Flatbed lights LED or Not?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
Flatbed lights LED or Not?
Hey guys not sure if I should post this here or not but our 1989 F250 4x4 XL regular cab manual tranny 351 now has a flatbed on it. I am wondering if I should run LED tail lights on the truck or not? What is the diffrence really. I need reverse turns and brake along with running lights. Will the LED really last longer? Is LED any brighter? Please help me decide and help me with more information on why I should choose that one.
Thanks in advance,
Trav
Thanks in advance,
Trav
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Millersville, MD
LOTS brighter and they do last longer...... but be careful if/when you buy that they have the electronics installed already to let your flasher for turn signal and emerg flasher that you are using LEDS.....
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
I looked at wal mart last night and it said $48 for just one tail light do you think I could find the some where cheaper if I did go with them. The truck has the set up for round tail lights and I plan to keep that. Is it true that all LED back up lights flash when you are backing up a companies flatbed truck does that and he said LEDs do that and I really don't like that.
Trav
Trav
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From: Virginia
Don't force yourself to spend the extra money for them if you do not have it. The regular lights have lasted all these years, and will work fine like they always have. And like was said, 99% of the time when you use them, they will not work unless you add load resistors. Most of the time people use a electronic flasher to make them work, but you have a 89 that probably has RABS, and some people have had problems with their RABS and other systems hooked to the brake circuit leaking voltage through and making LED lights glow dim all the time.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
Ok if it has a possibilty of a problem I think I will tell my dad to go with regulars. My dad doesn't care how much it will cost just what performance we will get out of it. The truck is going to be our work truck most of the time a trailer hooked up and I am just trying to design it the best I can for the jobs we do. I just heard all these good things about LEDs and it just started to ponder in my mind but like I said I don't want the possibilty of a problem I really don't want to put $40 some dollar tail lights on every month. I will tell my dad what you said Franklin2 Thanks.
Trav
Trav
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I have found the 6 inch oval tail/stop/turn lights (24 LED) in truck stops, with plug, for about $24. LED lights last much longer (about 10 times longer) than bulbs.
A digital flasher will eliminate the need for load resistors. The flasher needs to be changed to one for an LED lighting system, and it will work with incandescent bulbs also. The backup LED lights do not usually flash, though it can be arranged if you want it.
LED lights are brighter, usually because they are focused out the lens (not to a reflector) and there are more of them in each housing. They use less amperage and can cause problems for thermal flashers (hence the flasher change). Less amperage means you have more power for other electrical items on the truck, and your alternator doesn't have to work as hard.
I have a flatbed with a mix of LED and incandescent lighting (incandescent front turn signals, LED stop/turn and incandescent backup in rear). I use a digital flasher for all of the lighting. PM me if you want help to change the flasher.
A digital flasher will eliminate the need for load resistors. The flasher needs to be changed to one for an LED lighting system, and it will work with incandescent bulbs also. The backup LED lights do not usually flash, though it can be arranged if you want it.
LED lights are brighter, usually because they are focused out the lens (not to a reflector) and there are more of them in each housing. They use less amperage and can cause problems for thermal flashers (hence the flasher change). Less amperage means you have more power for other electrical items on the truck, and your alternator doesn't have to work as hard.
I have a flatbed with a mix of LED and incandescent lighting (incandescent front turn signals, LED stop/turn and incandescent backup in rear). I use a digital flasher for all of the lighting. PM me if you want help to change the flasher.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Backwoods of Snowflake AZ
I am in Arizona first off. Secondly I talked it over with my dad who is the one with the money and he said he wants to just go regular because of the hassle of LEDs. Maybe we will go LED's on our 89 F350 that we are converting to 4x4 flatbed but the 89 F250 4x4 is only going to be a work truck and considering the fact that the truck is an XL why not keep it regular hey? The 89 F350 is a XLT LARIAT so maybe we will do it on that one. My dad just wants the 89 F250 going soon that we will have another work truck other then our 86 F150 4x4 and 02 F250 4x4.
Trav
Trav
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