Headlight UpGrade: PROS & CONS

Hey guys!

So Im looking to upgrade my headlights and fog lights. A lot of you have taken the LED, projection, and retrofit route. So if you can answer, I have a few questions to address.

1. Out of the three, which one is best for distant lighting and foggy weather? Also, I know these three upgrades produced a lot of light. Will they blind oncoming traffic?

2. Out of the three, which one is easy to install?

3. And finally, which one of the three do you get the most bang for your buck?

If theres anything Im missing to consider, please let me know.
(I have a 2014 DCLB Taco PreRunner SR5)

 

Option 4.
High powered halogens, high performing best bang for the buck.

The Ultimate Headlight Upgrade:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-not-led-or-hid.398066/

Fogs:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-foglight-upgrade-not-led-or-hid.435419/

Why you should not put LEDs into your stock headlights/foglights without a full retrofit:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/


1) Option 4 will produce the best light color for foggy/bad weather driving and not blind oncoming drivers. LEDs in stock lights will blind oncoming drivers (see above thread). Cheap projectors like Spyder are known to have a garbage beam pattern and poor quality. A Retrofit is still a projector, but usually high quality units that are swapped into the OEM housing. Full retrofits will have sharp cut offs and allow you to run high output HIDs or LEDs, but are costly.

2) Option 4. Plug and play with no need to remove the housings.

3) Option 4. Best bang for the buck by far. See how LEDs compare in the last thread.

 

Thanks bro! I have a lot of reading to do now. Do you have any pics of your light set up?

 

Go with silverstar ultras

 

Those threads are mine, with plenty of pics in them, and have linked threads with output pics from other members.

Sylvania Silverstars actually put out less lumens than stock due to their coating, they are just much whiter. Osram Silverstars (not readily available in the US)on the other hand are not coated and put out a noticeable improvement over stock.

 

I use to use Sylvania at one point but after the constant burn out on them I stopped using them.

 

@crashnburn80 Ok so your mod is definitely a better alternative to others. I am convinced so thank you.

So, in order to do this mod, first I need to check if my taco is grounded. Can I just assume that it is because it is a 2014?

Second, I read that I will need a harness for both headlights and fogs when doing this mod, correct?

Thirdly, I want a long er lasting bulb than anything so are the Volsas' the way to go? Not sure which bulb my taco takes. Either H11 or H9?

And finally, I love the Pro-style OEM smoked lights, but do they make them for my 2014?

Recommendations on bulb type and harness and where to get them is greatly appreciated.

 

First:
If your Taco does not have daytime running lights that use the actual headlights (not the amber indicators) chances are your Taco is conventionally switched like mine. Still a good idea to check first. You can get a voltage meter for cheap at Harbor Freight. Or even the old school style bulb voltage detector one would work.

Second:
If you want the best possible outcome, yes. The harness reduces voltage drop and makes the bulbs burn brighter. If you go with the Volsa's you do not strictly need the headlight harness though you will get better output with one. The output will not be up to the 85w bulb version though.

Third:
Yes, if you are after longer life the Volsas may be the better route. I don't know the hour rating on those bulbs as they are new. The outgoing Osram 70w version had longer life than the 85w bulbs. You might email Candlepower and see what they say for the hour rating. By comparison, the 85w bulbs are 200 hours. Your truck takes H4 headlights and H11 fogs.

Finally:
The Pro lights will fit your 2014. They fit 2012-2015. Note that they are not required for the headlight upgrade, just a cosmetic enhancement.

Recommendations:
All links of where or how to purchase are in the respective threads.

 

I just bought a pair of Sylvania Silverstar Ultra 9003 bulbs a few minutes ago to replace the stock ones...one finally went after 6 years(picked up the truck in Sept 2010). Hopefully this will produce a brighter beam than the OEM bulbs.

 

'This' being the upgrade I mentioned? Yes, no comparison. Over 2x the output.

Despite Sylvania's marketing claims, if you look at the Silverstar specs the bulbs actually have less lumen output due to their coating and shorter life than stock bulbs. But people see a whiter light due to the coating and misbelieve they are brighter when by the manufactures own published lumen specs they are not.

 

Can I Use the 2012-2015 Headlamps and grill and front bumper on a 2009 Tacoma SR5 4dr Manual with hood scoop? Thx.

 

Welcome

Try post here also
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/2nd-gen-tacomas-2005-2015.5/