HIDs or LED light bar?

[15RamSport]

Has anyone swapped out there stock headlight for HIDs? or is the new look adding a LED light bar on the bottom of the bumper? Which route is better? I don't do any offroading, just looking for better/brighter lighting at night. My last vehicle (bmw) was HID/Xenon and the lighting was excellent. I have a 2015 Sport with the Bi-projector lamps. I think i also read somewhere that the 15's require a different hid kit than previous years because of the canbus system? What manufactures are reputable kit for either systle (hid or led bar)? thanks in advance, and if anyone has pics, they'll be appreciated.

 

[jadocs]

I don't know enough about HIDs, but I do know I see threads all the time about issues as a result of installing them. I'm one that went with an LED bar because I will be driving a lot of back roads here pretty soon.

 

[audio1der]

Any 4th gen requires the canbus piece (really just a capcitor across the input terminals). If you drive on public roads, a light bar will blind everyone/be useless so my vote is for HIDs. Putting in a 55w setup will be cheap because you have projectors, but don't expect BMW-level output from the stock projectors. You;d have to spend about $1800 for a proper retrofit to accomplish that.

 

[sbarron]

I went big with 4 10" light bars behind the grill and 2 different pods in each fog light opening wired to the highbeams. Overkill? yes, but I can surely see at night. I only run thee on empty roads, which are abundant in Alaska. I know people say HIDs are better, but your gonna blind people with those if they aren't installed correctly.

 

[MADDOG]

I did both...sort of.

HID low beams, HID fogs, light bar with LED driving lights:

 

[Andy578]

Any 4th gen requires the canbus piece (really just a capcitor across the input terminals). If you drive on public roads, a light bar will blind everyone/be useless so my vote is for HIDs. Putting in a 55w setup will be cheap because you have projectors, but don't expect BMW-level output from the stock projectors. You;d have to spend about $1800 for a proper retrofit to accomplish that.

is it even legal to use a light bar on public roads? i've seen a few people using them when there's no one in front and i love the way they light up the road but a few people have told me it's not legal at all

 

[sbarron]

is it even legal to use a light bar on public roads? i've seen a few people using them when there's no one in front and i love the way they light up the road but a few people have told me it's not legal at all

In Alaska, yes. The only law on the books regarding light levels say how bright they need to be minimum. I've never had an issue, even passing troopers, but I'm always careful to turn them off with coming traffic. I'm sure though that if you were being an ******* with them, the troopers would be able to write all manner of other tickets.

 

[xrsman]

I did it all 55W HID lows, highs, fogs, with a 50" curved led light bar on the bottom of the bumper. Road pic is with the highs (projector+reflector) and light bar.

 

[Rzrman328]

I did it all 55W HID lows, highs, fogs, with a 50" curved led light bar on the bottom of the bumper. Road pic is with the highs (projector+reflector) and light bar.

Looks good...I'd be afraid to rip it off on something.

 

[Galion]

is it even legal to use a light bar on public roads? i've seen a few people using them when there's no one in front and i love the way they light up the road but a few people have told me it's not legal at all

Here in Alberta if it's not SAE approved it has to be covered when on public roads, for the last couple weeks the cops have been on a light bar blitz, ticketing tons of people for uncovered lights.

 

[xrsman]

Looks good...I'd be afraid to rip it off on something.

Thanks! I thought about that too, but I don't usually go mudding or on trails so I figured it would be fine. Plus when when I took my leveled 2011 on a mudding trail I never did hit the wind dam with any rocks or anything. So I figured with being an extra 3" higher it wouldn't ever be an issue lol

 

[CMil527]

both!!

 

[Hitman0002]

Well I dropped my truck off yesterday to do a bunch of stuff. One of those things was a 50in in the lower valance... Like xrsman (sorry xrsman for stealing your idea, it's just a great look). So that being said I will get some pictures when I get it back. Also, I ordered some quad headlights from J at Retroshop. He is doing hid lows, fog HIDs and LEDs. I say if you can afford it do both. Pictures to follow.

 

[jadocs]

Cool how is the LED bar secured on the lower valance?

 

[xrsman]

Cool how is the LED bar secured on the lower valance?

It isn't secured to the valance, it's bolted to the bottom of the steel bumper. With a 50" curved bar there are even 2 holes right in the correct place to bolt in the mounts!

You need to take the valance off, take measurements, cut the holes for the brackets, put the brackets on the truck, put the valance back on, and then put the bar on!

 

[jadocs]

No kidding, that's pretty cool. Are you stock height or lifted?

Do you have any close ups from the front? Love to see it.

 

[Hitman0002]

I had to tell the shop repeatedly to not take off the lower valance but cut through to where the holes were.... Well they listened or got the idea of what I was saying that god. It's just a single row... I like it but I think I am going to go back and get the double row not sure yet though. Oh well I will figure it out. Thanks xrsman for a great idea. The shop guys loved the idea as well. Hopefully I get my new headlights by Wednesday or Thursday. If I get those on before I leave I will post those up as well.

 

[Rzrman328]

Can we get a night pic with your single row?

 

[Hitman0002]

Yeah I am bored so I was planning on going for a ride... Pic to follow later on tonight or tomorrow.

 

[jadocs]

Looks good. What kind of LED bar is it and do you have any closer shots of it mounted?