Headlights on 2019 trucks

[Elkman]

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does an annual evaluation of trucks that includes crash testing and visibility from the headlights on low and high beam settings and on curves. Where I live there are dark roads with no street lights and no city lighting and curvy roads with deer around at night.

All the pickups from Ford, Nissan, Chevy, Toyota, and Ram, had a Poor rating for the headlamps. I was not all that surprised as all these manufacturers have gone to very stylish but much smaller headlamp reflectors.

Interesting in feedback from others who drive a 2019 truck out in the country as to how your new truck compares to other vehicles you drive. This is one area where the local dealers are not likely to let me drive off into the boonies to evaluate the headlights - though it does not hurt to ask.

 

[iLLeStEyECoN]

If I recall correctly, the poor ratings are due to their effect on oncoming drivers, not their ability.


2019 RAM 1500 Laramie 4x4

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[Jus Cruisin]

Over 8,000 miles and I have yet to use the high beams. And I never get flashed from oncoming traffic.

 

[TcRoc]

I read a article a bit ago on the Ram Led’s And it wasn’t a good rating. I think I commented on another thread too.. it’s weird .. open road they r great... I go down back roads they r not good at all even with high beams...there is poor side projection... open road all is good.. I don’t get it..

 

[barr0208]

drove from alberta up and down hills twisting 2 lane roads and 4 lane they are way better than my 2016 Laramie.

 

[vulf]

I don't have one of these trucks, but I'm in the market possibly and have been paying close attention to the headlight ratings. It's important to note that Ram offers both LED reflector headlights and LED projector headlights. The IIHS describes the light output from the reflectors as fair to inadequate on the straightaway and left curves and good on the right curve tests. Light from the projectors was good in all tests. The only reason the overall score for the projector LEDs was poor was due to glare for oncoming drivers.

I have a 2017 F150 with factory LED reflectors. I consider the light output to be very good generally, and better than any vehicle I've owned so far. However, the IIHS rates light output from my 2017 F150 Platinum as inadequate in all tests. The 2019 Ram LED reflectors have similar output on the right side of the road on straightaways, better light output on the left side on straightaways, and better light output on both curves. I drive a lot on dark highways in Montana and consider my "inadequate" headlights to be pretty good. My wife and I frequently comment to each other that we love having a vehicle with such good headlights. So by comparison I'd expect the Ram LED reflectors to be better than what I already consider good, and I'd expect the LED projectors to be excellent.

I realize that's not direct feedback on these trucks, but it may offer some perspective on how the IIHS ratings compare to real world experiences.

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[yakalong]

I haven't hit anything....yet

 

[goldeneyee]

I have leds on my 2019 RAM and I think they far surpass the headlights on my 2017 RAM. They are bright and light up my 650' driveway extremely well. I would say difficult to improve upon using present technology.

 

[JustJoeAKABeans]

Have 2019 1500 new style with LED projectors, (also have the driving or fog lights below bumper) dark unlit roads Vermont, New Hampshire light it up, also very good sides of road illumination to spot those shiney deer eyes at night.

 

[DwnDak]

drove from alberta up and down hills twisting 2 lane roads and 4 lane they are way better than my 2016 Laramie.

So is candle light. Lol. My 2016 projectors were garbage. The 300C has had HID since back in the original release of the newer body. I was actually frustrated the 2016 had halogen projectors. My gf's Accord, which is also a 16 has LED strip lights that blow me away. They're amazing.

I just pulled the trigger on a new 19 Sport... I think the headlights are the part I'm the most excited for... How sad is that? Lol

 

[brian42]

There are two styles of LED lighting for the '19 RAM...reflector (the bigger unit like you see on the Big Horns) and projector (lower profile with two smaller visible "bulbs"). I'm guessing the projector ones are better since they are on the higher models.

Even if my reflector LEDs are the "bottom of the barrel" they are light years better than the halogen lights I had on my last truck.

It's all relative (this is my first vehicle with non-halogen lights) but I am very happy with the LEDs on my Big Horn.

 

[Rherman1]

I had the FXR projector in my 14 express with 3500 HID bulbs. I am hoping my LED's on my new 19 bighorn will be as good.

 

[Fireman48]

Im pretty impressed with the LED lights on my 2019 . I use the auto high beam options which works great and I never get flashed.

 

[MK70SS]

Traded a 2016 F350 for my 2019 3500HD. Ram’s headlights are FAR better than my Ford’s were. I too live out in the country where we have no streetlights.