3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights

Ah, wasn't sure what your quandary was

 

After reading the OP post on this thread about 20 times, I'm still confused and was hoping someone can explain to me like I'm 5.

If I have a 2021 SR5 trail edition with the most basic headlights, what bulbs am I supposed to buy? I keep seeing "stock LED" etc. but I'm pretty certain my truck doesn't have any LEDs. At least there are no LED strips on the headlights, not even the day time running lights are LED strips like the ones that have the "L" shaped strip in the corner of the housings. So anyways, I've read the post so many times I've confused the fuck out of myself. Can anyone help me as far as telling me what bulb would be the brightest/best for my truck? Or at least which options I should be looking at?

 

$11 Philips 12361B1 H9 Standard Halogen Replacement Headlight Bulb, 1 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-12361B1-Standard-Replacement-Headlight/dp/B003YMPN3A

 

Philips H9 for low beam, same bulb used in your high beam so you only have to buy one. Pop out the green H11 insert to get the base to fit using a small flathead screwdriver. You may wish to trim the top metal tab to make inserting it easier. Use your H11 bulb as a guide and flush cutters to do the snipping.

 

Thank you so much for your reply and to oldtoyman. Follow up question: Are these significantly better than the stock bulbs the truck came with? I know I read the longevity may be reduced, so I guess I'm wondering is it actually worth upgrading to this? Or will I end up disappointed and annoyed as far as performance vs longevity goes? Does the upgraded performance justify the hit on longevity? Or am I better off just leaving it stock?

Perhaps should I be looking into upgrading my headlight housing for a legitimate increase in performance?

 

Yes they are significantly better.
They are also $6 each at rock auto so I would replace every year (I do oil and bulbs in January regardless of mileage) and buy in sets of 2-4 pairs (you can pre-trim the metal tabs at once to streamline the 30s job). You can also rotate from high beam to low beam if you rarely use high beams to maximize value of that $6 purchase.

OEM LED is your best upgrade option but you need the fancy SR harness from Johnny (I'll start carrying them soon) and your out of pocket is well over $1k so it's something you likely want to warm up to with the $6 upgrade first.

There is absolutely no good reason to leave the stock H11 long life bulb in place and given the ease of popping out that center green plastic, no super compelling argument for high efficiency H11 bulb over the H9 option. Some of the $30 high efficiency H11's are a bit cooler in color temp (whiter) but the Hella H9's are what crash often recommends and no high efficiency H11's beat the Philips H9 (plus they cost more). I started off with +130 H11's and liked them a lot but eventually just went to Philips H9 b/c it's an unbeatable option.

 

Thank you so much, brother! I'll get to ordering the Philips asap.

 

Tungsram H11-55NHP/BP2 Nighthawk Platinum Automotive Bulb, 2-pack

https://www.amazon.com/Tungsram-H11-55NHP-BP2-Nighthawk-Automotive/dp/B08B8Y259H?crid=3FRKNP05VT401&keywords=Tungsram+H11&qid=1641454094&sprefix=tungsram+h11%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-2

I also got these for my fog lights but haven’t installed them yet

 

Great bulbs, but those won’t fit your stock fogs unless you swap to a 16-19 TRD H11 fog assembly. The 20+ trucks (and 16-19 non-TRD trucks) use low output H16 fogs. Least expensive option is to pick up some used TRD OEM H11 fog units, but better would be to get some SAE LED fog assemblies.

 

Crash I know this isn't the right thread to ask this, but was hoping for a quick answer. Which one of the SAE LED fog assemblies do you recommend?

 

SS3 Max in selective yellow. You can see the comparisons in the SAE thread.

 

Thank you, kind sir! The work you've done is amazing and I commend you for it.

 

To answer this part of your question, people are referring to the stock LED headlights that come in higher trim trucks- that is, the entire headlight housings, not just the bulbs.

If you perform a bulb swap, the recommendations above are correct. If you want "stock LED", you'll need to procure a set of OEM headlights, as you can't swap bits back and forth between them. The whole things need to be exchanged.

That is what I am up to today- with a little help from @daveeasa

 

The 4runner OEM LEDs are nice! You go with the hybrid lamp and high beam HIR bulb upgrade?

 

It's going to get a bit weirder than hybrid- these are 2022 bi-LED headlights from someone with a Pro that "upgraded" to Alpharex headlights

This might be spilling the beans a bit early, but Dave created custom headlight adapters for these new 4-pin connectors. 3 pins are populated on the headlight- power to the lamp, power to the shutter, and a common ground for both.

So here's the plan:

• Stock high beam wiring in the older truck, connected as normal to function as high beams and PWM dimming for DRL mode (the new bi-LED trucks use series wiring to dim these at 6V each and they are no longer used for high-beam duty). However, the reflector assembly is exactly the same, so hooray for better performing halogen reflectors.
• Of course, upgrading to Korean Osram 9011 HIR bulbs as recommended here. I have one in hand and waiting for the FLAPS to restock.
• Stock low-beam wiring adapted to new stock LED headlights.
• Extra wire lead hanging out of the connector (thanks Dave) for the shutters, waiting to be hooked up to a 12V trigger...

The goal is QUAD factory high beams

 

Well shit…..

 

Holy crap expensive lights.

 

Those are just the most powerful. The sports are sufficient

 

When you guys say selective yellow I assume you mean yellow but as in its an option that must be selected correct? Also what is the option for backlight? Is that important to buy as well?

 

Let's bounce this to the fog thread, yeah?