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2014 Headlights = Flicking Birthday Candle

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by PlatPro, Dec 26, 2015.

  1. Dec 26, 2015 at 6:48 AM
    #1
    PlatPro

    PlatPro [OP] New Member

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    2014 Platinum, TRD Pro Suspension , Truxedo Bed Cover, Vent Shade Rain Guards, Tint match windows,TRD Exhaust, Linex, Custom Dyno Tune, TRD SwayBar, and just started.
    My Tundra stock headlights put out as much light as a flickering birthday candle. Ok, I am exaggerating. I wish they were as bright as a birthday candle. The flashlight on my iPhone puts out better light then my headlight. Sorry, that's my rant. What have people done to improve the output of the stock birthday candles? Any success stories with LEDs? I have always ran Silver Stars in other trucks but have yet to install in my Tundra.

    Give me the good and the bad. I need better headlights.
     
  2. Dec 26, 2015 at 9:55 AM
    #2
    PolarbearTRD

    PolarbearTRD New Member

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    Carbon fiber wrap trim interior. Carbon fiber pillars, yitamotor 6000k led headlights. Rigid industries 50" led light bar,
    I have led I had ordered off Amazon and absolutely love them.. $50 yotimoto 6000k , internal fans and heat sinks. They are very bright!
     
  3. Dec 26, 2015 at 10:27 AM
    #3
    PlatinumPro

    PlatinumPro New Member

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    i couldn't agree with ts more about the light output... not terribly impressive. i had led's on my previous vehicle and felt like a jerk for the short time i ran them as they scattered everywhere. i've read similar problems with the tundras too. are you getting flashed?
     
  4. Dec 26, 2015 at 10:45 AM
    #4
    PolarbearTRD

    PolarbearTRD New Member

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    I have not got flashed. I turn the lever switch to 4 so it's more on the ground . It's a clean even light I really like them
     
  5. Dec 27, 2015 at 1:57 AM
    #5
    PlatPro

    PlatPro [OP] New Member

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    Anyone ever put in silver stars? 0-10 10 being the best?
     
  6. Dec 27, 2015 at 7:17 AM
    #6
    PlatinumPro

    PlatinumPro New Member

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  7. Dec 27, 2015 at 7:35 AM
    #7
    Bl@ckBea$t

    Bl@ckBea$t New Member

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    The best way to achieve kick ass light output is gonna be a retrofit. Are you familiar with the term? I did one to my 2012 and the output is crazzzzyyyy good. About twice the distance with no flashing from oncoming traffic.
     
    MotoTundra likes this.
  8. Dec 27, 2015 at 8:16 AM
    #8
    PlatinumPro

    PlatinumPro New Member

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    the reason we're talking about bulbs is to avoid retrofits. the problem with a retrofit is they are completely evasive and require risking the function of your lights. the other option of sending them away renders the vehicle useless for the time the headlights are away.
    i personally don't need the worlds best lighting. i just want an improvement over stock.
     
  9. Dec 27, 2015 at 8:20 AM
    #9
    Bl@ckBea$t

    Bl@ckBea$t New Member

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    Well i saw you were talking about led lights...those are okay. The light output is great, but the distance and coverage sucks in my opinion. Hid's would be good but if you don't wanna set those up i understand lol. Another thing you could do is add fog light cubes. Buy the Rigid fog light mounts and order the cubes off Amazon for super cheap. That will be the biggest improvement as for light output and seeing at night. You can aim them down so you dont blind people and they are still pretty damn effective light output wise.
     
  10. Dec 27, 2015 at 12:13 PM
    #10
    PlatinumPro

    PlatinumPro New Member

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    yikes, now that i re-read my response i owe an apology. i incorrectly read it as an LED thread. my bad!
    i actually bought a set of rigid mounts about a month ago to replace my stock fog lights and will be installing some d2's on Wednesday!
     
    Bl@ckBea$t[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Dec 27, 2015 at 10:48 PM
    #11
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    -TRS Mini D2S Retrofit on TRD Pro Headlights (Apollo 2.0 Shrouds, 35w XB Ballasts, 5500k Bulbs) -Baja Designs Squadron R Sport Aux lights. -TRD Pro Grill -TRD Rear Sway Bar -BakFlip VP Tonneau w/BakBox -Dipped wheels & bumpers -Iron Cross HD steps -Undercover Swingcase -SunTek Paint Protection film -Tinted glass -Bedmat -OEM Towing Mirrors
    As previously mentioned. A retrofit will crush any legal (and courteous) alternative.

    It is almost 2am, and this is the last of many late nights up in the garage doing mine.

    One day this week I will post pictures of them on my truck.

    Next up (in about a year), Rigid SAE fogs with Rigid mounts..

    _20151218_121832.jpg
     
  12. Jan 1, 2016 at 5:03 PM
    #12
    lotsos2015

    lotsos2015 New Member

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    TRD exhaust, Tailgate mod, 5% tint all the way around, front window 35%, interior LED's, license plate LED's, Front Swaybar removed.
    They look amazing! I want to pull the trigger on mine but am a little aprehensive... I would hate to mess them up. Can you list the details of your retrofits??
     
    MotoTundra[QUOTED] likes this.
  13. Jan 1, 2016 at 5:51 PM
    #13
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    -TRS Mini D2S Retrofit on TRD Pro Headlights (Apollo 2.0 Shrouds, 35w XB Ballasts, 5500k Bulbs) -Baja Designs Squadron R Sport Aux lights. -TRD Pro Grill -TRD Rear Sway Bar -BakFlip VP Tonneau w/BakBox -Dipped wheels & bumpers -Iron Cross HD steps -Undercover Swingcase -SunTek Paint Protection film -Tinted glass -Bedmat -OEM Towing Mirrors
    Thanks brother. I plan to write up a DIY thread to hopefully guide guys along the way, I have just been stupid busy lately..
    These are the parts, all Morimoto from www.theretrofitsource.com
    Complete Mini D2S kit with 35w XB ballasts and 5500k bulbs. Motocontrol harness, XSB Switchback LED Demon eyes (5500k white/amber), Apollo 2.0 shrouds, 12" extensions for the harness, rubber housing cap for the back of the housing, retro rubber and (not from TRS) Permaseal Silicone to seal them back up. Plus some other little things...

    Also black paint. For safety I didnt paint the DRL housing or tint the corner reflector.

    So far I love them. It was definitely time consuming. If I had to do another Tundra set I would be able to bang it out much quicker.
     
    lotsos2015[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Jan 1, 2016 at 6:12 PM
    #14
    jlee

    jlee New Member Vendor

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    Oh one or two.
  15. Jan 1, 2016 at 6:57 PM
    #15
    PlatinumPro

    PlatinumPro New Member

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    first let me say... wow guys. those things look amazing!
    i did wonder something though, if a person was looking only to improve to projectors and keeping the lights stock otherwise how difficult and time consuming would you think that'd be?
     
  16. Jan 1, 2016 at 8:34 PM
    #16
    jlee

    jlee New Member Vendor

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    Oh one or two.
    Most of the time spent on mine was painting and the custom work. Just cracking them and installing Ds-2's and sealing them up could be done in a day no problem.
     
  17. Jan 2, 2016 at 7:09 AM
    #17
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    -TRS Mini D2S Retrofit on TRD Pro Headlights (Apollo 2.0 Shrouds, 35w XB Ballasts, 5500k Bulbs) -Baja Designs Squadron R Sport Aux lights. -TRD Pro Grill -TRD Rear Sway Bar -BakFlip VP Tonneau w/BakBox -Dipped wheels & bumpers -Iron Cross HD steps -Undercover Swingcase -SunTek Paint Protection film -Tinted glass -Bedmat -OEM Towing Mirrors
    For me that would be a long day, but I probably work slower than most. @PlatinumPro just beware that even with a D2S kit, at least the one from TRS, in my opinion, on our trucks you can't use the H4 adapter and simply tighten her down and be done. You still need to grind the back bowl flat, aim, etc.

    Egh, I need to write up a thread on it.
     
    lotsos2015 likes this.
  18. Jan 2, 2016 at 7:26 AM
    #18
    PlatinumPro

    PlatinumPro New Member

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    yes you do! haha
     
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  19. Jan 2, 2016 at 11:22 AM
    #19
    lotsos2015

    lotsos2015 New Member

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  20. Jan 2, 2016 at 12:28 PM
    #20
    jlee

    jlee New Member Vendor

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    Oh one or two.
    Definitely a long day but it could be done in a day with no painting but once opened the might as well be blacked out or color matched they look so much better!
    Yes you will need to shave down the back of the bowl to tighten it or a washer if you don't want to permanently modify them.
     
  21. Jan 2, 2016 at 1:27 PM
    #21
    Sefferston

    Sefferston #37sandlongtravel

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    I'm scared as hell to open up my lights. Anyone want to do them for me? Or have a set that they want to part with :anonymous:
     
  22. Jan 2, 2016 at 1:43 PM
    #22
    jlee

    jlee New Member Vendor

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    Oh one or two.
    It's not at hard as everyone says you just need to work slow. I heated mine to 270 for 10min and they came apart pretty easily. The only issue I see with doing it at home is these lights are large and will take up a lot of a home oven if you have hot spots it could cause issues. Of you were local I'd let you use my powder coating oven it makes it simple to heat evenly.
     
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  23. Jan 2, 2016 at 2:02 PM
    #23
    Sefferston

    Sefferston #37sandlongtravel

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    You should see the ovens we have over here, even smaller.

    If I did do this, would the manual adjustment be affected? I know the auto adjusters had some issues to swap it.
     
  24. Jan 2, 2016 at 2:36 PM
    #24
    jlee

    jlee New Member Vendor

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    Oh one or two.
    Mine work perfectly.
     
    Sefferston[QUOTED] likes this.
  25. Jan 3, 2016 at 6:35 AM
    #25
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    -TRS Mini D2S Retrofit on TRD Pro Headlights (Apollo 2.0 Shrouds, 35w XB Ballasts, 5500k Bulbs) -Baja Designs Squadron R Sport Aux lights. -TRD Pro Grill -TRD Rear Sway Bar -BakFlip VP Tonneau w/BakBox -Dipped wheels & bumpers -Iron Cross HD steps -Undercover Swingcase -SunTek Paint Protection film -Tinted glass -Bedmat -OEM Towing Mirrors
    Same here. When you use the motor adjust the entire bowl moves. The projector is secured to that bowl, so it moves too. The problem guys have had is aiming their projectors too much with the manual adjust instead of using quick steel to aim the orojector by hand. Then the bowl has been raised way too high or low, bowl hits the bezel, bezel hits the lens, and no more movement, once anything touches the inside of the lens it scratches.
     
  26. Jan 3, 2016 at 8:01 AM
    #26
    PlatPro

    PlatPro [OP] New Member

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    2014 Platinum, TRD Pro Suspension , Truxedo Bed Cover, Vent Shade Rain Guards, Tint match windows,TRD Exhaust, Linex, Custom Dyno Tune, TRD SwayBar, and just started.
    I went with the Silver Star Ultras. They are better then stock. Using my eye-ball light meeter I would give it a 10-15% increase and about a 10% reduction in shadows in the light area. I picked up the set yesterday for $40.00 at AutoZone. Thank you for the input.
     
  27. Jan 3, 2016 at 8:02 AM
    #27
    jlee

    jlee New Member Vendor

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    Oh one or two.

    Yep I took the bowls down to the bottom then brought them up about 3 turns set my manual adjustment setting to 0 and mounted my projectors. Just in case I had to move them up or down. I did have to bring them up a little after i installed them because I didn't mark the shop door with the stock lights before I pulled them apart. The best thing to do with these projectors is Mark a spot on the wall before you pull the lights and don't move the truck until you mounted the projectors in didn't do that got too excited and pulled them!
     
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