High beams...yeah right
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,946
Likes: 11
From: Northern California
The one good thing about regular headlight bulbs are that they are better when it is foggy since they are really low on the Kelvin scale. Typipcally normal halogens are in the 2500k range (yellowish light)...silverstars are around 4000k (whiter light)....HID's are in the 6000k (white with a hint of blue) and HID's go up from there to turn almost purple in the higher ranges. Here is a chart on ho they look. To me there is nothing better than being in the 6000k range as the light is a bright white and lights up even the darkest roads. The issue is halogen bulbs just can't produce the same kind of light that the HID's can.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Brighton, MI
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 496
Likes: 6
From: Arizona
My high beams worked substantially better after I leveled the truck to eliminated most of the nose-down stance. Then I added regular Sylvania Silverstars, tweaked the focus a little lower to compensate for the leveling kit, and they are all I could want w/o throwing money away (in my opinion).
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 2
That's what I did after being disappointed with the Phillips X-treme bulbs. Here is my installation thread, with before and after pics to show how well the lights work: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tallation.html
I added a 20" Rigid E-series bar across the top of my Ranch Hand front end replacement. In decent weather conditions, I can see far enough ahead to ensure I can safely stop from any speed without traveling beyond the throw of the light. Helpful out here in deer country.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,946
Likes: 11
From: Northern California
Those things are some serious coin! I saw a lot of videos of how great the light output is however and may install something similar to them. I think the Rigids are really expensive!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 2
And I never have to change a bulb.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 3
Light output and bulb life are affected by voltage. Use a voltmeter to measure the volts across the headlight plug. It will likely be below 12 volts. Light output goes down and heat goes up as voltage goes down. It's the heat that kills.
You can hunt around on the net for a relay-based wiring harness that uses the stock headlight circuit(s) as a switching source, with much heavier wiring going from battery to lights. (DFuser has one for us diesel guys; I don't know if they have one for the F150's or not.)
-blaine
You can hunt around on the net for a relay-based wiring harness that uses the stock headlight circuit(s) as a switching source, with much heavier wiring going from battery to lights. (DFuser has one for us diesel guys; I don't know if they have one for the F150's or not.)
-blaine
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Sedalia, MO
I have. '13 XLT - and I even have night blindness - and I haven't had any problems. Maybe yours need to be re-angled?
I'm not a fan of the new HID lights. Just not my style. But I'm not a fan of the ecoboost, either. I had the 4.6 and went with the 5.0 this year. I'm still trying to hold on to the more classic parts of the truck. Lol.
I imagine those new lights are hella expensive to replace if needed, too.
I'm not a fan of the new HID lights. Just not my style. But I'm not a fan of the ecoboost, either. I had the 4.6 and went with the 5.0 this year. I'm still trying to hold on to the more classic parts of the truck. Lol.
I imagine those new lights are hella expensive to replace if needed, too.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
New User
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
--Rick
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,946
Likes: 11
From: Northern California
I agree that the sliverstar ultras will likely burn out quickly. Based on information from people at candlepowerforums, the bulbs are only rated for something like 50 hours of life on high. When that person complained to Sylvania, they indicated that they expected people to replace the bulbs annually!
--Rick
--Rick
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I have to admit, it always amazes me how many people are unhappy with their headlights. I've been on a forum for virtually every car that I've had for the past ten years, and regardless of what it is there is always someone complaining about the lights. If anyone thinks the lights are bad on their F150 they should try driving a Freightliner Columbia or a KW T-600. Hands down the worst headlights I've ever driven with, but I never had any issues.
I've had factory HIDs in my Mustang and halogens in just about everything else and I can't say that I prefer the HIDs. Nothing against them, but I really don't think they do any better of a job lighting up the road ahead. They certainly look different though, and I liked them for that reason alone. Aftermarket HIDs are unsafe unless put into a housing that's designed for that beam pattern. The headlights on my F150 are just like the ones in every other car I've had before this, which is to say perfectly adequate.
I've had factory HIDs in my Mustang and halogens in just about everything else and I can't say that I prefer the HIDs. Nothing against them, but I really don't think they do any better of a job lighting up the road ahead. They certainly look different though, and I liked them for that reason alone. Aftermarket HIDs are unsafe unless put into a housing that's designed for that beam pattern. The headlights on my F150 are just like the ones in every other car I've had before this, which is to say perfectly adequate.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,946
Likes: 11
From: Northern California
I do have to say though...the thought of a nice 20" light bar on the front of the truck is nice! I may even think about the little square Rigids instead...who knows. Another thing to add to my mod list...sigh.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Brighton, MI
I have to admit, it always amazes me how many people are unhappy with their headlights. I've been on a forum for virtually every car that I've had for the past ten years, and regardless of what it is there is always someone complaining about the lights. If anyone thinks the lights are bad on their F150 they should try driving a Freightliner Columbia or a KW T-600. Hands down the worst headlights I've ever driven with, but I never had any issues.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania
Exactly spangle, they don't go out distance wise enough, atleast not like my 250 did. I plow snow for the last 23 years, been in a few blizzards with mack trucks with plow lights that suck bad to where you just use the body lights and no plow lights, so I know what i'm seeing on the output of my f150.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I guess it's just personal preference. I can see where you're coming from, I've owned over 40 cars and trucks in my lifetime, and this F-150 is the first one where I've noticed the headlight brightness at all. And it's not good. I do a lot of driving on backwoods dirt roads with a lot of deer, and the high-beams on this truck just don't project far enough for me to feel safe. With my Rigid driving lights, it's a whole different experience.
Exactly spangle, they don't go out distance wise enough, atleast not like my 250 did. I plow snow for the last 23 years, been in a few blizzards with mack trucks with plow lights that suck bad to where you just use the body lights and no plow lights, so I know what i'm seeing on the output of my f150.