The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

Rallylights makes a good 12 awg harness, but the Headlight Services one is higher quality at a lower price. Something to consider.
http://www.headlightservices.com/Wiring.html

You can see my comparison between the two here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...4-not-led-or-hid.398066/page-64#post-18455372

 

I did a version of this upgrade on a 2010 Ford Ranger this evening, my father-in-laws commuter truck. American vehicles can sometimes be a lighting challenge because depending on the bulb type, the bulbs may not be used internationally, which reduces some appeal of manufactures to build high performance bulbs for the application. Such is the case with domestic 9007 bulbs. I used

GE Lighting 9007 NHX/BP2 Nighthawk Xenon Replacement Headlight Bulb, 2-Pack

GE Nighthawk Xenon +120 bulbs, which I believe are the domestic equivalent of the GE Megalight +120s and Rallylights 9007 HL28277 harness. The GE bulbs looked to be the best available for the 9007s and I was able to get a killer price off them from ebay. I look forward to his feedback after his morning commute where he lives in rural deer country.

 

For completeness I have added the claimed highest performing bulbs from GE and Philips, GE Megalight +130 and Philips Racing Vision +150. Ordered from Europe. The GE +130 bulbs have already been shown to outperform the Osram +150 bulbs, which is why I did not include the Osram +150 However both these bulbs sacrifice high beam performance with a blue coating over the high beam filament.

 

I definitely recommend PowerBulbs (if they have what you are looking for). Fast shipping and usually good prices.

A while back I ordered 10 Osram 100/90 bulbs because they were on sale for $8 a piece. So it will be a while before I look at a different bulb.

https://www.powerbulbs.com/us

 

Wow. You are an excellent Tacoma tech!
Need to replace my headlight assembly’s on my ‘08 pre-runner.
I’m tempted to try what you have done. Thanks for posting.

 

Source?

 

sitting on my shelf from Hella Supertones Horns from 2005ish. Need to replace the China one that failed on my 4 extra horns added to stock tacoma ones.

 

So where’s the tldr version with parts list for a 2010

 

I really appreciate all the research and generous sharing of results in this forum.

Bought my first Taco in June, DCSB, 196,000 miles. All but 4,000 one owner-a real cherry find. Except the headlamp assemblies had been replaced, and passenger side was leaking.
I followed directions here and pulled it out, dried out, re-sealed, and drove through the summer and early fall. As days became shorter (and I'm getting older) realized just wasn't enough light from the repaired side. Hadn't opened all the way to polish reflector and it showed.

Read and read and couldn't find a solid lead on third-party headlamp assemblies. Getting ready to drive 2,300 miles, am risk-averse. So I bit bullet and bought two factory assemblies from Toyota dealer and had them install (weather has been in low 20's, no good for laying around on a gravel driveway pulling a bumper, etc). I did get them to cut labor on second lamp to 1/2 hour--2 1/2 on first, I pointed out bumper only has to be dropped once.

So all told north of $800, but I have a warranty, great looking lights, and most important, they're brand-new bright!

I remain interested in the upgrade ideas, and when weather warms will look into brighter bulbs and heavier wiring harness. Thanks again to all you contributors.

 

I just placed my orders to Headlight Services and Powerbulbs on this setup. Basically all in with the lighting upgrades (headlights and fogs) from @crashnburn80. They're effective and don't break the bank.

Mike from Headlight Services did notify me that he's behind on orders, so it'll be a little while before I receive the harness. FYI to anyone planning to do this soon as well.

 

He shipped out 4 days after he notified me about being behind.

 

Had to google tldr.

1)Buy the headlight services harness.
2)Use OEM assemblies. If yours need replacement, go with TRD smoked OEM if wanting something more aggressive.
3) Use Osram 100/90w bulbs for max output, or GE Megalight +120 bulbs for best distance projection while retaining high beam performance.

 

What's actually funny (and a bit sad) is that everything prospective buyers need to know is in post #1.

 

Yes. @crashnburn80 not only has a ton of useful info but keeps this thread up to date!

 

But, but, but, it's so far back and reading all the posts backwards to get to #1 is just tough and confusing.

 

'Net generation problems.

 

Multiple packages out of Europe arrived today. Powerbulbs shipped reasonably quick, the GE +120s out of Bulgaria took a month.