Quick question: Brightest street legal bulb for 1st gen headlights?

Thanks for any answers.

 

Anything that isn't one of those retina-burning LED bars!

Also, in my experience, it's not a matter of what's legal and what isn't; It's a matter of what local law enforcement is willing to overlook. I have aftermarket headlights on my 2nd Gen that are super bright (not LED though); Haven't been pulled over yet in the roughly four months since I put them in (and I've driven into New Jersey, which seems to have stricter laws than my home state of Pennsylvania, since installing the headlights), so I'm guessing my headlights are legal.

On another note, I put Christmas lights on truck every year, which has been confirmed as illegal in Pennsylvania by a cop I know; However, I've never been pulled over for the Christmas lights...

 

Thanks... any brand specific recos for 1st gen ?

 

I think @crashnburn80 would know specifically what H4 bulb is top at the moment.

 

I just bought some on Amazon; I'm guessing they make them for 1st Gens too...

Look up AmeriLite LED Halo headlights; It says they are LEDs, but I feel like they're not "true" LEDs.

 

Thank you sir

 

I've been satisfied with the AmeriLites…

 

Thanks!

 

@Taco critter

Do you have LED headlights on the Baywatchmobile?

 

You don’t need ultra bright lights. You need lights that project light in a specific direction. And the stock lights (if clean and the lenses aren’t fogged) do a fine job.

Generally, the ultra bright lights (i.e. LED bulbs) don’t do that. You throw leds in your stock or even aftermarket housings and all they do is smear the light. It appears brighter when you stand in front of it because it blinds you (and other drivers). I’ve seen people brag about how bright their bro LED lights are, and the pics are bright for sure, but they illuminate the tree tops!

There is a lot to be said for OEM or at least CAPA certified stock housings (search for the tyc brand from rock auto), and a good set of halogen bulbs. Search for the proper headlight ungrade and there is a wire harness/relay assembly, and super bright halogen bulbs (Osram). If you desperately need brighter lights than that, then go with HID retrofits, but NOT the type that simply plug into the stock housings.

If you want brighter lights for offroading, just get some accessory LED light bars (i.e. ditch lights and a roof bar).

 

Philips xtravision +100 H4 bulbs are phenomenal. I’ve not used the +130’s but I’d imagine they’re slightly whiter than the 100’s.

Philips X-treme Vision +130% Headlight Bulbs (Pack of 2) (H4 60/55W)

$33 PHILIPS X-treme Vision +130% Headlight Bulbs (Pack of 2) (H4 60/55W)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMEEOV2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_9leeGbJZW7ZSC

 

perfect. Thanks for all the info.

 

Just for reference, this is how bad your light smears with just foggy lenses (ones that have even been "restored" using those polishing kits).

Old low beams, note you can see my gutters from like 15 feet away:

New low beams (CAPA certified housings from Rock Auto), note you can barely even see the alarm sign on the garage door.

 

Show the OP yours!

 

Take a picture of the truck with them turned on...?

 

@Loia I forgot to mention. You say in your OP that you want *street legal* lights

It's largely depends on your state, but it's likely that even the "proper headlight upgrade" is NOT street legal.

This is due to the brightness. The main difference is that while the LEDs are bright, they smear the light output because of the way the reflector housings are precisely designed to reflect the light from a halogen bulb. @crashnburn80 goes into a lot more detail in his various posts about it if you'd like to read up on that (there's a thread called something like "why not to run LEDs/HIDs in halogen housings" or something like that).

The Osram bulbs are also not technically street legal, but because they are still halogen bulbs, they have the same cutoff beam pattern as stock, they're just brighter. I noticed that with my wiring harness alone, that my light output increased, which was more than sufficient for me.

So in a sense, they're the least illegal of the illegal bulbs, lol.

That said, I can see plenty far enough down the road with my sylvanias and non-fogged housings, that I see no need for more light output (for street use). Off road is another question entirely.

 

I Ran the Philips +60 and +100 in both 1st and 2nd gen reflectors and I was shocked how bright they were compared to stock. But as mentioned, lenses must be clear.

 

Do you use anything to prevent the new headlights from fogging or do you replace them every few years?

 

You can protect them with various waxes or whatever.

Seeing as how mine lasted nearly 15 years before they got bad enough to warrant dealing with them, I'm likely to just let laziness take hold and I'll replace them in another 15 years.

 

Check out Headlight Revolution on YouTube. I ordered lights through them. They’re extremely bright high and low beam but I never get flashed because the way the lights are designed, they put the light on the road and not in to the eyes of oncoming traffic. (OEM housings). They weren’t cheap but I saved money and time in the long run because I don’t feel the need to run extra lights I.e. light bar. Do a lot of driving in the dark, cuz it’s winter time in Alaska...