alpharex headlights?

No, you have to order the LED package when you order your truck

 

Hmm, I didnt know the SR / SR5 models had that option. Learned something new

 

you shouldn't really tailor your headlights to off-road driving (unless it's a dedicated trail rig). that's what off-road lighting is for. alpharex are "brighter" if you ignore what they're supposed to do - in that they're supposed to throw light farther into the distance for driving. point a flashlight straight at the ground and it's going to be "brighter" than pointing it at the sky.

 

I believe only the SR5. I don’t think the SR allowed for that option. The SR5 allows for all options except the TRD OR package which adds the locker and terrain management. Otherwise, I have the BSM, backup sensors 360 camera. No leather or sunroof. I’ve upgraded to front and rear lockers aftermarket, skid plates. Just ordered rock sliders from Cali raised. I knew I wanted some comfort options, but also knew I had specific plans for the truck. Paying the additional $7,000 for the TRD package didn’t make sense. I only added about $5,000 of upgrades so far and the truck is much more capable then the TRD OR.

 

I don't think you got the OEM LED headlights because you have a SR5. toyota OEM LED are only available for TRD.

what you got was probably dealer LED package with some cheap LED drop ins.

do you have pics of the headlights that were on your truck when first bought?

Edit:

OEM LED headlights look like this

 

Pointing a flashlight at the ground you say?

 

You realize the AlphaRex pattern is backward in that photo, right? It isn’t a legitimate headlight at all, it is a short range flood light, which is not what you want in a headlight. You want distance light, not short range foreground light. And those are the Gen1 Morimotos, the Gen2s are significantly brighter.

 

Yes, @Saturnine statement about pointing a flashlight at the ground reminded me of this image you shared. And also shows what @rdvm1972 likes about the arex. Not that that is good as you state.

 

What makes them not as good as I state?

 

Probably right

 

Refer to @crashnburn80 extensive explanations.

 

Limited / Nightshade also get them

 

They're good as a floodlight, which I suppose is what you're after but inherently bad as a headlight, which is what they are.

 

See post #75 on page 4 of this thread.

 

I trust the science and data that @crashnburn80 has provided us all here. There is no personal opinion, the pics of the AlphaRex light output clearly show it’s an assbackwards light pattern for headlights. Even AlphaRex users on TW will admit they suck after buying them. You fell for the marketing hype and bling without actually understanding how headlight patterns work before purchasing. Very few have made the purchase for a reason. I think you are the first and only one to say they had OEM LEDs from Toyota and sold them in lieu of AlphaRex headlights.
If you like them then good for you, you’re keeping AlphaRex in business. BTW, you could have saved a few hundred dollars and just bought the original Chinese version. The AlphaRex are just re-packaged Chinese headlights with a $700 up charge.

 

i always forget the limited exists lol

 

I have the AlphaRex lights, I like them, I have had no issues with them, and I noticed an immediate output difference over stock projectors. So, I would not say that these "suck" or are "cheap Chinese crap lights" at all. While I do agree with what @crashnburn80 has stated with his highly technical and scientific review of the difference in the aftermarket lights, personally, I have had Morimoto lights before on a different vehicle and they were absolutely worthless and a complete waste of money, and ended up buying OEM LED headlights to replace.

While I understand that just about everything is manufactured in China anymore, there are at times, items that do come out of China that are sometimes decent. The AlphaRex is overpriced (agreed), maybe doesn't have the best scientific light output overall (agreed), and most should stay with OEM (agreed). However, they are well built, have helped me out massively during a few snowstorms more than my OEM lights ever could, and I am overall happy with them. The trash-talking on some of these companies is a bit jejune (naive, simplistic, and superficial). Like them or not, people will buy them regardless, they look good, function for me perfectly, and if someone else doesn't buy them - fine. I happily installed them and would again happily regardless of the price. That is my $0.02 on this - everyone can think what they want.

 

The Gen 1 Morimoto lights were pretty meh at best. An H9 swap got nearly the same output in the OEM halogen assemblies, with better uplight and the OEM halogens had vastly superior high beams. Kinda painful to spend that kind of money and get the same performance as an $16 bulb swap, and take a loss on the high beams. The Gen2 Morimotos are a big improvement over the Gen 1 version. Full review of the gen 2 units is available here in post #4548. They boost a 54% improvement in low beam intensity over the Gen 1, and a 21% improvement on the high beams. So I'd agree that the Gen 1 units are not an effective use of hard earned dollars, but the Gen 2 units are a different animal.

 

I do not disagree with you or your method. However, I will not purchase any Morimoto full headlight assembly again - just feel like a lot of companies have less budget than what time, energy, and budget a manufacturer could possibly have. I know Morimoto is a good company overall, however, the AlphaRex was just a better overall for me. I did a bulb swap in my OEM projectors and was not satisfied with the output and the overall performance of the light. So, I spent hours researching and landed on AlphaRex - have not had really any regrets beyond the cost it took to get them. Beyond that, I don't really care what the opinions are on these, form and function have worked out for me massively.

I also read this post about the Gen 2's and was not sold on that direction. Based on that I made the decision I was most comfortable with, and so far again, have been happy with that decision. To each their own, especially since it was my bank account that took the hit overall. Anyone can say what they want about the headlights, and I personally disagree. I feel they work just fine once adjusted correctly, and since you can add additional light output by use of better fog lights, lightbars, Et Cetera - there really isn't a concern for me about the lack of high beam output.

All good. I still respect and greatly appreciate your research into the difference in the light output.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwFRIlpAZ_k
I would have gotten OEM when ordering my truck