Brighter Headlights?!

The stock headlights on my SR5 are trash. Anyways, has anyone had experience with swapping out their bulbs and getting a brighter light? If so, what were your results and what did you use? I am not really looking to replace the whole housing either

 

Be prepared to get hammered to "Use the Search" etc. I know a lot of folks change to LED, but I have read more than I care to on the subject and the end result is, LED will give you a perceived brighter output, but the beam is far less focused and more just glaring light. So in reality, the LED produce a brighter confused kind of light. Some folks have switched to HID. This is the best option as they are a brighter, crisp light, still emitted as a spherical light output that will increase the intensity of the light and keep the light focussed.

 

^ that.

your best option for good output without changing the headlight housing or lenses is a HID kit. i suggest this one: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hyluxtek-hid-kit-with-cnlight-ball-bulbs.457461/

 

HID

 

Yeah HID is good an all, but kind of a pain in the ass. LED is just fine and you will notice a major difference in brightness. I have had HID in the past and the install is about 20 or 30 minutes. I 've been using LED lately and they are super bright and install in about 5 minutes. Direct replacement on the factory bulb.

17 Tacoma TRD Sport
Installed HIKARI LED in my High beams https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LCE19OI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Installed AuxBeam F-16 in my Low beams https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KYZU604/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Installed AuxBeam S2 in my fog lights https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KFBPDAA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For the price of these they are great and a nice clean light projection. Very white with little to no blue hue. Fogs, Highs, and Low's are all H11 so you could do Hikari in all and they are very bright.

 

all looks like good info, but what's a pain in the ass about HID's? the install?

 

Just the ballasts and having to mount them somewhere so they aren't hanging...
The issue with the flicker sometimes
They don't last as long as LED with LED having roughly 25,000 hours+ opposed to roughly 5000 hours with HID
HID has a lot of moving parts and LED doesn't and in most cases LED are waterproof and shockproof.
Heat emission is lower on LED compared to HID
Lower power draw with LED
Instant light with LED opposed to most HID has a slow warm up.
LED seems more heavy duty and HID seems more fragile

 

H9 swap

 

What moving parts do HIDs have?

with regards to OPs question: HID is better for output/throw but do require extra hardware (harness/ballasts). LED is direct plug and play but doesn't offer the same output/throw as HID.

 

With regards to moving parts, there is just more to an HID setup than a LED setup. Sorry if that caused any confusion. HID also has a filament and LED doesn't so another "moving" part.

 

HID+Morimoto XB

 

Morimoto XB is a LED fog light right? Do you have a picture with the Morimoto XB off and just the HID to get a good comparison?

 

I have auxbeam h11 f16 for low beams in my offroad. Compared to factory halogen its night and day. Yes I believe they could be better but for the $50ish I paid I'm happy, still need to get new fogs

 

I put opt7 LEDs in mine. They were an improvement, but I agree, for best results you should retrofit. Had I kept it, I would have done it as it was on my to do list.

Apparently this is a reoccurring problem because I have the same issue on my first gen. Sometimes it seems like the lights aren’t on at all.

 

Yes the XBs are led projector fogs.
I don’t have a comparison pic right now but I can do one later when it gets dark.

 

I just installed Hikari LEDs for my low beams a couple of weeks ago. They look a lot brighter when you stand in front of the truck, but....
When you're behind the wheel, they definitely aren't any brighter than the factory bulbs. I like the look though.
It was a Christmas gift. Im not complaining.

 

great info for consideration.
but none of that was ever any kind of PITA for me personally.

 

I have adjusted my low beam up 3 complete turns, and the light projection is a lot better. The high beams are linked to the low beams and therefore your high beams project higher also.

 

No no, of course not. It's not really a big CON I suppose. Just some major differences. If you give someone an LED who has never seen an HID and is used to standard halogen they are gonna be like WOW. Its just easier for a typical person to install an LED over HID and in my opinion is a plug and play and forget about it no fuss no hassle.

 

How did you adjust them up? I think I might want to do this. I think mine are pointed kinda low as well.