Which REAL HID kit to get?

[jeepin4x4james]

Maybe a bit off topic.... But, anyone have experience with LED headlights?

Trucklite had a 7" one out a while ago with multiple LED's that had okay but not great reviews.
Similar to this one
http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wc...10001&storeId=10001&productId=55019&langId=-1

They have a new one out now with a projector, very much like the new BMW's and Mercedes.
This one:
http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wc...10001&storeId=10001&productId=92025&langId=-1

The best price I've found is $215ea, pricey.... But not far from a legit HID setup either.

 

[sixstringsteve]

not off topic, I'm curious as well.

 

[Jeepj667]

Those new Trucklite LEDs are good. The old one's sucked. The JW Speaker LEDs are excellent.
On my phone so I can't provide links.

Here.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f96/headlight-shootout-1166827/

 

[Jeepj667]

Big money, but an awesome auxiliary setup would be a set of Trucklite or JW Speaker LEDs in Dietz auxiliary housings.

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Those new Trucklite LEDs are good. The old one's sucked. The JW Speaker LEDs are excellent.
On my phone so I can't provide links.

Here.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f96/headlight-shootout-1166827/

Thanks for that link! Great tech in there..... These Lights from Susquehanna MotorSports look to have some amazing light output! But damn, they're pricey... and a bit ugly :-\

I definitely want better lights for my LJ, just gotta decide on best bang for the buck...

 

[Tacoma]

I really liked the IPF's I got from Kurt. As I spend a fair amount of time bombing down remote highways and dirt roads, I don't think there is such a thing as "too much light". When on the highway with other vehicles, the stock lights (w/a relay to make sure the lights get all the power: GM has stupid light switches) are more than sufficient.

And they are cheaper than super stylin' HID retrofit fashion statements. I'm also planning on a 40" led light bar across the bumper. It is really dark in the oilfield

 

[MikeGyver]

I would recommend you be careful going the LED route. The lumen output is what's important and most LED lights really don't have impressive numbers.
For reference, a 55 watt halogen low beam bulb is around 1200 lumens, and 65watt halogen high beam is about 1700 lumens, and 35 watt HID is around 3000 lumens.

Here's a 100 watt LED offroad light I'm working on. 7000 lumens (lol)
If you're not worried about legality, just throw a couple of these behind HID projectors so the beam doesn't melt other drivers' eyes.



10x10 grid of 1 watt emitters. Draws 3 amps @ 36volts.

LED consuming about 120 watts.

Completely unfocused, no optics. (note the car low beams on the bottom right of the garage door).

 

[Tacoma]

:want:

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Freakin awesome!
Reminds me of the guy that made a flashlight with a bulb from aircraft landing gear.... Hmmmmmm

 

[sixstringsteve]

holy crap mike.

 

[Caleb]

IMO, I've never seen an HID conversion that gave the same effect as a factory HID. They always are blinding to on-coming traffic. After having vehicles with both, a true HID is kick-ass but I'd never try to waste the money converting one of my vehicles that didn't have them. LEDs, that's another story

 

[TJDukit]

I'm still in the middle of reading this article but check it out, seems like a great read and a good well though out comparison. I'm not sure if any of these companies offer anything for your Taco though.

http://www.jkowners.com/tech/lights/

 

[Bear T]

Didn't bother to read any of the previous post. But I have had great luck with HIDGUY.net. great quality, great price, and great warranty.

 

[kd7kmp]

I went with replacement Sylvania Silverstars in my '98 Taco xtracab. I have essentially the same OME lift as you. I've been very happy with the results. The other thing I did, which likely made the largest difference, was a headlight lens restoration kit. I used the 3M kit from Walmart. It cost about $15 and was well worth it. Took less than an hour to refinish the lenses.

(But what I really want is a supercharger!)

Kevin

 

[MikeGyver]

Another important factor worth noting is the condition of your housings. Foggy or yellow housings will never have good performance, the lenses need to be optically clear or you're just wasting your time going to better bulbs.

 

[sixstringsteve]

my housings are horrible. I'm trying to decide if I want to replace the housing and get halogens, or replace the housings and get HIDs.

 

[jinxspot]

I'm still in the middle of reading this article but check it out, seems like a great read and a good well though out comparison. I'm not sure if any of these companies offer anything for your Taco though.

http://www.jkowners.com/tech/lights/

Same post I was gonna do, its the cover of pirate this month... great article with lots of testing!

 

[Jeepj667]

I'm still in the middle of reading this article but check it out, seems like a great read and a good well though out comparison. I'm not sure if any of these companies offer anything for your Taco though.

http://www.jkowners.com/tech/lights/

Interesting to read what the real lighting experts have to say about this comparison.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?349492-7-quot-round-shootout-on-another-web-forum

 

[Westernhunter]

My question is this. How do the LED lights work in a driving snow storm? Do they put off enough heat to melt the ice?

On a side note. How well does the heater/defroster work on an electric car? I have always wondered.

 

[frieed]

I never drove at night until I started camping with Steve. Now my headlights are an issue...