Stock headlamps suck!

Some of this was stated previously on this thread but this pretty much sums it up. If you stick HID bulbs into stock reflectors your basically spraying light all over the place, hence the 'illegal' comment (read: right into the eyes of oncoming drivers). However, if you get the proper projector housings you can keep the light in check. If you want to do HID's, please PLEASE for the sake of other drivers, do it right.

Check out some of these links:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/264404-trs-retrofit-write-up-dummies-dummy.html
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/li...ofit-apollo-shrouds-lots-really-big-pics.html
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/

Unfortunately, TRS website underwent a redesign since the last time I was there. A TW user had his truck highlighted in the customer gallery. It was a black second gen with a full assortment of HID headlights/fogs/driving lights. Its unfortunate because he had a build thread on here and I don't know what I was thinking when I didn't subscribe to it. Bah. I searched for a little to no avail, perhaps someone knows what user I'm describing. Best of luck friend.

-J

 

People love complete HID retrofits. And as stated multiple times already: dropping a straight HID bulb kit into the stock housing = garbage and most likely blinding to other motorists.

And I'd agree with a lot of others here that the 2013 headlights are great stock. I've driven a 1st gen Tacoma and 3rd Gen 4Runner and both of those were nothing in comparison to the headlights on my 2013. My first night driving in it I thought damn, these headlights put out some light! A nice white, fully illuminated area. Not such a fan of the brights however (they seem to throw light way out but completely neglect the area right in front), but whenever I get around to doing the fog light mod, I will have the immediate area in front of the truck finally lit up.

 

You do realize that aftermarket HID kits, whether plug and play or retrofitted with projectors, are also technically illegal in BC right?

 

Yea but it is one of our many laws that arnt inforced I see alot of people with after market HIDs especially silverados with one burnt out usually.

 

My 2013 Tacoma has the best headlights of any vehicle I've ever had, better even than my old Lincoln Aviator with HIDs.

I wouldn't mind eventually converting my taillights to LED, but that's merely a style thing.

 

I don't think mine are that bad. I used to work 3rd shift, lots of night/early morning driving.

 

Hmm.. Cancerfornia..

 

Glad I'm not the only one who was all like WUT when I read the first post. The Tacoma headlight most certainly are the best I have ever had. In fact I wouldn't change them to anything, even projectors because I'd be worried they would perform worse.

 

I agree 110%.

OP, beaming those things on people is a total dick move. It's bad enough our headlights shine right into peoples cars. Have some respect for fellow drivers. It could be your sister, mother or grandmother in the car you're behind.

 

I was also impressed with the stock headlights on my '13. However, I still upgraded the bulbs with Osram 70/65w and it made a noticeable difference in the light output. I figured the 70/65w would be a good compromise of light output and longevity. So far I'm not disappointed.

 

I don't think I've ever heard fog lights called "driving lights." I always thought driving lights were your regular headlights you turn on at night. Daytime running lamps are the yellow/orange ones that are constantly on, and then you have your parking lights and high beams.

 

Driving lights are day time running lights that are always on and fog lights are on the ground because they go under the fog. Toyota also calls them fog lights.

 

Coming from an 13 ford raptor with hids and lining them with my raptor buddies, yes. My desert designs fuegos jump out twice the distance. Trying to figure out what to go with.

 

Might go with rigid 50 inch up top or 5 fuego spots on bed rack.

 

HIDs are illegal in some states, but they are legal in most places provided you do a projector retrofit, making the HID's safe and aimable, along with improving the beam pattern.

 

Regardless of what Toyota calls them, they are not fog lights. They are by very definition a driving light.

 

Driving lights. Fogs are meant to give you a view of the edge of the road and they don't have to be yellow.

 

What happened to the raptor?

 

To a lot of our knowing there isn't anything to when it comes to a conversion of HID. There are the drop in HID that majority of people here don't suggest. More the suggestion is that you do the retro fit for projectors. Also, some states and countries consider HID's illegal and for off road use only. That's why you don't see people driving around with their Rigid Light Bars on the Highway because it will blind other drivers. I do agree with other posters thought that Tacoma has some of the brightest light. Some HID kits are going to look like it's brighter, but it's really not.

If you think that Tacoma has bad light. Go and drive an MK5 Golf or Jetta. Those lights are horrible.

 

I agree. My 13's headlights are some of the best stock lights ive everhad. And Ive had quite a few trucks. I was thinking about putting some silverstar ultra's in eventually but the stock ones really are good to me.