Calling all LED users!

I am slowly going to convert every light in my truck to LED as time and finances allow but need some input from the guys that have already done it. Today I installed LED marker lights on the front which is my first step towards my goal and because it's daylight, I won't really be able to see how much a difference they make until night but I can definitely tell they are way brighter than the incandescents they replaced.
What I need to know is have you had to alter the wiring at all anywhere along the way, most specifically with the turn signals? I've heard that you have to install something in the wiring harness for turn signals because LED lamps draw so much less electricity that it will sometimes cause the turn signals to blink really fast, and I've heard some people can get away without doing this at all. I'd prefer not to have to cut into the wiring harness so need to know if LED turn signal lamps are possible without doing this.
Secondly, what's the best LED bulb for tail/brake lights? I tried Sylvania Zevo's not long ago and found them to actually be DIMMER than the stock incandescents. Disappointed, I took them back and put my old bulbs back in. Thinking on it now, were they maybe installed wrong? Like I said, they worked okay, but were just pathetically dim.
Lastly, what are the best options for headlights? I really don't want to go through all the trouble of changing the whole headlight assemebly and know that a few companies out there make LED lamps that are compatible with stock halogen housings. What do you all recommend for this?

I know this topic has likely been beaten to death, and I tried searching but can't search individual forums anymore and all the topics that I did manage to find were for 2nd and 3rd gens. I don't want to read about them, I want to know how LED's work in 1st gens. TIA!!

 

Oh and please don't give me the run down on laws and all that BS. I am fully aware of the vehicular laws in my state and have found that most of the law enforcement personnel doesn't really give a rat's ass about any of it around here unless you're using something really extreme like off road fog lights and light bars in areas where there are lots of people driving around. I'm friends with a couple of LEO's that use LED's on their personal vehicles as it is so apparently, not many f**ks are given here! Haha

 

Alright well to start off, when you do the bulbs for your turn signals. You don't have to cut into wires. Go to Napa and buy a LED flasher relay for your truck and replace the relay. Fixes the hyper blink.

Second, go with switchbacks for the front turn signals. They will act as fog lights and when you turn the blinker on they turn Amber and blink.

Third, headlights! As many people say, HID's will "spray" light everywhere in a stock housing. Stock housings are adjustable. I have HIDs in my stock housings and they don't go above and blind people. They're aimed just perfect.

There's a write up somewhere on this forum about making reverse lights brighter with LED's too using a specific bulb. You may want to look into this. As for the rear blinkers, I really don't know who makes a brighter one. Go to Vleds.com and find the bulbs there. They're pricey but you'll never have a problem with them.

 

whoops, wrong thread...though this said LSD.

 

Are switchbacks a brand of bulb?

 

Switchbacks are a type of bulb. They switch from white light to amber when you turn the blinker on

 

I replaced every bulb on my vehicle with Vled bulbs and the only thing I would recommend is replace your flasher relay with one made for LEDs so you do not get some of the side effects

 

How much of a difference did VLED bulbs make? I checked out their site and their reviews are positive from the few I read.

 

They are defiantly brighter but be prepared to drop 3-400$ if you plan on doing every bulb.

This may be helpful also these are switchbacks there is a video at end of first post.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...g-lights-with-switchback-leds-a-how-to.85986/

 

A lot of guys also recommend superbrightleds.com

 

I hate the amber color for my turn signals. With law aside for wherever you live, you can just make your turn signals white LEDs. I switched my parking lights and turn signal lights so my corner light is my blinker which is just a white 194 LED bulb. I also have clear corners so it's a nice clean look. Haven't gotten in trouble yet after a few months with it. I used the sylvania resistor thing they sell at autozone.

 

I have the VLED headlights (9003/H4/HB2) and the output is "whiter" but the overall output is about the same as halogen. proper HID trumps all for light saturation but LEDs are about half the price.

get a LED flasher of your choice for no hyper-blink

honestly stock turn signals in the rear are pretty bright and I don't plan to change. fronts I just haven't had the opportunity to run the extra wire for switchbacks yet

 

You should man. Literally took me less than 5 minutes to do switchbacks.

 

I'm wiring the "fog" to a switch instead of always on. I have the wiring from old driving lights but found I removed the fuse. just haven't gotten one. and with all the snow venturing out just isn't my idea of fun.

 

I wired mine straight into the corner lights so they'd come on with those

 

Now that it's dark I went for a drive to see how my marker lights look and they are definitely brighter! Almost blue but not overly blue. Think I'm addicted to LED's now lol, but I am just slowly going to upgrade them. Buy a bulb or two every payday and wait until I have them all for the rear lights and put them in at the same time so I don't have to take the darn things apart every couple of weeks. Probably going to do cab lights next because it's dim as shit in there right now with the stock lights and it's annoying if I have to look for something at night.

 

Here's some of what I've done. The interior was definitely needed

 

Ignore the hats, it was December lol

 

Took some pics of how they look at night.

No idea why the one on the right appears brighter in the pic but they are both the same.

Side view

With headlights on.

 

Those look great, are they from VLED?