Happy with LEDs

Headlights and running lights are LEDs

 

At least tell us what kind, where you bought them and how much? Looks good!

 

Easy Read.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/

 

Sweet I love being blinded by people who run leds in halogen housings

 

That and the HID lights.

This is an informative read. As mentioned above.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/

 

We're glad (sort of) that you're happy with your new LED headlight bulbs. The reason so many people are giving you crap is that LED bulbs just flat out don't work as well as a bulb designed for your 2nd generation truck's headlight housings. (See the thread that several have already linked.) If you think the bulbs you purchased were actually designed for your headlight housings, you really need to read the thread.

As for your pics of the headlights - looking at the truck - that's absolutely the worst angle to judge how effective a headlight is. The best headlights put most of the light on the ground in a well defined pattern in front of the truck. That light is a combination of foreground lighting, side lighting and distance lighting. (Plus a little bit to illuminate overhead signs.) The big thing is that virtually all of that light is below a designed in cutoff line so that you don't blind oncoming drivers. That's why if you look into a properly designed light from maybe 20 feet away from it, you won't get blinded because all of the light is going where it's supposed to. The reason most LED bulbs look so bright is all sorts of undirected / misdirected light light above the cutoff line. That's called glare. It may "look" bright, but that's because all of that light hitting you in the eyes is not doing you any good at all as far as driving at night goes.

Even though the thread linked below is for 3rd generation trucks, our resident lighting expert @crashnburn80 does a stellar job of diving into the actual design & performance of many popular LED bulbs. As you'll see, most of them are pretty pathetic at lighting the road in front of you - particularly further down the road. An educated consumer is a better consumer - which pisses off the LED marketing folks.

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

 

I understand what you guys are saying the halogen housing sends light everywhere however I have aimed them down and they are designed to mimic a halogen bulb other than that I would have to spend tons money for led housing and I may do that in a couple of years now that I see how many people really hate led's like mine. what I have noticed is an led bulb in a halogen housing works better if the led is lower in brightness or lumens. I really just wanted to update the look alittle not to piss off a bunch of people.

 

What did you use for your corner lights?? I can't find any that fit the socket well and don't flicker.........

 

Like mentioned before. We are happy that you like your lights, and want you to be happy. One of the best feelings is stepping back and seeing a finished project. Even something as simple as changing a lightbulb.

Everyone is trying it give you the right info instead of yelling at you. (I'm sure someone is smashing their keyboard and throwing coffee though, always is)

Unfortunately the idea of drop in LEDs is simply for marketing, they currently don't really exist. The "mimicking" of a filiment is something that most won't accomplish. This is why headlight housings are built around the LED,instead of the LED being designed for the housing.

We often see someone start with drop-in LED headlights, then they try fog light bulbs, which have worse glare sometimes. Then they swap those out with "high powered" led pods that should be only for off road use, or they are not dot approved for use. It just creates a terrible circle of buying unnecessary stuff for fake results.

Do the ultimate headlight upgrade and then buy some DOT approved Fog lights that are bolt in like diode dynamics or Baja and be happy. You will make everyone else happy also.

Enjoy the terrible cycle of buying lots of stuff for your taco. It will be fun.

PS. I just installed the SS3 fogs with 3000k lens and they are DOT approved. I also have GE+130 headlight bulbs and diode dynamics led bulbs in my indicator spots.

 

Unfortunately, aiming them down does not significantly reduce the glare. Worse yet, your distance (high beam) projection will be significantly degraded.

BTW, the "mimic a halogen bulb" marketing line is used by just about every single LED seller these days. If you look at the links we provided you, you'll see that the "mimic" part is only partially true.

 

I guess i will go back to halogen bulbs I will use a good brand of halogen and save up for complete led housings.
That sucks but now I know.
Thanks

 

After feeling like a fool I have found what i think is a great choice,
GE Megalight Ultra +150 H7

 

Why not actually save money and still get better performance? Virtually everything aftermarket (LED or otherwise) is junk and just designed for looks - not performance. Use your current OEM housings and upgrade the halogen bulbs with something like this:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

Trust me, the performance you'll get out of this mod will absolutely blow away any aftermarket housings. Sadly, you won't be able to use your OEM housings for aquariums like most of the aftermarket stuff which leaks.

As far as really decent halogen bulbs go, read the above thread carefully. You'll find most of the commonly advertised stuff (like Silverstars, cough, cough) aren't actually an upgrade.

 

Your truck does not take an H7 bulb. It uses a 9003 / H4 bulb.

 

This is what I did and I can say I am VERY happy with the results. Not only do I have a nice clean cutoff there is plenty of light to go around.
ULTIMATE HEADLIGHT UPGRADE
Good luck.

 

LOL He already bought cheap aftermarket housings.

 

Question. 2020 Headlight receivers for LED lights are the same for both low and high beams right? I bought 2 sets of Hikari LEDS. I was going to use one for the low beams (works fine, much improved!) and then replace the fog lights with the other pair. Hmmm...doesn't fit in the low beam receiver. No problem, I'll replace the high beam with them. Oops, doesn't fit there. I thought all the light receivers were the same. They look the same but when I looked at the low beam, even though the old halogens look the same as the others, that's only where the Hikari lights seem to fit.

Am I stupid?!

 

Actually Hikari are the best. Read the LED thread.

 

The Hikari's are the best LED. Unfortunately, even the best LED bulb doesn't perform as well as the halogens. Read the thread.