tinted my lights
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
well i ordered a set to put in my reverse today, i'll get a before and after pic of the old vs. the LED..
and as for the dimed reverse, when i had my ranger and i was riding the ranger specific forums all the time i found a wright up on how to do it, and the user that did the wright up taped off the reverse, so did i on my '87, and it didn't look weird or out of place to me, it looked safe... so if i decide to do it on this truck, i will tape off the reverse also
and as for the dimed reverse, when i had my ranger and i was riding the ranger specific forums all the time i found a wright up on how to do it, and the user that did the wright up taped off the reverse, so did i on my '87, and it didn't look weird or out of place to me, it looked safe... so if i decide to do it on this truck, i will tape off the reverse also
Here is what they look like now.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 2
yea, see some people at my school told me i was "retarted" for tapeing off the reverse that it looked like i was drunk and didn't know what i was doing... they did it to theirs, didn't tape off the reverse, the week after, showed up with a huge dent in the bumper and a pretty nice one in the tailgate.. who's the retard now?
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
The VHT niteshade doesn't really block much light at all. Its kinda like tint. You cant really see in good but you can see out fine. If you look at my pictures you can see the light output is just fine. With the LEDs and niteshades its still brighter then stock.
Maybe with some cars LEDs would not be best but I havent experienced that with my truck and im very happy with them.
My truck pretty much is all LED now.
Maybe with some cars LEDs would not be best but I havent experienced that with my truck and im very happy with them.
My truck pretty much is all LED now.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
yea, see some people at my school told me i was "retarted" for tapeing off the reverse that it looked like i was drunk and didn't know what i was doing... they did it to theirs, didn't tape off the reverse, the week after, showed up with a huge dent in the bumper and a pretty nice one in the tailgate.. who's the retard now?
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
If I remember to I will put stock bulbs back in 1 tail light and take pics of the difference.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 2
i had no roblems with it on my '87, i taped off the reverse, i could see, he didn't and couldn't, i went through road blocks day and night with them tinted, never had an issue. i even got pulled over by the ******** cops in a small town in florida, they didn't say a word about it, i even ask him about them and he said "i could see them when you stoped so its fine"
my point is, your arguing with people that use it without problems, if you wanted to paint your truck bright *** pink with grabber green rims i might have a smart *** comment about it but its your truck and if you want to do it then your going to do it, i see no problem with it, i've been behind people with tinted lights, i see them, no problem.
my point is, your arguing with people that use it without problems, if you wanted to paint your truck bright *** pink with grabber green rims i might have a smart *** comment about it but its your truck and if you want to do it then your going to do it, i see no problem with it, i've been behind people with tinted lights, i see them, no problem.
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 532
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
I really like the looks of tinted tail lights, and taping off the reverse part of the lens makes it look sort of like the way the factory would have done it. I may be way off base on this, but aren't they also intended to be reflectors too (at least a portion of it )? This is so when your vehicle is parked in a really dark place, the lights from an on coming vehicle will reflect off the lens and make your vehicle easier to see. I could be very wrong though.
Nice looking trucks BTW.
Nice looking trucks BTW.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 2
i'm not sure on reflectiveness, i know how you can find out if they are or not, go outside with a flash light and shine them, see if they reflect back..
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 1
I was wondering if you could post up some pictures and details about the LEDs you're using. I've been eyeing LED lights for my truck, but I'm worried about how well they will cast their light in order to light the entire light enclosure like an incandescent bulb does.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
Here is a picture with them put in.
Also I just noticed in this picture that my tail light is still reflecting some light so maybe even 3 coats doesn't make them completely useless. Also my helper lol
How bright the LED reverse lights are.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Willow Grove, PA
The reflector is supposed to still function regardless of treatment to front or rear of vehicle. Largly depends on codes from state to state and local area as to how they wish to enforce it. The front one piece headlight/side marker/bumper light assys are "illegal" in some areas because they have removed the reflector from the assy. As with any law or code it is up to the Officer to intertrupt it and apply it to you. If he writes you up you could go to traffic court to argue for an official ruling or not. Side tract, anyone notice the new Prius tail lights? They are colorless until they are used and they have a small red reflector in the lens. How much reflector area must be exposed IDK but maybe to be safe leave the reflector exposed as well. Been thinking of this mod as well, but in PA was told by a Police friend the reflector & rev lens may not be obstructed or impared, and the tail/turn/brake light signal functions can not be impared. So, for me taping the reverse & reflector out and installing brighter bulbs for the tail/turn/brake seems to be my "legal" option.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
With all the LED replacement bulbs I have seen, I don't see how its brighter than stock.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
Thats the problem with LEDs. They just wont do that.
