2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Sport Light Conversion - minus suv harness

[guldam]

I'm sick and tired of driving in the mountains or country roads hanging a candle out the window so I can see. So I'm going to do the Sport Light Conversion.



These lights:



99-01 DODGE RAM SPORT HEADLIGHTS HEADLAMPS PAIR SET NEW | eBay



They come with a wiring harness. Any idea brightness of this set up versus these lights with the SUV Wiring Harness:



suvlights.com Dodge Ram (Sport Headlights) Super Heavy Duty Conversion Harness w/4 relays 9004



Do I just need to bite the bullet and buy both?



Time's a wasting and it's gonna get dark soon. Now where did I put that candle?



GulDam

 

[CCiatteo]

I bought my lights through the same place and used the suvlights.com harness. I was pleased with both. You could build a harness for less, but the time involved, sourcing the parts etc. makes it sorta a PITA.

I even had a problem with one of the headlights (lens assembly wasn't water tight along the top edge) about a week after install and they sent me a new one, no questions asked, so customer service is very very good.

The difference is amazing and you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

 

[LVJUNIOR]

I was very happy with mine as they came. The one thing to watch for is if they are dimmer than stock you have either the bulbs in the wrong hole or the plugs on the harness reversed. I recommend installing it with the harness it comes with and determining if you are happy with the light before spending the extra dough on the suv harness.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Problem

The problem with using the harness that the headlights come with, is that you will burn out your headlight switch and/or wiring in very short order. All of the energy used to power the headlights goes through the headlight switch in the cab. If you add another headlight to each side you are essentially doubling the load on an already stressed system. You risk burning out the switch, and or causing damage to the wiring and truck as a whole.



By purchasing the SUV lights harness (or building your own) you are drawing power directly from the battery and the headlight switch actually does that... It switches the relays on & off.



See my post about my install of the headlights & SUV harness

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...6-sport-headlight-conversion-lots-photos.html



Hope that helps.

Craig

 

[VolsFan]

when using the harness supplied from headlight depot, you are only using one bulb on each side, not two. I did this conversion just a few weeks ago. I orginally only got the headlights, and then, unbeknownst to me, had the harness going to the wrong bulbs, so the light output was worse than before. Through the advice of lvjunior, switched them, and threw out great light. I also ordered the suvlights.com harness though in the meantime, and am not too sorry i did. I thought $150 was a little pricy, but figured it takes load off the stock switch as firefighter mentioned, and it gives you both bulbs lit up, not just one. Install was simple. Also, I think I may be getting a watertight issue. Noticed moisture in drivers side lens the other morning, so good to know they are cool about returns if it comes to that

 

[LVJUNIOR]

@volsfan, how is the low beam output with the SUV harness compared to the headlights depot harness

 

[BarryG]

another option for the harness is daniel stern lighting. He will sell you the parts and you build or I had him build the harness for me. It took a couple weeks but couldnt be happier. I am a bit electrically challenged. The harness is very heavy duty and install was quite easy.



about halfway down is the rik-ram kit

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

[VolsFan]

I honestly did not see a whole lot of difference between the two harness' light output on low beam. Side illumination is about the same. High beam there is a difference. If I had the supplied harness hooked up correctly the first time I probably would not have even got the suvlight harness, but I did, and really dont regret it, more peace of mind than anything I guess

 

[LVJUNIOR]

I honestly did not see a whole lot of difference between the two harness' light output on low beam. Side illumination is about the same. High beam there is a difference. If I had the supplied harness hooked up correctly the first time I probably would not have even got the suvlight harness, but I did, and really dont regret it, more peace of mind than anything I guess

I hooked mine up backwards the first time too. I think it is an issue with the directions. I am really happy with my low beams but I would like to do something about the high beams.

 

[guldam]

Got the lights and am just going to use the harness that came with the lights. Only I got zero instructions, and I'm not sure which light gets which end of the harness... blue wire to outside or inside light?

GulDam

 

[DWeaver]

Got the lights and am just going to use the harness that came with the lights. Only I got zero instructions, and I'm not sure which light gets which end of the harness... blue wire to outside or inside light?



GulDam

With the harness that came with my sport light set, the harness had stickers on the blue plugs to say which went where. I will look tomorrow at the harness to see which had the blue wire.



And I am with you on the instructions they give. Zip, zilch, nada. :-laf

 

[DWeaver]

The blue wire plug has the 9004 sticker on my harnesses.

 

[guldam]

Thank you! I finally figured that out last night. I had the plugs switched as others have done in the past. It's an easy mistake since the construction of the harness would seem to encourage the longer lead going to the more recessed light and vice-a-versa.



A simple set of instructions would have been nice, and a template for the hole that needs to be cut.



I ended up having to loosen the six bumper nuts to drop the bumper down an inch. Not a big deal, but by 1/2" ratchet made things slow with it's big jump in gear increments.



Screws on old and new lights sticking out like porcupine quills can make it easy to scratch your paint.



Driver's side light went on easy and aligned correctly. Passenger side just did not fit as well, even though I had plenty of clearance with the new cutout.



Lights are much, much better than the stock. I still want more light though. I'd like fog lights to cover the close distances in a more even swath of light, and then I'd like some big honkin driving lights to see much farther ahead.



Trying to decide if it's worth buying better bulbs for the new lights. I got them with standard Silvanias.



GulDam

The blue wire plug has the 9004 sticker on my harnesses.

 

[mwilson]

Do these Sport headlights from Headlightsdepot have aiming screws???



I know some do not.



Wanted to find out before ordering a set.



Thanks,

Mike.

 

[VolsFan]

mwilson, the lights are adjustable. guldam, the only thing I could think that would be bad about going to a higher output bulb is that it will put a greater strain on your headlight switch. I started out with the supplied harness and thought it was sufficient, but ordered the suv lights harness before I knew I had my harness backwards. I am running the run of the mill bulbs and am very happy. was going to get the brighter ones, but for twice the price and not much life as according to the diagram on the back, said screw that. I am on a quest for brighter light as well though, and thinking about ordering some kc 67's to go in my steel bumper, not quite sure yet, want the greater light output for recreational activities

 

[guldam]

I think I'm done with the sport lights. Will just use the bulbs I have, and skip the SUV wiring harness.



Fog lights and Big Driving lights and a light bar next.



GulDam

mwilson, the lights are adjustable. guldam, the only thing I could think that would be bad about going to a higher output bulb is that it will put a greater strain on your headlight switch. I started out with the supplied harness and thought it was sufficient, but ordered the suv lights harness before I knew I had my harness backwards. I am running the run of the mill bulbs and am very happy. was going to get the brighter ones, but for twice the price and not much life as according to the diagram on the back, said screw that. I am on a quest for brighter light as well though, and thinking about ordering some kc 67's to go in my steel bumper, not quite sure yet, want the greater light output for recreational activities

 

[JVanDelinder]

I got the sport lights and the suv harness in the mail last week I only got 1 harness from suv lights do I need one for the other side?