Upgrading Stock Head/Taillights - 21' Off-Road

I was looking to upgrade my stock head/taillights on my 21' off road.

I have seen these, and I am starting to really like them. Has anybody had any experience with them? I have the bed LED installed, and do not have LED headlights. Are these actually plug-n-play, or do I need to look out for anything so I don't mess anything up?

Headlight - Unique Style Racing

Taillight - Unique Style Racing: I have a black tacoma, and i like the black portion without actually "blacking out" the whole cover/light.

Thanks for your help!!

 

Like the look.
Want to see them lit in the dark in all modes before I'd consider handing over my money.

 

You do realize that these do not have LED headlight lamps, right?
If you pick the optional LEDs, you'll just piss off oncoming drivers.

 

Ahhh, okay. But don't other trucks have LEDs? They don't seem to blind but are just more brighter, correct? I think I'm missing something

 

Yeah, I need to do a bit more research for the headlights. I might just pull the plug on the taillights.

 

The other headlights that have led are designed to have led. These are some cheap knock offs not designed for an led

 

If you drive in the dark a lot, how often are you pretty much blinded by trucks (and cars) with LEDs? Think about it. Maybe I'm just an old fuck with bad eyes.

 

So I'd be like those assholes with the green headlights then?

Might just go with the taillights and skip those headlights.

 

Depo is a good aftermarket brand but they just look like blacked our OE style headlights. The only LED part of these are the daytime running light.

 

The only LED part of these are the daytime running light. They likely have a halogen bulb for the low beam and high beam.

 

Yep! I don't mind the LEDs, just not those that are not intended to be LEDs.

I catch myself staring at headlights that I drive past. Fucking stupid, I know.

 

Sort of like the stock ones that came with my truck? LED driving lights (I think, right??), and regular low/high beam halogens

 

That is correct. The LED daytime running light is the L shaped LED bar. Depo makes alot of reproduction OE parts and usually has blacked out options. This would be a downgrade. You'd be better off opening your headlights and painting the chrome black and then install an LED or HID low beam bulb. A good quality properly aimed LED or HID won't blind anyone as its a projector.

 

Thanks. After getting some feedback, I think I am going to go with the taillights, and just keep my current headlights. No need to change them, just wanted to go with a different look is all.

Replacing the taillights should be okay you think?

 

Sorry, but what you referenced look like some cheap Ali Baba-type stuff. There's an incredible headlight comparison thread here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

Speaking in generalities: virtually all LED bulbs have light leaks that both reduces distance and blinds oncoming drivers - the stock bulb outperforms most LEDs in fact. I would expect the ones you referenced to be as crappy as others. I think the factory LEDs (~$1k I think) are the best as of right now - they're also tested in that thread. But see Post 2 for why I just trimmed Philips H9 bulbs and I'm very happy.

For taillights - I went with Meso Stage 1 recently because they're super bright, they turn the rear blinker yellow, and the DRLs are significantly brighter. Here's a youtube video comparison vs stock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOYjqmYQjD4

 

I don't see why not. Just keep in mind they are likely slightly lower quality that OE. Be careful on the mounting tabs and not to over torque the fasteners.

 

Just because a bulb outputs more (or even just sprays a wider pattern and LOOKS like there's more light) doesn't mean it's sufficient. Many times it just puts out a wide pattern with poor cutoff (which is why you get blinded by other folks with drop-ins that look like bright headlights), but they don't actually project down the road as far as even a stock setup.

 

You do you - it looks Toyota has changed the taillights very frequently - I'm fond of the ones on my 2018 for lack of chrome & more black than other years. My only experience is wasting a few couple hundred on taillights for a truck years ago, which had poor seals, let in water, and corroded the crap out of the sockets & wiring. My 2 cents!

 

Thanks for your replies. I was on the fence about the headlights in the first place. It made sense for me to not get them after reading the replies; these are just some underquality headlights that I am not willing to put on my $40K something truck. I think after what you experienced with your taillights, and learning that my current ones are likely better, I'm going to happily stick with what I have. I trust opinions on here, and it does make sense to opt for those that will not damage my current setup over these cheaper lights. Thank you!!

 

In my opinion if you’re spending that much for knockoff tails, go OEM for just a bit more.
https://www.sparksparts.com/p-3rd-gen-tacoma-trd-pro-tail-light-kit-pkprotctl
For headlights, go all out with a harness and OEM LED
81110-04290
81150-04290