LED Headlight upgrade +

[JT88K5]

Purchased a set of of LEDs for the K5. Before and after. Didn’t get outside pics with the old lights, it was raining a bit and the rig was dry in the shed, no need to get her wet before working on it.

Link to the lights I purchased: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J5D2RTM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Assuming they hold up, it was worth $150.
Old lights low and high




new lights low and high

 

[6872xtc]

Those look like they have some beam control to avoid shooting light up into the trees on low. Nice! Very good improvement and respect to others.


Please remember to let us know how they are in the long run!

 

[JT88K5]

Thanks, they were marked as DOT approved and seemed to have some design to the reflectors. I wasn’t to keen on the ones that had 3 or 4 rows of individual leds Each with their own little reflector. I’m pretty happy with them for the money.

 

[dyeager535]

What does the front of the truck look like now?

Not like better lighting isn't worth a change, just curious what they look like installed in the truck.

The chrome ones look like they'd be a bit less obvious as to having been changed.

Plastic lenses...guess I can go both ways on that. I hate the fogged up plastic of modern lights, but better than glass that is done once a rock goes through it I suppose.

 

[JT88K5]

I haven’t actually seen it in the daylight outside yet. And to be honest I didn’t realize they were black until I had submitted the order. So I thought wtf, let it ride, didn’t want to jack with cancelling and reordering. But to answer your question, my fist thought after installing the bezels was that I should have cancelled and reordered

Trying to be optimistic, and since the K5 is black, I’m thinking about painting the bezels black and leaving the chrome retaining rings in place to see how that looks, then maybe painting those black if it seems like the thing to do.

Thinking about it as I write this, red bezels might get me noticed, and look evil. It would go with the red pin stripes at a minimum.

 

[fordsucks!]

That is a shit ton more coverage. Looks like it doesn't bleed up into other driver's line-of-sight either

 

[sweetk30]

these lights will do for a budget minded upgrade because there a close copy to the way j.w. speaker does there lights .

they have focused patterns and beam layout behind there build over the other cheeper lights that just toss out a ton of led diodes and hope they work and no regard to other drivers getting blinded .

 

[JT88K5]

these lights will do for a budget minded upgrade because there a close copy to the way j.w. speaker does there lights .

they have focused patterns and beam layout behind there build over the other cheeper lights that just toss out a ton of led diodes and hope they work and no regard to other drivers getting blinded .

I read your posts and light choice and was tempted to go that route vs the reasonably priced lights. I would say these are a bit above budget grade. I don’t mind spending money for good quality stuff, but I have my limits on what I think something should cost. You nearly had me convinced they were worth that kind of Jing, and I believe they are for your use as you stated in your post. I just couldn’t pull the trigger on those JW’s for my use case. I only put about 1000 miles a year on the K5 and wanted better but wasn’t willing to spend for the best for headlights. As long as these hold up, I’m very happy with the cost vs improvement.

We should get together and compare them side by side and do some wheelin. You are only a few hours up the road.

 

[JT88K5]

yes, the cut off on the low beam is pretty distinct and very much like a lot of the newer vehicles in that regard.

 

[dyeager535]

General question on beam cut off for the trucks. Due to these things sitting up higher than the average car, do you still blind oncoming drivers as they get closer?

I don't really see a way around that, the truck bulb is a lot higher than many cars, but I assume even with that, it's better than the cheapies with no cutoff.

 

[JT88K5]

General question on beam cut off for the trucks. Due to these things sitting up higher than the average car, do you still blind oncoming drivers as they get closer?

I don't really see a way around that, the truck bulb is a lot higher than many cars, but I assume even with that, it's better than the cheapies with no cutoff.

I think it’s just the opposite. With beam cutoff and the lights being higher, they are pointed downward compared to a car where the lights are pointed at a lesser angle. Think of a 45 degree vs a 30 degree triangle. Polish logic?

I think what matters more is that the lights are adjusted properly. The round light on heeps are the worst imo.

 

[sweetk30]

my k30 is 3" up and on 33" tires and no one flashing me and i made sure my lights were set right after the install .

also when they were in my old tow truck 06 gmc 5500 med duty i had no problems .

 

[dyeager535]

I figured the worst time would be when they nearly pass you due to the light height and angle, I doubt they'd have time to flash.

On my car the beam cutoff is essentially infinity since it's already low to the ground. On a truck, I imagine you have to lose distance if you care about other drivers? But from what I've seen on here, it seems like the range is still better than stock lights, even if adjusted to not blind oncoming drivers.

 

[6872xtc]

I figured the worst time would be when they nearly pass you due to the light height and angle, I doubt they'd have time to flash.

On my car the beam cutoff is essentially infinity since it's already low to the ground. On a truck, I imagine you have to lose distance if you care about other drivers? But from what I've seen on here, it seems like the range is still better than stock lights, even if adjusted to not blind oncoming drivers.

I feel that I get cars shining light up to my eyes as well , not just trucks. The problem of the undulating road surface, dips and bumps, will affect all vehicles. If you aim your car's lights parallel to the ground, you will blind someone too, since the world isn't perfectly flat. I'm not saying that a truck doesn't possibly blind someone more often, but is it solely based on the height of the light source? Possibly this is only a smaller factor. It is definitely easier to meet a vehicle that is lower than yours, for sure, but DOT regulation requires a kick up of the beam pattern on the left side for seeing road signs, just not as much as the right side, so they will give you a flash of light as you meet no matter the vehicle height. At least the last I saw of the DOT light requirements told of the kick up of the pattern.
All of this didn't bother as bad with the old bulbs, because on low beam, the worse glare was right as you met a vehicle. More powerful lights to help the driver, have more time to blind another. But I agree that you have to lose range of view to avoid being rude to others. Cars should have the lights aimed downward a little from what I understood , too.

 

[Colchino]

Thanks, they were marked as DOT approved and seemed to have some design to the reflectors. I wasn’t to keen on the ones that had 3 or 4 rows of individual leds Each with their own little reflector. I’m pretty happy with them for the money.

So you're happy with a company that lied to your face?

 

[sweetk30]

So you're happy with a company that lied to your face?

yep anyone can say its this or that but were is the proof .

reminds me of good old tommy boy with the butchers guaranty

 

[ramack]

Nice yard light

 

[imiceman44]

So you're happy with a company that lied to your face?

Everything in the USA is self certified.
It's a claim and they can say anything they want until someone proves them wrong and they lose business.
Actually the worst is organic, anyone can claim it and that could be harming people that have serious health issues.

 

[JT88K5]

So you're happy with a company that lied to your face?

No, I wouldn’t be happy with a company that lies about their product. Your quote is from 20 years ago, and suggests that DOT approval (whether true or not) doesn’t mean jack. If that is the case, I will admit I was duped into thinking it means something.

When I said “I am happy with them”, I was referring to the headlights, not the company that makes them. After driving for 40 years, I have a good idea in my head what a DOT approved headlight should be, whether DOT is a myth or not.
Bottom line is. I can’t see a reason why a LEO would pull me over for running these lights unless one was out or they were blinding oncoming traffic. Plus, I can at least point to this and plead the 5th. Looks legal to me officer, how was I supposed to know the mfg was blowing smoke.

Somebody asked how they look. The light has to be just right to tell they are black, on a cloudy day you could see it better, but today wasn’t cloudy. I tried to get a picture where you could tell they were black, I think you can get an idea though. Same light all four.

 

[Colchino]

Current DOT website:

www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs

DOT does not approve any motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment items as complying with all applicable FMVSS. That is instead the responsibility of the vehicle or equipment item's original manufacturer.