3rd Gen Aftermarket LED Headlamps - Recommendations, Rants, Experience, Etc.

Nice lights behind the grill.

I mounted an amber lightbar in the same spot on my truck, and added metal plates underneath for additional support and mounting surface. i love it.

 

Either put H9 bulbs in your halogens, or go with OEM LEDs.

Read this first:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

"This thread covers upgrading the 3rd gen Tacoma H11 headlights and looking at the differences between HID, LED and Halogen light sources for use in the Tacoma projector."

 

not sure why I didn’t take a single straight facing photo, but for OP’s consideration, here are alpharex lights.

 

Do not forget to also advise ... "remove green insert for H9 to fit in H11 plug".

 

Too true.... People do not think to do that.
But if OP is colorblind, will he be removing a red insert, as he sees it?

 

People do not always ask if the insert is the reason they have to cut/modify H9s. So we might as well call it "the non-gray insert".

 

I had the H9 bulbs in mine for a year, I'd keep it that way if i weren't getting a killer deal on the OEM LEDs off a 2023 TRD Pro.

 

daveeasa if you have OR, Puppypunter if SR/Sport/SR5 for a harness.

 

Looks good .What model alpharex are these and are they black on black or just black? I’m trying to decide on a pair for my truck.

 

Headlights*?

 

Buy once, cry once! I am so happy with my OEM headlamps. The look and performance is worth every penny. Aftermarket are not worth it and most don't even meet DOT requirements.

 

I bought my 18 TRD sport 2 weeks ago and the halogen bulbs were like candles behind a window. I bought inexpensive LEDs on Amazon, low beam, high beam, and fog lights. World of difference!

 

On coming drivers after your mod...

 

In terms for drop in options the H9 upgrade is the only realistic option after running led and hid options.
Hid's flickered on rough roads but had the best output but also were finicky in the cold.
Led, appeared brighter at first but you quickly realize the throw is terrible and you actually see far less at distance compared to hid or halogen.
H9 works best in the projector housing good throw/spread good output and best of all cheap.
From all testing and feedback from others that have run morimoto/Alpharex and oe leds the OE win 10X over everything else they have tested.

 

Should go do some digging into how these projectors work and how drop in LEDs don't work properly in them.

 

Halogen throw light 360 degrees. LEDs thrugh light 3 or 4 directions only. The halogen assemblies cannot reflect that limited light direction properly. And the light you think makes it further does not really make it that far ... probably less distance than the halogens. Just get H9s and put the other halogens back in, else you are see less far and blinding oncoming drivers.

Read post 1 in this for a detailed comparison: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

 

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

 

OEM LEDs are a significant improvement.



Love the way they looked after install:

 

And you believe this to be acceptable and a sign of quality?

 

What I "know" is that my halogen bulbs gave off miniscule yellow light and made it dangerous to drive. My LED lights give off exceptionally bright controlled light.

Very simple.