Bestest, brightest replacement headlamps...

I cut the tabs off my H9 bulbs I wanted to use for the low beams with the same type of cutters and it was easy, but apparently you can also just pull some plastic tabs out from the low beam lead connectors so they can fit unmodified H9s with no cutting necessary.

Another more intensive modification is power the headlights with a larger gauge wire to allow for higher amps- you’d have to use a relay and direct to battery lead for that….

 

That was my method….truck will either take an H9 or an H11 going that route in a pinch somewhere with a dead bulb

 

this

I recently went with 2020 LEDs. A local dealer price matched spark parts. Paid a tad over $700 each. Aftermarket lights require additional wiring to run DRLs. Dave’s harness is plug and play. Daveesa was awesome to deal with and the shipping was fast. https://www.tacomaworld.com/members/daveeasa.328079/

the process to swap them in is a PITA but not overly complicated. There are plenty of videos online but I used this one:
https://youtu.be/vUIhZFSPopk

 

did you upgrade the wire harness to larger gauge for increased bulb amps? I was going to test that out with a temporary setup sometime too.

 

$1400 for the upgrade?

 

Nope…low beams run on the same amperage fuse and gauge wiring as the stock high beams which are already h9. Crashnburn already tested it and it’s well within limits. It’s only a 10 watt difference (65 watt bulb) which is pulling .83 more amps than the H11s which are 55 watt. There is a 10 amp fuse protecting it so you could in theory run 96 watts in that circuit and be at only 80% load.

I’ve along with many others, even a few with 4Runners, been running H9s in my lows for several years with no problems.

 

H4 has a round base my 2011 is an H11 type bulb

 

Stock 2011 Tacoma is 9003/H4. You must have aftermarket assemblies if your 2011 Tacoma doesn’t take 9003/H4.

 

Yes. I don’t like the look of LED bulbs in non-led fictures. I don’t like that they blind other drivers. The aftermarket options were cheaper but not enough to justify not paying a little more for OEM.

 

Do you have a link for what was done to the harness connector?
I haven’t messed with the lights yet so I’m not exactly sure what’s involved.
...Also that other vid said you can just insert the h9 on at angle and not mod the metal tab.....or is there a plastic one in the bulb’s connector too?


The philips site said the h9 is a high beam bulb....can you get it in different color temps? I can’t stand the 6k blue-ish light.

 

You clip the bulb, which is consumable part, keep the vehicle connector 100% stock.

 

If you don't like blue shade, then you won't like the LED.

I posted a comparison between the H9 and OEM Lexus GX LED side by side in the pinned big thread.

 

There is a plastic tab in the middle of the bulb socket, you can either cut the tab out with a razor blade, snips, whatever and the bulb will fit the stock harness.

There is also a plastic insert in the factory harness that pulls right out with a needle nose or something similar and then the H9 bulb will fit in the harness.

either way works

You are also correct in that an H9 is usually a high beam but you don’t need to get the blue colored ones, as a matter of fact the bulb Toyota uses for the OEM high beam (Phillips) is the brightest option you can install in the low beam. Most all H9s are 65 watts so their output is the same, the difference is the quality of the construction and if it has colored glass. Colored glass is like tint, it will be putting out 65 watts but not all of it will be getting to the projector for output.

Getting a German manufactured Philips H9 and putting it in the stock low beam is the most output you can possibly get out of the 3rd Gen light short of installing an HID.

 

I just ordered the retrofit adapter so I didn't have to mess with the existing harness, but I trim the bulb tab. Just made it easier to install.

 

Thanks for all of that info!

I was looking to stay with the halogen. It looked like there were different color temps available.
Since the h9 is a high beam bulb if guess by default any would be an upgrade.

 

You don't need to mess with the factory harness, if you trim the bulb.

Don't add the adapter, just more contact points, more resistance.

A liberal amount of dielectric grease goes a long way.

 

My previous truck was a 1993 pathfinder, so i find the oem head and fog lights on the 17 taco plenty fine!

I’ll definitely look into doing this is philips h9 upgrade, appreciate it!

 

I only added the adapter since it is still a leased vehicle. Once it is out of the lease and paying to own it will all change. Like a lot of other stuff on the truck.

Leased it since I didn't know if I would like it since I am 6' 1 and 250lbs. Thought I might change my mind and want a full size truck.
But nope love it and hope to keep it for aong time

 

Where is cheapest place to buy OEM headlights for a 2011 Tacoma, I have BX Built projectors now and I am not to impressed so far, all kinds of issues