Hey everyone. So the headlights that came on my 17 XLT just aren't cutting it for me. I feel like I can hardly see anything at night even with my highbeams on so I'm thinking of upgrading them to something brighter but I don't want to spend a fortune in doing so. Does anyone have any recommendations on what to buy?

 

My headlights aren't very bright either. I'm planning on getting HIDs to replace the factory halogens. You could also upgrade the entire headlight housing to the projector style used on Lariat and higher trims.

Whenever it's dark enough that I need light, and I'm not just using my headlights for other drivers' benefit, I use my fog lights as well. Unless it's pitch black out, I usually can't tell that my main headlights are even on.

 

Interesting. I have no problems with my '15 XLT headlights. Far superior to the lights on the old '07 Sierra. I'm old and my eye sight is not what it used to be. Driving at night is a b***h at times. I really dislike the new LED, HID, ABC, XYZ lights that are on cars these days. Way too bright for me.

 

It`s amazing how HID`s and now LED`s have convinced many people that the halogen lights on their newer vehicle is so horrible whereas before HID`s and LED`s were available, their was far less complaining and people just upgraded to a brighter bulb.

A few years from now, these same people will be saying the LED lighting in their new vehicle is the worse thing ever and those same people will be praising the new Laser lighting that for now is only available on some European vehicles.

 

Just upgrade to a brighter bulb from one of the aftermarket suppliers and call it a day.

There are plenty of people who have done this and the results have been great.

 

The halogen headlights on my 2015 are actually pretty good. I especially compared to my 2008 Super Duty.

However, I had to adjust the headlights on this truck because Ford aims them low to account for the truck being loaded. If you adjust the beams higher you will probably be much more satisfied with them.

 

I was actually planning on keeping my stock halogens instead of upgrading, but it's very difficult to see anything with them. My Dad has a set of soft white LEDs on his Raptor, and other than an intermittent flicker from the left bulb every few weeks, they're extremely bright. That flicker is what's making me think about HIDs instead of LEDs.

The first time my Mom rode in my truck with me at night, she thought I hadn't turned my headlights on at all. They were, in fact, on. Heck, I had to double-check to make sure they were on. It can't be an aim problem--I even remember going over several hills and watching the beam pattern as I faced down at another hill. I guess I'm just used to the brighter bulbs in my Dad's truck.

I don't think Halogens are awful, they just seem to be that way on my truck.

 

By all means, do indeed upgrade your headlamps...just do your fellow motorists a favor and use the proper housings .

 

I had to aim my headlights slightly down, I was getting flashed a lot from oncoming vehicles.

I have a Lariat with LEDs and these headlights are awesome.

Either way, before jumping to conclusions it would help to check and aim the headlights. And then consider either aftermarket bulbs or new housings.

Just my thoughts.

Josh

 

I had to lower mine. They were pointing so high that my dims were better than the brights and I was constantly being flashed. That was with factory housings and bulbs.

 

I don't think Ford does a good job of aiming them at the factory. Either that, or there is only one predetermined setting that doesn't account for different suspensions, wheel tire combinations, etc.

 

I have the Halogens on mine and I have on coming traffic want me to dim them again. Plenty of light for my old eyes, and the high beams are awesome. I'd have the dealer check them out, to see if something's wrong.

 

Decided that I am going to give the Diode Dynamic SL1's a shot. I ordered the lows and the highs and am looking forward to maybe having this lack of lighting issue behind me. These are designed to work in place of the halogen bulbs in a stock headlight housing.

 

Thanks WhiskeyBadger for the post. I seen these on Sema video and thought these looked like a great option. Please don't foget to give us a review on light output and fit.

 

The SL1 was designed in-house, and is produced here in St. Louis, Missouri.

The attached image is photometric testing data with our SL1 vs. the factory halogen bulb in a 2015 Ford F-150. It demonstrates how our SL1 retains the same output pattern, but focuses the light further down the road. This is NOT a photoshopped image.

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