Headlights in General

I'm interested in maybe getting some upgraded headlights for my truck, but I'm a complete noob and don't know where to begin.

I see different kinds of projectors, different kinds of shrouds, different reflectors, halos, demon eyes, etc.

What the hell does it all that mean? What are the tradeoffs between different options? How do I know what is street legal and what isn't? Is one brand better or more reliable than another?

These places that make custom lights seem to assume the customer is already knowledgeable about this stuff and it's just a matter of checking the boxes to order what you want.

Can someone direct me to a site that spells all this out; preferably with pictures? Or something like a "Headlights for Dummies" book?

TIA

 

More info than you could ever want.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/lighting.60/

 

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

 

Lured by title. Disappoint

 

This should help:

Automotive Lighting 101 | Tacoma World

 

I did see that and it was helpful but it didn't answer all my questions.

I still need to learn more about the individual components that go into building a set of headlights. What are the best brands of components? Which parts work and don't work with other parts.

Still have a lot of learning to do.

Has anyone ever written up a Step-by-Step How-To on building a set of lights?

 

Go to The retrofit source. They will have all the parts. Great group of guys that can answer all your specific questions about products. Also look up How to retrofit, here and on youtube. I did mine in a couple days and the difference is night and day on doing this.

TheRetrofitsource.com

One how to guide

Complete kit of D2S kit, including relay harness, minus butyl that you will need to seal back up.

I went with the D2S kit because it was minimal cutting and sanding of the back of housing. The FX-r will need more cutting and the Mini H1 kit doesnt require any cutting (from what i remember)

Shrouds go around the projectors for a clean look. Many many options for looks.
Projectors are what have the bulb in them, to project the light out of the headlight. multiple options available depending on light output and price. (I went D2S)
When you have headlights open to put projectors in, for the reflector buckets, you can color match, black out or leave chrome as it no longer is needed for light output.
HID bulb and balast are the light and power. You have multiple options with this also. Look up HID Kelvin scale. Most people go somewhere between 4300K and 6000K. also you have the option of 35W and 55W balasts.
Halos go around the shroud or inside shrouds. depending on how you want them. Not required. You can get regular,RGB, or switchback (white, then to yellow when turnsignal is on, then back to white when off)
Demon Eyes light up the lens of the projector for personal color touch of them. also come in RGB, single color.

TRS also have prebuilt if you want to go that route that are priced anywhere between around $400-1200 depending on what you want. Personally im not a fan of their options of prebuilt. I recommend not getting the ones off Amazon that are projector lights. They do not compare to the light output you can get by building your own. (been there, done that, wasnt happy, so i built my own)

Sorry for all the Edits. ive been trying to add as i remember things to add.

 

no matter which way you go, don't forget to aim them properly so you aren't blinding oncoming drivers at night