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    Quick Links: Are Joying headunits any good? Looking for some OEM suspension part numbers, and some aftermarket equivalents Squeaky windows driver side.... Replacement bed D-ring that lies flat Light bar switch Aluminum Oil Filter Housing: 15620-31060

Bestest, brightest replacement headlamps...

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by davistld01, Feb 18, 2023.

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  1. Feb 18, 2023 at 2:24 PM
    #1
    davistld01

    #1
    davistld01 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Without having to peruse a hundred-page thread...what replacement headlamps are generally considered the top-rated, brightest units available? I'm looking to pull the trigger on a set, and I don't have time, energy or money to compare multiple units.

    Thanks! :thumbsup:
     
    davistld01, Feb 18, 2023
    #1
  2. Feb 18, 2023 at 2:25 PM
    #2
    Bishop84

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    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    Bishop84, Feb 18, 2023
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  3. Feb 18, 2023 at 2:27 PM
    #3
    Chew

    #3
    Chew Not so well known user

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    OEM LED
    I’d stick with your OEM headlamps or go w the OEM LEDs and avoid the Chinesium ones
     
    Chew, Feb 18, 2023
    #3
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  4. Feb 18, 2023 at 2:39 PM
    #4
    Speedfreak

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    Speedfreak Member in poor standing

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    Factory LED assemblies are your best bet. They came as an option on 2020 and up TRD Sport and Off-Road in the US, and factory equipment on 2020 TRD Pro's. And they are DOT legal.

    Putting LED bulbs into factory halogen assemblies are useless, and illegal in most regions. They are not DOT legal.

    I chose factory LED assemblies. I am both impressed and very pleased with the upgrade.

    20230104_103249.jpg 20230104_114221.jpg
     
    Speedfreak, Feb 18, 2023
    #4
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  5. Feb 18, 2023 at 2:40 PM
    #5
    avi8or_co

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    avi8or_co Well-Known Member

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    H9s in your stock lights (about $10, easy, and much better than stock), retrofit your existing lights to an HID projector (couple hundred $ and extremely bright), or OEM stock new model LED lights (little over a grand and a very good, bright, easy option). Pretty much your cliffs note options
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2023
    avi8or_co, Feb 18, 2023
    #5
    D.A.S. Taco, vicali and TXnativeson like this.
  6. Feb 18, 2023 at 2:49 PM
    #6
    gdr

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    gdr Well-Known Member

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    I think you mean H9s. H4 is old school stuff. Totally different socket.
     
    gdr, Feb 18, 2023
    #6
  7. Feb 18, 2023 at 3:04 PM
    #7
    eurowner

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    eurowner Duke Sky

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    2ND Gen has H4
    3RD Gen has H11 and H9
     
    eurowner, Feb 18, 2023
    #7
    shakerhood likes this.
  8. Feb 18, 2023 at 3:05 PM
    #8
    eurowner

    #8
    eurowner Duke Sky

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    You do not have to peruse one hundred-page thread, just read what @crashnburn80 posts in his thread.
     
    eurowner, Feb 18, 2023
    #8
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  9. Feb 18, 2023 at 3:22 PM
    #9
    avi8or_co

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    avi8or_co Well-Known Member

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    That’s what I meant…corrected
     
    avi8or_co, Feb 18, 2023
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  10. Feb 18, 2023 at 4:20 PM
    #10
    OZ TRD

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    OZ TRD Well-Known Member

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    OEM LEDs are magnificent. (Really, they are excellent!)

    They throw lots of light where it is needed...

    I am now utterly disappointed when driving any other car...
     
    OZ TRD, Feb 18, 2023
    #10
  11. Feb 18, 2023 at 4:28 PM
    #11
    sorevilo

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    sorevilo Well-Known Member

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    Diode dynamic led replacements
     
    sorevilo, Feb 18, 2023
    #11
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  12. Feb 18, 2023 at 5:41 PM
    #12
    TacoSupremo19

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    TacoSupremo19 Well-Known Member

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    FYI, If you use OEM LEDs you will need an adapter harness from @daveeasa
     
    TacoSupremo19, Feb 18, 2023
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  13. Feb 18, 2023 at 5:59 PM
    #13
    Odlcjro01

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    Odlcjro01 Well-Known Member

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    I just completed the H11 to H9 conversation. It was easy and inexpensive.
     
    Odlcjro01, Feb 18, 2023
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  14. Feb 18, 2023 at 6:10 PM
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    Rock Lobster

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    Rock Lobster Thread Derailer

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    Rock Lobster, Feb 18, 2023
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  15. Feb 18, 2023 at 8:54 PM
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    crashnburn80

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    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    All the data and info is in the linked thread, no need to compare multiple units as I've done it all for you.

    For OEM halogen assemblies, the absolute best performing option is a basic Philips H9 swap into the low beams. Costs about $20. Way better than any replacement LED bar none. Best overall is to do an OEM LED headlight conversion, which will require a conversion harness. Better high beam and low beam, but costs roughly $1500. Pretty big price bump. Best try the $20 option first.
     
    crashnburn80, Feb 18, 2023
    #15
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  16. Feb 18, 2023 at 10:43 PM
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    RIX TUX

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    RIX TUX no ducks given

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    oem leds
     
    RIX TUX, Feb 18, 2023
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  17. Feb 19, 2023 at 6:51 AM
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    Skytek

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    Skytek Well-Known Member

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    I did the H9 swap and happy with it. No experience with Toyota leds, but prefer the h9’s in the taco to the factory led,s in our sierra
     
    Skytek, Feb 19, 2023
    #17
  18. Feb 19, 2023 at 7:02 AM
    #18
    InThePlains

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    InThePlains Well-Known Member

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    Just go to AutoZone buy a pair of German made H9 bulbs and be done with it in 5 minutes.

    The hardest part of the job is to remove the tab inside the bulb connectors. I found the $7 Hakko micro cutters are the best, takes 5 seconds to get it done.
    $10 Hakko CHP-170 - Micro Soft Wire Cutter
    https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-CHP-170-Micro-Cutter/dp/B00FZPDG1K/

    There is no modification on your truck or the bulb tabs, at all. I used this method in the video, worked 100%. The passenger side is a bit harder for a right handed person but no biggie.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXL8LahHiuI
     
    InThePlains, Feb 19, 2023
    #18
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  19. Feb 19, 2023 at 7:19 AM
    #19
    NorrinRadd

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    NorrinRadd Well-Known Member

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    This second post has it all summarized with which lights/units are best: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...11-projector-headlights.589465/#post-19689309
     
    NorrinRadd, Feb 19, 2023
    #19
  20. Feb 19, 2023 at 8:16 AM
    #20
    Rusty66

    #20
    Rusty66 Ain’t Afraid

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    Toyota seems to do a really good job with the OE LED projectors on Camry and Corolla. I have a set of both that I'm considering taking apart and trying to retrofit the projector/led assemblies into my Tacoma halogen projector housings.
    Anyone have a set of take-off halogen projector headlamps for third gen they want to let go of?
     
    Rusty66, Feb 19, 2023
    #20
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