Replacing Hella 500's with... ?

Like the title says. I dropped my Hella 500's cuz I wasn't at all impressed - basically the same as my high beams.

So, what else is out there worth doing? Ideally I'd like the LED bar, but that's crazy money right now. HID's are an outside potential, but most of my driving I'd be on/offing them a lot, so I don't think they're ideal. Which leaves Halogens, again.

Will there be a big difference between the 55W of the Hella's, and the 85 or 100W lights that others produce? I know that most of the auto shops around here carry off-brand 100W "off road" lights, usually $50 for 2. For the price I'm wondering if they'll add more light, or just blend in too? Is it worth the extra money to drop on 100W name-brand lights?

Ideal use: lighting up to about 150 yards, semi-suburban (lots of woods along the freeways, and yes, deer). I already have Sylvania Silverstars in my headlights, and am suprisingly happy with them - they easily illuminate 50 or so yards. I'd like the aux. lights to reach about 150 yards out and maybe 20 yards on either side at that distance. Think of it like I'm trying to double the range and pattern of the stock headlights. Ideas?

 

keep your hellas and either do an hid conversion to them:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/60590-hella-700ff-hid-conversion.html

or replace the 55w bulbs in there with 100w and see if you like that.

 

Nah, don't want the HID conversion. Like I said, they'd be much too off/on to be good with HID's.

I though it was ill-advised to go up on bulb wattage w/o improving the wiring?

 

Definitely ill-advised to go up in bulb wattage w/o upgrading the wiring, and replace the fuses with the appropriate limits also... Also subbed for future light purchases.

 

eh i've done it before without problems, the gauge wire is sufficient as long as yes you do upgrade fuses and whatnot... but i guess if 55w isnt enough in the hella housing 100w wont be much better anyways