Bulb replacement recommendations

You're most likely going to find that OEM headlight housings are on galactic back order due to COVID these days. There are folks here that have been waiting patiently for many months for them. That said, you're going to be at the back of the line, but don't let that stop you. I'd recommend the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade (based on personal experience) - even with your existing housings. Just restore them temporarily while you wait for the new ones to come in.

As another thought, if you're worried about wildlife running out in front of your truck, why not consider some additional lighting. Many of us are running Diode Dynamics SS3 fogs based on @crashnburn80's extensive testing and recommendations. Trust me, having run that combination for quite some time, you won't be wanting for more light.

 

Yeah, I'm all in as far as the Diode Dynamics fogs, etc. As I understand it they are coming out with a new OEM fit and look high output offering. I kinda wanted to see what those look like, but know little else as far as how their actual output compares to current offerings.

I've also seen and considered the Mikimoto offerings at a place called HR (Headlight Revelation) that claim to be OEM quality. These look really good but are next-level pricy and without your background and or real-world knowledge you never really know what you are getting until they are installed and headed down the road. Have you had any experience with these?

 

Let's just say I avoid Headlight Revolution like the plague. Wildly overblown claims of performance and highly questionable test results are just two of the better reasons not to trust them.

 

Thats too bad, when I found them I was really hipped. This for the same reason that I appreciate your efforts. I was of the hope that I had found a resource that could reliably help cut through the frustration of advertised hype vs. actual real-world quality and performance etc.

I know they are ultra-expensive but I had chalked that up to maybe reviling what high-quality LEDs cost. Again thinking maybe this is what quality costs once the smoke clears. I have to say I have felt the temptation of fast money before and it is a powerful thing.

 

Truth be told, you have found that resource. It's @crashnburn80 here at TW!

 

Determining advertised hype vs actual performance in lighting can be frustrating. Here is an example, Headlight Revolution promoted the 2nd Gen Morimotos as 500% brighter based on their lux numbers compared to stock, when they were actually only 60% brighter, aka the same as a halogen bulb upgrade for the low beam. Headlight Revolution is owned by the Driven Lighting Group, which includes many companies and brands, including Morimoto. Here is the DLG umbrella of companies that are all owned by the same company. So having HR promote Morimoto, isn't as independent and unbiased as it may first appear, as it is actually a product owned by the same company.

 

This also helps explain how in Headlight Revolution's YouTube videos where they do "unbiased testing," brands they sell (and / or own) always seem to win. Funny how that works.

Now that everyone has the organizational chart, picking future winners will be much simpler.

 

Yeah, I'm getting that feeling myself. It is hard to find a nonbias professional at anything these days. One who's motivation is not fame but to truly understand the what, where, when, and whys of their interest out of intrigue and passion. It is refreshing to experience such gifted people, expechelly when they are ge

I have a real problem with deception of any kind. Life is too short and is hard enough without people causing harm by purposely miss leading each other. I personally have failed substantively in business as a result of refusing to deceive.

Losing most everything to one who was. But too, corruption is present in most anything man puts his hands on. Long gone are the days when legal and illegal went hand and hand with ethical right and wrong.

 

@crashnburn80 Would you be open to doing a shoot out on tail lights? I need to buy two new housings so was looking at some aftermarket for fresh new look but I really don’t want to buy some just to have them underperform (being too dim). Thinking about just going with stock since they are bright and I already know how they perform. I like being visible, especially in inclimate weather. (Drive a lot in Winter storms).

Thanks in advance
Dustin.

 

Was eye balling these. I believe they are the same item from two different sources but never know these days with knock offs.

Alpharex 05-15 Tacoma LUXX-Series LED Tail Lights Alpha-Black- 680050

$395 Alpharex 05-15 Tacoma LUXX-Series LED Tail Lights Alpha-Black- 680050

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PTTQGGP


https://www.theretrofitsource.com/Alpharex-Luxx-05-15-Tacoma-Tails_6?quantity=1

 

No. My focus is on performance lighting that helps drivers see better. I don't really evaluate other kinds of lighting like brakes or signals. My backlog is also way deeper than I'd care to admit in just forward facing lighting already. Also, AlphaRex has a terrible reputation as a low quality poorly engineered and overpriced brand in their forward lighting products. AlphaRex isn't even a real manufacture, they are just a flipper of Chinese made lights to the US market at big markups to buyers that don't know better with some of the shortest warranties. For a while you could buy their lights straight off of China Alibaba direct for way less and cut them out. Certainly not products I'd waste my time on.

Edit: In short for LED tails I’d go OEM. I’ve seen way too many with LED emitter failure in aftermarket ones that only partially light up. For incandescent I’d be more open to aftermarket replicas.

 

You forgot to sugar candy coat that reply.