My headlights suck

[thewhiteranger]

second the silverstars - I put them in my 14 f150 and they made a noticeable difference much brighter but so far I haven't gotten around to trying them in the ranger the stock ones are ok most of the time but I wlll put the silverstars in when I get around to it

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[NotBudule]

They cannot be legally used for on road use - Not DOT Approved, so this statement is required to be included in the description.
Now do you really think an owner would install- just for off road?
It boils down to reflector assy is not approved for LED, now what owners actually do is another thing.

I knew the answer already , just calling out all the scofflaws who are using them...

 

[9zero1790]

I was thinking about this, what's the best way to check it?

honestly im not sure what the headlight adjustment procedure is for the 5g trucks. Im sure some one here does know. it may be in the manual or some for bulletin. a few guys around here are engineers and mechanics so maybe they will enlighten us...

 

[lukdeg]

my 23 Lariat is my first vehicle with OEM LED headlights and I have no regrets paying more for the truck just for that option. i owned a 2018 Edge and tried so many differants LED bulbs and they all sucked, sometime, the housing is the problem and not the bulb

 

[Blmpkn]

I know I know, this horse has been beaten dead over and over AND I've moved on from my Ranger, but this thread on the enemy site is WELL worth the read for a lot of folks here. A forum member took the time to test an absolutely incredible number of headlight bulbs. He has proved in definite with a TON of hard evidence, that there is NOT A SINGLE LED DROP IN that performs like a halogen, AND that every single LED drop in actually performs worse than a high quality halogen.

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World

For those who wont click, basically the diameter of the filament is too small, and LEDs plain and simple cant get small enough or thin enough to blast the correct beam pattern. The extra thickness here makes it so the light doenst hit the right parts of the housing, and the light simply cant bounce as far outward. There are a TON of readings on this in the post, and its not special to the tacoma. Every halogen designed housing will fall under the same general rules of physics.

This was a hill I have died on with this site a number of times, LED drop ins are dangerous, and they legitimately perform worse than what you removed, no matter how much placebo you've been drinking.

Now, fight.



----Quoted from another member in another thread.

Science can not be denied.

 

[TJC]

Anyone with drop in leds is a selfish prick. They overdrive reflectors, and create significant scatter above cutoff. You can’t aim that away.

I go out of my way to flash these assholes because of all the “well I never get flashed” posts.

if you want leds pony up for replacement headlights.

FWIW, I get flashed FAR more often in my CX-5 with very nice builtin LEDs than in my Ranger with the "drop in" LEDs. I have begun to the use the auto high / low feature in the CX-5 so the oncoming traffic sees my high beams drop and knows I am on low beam.

If I use just the low beam I get flashed much more often and have to flash back to prove I am in low beam. And yes they are factory installed and adjusted correctly.

Aimed or not aimed, I think all modern era auto LED headlights are too "bright"... a more appropriate word is harsh. Once you start moving above 3700K-4000K temperature spectrum, it become intensely bright. 5000K - 6000K bulbs, no matter the lumens, appear bright to the human eye. Aiming the headlight becomes far more critical in this range.

I suspect you would not have an issue with an LED light in the 3700K-4000K range. It wouldn't be nearly as "bright". Of course, then you'd have old fashioned headlights, not modern ones!

I am sorry you are having such a bad day.

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

honestly im not sure what the headlight adjustment procedure is for the 5g trucks. Im sure some one here does know. it may be in the manual or some for bulletin. a few guys around here are engineers and mechanics so maybe they will enlighten us...

Beginning on page 21...

 

[daczone]

2021 XLT "Tremor"
Regular headlights and I'm finally realizing how damn bad the bulbs are.
The bright are about as bright as other vehicles driving with "normal" light on.

I read the back and forth on LEDs here and not sure I want to go that route.
So can anyone recommend a better bulb.

The Factory LED's (Lariat) are really good. Not sure what it takes to swap them over of cost.

 

[Muffin1]

I know I know, this horse has been beaten dead over and over AND I've moved on from my Ranger, but this thread on the enemy site is WELL worth the read for a lot of folks here. A forum member took the time to test an absolutely incredible number of headlight bulbs. He has proved in definite with a TON of hard evidence, that there is NOT A SINGLE LED DROP IN that performs like a halogen, AND that every single LED drop in actually performs worse than a high quality halogen.

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World

For those who wont click, basically the diameter of the filament is too small, and LEDs plain and simple cant get small enough or thin enough to blast the correct beam pattern. The extra thickness here makes it so the light doenst hit the right parts of the housing, and the light simply cant bounce as far outward. There are a TON of readings on this in the post, and its not special to the tacoma. Every halogen designed housing will fall under the same general rules of physics.

This was a hill I have died on with this site a number of times, LED drop ins are dangerous, and they legitimately perform worse than what you removed, no matter how much placebo you've been drinking.

Now, fight.



----Quoted from another member in another thread.

Science can not be denied.

WOW, thanks for that post that is a great writeup by that member, kind of reminds me of that Project Farm guy on YT with all the tests he does on different items.
Will now have to start saving my pennies for a better upgrade, maybe black friday deal.

 

[Roscoe_t]

I have the basic headlights on my XL ... thinking I may bump up the fogs with LED housings like one of the Diode Dynamics line. That would augment the low beams without dropping a major bundle. Installation would be easier too. Has anybody done that, and did you experience a better field of light without upgrading the headlights?

 

[TJC]

I installed yellow LEDs in my fog lamps. And turned on Bambi mode in Forscan. I turn them on regularly as it give me additional close light. I am still not happy with the peripheral light when making turns.

I've driven through PA to upstate NY several times and those fog lights have come in very handy at night when the fog is very thick. The yellows don't flash back at you.

 

[Roscoe_t]

I installed yellow LEDs in my fog lamps. And turned on Bambi mode in Forscan. I turn them on regularly as it give me additional close light. I am still not happy with the peripheral light when making turns.

I've driven through PA to upstate NY several times and those fog lights have come in very handy at night when the fog is very thick. The yellows don't flash back at you.

More peripheral light straight on is what I'd like to get, and fill light up front. I think I'll hint to my wife what I'd like as a Christmas present.

 

[Awg9Tech]

Anyone with drop in leds is a selfish prick. They overdrive reflectors, and create significant scatter above cutoff. You can’t aim that away.

I go out of my way to flash these assholes because of all the “well I never get flashed” posts.

if you want leds pony up for replacement headlights.

I’ve never had that experience with LEDs.

I’ve used some form of LED lamps since the late 90’s. Each and every time, the LED replacements have been more crisp and had well defined cutoffs that were easy to adjust. Any “scatter” has been limited by measured inches that again, can be accounted for in adjustments. You can literally see the top line cut off, especially on low beams, driving down the road, physically marking where the line and any scatter is below oncoming traffic.

Compared to incandescent/halogen bulbs that project a very broad smudge where scatter and artifacts can be measured in feet. Removing all the scatter and associated artifacts and you’d have them almost pointing straight down with little to no downrange projection.

And the color and clarity aren’t even close. I still have OEM bulbs on my Ranger and the dull, brown smudges of light they produce would be laughable if not for safety and clarity that LEDs would produce. I’m following the LED threads closely for drop in replacements.

 

[9zero1790]

some folks flash the highs just to be butt holes. its usually the same type of folks. the ones that yell at waiters for bad food or are too impatient to wait in line for a gas pump so they pull the hose across the car like a dumb ass risking blowing the place up. or its the bitchy girls that cant make a sentence without being rude. then my favorite, the guys that wear the t shirts that say stupid crap like "afflicted", "bro code", "u.f.c." and so on. i get flashed now and then. my headlights are stock lenses stock bulbs from the factory. and yes they were adjusted after the truck being lifted. some folks are just super sensitive or just want to find any reason whine piss and moan. some cool kid turned his high beams on me from hundreds of yards away the other day. no way i was blinding him. maybe he thought it was funny. so i flipped all the switches and stopped in my lane to let him taste the rigid off road lights. he wouldnt make eye contact when he passed. guess his joke was not funny when he got it back.

 

[Joeiconic]

some folks flash the highs just to be butt holes. its usually the same type of folks. the ones that yell at waiters for bad food or are too impatient to wait in line for a gas pump so they pull the hose across the car like a dumb ass risking blowing the place up. or its the bitchy girls that cant make a sentence without being rude. then my favorite, the guys that wear the t shirts that say stupid crap like "afflicted", "bro code", "u.f.c." and so on. i get flashed now and then. my headlights are stock lenses stock bulbs from the factory. and yes they were adjusted after the truck being lifted. some folks are just super sensitive or just want to find any reason whine piss and moan. some cool kid turned his high beams on me from hundreds of yards away the other day. no way i was blinding him. maybe he thought it was funny. so i flipped all the switches and stopped in my lane to let him taste the rigid off road lights. he wouldnt make eye contact when he passed. guess his joke was not funny when he got it back.

If you’re getting flashed regularly I think the better assumption to make is that your lights are too bright or not aimed correctly. Even assholes need a reason.

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