Notices
1999 - 2016 Super Duty 1999 to 2016 Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty with diesel V8 and gas V8 and V10 engines
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Real Truck

Changing headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 25, 2009 | 07:11 PM
  #1  
whporwil's Avatar
whporwil
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Park Rapids MN
Changing headlights

I'm not real happy with the ammount of light I get from the factory headlights at night. I'm wondering if any of you have changed out your lights to the projector headlights I see on Ebay. Are they worth it?

AL
 
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2009 | 07:41 PM
  #2  
leviticus's Avatar
leviticus
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Morro Bay, California
I'm pretty sure the ones on Ebay are Chinese Junk. I am not sure if there is another company that sells a higher quality housing.
 
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2009 | 07:50 PM
  #3  
Brandon D's Avatar
Brandon D
Lead Foot User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
As leviticus stated I would stay away from the Ebay junk. Check out these ones when you get a second. I haven't put them in yet and am not sure on how much brighter they would be but they look pretty great IMO and I am still tossing around the possibility of ordering a set.

http://www.anzousa.com/pages/product...rd.html#111128

I have the PIAA bulbs in my truck as of now and the light output is much better than stock. Might want to try them off the start and save some cash before diving into the projectors. I had one burn out a week after install but PIAA gives a 1yr warranty and I took the bulb back to where I bought it and received a new one no questions asked, I give them serious props for that.
 
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2009 | 08:08 PM
  #4  
leviticus's Avatar
leviticus
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Morro Bay, California
As Brandon said I would start with some high quality bulbs. Also I had a Lexus last year with the Xenon(I think that was the name) headlight conversion, and man ill tell you, its like driving in the daylight. The light is so crisp and clean that it almost seems weird. Driving down country roads, you start noticing plants and stuff you never saw in the day lol.

Most of the aftermarket housings are way to rice burner, turbo sticker style for me. I wish someone would make a more mild custom one, without all the LED hype.
 
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2009 | 11:04 PM
  #5  
Tomahawk's Avatar
Tomahawk
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 5
From: Central Illinois
Part of the problem with the headlights is that they are now positioned below the turn signal instead just below the hood like '07s and previous. Lowering the lights helps when you are at a stop light and you don't want to blind the driver of the minivan in front of you, but when you are out in the boonies at night, lowering the headlights is a really bad idea. Every little hump in the road creates shadows and delays illuminating the road ahead. I am looking for an aftermarket lens/bezel that will swap the position of the headlight and turn signal.
 
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2009 | 06:21 AM
  #6  
ruschejj's Avatar
ruschejj
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Club FTE Gold Member
There is lots of stuff about it here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...y-f-350-a.html
 
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2009 | 06:43 AM
  #7  
pbeering's Avatar
pbeering
More Turbo
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 561
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis, IN
See my assessment here: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7573766

I just returned from a pair of pilgrimages to deposit kids to college and found these lights performed well in varying terrain and weather conditions.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 07:15 AM
  #8  
caprang's Avatar
caprang
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 1
I wonder if adjusting them up a little may help?

I have a 2 inch leveling kit on my truck and have no complaints about the light output. I always run with the fog lights on as well. My high beams are useless but the low beams (with fog lights) work so well I never find myself needing the high beams anyway. The only time anyone ever flashes me is when I have my 10k trailer behind me and even then its pretty rare.

Not sure if adjusting the lights upward would accomplish the same effect as physically raising the lights with a leveling kit but I thought I would throw it out there.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 08:16 AM
  #9  
Tom's Avatar
Tom
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,478
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Club FTE Gold Member
You guys do realize that your headlights aren't any lower than any other passenger car or 1/2 ton truck on the road...right? If it works fine in a Mustang...what's wrong with it in our trucks?

Ever look at the headlights in a commercial truck? They're right above the bumper.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 10:29 AM
  #10  
caprang's Avatar
caprang
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 1
^^^^ I agree, thats why I wonder if its an adjustment issue. I have never had a complaint about my lights/visibility but I also did the leveling kit the week I bought it. My truck even has tinted headlights (factory Harley lights) and I have no complaints. Maybe its just what you are used to or what other vehicle you are comparing it to????
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 01:32 PM
  #11  
whporwil's Avatar
whporwil
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Park Rapids MN
My lights are dull and everything else I own has brighter lights. I live in the north woods of Minnesota and need every advantage I can find to avoid our deer population. I'm personally at 4 kills, all were early morning when it was dark. Technicality I guess it's only 3, one buck hit me in the drivers door and then ran off. My F450 is a 2x4 and the only difference I can see between high and low beam is a greater number of road signs on high beam. I also don't believe the fog lights help that much. I felt the same way about the 2008 F350 that I traded for the truck I have now. On the other hand all of my deer accidents have been with GM products.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 02:59 PM
  #12  
ruschejj's Avatar
ruschejj
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Club FTE Gold Member
Shoot, those bambi's are just gonna bounce right off that 450!

Just kidding, I would consider a bull bar or something too.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2009 | 08:03 PM
  #13  
Tomahawk's Avatar
Tomahawk
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 5
From: Central Illinois
ruschejj - Thanks for the link on the HID conversion.
Crazy001 - I totally agree with you, I was comparing my '09 SD with my '05 SD.
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2009 | 06:34 PM
  #14  
WhëëlMå1's Avatar
WhëëlMå1
Super Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
Club FTE Gold Member
Moved to SD
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:33 AM.