Lights are horrible!

[RamGuy18]

Honestly I really feel like these lights provided on a 60k truck are borderline dangerous. I need better lighting. I am willing to spend more over time I guess but have about 400 now and want to upgrade fogs,low,high beams. Will do reverse lights after I can comfortably see out of the front. For $400 what’s the best upgrade to low,high,fog without projectors. I saw some good reviews on hicari and jdm astar lights but wanted to know what you guys thought.

 

[pacofortacos]

If you have the stock Quad setup. The 1500's do, I am not positive on the 2500's. Separate high and low beam bulbs?
For a quad.
Google - thunderbulb

Nice cheap upgrade that really helps on light output.

Most LED and HID will just blind the oncoming traffic without helping you see much better.

 

[RamGuy18]

Yes I have the stock quad. I’m not looking to go cheap and get garbage that will affect the other people driving. There are many companies that make good lights and I’ve watched many videos and read in life reviews. Not all blind others! But I want to buy a light that will last me a while, not blind others, and will really make it so my truck is ok to drive at night safely. I’m not looking to spend $29 on a set of lights here obviously I want a decent set that is really going to help me out. I don’t see $400 for fogs,low,high being cheap. I was thinking hid maybe for low/high and led for fog. I want them all to be 5k-6k with great output.

 

[Ratket]

Check with Retro shop, they are a preferred vendor on here and have amazing stuff. People are always pleased with their products and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
Here

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/0212353s-retro-shop-contact-information.8244/

 

[pacofortacos]

Cheap isn't nec. garbage, just a simple bulb upgrade that will not blind other drivers but will increase the light output by over 50%. Just putting a H9 in the low beam will make your lights very usable at night.

I felt the same as you with my stock bulbs on my 16, did the H9 low and (I think) 9011 highs and there is a day and night difference.

As far as I know there is at least one company that has a decent HID - by decent has good light output and very little scatter.

5-6k is pretty hard on oncoming traffic IMO. I know I certainly ***** when a vehicle with lights that hot comes towards me or even follows me for too long.

 

[RamGuy18]

So I heard about the h11 to h9 conversion and want to know how that compares to a led/hid set up. Highs are 9005 not 9011 . Is there a difference in the two? Can they be exchanged like the h11/h9? 5k-6k is a nice white light , def isn’t that obnoxious blue.

 

[Noeyes]

Yes I have the stock quad. I’m not looking to go cheap and get garbage that will affect the other people driving. There are many companies that make good lights and I’ve watched many videos and read in life reviews. Not all blind others! But I want to buy a light that will last me a while, not blind others, and will really make it so my truck is ok to drive at night safely. I’m not looking to spend $29 on a set of lights here obviously I want a decent set that is really going to help me out. I don’t see $400 for fogs,low,high being cheap. I was thinking hid maybe for low/high and led for fog. I want them all to be 5k-6k with great output.

I just bought the new supernova v4 LED bulbs for my quads and I absolutely love them. Haven't had anyone flash me yet and they are incredibly brighter than what was in it before. Plus they have a two year warranty. Got em on black Friday from headlight revolution for 320 shipped with everything needed. Would definitely recommend them.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[pacofortacos]

Yes it is the same as the H9/H11 upgrade. 9011's replace the 9005's same way, much more lumens.

I actually very seldom use the driving lights now.

I haven't seen any comparisons in person.

5k is very white, 6k is pushing the cool white spectrum.

H11 bulbs are optimized for long-life, but output 1350 lumens while H9 bulbs output 2100 lumens but don't last as long. H9 bulbs give both brighter and whiter light output.

According to Daniel Stern the 9005 bulb is spec'd for 1870 lumens and the 9011 (HIR) for 2350.

 

[RamGuy18]

Hmm what did you get for $320? Highs and lows? Or high,low,and fog?

 

[RamGuy18]

Yes it is the same as the H9/H11 upgrade. 9011's replace the 9005's same way, much more lumens.

I actually very seldom use the driving lights now.

I haven't seen any comparisons in person.

5k is very white, 6k is pushing the cool white spectrum.

H11 bulbs are optimized for long-life, but output 1350 lumens while H9 bulbs output 2100 lumens but don't last as long. H9 bulbs give both brighter and whiter light output.

According to Daniel Stern the 9005 bulb is spec'd for 1870 lumens and the 9011 (HIR) for 2350.

Ok wow didn’t know there was a high bulb change like the low change. I am really looking for 5k color. I don’t want to agrivated anyone else driving I just want to be able to see.

 

[RamGuy18]

Now what about putting a h9 led in a h11 or putting a 9011 led in 9005? I understand how it works with halogen but what about led?

 

[pacofortacos]

As far as I have read, most LED will look brighter to look at them but not actually give you more light for visibility if the housings were not designed for them due to scatter, etc..

I agree the stock light output is poor, but that seems to be a common thing anymore and I think it may be some gov. regulation as to not blind oncoming traffic.

I do know the H9 low beam keeps the stock drastic cutoff and that helps not blind oncoming traffic. By cutoff I mean if you look at the light output there is a point where it just doesn't shine above/past that point and is a fairly distinct line on my 16.

 

[TatertotScott]

DDMTuning has good HID upgrades that keep stock beam pattern but are way brighter than even the H9, which is another great upgrade.

I prefer HID in 4500k or less as I like to see, not show.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

 

[PoMansRam]

Sorry if I missed it. It's hard to keep up with all the headlamp and lamp replacement threads! Will this h11 to h9 lamp conversion work with the 2015+ Ram's CAN bus system? I would imagine the higher lumens of the h9 draw more current and many of the LEDs that fit will draw less. How does this work with the CAN bus?

Having to hack up an h9 bulb so it will fit in an h11 spot doesn't make me so nervous, but I'd hate to ruin the factory harness or melt the factory headlamp housings..

 

[Jaywoo]

I’m also curious what’s involved with switching from a H11 to a H9. And the temps involved so I don’t melt the housing.

 

[TatertotScott]

Sorry if I missed it. It's hard to keep up with all the headlamp and lamp replacement threads! Will this h11 to h9 lamp conversion work with the 2015+ Ram's CAN bus system? I would imagine the higher lumens of the h9 draw more current and many of the LEDs that fit will draw less. How does this work with the CAN bus?

Having to hack up an h9 bulb so it will fit in an h11 spot doesn't make me so nervous, but I'd hate to ruin the factory harness or melt the factory headlamp housings..

The extra draw will have no negative impact as it is only 10 watts difference.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

 

[RamGuy18]

DDMTuning has good HID upgrades that keep stock beam pattern but are way brighter than even the H9, which is another great upgrade.

I prefer HID in 4500k or less as I like to see, not show.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

Ok I looked into the ddm tuning and they look good. What HID kit do you recommend? 35 watt or 55 watt? Should I go led for the fogs or hid on all 3 low/high/fog?

 

[TatertotScott]

HID, 35watt lows, I haven't yet tried LED highs, but they would be my choice.

Haven't swapped fogs, as I have been happy wuth theur performance on the unlit country rosfs I drive on a daily basis.

Common sense isn't...nor is common decency.

 

[turkeybird56]

Not to gloat, as I came from a MY 15 ED with Quads, I am so happy with MY 19 that has OEM LED, now I can actually see at least 10 feet. The only comment on lighting: LED's may have more output and scatter, but if U live in a region where U get a lot of ice/snow buildup, LED's are a lot cooler, just an observation... Good Luck on yer search...

BY COOLER: I mean not how they look, BUT in heat output and the possibility of frozen condensation on headlights lenses,,,,......

 

[pacofortacos]

No drawback to the H9 low beam, mine have been in for over a year.
As mentioned, they are only 10 watts more so not much current draw than the H11's

Best part is they are only about $7 each.
They will not last as long as the stock headlamps as they are not long life bulbs