The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

@crashnburn80 Side question: I'm considering buying a new rear bumper from C4 and the unit has cut outs for (I think 2x3) housings for rear facing lights. They state:
https://c4fabrication.com/collectio...tacoma-overland-rear-bumper-2nd-gen-2005-2015

• Recessed backup light cutouts standard. Cutouts are designed to fit Baja Designs S2 flush mount, Rigid SR-M 2×3 flush mount or Extreme LED 2×3 flush mount.

And I wonder your opinion of the above light options, or something else entirely?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-921-led-reverse-light-bulb-study.490137/#post-15088360

 

Those are Spyder lights, they are terrible in every performance metric. You cannot retrofit an H4 into an H1 assembly, the optics are all wrong even if you could make it fit. Those lights are a massive downgrade from stock, and nothing you can do really makes them better since improved light sources require quality optics to make them work, and that is something those lights do not have, they are sold primarily for cosmetic looks. Replacing with OEM will be your best solution.

For an aux reverse light in that application, I'd personally lean toward Baja. The open bucket reflectors do a better job at the style of flood you'd want in that application compared to other optics and the 5000k color temp is nicer than 6000k. The S2 Pro does hit thermal roll back very quickly and scales output back from peak output intensity, I don't know that Baja ever addressed that but I'd suspect not. For a reverse light application I don't think it is a big deal though.

 

Fair enough. Thanks for the reply.

 

@Watermallon

...no... don't do that. That reflector is meant for a single filament bulb. Just because the bulb could be made to fit does not mean it will perform... at all... as intended.

 

Yup that’s why I’m asking yall. Thanks

 

Argh I attempted to adjust my headlights down and went too far. @crashnburn80 do you have a link to a description on the proper way to setup headlight aim?

 

FYI I found the Philips GT200 on Amazon
a little more than PB (36/29)
but a second source

$33 Philips RacingVision GT200 H4 car headlight bulb +200%, set of 2 White

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KGH3JK8/?coliid=ITEEURQ3HYKG7&colid=3PWHO7NY7FIKC&th=1

 

A little adjustment goes a long way.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

 

That’s pretty complicated lol

 

I've now purchased and installed 2 of the Headlight Services harnesses. Totally sold on the improvement this brings to night driving. First one I installed on my 2014 Tacoma and the second on my wife's 2012 Honda CR-V. Yes, I had to defeat the daytime running lights to do that to her car. Turns out simply removing fuse #21 in the pedal well fuse box did the trick.

Highly recommend, would do this mod again and again.

 

TLDR; you’re looking for a 2” drop at 25’ on level ground. 3” if you are lifted excessively high.

 

Thanks. I measured from the ground to the center of the headlight, 43” and marked 43” on a wall 25’ away and adjusted the cut off up to that mark. Seems ok.

 

That sounds high, sounds like you have near zero slope and will be blinding other drivers. They should be angled down 2-3" over 25'. I'd pull the truck right up to the wall so the bumper is almost touching, mark the cut off line with tape on the wall. Then back the truck up 25'. Mark a new tape line 2-3" below your existing one. Then adjust your headlights to the lower line. In the chart in the link, you can see that headlights above 39.5" from the ground a 3" drop is spec'd due to the high ride height, 35-39" specs a 2" drop.

 

Ok thanks, I will do that!

 

Harness and bulbs installed. Getting dark now so I will be taking them a test drive!

 

Huge improvement. It will really shine on country roads with no street lights etc.

 

How did you end up aligning them?

 

I didn’t change the housings. I incorrectly adjusted the lights downward too much before I installed the harness etc today. So I was only off in the up/down axis. I followed crashes advice to fine tune them.

 

I have new pro housings but the original ones are still decent so I’ll swap the pros in next summer I think.