LED Headlight Upgrade
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 70
Likes: 4
From: LaGrangeville, N.Y.
LED Headlight Upgrade
I've had my 2021 F350 XLT 7.3 Godzilla with dual batteries for a few weeks and plan to upgrade the headlights to LED H13 replacement bulbs, not the OEM LED modules found on the top level trucks. There doesn't appear to be a lot of room behind the headlights, I can't see directly behind either side to tell for sure. Most of these replacement bulbs have cooling fans that protrude out the back. I did a similar upgrade with my previous 2011 F350 and experienced bulb failure after just 6 months. I admittedly bought cheap bulbs. So I'm wondering if anyone else has done this and can recommend a reliable bulb known to fit the available space? By design LEDs are supposed to outlast halogen but I didn't experience that in my 2011. Thanks!
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2001
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,945
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From: NY/Canada border
On the passenger side, the entire air breather snorkel will pull out for easy access. On the driver side, you can remove the filler neck on the washer fluid tank. Still tight, but you can get in there and do it.
I also have a dual battery 7.3.
I had Beamtech bulbs in a 2017 & 2019 but I went with Hikari for my 2020. Improvement for sure.
I also have a dual battery 7.3.
I had Beamtech bulbs in a 2017 & 2019 but I went with Hikari for my 2020. Improvement for sure.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2020
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More Turbo
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 677
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From: Ontario, Canada
I used these bulbs from VLEDs and with the cooling fans, they fit fine. I am very happy with the light output and pattern.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,424
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From: BC Canada
LED lights in an incandescent housing are generally quite difficult to manage because the point source of light is on one flat surface, rather than coming out of the bulb 360 degrees. Very important to have LED bulbs which can be aimed, levelled in the housing. Low vs high LED point source alignment. Usually they have a very small set screw, its tricky, but aiming on a wall, matched to the previous bulbs and proper height adjustment is important. May well already know this with your experience with previous trucks.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 248
Likes: 40
From: Texas
I put a set of beamtech fan cooled leds in my 2020 about 2 weeks ago. So far I'm pretty happy with them.
I can definitely tell a difference in how far down the road I can see.
So far I haven't had anyone flashing me that I'm blinding them and I'm on 2 lane roads a fair amount.
I can definitely tell a difference in how far down the road I can see.
So far I haven't had anyone flashing me that I'm blinding them and I'm on 2 lane roads a fair amount.
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More Turbo
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Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 70
Likes: 4
From: LaGrangeville, N.Y.
Thanks everyone for your comments, I'll sort through them later tonight. I read the linked article and was aware of the shortcomings of some bulbs, I studied parabolic reflection a bit in college and get where he's coming from. I don't have the funds for the factory LED housings and I live in an area that is densely populated with deer. My old eyes need all the help they can get at night to see hazards. The factory lights on my 2011 were about the worst I've ever experienced, to their credit the 2021 is quite a bit better. I'll do a follow up when I make a decision, I'm open to more suggestions. Thanks again!
New User
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 22
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Amazon has Katana H13 9008 bulbs ... two sets $49.99 each and I would also get the fogs which are h10's 1 set for 25.99. It took me about two hours to pull off the grill and change them out, now that I know what I am doing babe a half hour next time. You need a deep socket 10mm to get the bolts off the back of the grill at the top and I used a hand socket driver to get at the bolt on the side of the bumper everything else is straight forward. The katanas are the same as the Sv4's at a fraction of the price, someone else here said that they are made in the same factory and Headlight revolution just brands them and marks them up. The difference is amazing.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 11
From: Central NJ
On the passenger side, the entire air breather snorkel will pull out for easy access. On the driver side, you can remove the filler neck on the washer fluid tank. Still tight, but you can get in there and do it.
I also have a dual battery 7.3.
I had Beamtech bulbs in a 2017 & 2019 but I went with Hikari for my 2020. Improvement for sure. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also have a dual battery 7.3.
I had Beamtech bulbs in a 2017 & 2019 but I went with Hikari for my 2020. Improvement for sure. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 204
LED lights in an incandescent housing are generally quite difficult to manage because the point source of light is on one flat surface, rather than coming out of the bulb 360 degrees. Very important to have LED bulbs which can be aimed, levelled in the housing. Low vs high LED point source alignment. Usually they have a very small set screw, its tricky, but aiming on a wall, matched to the previous bulbs and proper height adjustment is important. May well already know this with your experience with previous trucks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,945
Likes: 1,359
From: NY/Canada border
LED lights in an incandescent housing are generally quite difficult to manage because the point source of light is on one flat surface, rather than coming out of the bulb 360 degrees. Very important to have LED bulbs which can be aimed, levelled in the housing. Low vs high LED point source alignment. Usually they have a very small set screw, its tricky, but aiming on a wall, matched to the previous bulbs and proper height adjustment is important. May well already know this with your experience with previous trucks.
And setting the height is also very important. Generally needs to be lowered as a courtesy to oncoming traffic, yet still a big improvement over halogen.
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2011
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If recent LED innovation trends that the aftermarket has already made available for other popular vehicles offers any guidance, then it seems reasonable to expect that the aftermarket might come up with full replacement headlamp housings that are purpose built for the LED lamp assemblies included with them, that would fit the needs of those who don't want to be bothered with baking their headlamps apart or fiddling with retrofits.
With OEM LED's being so expensive to buy as parts, or only available with expensive trim packages, it seems likely that the aftermarket will see and seize this opportunity to fill this demand. Judging by previous model years, and other vehicles, it sometimes takes a couple of years before these alternatives become available.
With OEM LED's being so expensive to buy as parts, or only available with expensive trim packages, it seems likely that the aftermarket will see and seize this opportunity to fill this demand. Judging by previous model years, and other vehicles, it sometimes takes a couple of years before these alternatives become available.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 618
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From: Stow, MA
cost of the factory LED headlight as the basis for pricing their headlamp housings.
