Retrofit or OEM headlights?

I did retrofits for under 100
55w hid
Not the best but beats 600...

 

No need to jump that high. I was wondering if they are protected some way so they can take "tapping" well, or it is just bolted to the bumper surface - anyway your answer "don't care" explains it. I have stock bumper and I'm looking to steal ideas for led bar myself.

 

Have a link or anything to whatever process you followed? Thinking of making my own retrofits soonish

 

I prefer a solution that can be run on the street, meaning not a light bar. I want good light all the time, not just when no other vehicles are around. Otherwise that is a crap compromise IMO. You can over double light output for less than $110.

Massive headlight upgrade for a fraction of the price of retros:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-not-led-or-hid.398066/

Dedicated 1st gen version thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/proper-headlight-upgrade.407879/

Why you shouldn't try it with just LEDs/HIDs alone:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/

 

I've owned my Taco since Nov 2011. Items hit with my front bumper, up to this point, 1,000,000 bugs. I'm taking my Taco, in a road trip, from California, to Panama. I wasn't looking for "protection", so much as the ability to see at night, while in some Central American jungle.

The lightbar, came with a swivel attachment, and the bumper was drilled, to accept said attachments.

 

Your first link, is for a Gen 2, but your last link is pure gold. Thanks for this post!

 

Thanks for the info. With so many a-holes who don't know how to park I would like to have some solid metal in front of the LED bar. Of course no problem in the jungle but unless you never park on public place you are very lucky - 6 years and no bump .

Anyway good luck in the jungle.

 

The info in the first link works just the same on the first gen, as demonstrated in the 2nd link. They both take the same H4 headlights.

I've done it on my 89, 94, 03 and 2015 Toyota pickups/Tacomas. The sealed beam trucks also require an H4 conversion.

 

Only if there's a group buy for said retros

 

If you all are doing your own retro fit for under $300 I need to look into going that route! The stock toyota headlights in my opinion are absolute garbage. My only dilemma is I like the look of OEM headlights. Never been a huge fan of Aftermarket headlights haha

 

Don't know what brand parts they are using to get under $300

 

Everybody has their reasons for the parts they have chosen, retrofitters have theirs and light bar folks too...

 

Then you have the folks throwing LEDs in their stock housings...

 

Yeah but there are some oem headlights that actually work well with LED's too. The problem I have with the current LED setups is that they aren't as bright.

 

Probably these + any HID kit

$23 Nilight - 10041P 2.5" Mini Projector Lens for H1 Bulb Headlights Retrofit, Custom Headlamps Conversion:Chrome Shround,2 Years Warranty

https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-Mini-Bixenon-Projector-Lens/dp/B00B21R0TA/

 

Oh lord

 

Define "work well".

Physics is physics. LEDs simply don't throw light in the same direction as halogens, so putting them in any oem type halogen housings (genuine oem or crappier aftermarket) will never work as well as halogens, hence all the work @crashnburn80 put into comparing all the different options (including high end LEDs that claim a Halogen-like beam), and ultimately still recommends halogens vs. any other plug in bulb.

Initially, I opted to just do the heavy duty harness and new housings from the "ultimate upgrade (1st gen version)" because as a daily driver, I wanted the bulbs to last more than ~6months. Even though I only had "normal" bulbs (not stock, but not the bright Osrams, either - Sylvanias, I think), I could still notice a difference in brightness just with the harness (although it was slight).

Now that my Taco is not my DD anymore, I just may throw in the Osram bulbs for the extra brightness - just cause they cost about the same as the bulbs I have in now. For offroading though, IMO, a roof mounted lightbar (LED, HID, whatever) will always be a better option than even the brightest and most expensive headlight option (retros, LEDs, ultimate upgrade, etc...) because you don't get nearly the shadows when your light is mounted higher.

 

From TRS the Morimoto kit is $270, then the TW discount. use your stock housings (free). easy to figure out

if they don't feel comfortable doing it themselves they can then pay for the housing services.

 

theres a guy who reviewed some led h4 bulbs from philips. forgot which gen tacoma but the stock housing gave the same cutoff as the halogen when using led bulbs. No blinding people on the other side of the road.

 

Ok I was adding in new housings. And add build materials to that