low and 9005 high LED bulbs and were impressed enough I even replaced the H9 I had retro fitted in place of the H11 in my 2010 Town and country high beams. You may need either load resistors or AlfaOBD to turn off the bulb out depending on whose bulbs you get.

 

[cumminsturbofreak]

The projectors will give a better cutoff but unless you are converting to HID they really aren't a upgrade.

If you just want to improve lighting do a LED Bulb conversion. The LED bulbs these days will beat the silver stars ( (I always found them to be more hype than improvement), I used Sealight H11 low and 9005 high LED bulbs and were impressed enough I even replaced the H9 I had retro fitted in place of the H11 in my 2010 Town and country high beams. You may need either load resistors or AlfaOBD to turn off the bulb out depending on whose bulbs you get.

Leds should never be used in low beam halogen reflector housings because they blind people, just like HIDs.

 

[lpennock]

Leds should never be used in low beam halogen reflector housings because they blind people, just like HIDs.

No they don't if you properly aim them. Because they only radiate at 90 and 270 they actually have a better cutoff than the stock halogen bulbs.

 

[DeansRedRam]

The projectors will give a better cutoff but unless you are converting to HID they really aren't a upgrade.

If you just want to improve lighting do a LED Bulb conversion. The LED bulbs these days will beat the silver stars ( (I always found them to be more hype than improvement), I used Sealight H11 low and 9005 high LED bulbs and were impressed enough I even replaced the H9 I had retro fitted in place of the H11 in my 2010 Town and country high beams. You may need either load resistors or AlfaOBD to turn off the bulb out depending on whose bulbs you get.

I can vouch, the projectors have an "upgraded" low beam light over the reflectors, but the same high beam. Its not much of an upgrade on the low beam side anyway.

I wasn't impressed with the stock projector so I opted for Morimoto complete plug N play headlight housings + lights for better lighting and that newer look. Truck now looks like it belongs with other manufacture's 2018 MY trucks. Waiting on the fog lights to do a full comparison to original.

 

[AH64ID]

I really like my projector housings. They are a huge improvement over my 05, and dads 17 with standard housings.

I’m about to pull the trigger on some LED bulbs for them too. I’ve never like HID’s, every set I’ve been around has been more of a PITA than they are worth.

 

[MRoberts]

Sorry all, but there is some bad info being shared here.

I have a 2015 that came with the factory projector headlights, they look nice, but the light output was a joke! Especially compared to my 02, that I had done the sport headlight conversion on. LED's were the big new thing in 2016 when I started looking at ways to improve the light output of the low beams. I installed an LED kit and I couldn't get them out of my truck fast enough! They output was terrible and scattered all over the place. Since that time I have been using HID's in the low beam and LED's in the high's. The light out put is fantastic! Exactly what I was looking for!

To date I have had zero issues from a maintenance standpoint and from other drivers! I drive over two mountain pass's 5-6 times a month, leaving at 4:00 am, a good portion on a two lane road. I have never been flashed and have passed the State Patrol a number of times and not once has a trooper spun around to pull me over.

To summarize, HID's in the low beam projectors and LED in the high beam reflectors. You will be very happy with the results.

 

[monovasia]

The headlights are so weak I can run my high beams and never get an on coming flash from another car... the only poorly engineered part of the truck so far... I added a Rigid single stack mounted above the bumper, perfect fit and it solved the problem totally...

 

[AH64ID]

The headlights are so weak I can run my high beams and never get an on coming flash from another car... the only poorly engineered part of the truck so far... I added a Rigid single stack mounted above the bumper, perfect fit and it solved the problem totally...

What year truck and which headlights?

I’ve upgraded to LES bulbs and they are great. I, against my better judgment, tried some HID’s but was quite disappointed in the overall experience and return them.

I have no problem getting flashed if I forget my hi beams, but the same was true with the stock bulbs and the 2018 projector housings.

 

[monovasia]

What year truck and which headlights?

I’ve upgraded to LES bulbs and they are great. I, against my better judgment, tried some HID’s but was quite disappointed in the overall experience and return them.

I have no problem getting flashed if I forget my hi beams, but the same was true with the stock bulbs and the 2018 projector housings.

I have a 2012 Laramie/8ft bed.....6.7/68rfe...The Rigid Bar has saved my truck, myself and 100's of mule deer and Elk from unwanted contact...I had the same experience with the HID's...

 

[RammerJam]

I was stopped at night with my parking lights on one time, drove off without turning on my headlights and really couldn't tell a lot of difference.

I love my truck overall, but these are the worst headlights I've ever had on a vehicle since my 1953 Farmall 200. If I had to drive at night a lot, I would not own this vehicle. The lights are that bad. Not joking

You can tell they're from Fiat because the headlights are straight off a Yugo. Worst headlights of any vehicle on the road. Absolutely horrible. I could tape a flashlight to the hood and see better.

If FCA cared about it's customers, they'd come out with a kit for us. I'd be willing to pay decent money for it. But the MBA's and accounting would never approve, so there you have it.

 

[RammerJam]

What year truck and which headlights?

I’ve upgraded to LES bulbs and they are great. I, against my better judgment, tried some HID’s but was quite disappointed in the overall experience and return them.

I have no problem getting flashed if I forget my hi beams, but the same was true with the stock bulbs and the 2018 projector housings.

I've read the LED's work better in the Quads than in the projectors. We had a huge discussion about it in a forum that shall remain nameless due to its buttheadedness

 

[AH64ID]

I've read the LED's work better in the Quads than in the projectors. We had a huge discussion about it in a forum that shall remain nameless due to its buttheadedness

Not sure about how they work in quads, but if it's better than my projectors then that would be awesome for the quad guys.

With halogens the projectors are much better than the quads.

 

[RammerJam]

Not sure about how they work in quads, but if it's better than my projectors then that would be awesome for the quad guys.

With halogens the projectors are much better than the quads.

My memory isn't always reliable but I think that's what I was told. Not sure it's accurate. When it comes to headlights on these things, it can get really, seriously confusing and frustrating.

 

[p-Bar]

So I'm curious about the factory projectors. Do they have the "HID" bulb and ballast or are they a glorified halogen?

 

[AH64ID]

So I'm curious about the factory projectors. Do they have the "HID" bulb and ballast or are they a glorified halogen?

Not even a glorified halogen, just a regular 9005 bulb for hi and low beams.

Bases on my experience they work really well with LED bulbs, but there are clearance issues and the CSP Mini 9005 fits both sockets easily.

 

[dieselshadow]

What about the Morimoto 2 stroke 3.0 bulbs? Anyone know if they’ll fit? Website says they will, but I’d like to verify before dropping $200. Know what I mean?

 

[RammerJam]

Are reflector headlights better than projector headlights?
When looking at the two types of technologies side by side, projectors are definitely preferred over reflectors. Projectors use new and improved technology that results in brighter and more focused light output with less waste.

However, when looking to upgrade your headlight bulb to either HID and LED, it is important to remember that LED conversion kits perform better for reflector headlights and HID conversion kits work well in either type of headlight assembly.

https://www.xenonpro.com/difference... to,strongly recommend considering HID lights.

Me:
Interesting read. I remembered correctly that if you're just gonna toss some LED bulbs in your headlaight assembly, Quads are more gooder. Projectors are candidates for HID lights.

 

[Wiredawg]

Friends,

Not saying there isn't room for improvement on factory headlights, but one thing often overlooked on our trucks is headlight aiming and how much compromise there is associated with it. There is so much vertical wheel travel in the rear that headlight aiming is often a compromise between unloaded rear high (front low) to loaded rear low (front level or high).

My 5500 has very little rear height change due to HD suspension, so my headlight coverage changes very little and is very good all the time. My halogen projector light setup is the best non-OEM LED (halogen) setup I've seen and our 2019 Ram 1500 with LED headlights/fogs is the best lighting. Only downside on my 5500 is the yellow light versus white light, but not really worth the additional cost of upgrade (not) to Silverstars or equivalent. Aside from the most/best lighting coverage on the 1500 LEDs, the very white light is perfect illumination/reflection

I replaced halogens on my 2014 Jeep wrangler and aimed them, If you performing aiming adjustment per proper instauctions, you can see the improvments and tradeoffs of non factory LED lamps. My Jeep provides great vertical and marginal horizontal coverage in my opinion. At noght I can see refelction

There are articles that discuss the technology that incandescent/halogen emits light 360`and headlight reflectors are designed for it. LEDs don't emit 360' and aren't optimal. Next time you're at a Ram delaership, checkout the design and configuration of an OEM LED equipped truck. Not to say you won't find an LED bulb in a standard relfector housing an improvement, just understanding the compromise. FYI, I can get OEM LED headlights/fogs for my 2014 Jeep Wrangler for about $700. Not there yet, like many of y'all on that big of a jump. Same for my 5500 and the high quality aftermarket LED HLs for $1700. Not there yet either, but when you consider my 17 5500 asking price was $79K, the upgrade might would be worth it.

How to Aim and Adjust Headlights | Advance Auto Parts

Anyhoo, just saying verifying aim and understanding the aiming compromise related to significant load level changes has a very real impact on headlight performance. I guess the next gen would be nice with auto-leveling/load sensing healights.

Christmas Cheers, Ron