Hi All-
I have a 2014 Limited, the horn is OK loud and more of a medium tone, but it's far from attention-grabbing. The driving I do often warrants a loud horn. I'm looking for recommendations on replacing the existing horns with a plug-n-play solution that will be significantly louder.
I don't want air horns and I really don't want to add additional wiring (except maybe a ground).
I think I've read just about every horn post including this one
Is there a louder/ more attention-getting solution that is SAFE with existing wiring/electronics, or are the all but the stock horns a risk?
I see some people are using the Hella and FIAMM options. Are they:
A) significantly louder than my 2014 Limited horns, and?
B) safe, if I just plug them in (and ground if necessary)?
I have the hella sharptones. You can just plug them into the stock wiring and add a ground. However by utilizing a relay they’ll really wake up. Not sure what kind of driving you do that requires a louder horn, but I did it more just because I think it looks cool.
I ran Hella supertones in my 4th gen, again just because they look cool. I have 100% scared the crap out of people when using the horn before though, like saw them physically jump (after cutting me off so I was okay with it).
Keep in mind, if you accidentally have your car alarm go off (kid messing with keys, etc) the entire neighborhood is going to hear it.
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When I imported my Land Cruiser, it had a mystery toggle switch on the dash, no idea what it did. When looking the truck over at the docks (1st opportunity to see it in person), I noticed it had Bosch horns. During the trip home with my wife, I'd periodically flip the toggle switch to try and see what was different, and couldn't see anything.
Had to use the horn in traffic, there was a semi beside us, the horn was SO LOUD that my wife and I both jumped! Eventually figured out there was both the Bosch upgraded horns, AND an air horn system, and the toggle switch went back and forth between the 2! There was a compressor and airtank under the truck, and air horns tucked up behind the corner of the front bumper out of sight.
I decided it was only going to cause issues, and pulled the whole system out. Way too loud, I see many of the same cars during my commute each day, I don't need that in my life.
Driving on expressways in the Chicago metro area including I-90 downtown and I-294 Bypass which has one of the heaviest traveled roads in the country for semi traffic. The existing 4runner horn is pretty much inaudible in these conditions. The diesel din and wind noise mostly drown it out. On arterial roads etc. it's OK. So, that's why the need... or wish. On occasion I need to honk it and boy, I'd like for it to be heard.
And if you haven't driven much around Chicago you might not know, we also have some of the biggest A*$hole drivers in the country. It's like narcissism is a licensing prerequisite, at least for some. Guess I'd rather honk than other options.
I have the hella sharptones. You can just plug them into the stock wiring and add a ground. However by utilizing a relay they’ll really wake up. Not sure what kind of driving you do that requires a louder horn, but I did it more just because I think it looks cool.
Do you mean wire them in a secondary, independent horn setup, or integrate an (additional?) relay with the existing wiring? If you added the relay, any chance you can provide a drawing? Even a crude one would help as I've no idea how I'd add the relay to existing setup. THANKS.
When I imported my Land Cruiser, it had a mystery toggle switch on the dash, no idea what it did. When looking the truck over at the docks (1st opportunity to see it in person), I noticed it had Bosch horns. During the trip home with my wife, I'd periodically flip the toggle switch to try and see what was different, and couldn't see anything.
Had to use the horn in traffic, there was a semi beside us, the horn was SO LOUD that my wife and I both jumped! Eventually figured out there was both the Bosch upgraded horns, AND an air horn system, and the toggle switch went back and forth between the 2! There was a compressor and airtank under the truck, and air horns tucked up behind the corner of the front bumper out of sight.
I decided it was only going to cause issues, and pulled the whole system out. Way too loud, I see many of the same cars during my commute each day, I don't need that in my life.
Yeah pretty much I agree on the air horn thing, there are times I'd love to have it - and blow people out of their skin - but BOY one would have to exercise great restraint, or one could really get oneself in trouble with that kind of noise power.
I installed this one, albeit a previous version from the same company. Very loud without having the multi-trumped train horn setup. This is the fourth year I've had it and second vehicle it's been in, and has been great. No issues whatsoever.
Yes, it does have a small compressor (about the size of a soda can) but the harness is cake to set up. You can use the connector for the stock horns as well.
Driving on expressways in the Chicago metro area including I-90 downtown and I-294 Bypass which has one of the heaviest traveled roads in the country for semi traffic. The existing 4runner horn is pretty much inaudible in these conditions. The diesel din and wind noise mostly drown it out. On arterial roads etc. it's OK. So, that's why the need... or wish. On occasion I need to honk it and boy, I'd like for it to be heard.
And if you haven't driven much around Chicago you might not know, we also have some of the biggest A*$hole drivers in the country. It's like narcissism is a licensing prerequisite, at least for some. Guess I'd rather honk than other options.
I'm from Chicago originally (Pilsen+Andersonville) and can agree that there are crap drivers there, but after living in 6 states now, both coasts and the midwest, I can assure you that there are crap drivers everywhere.
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I'm from Chicago originally (Pilsen+Andersonville) and can agree that there are crap drivers there, but after living in 6 states now, both coasts and the midwest, I can assure you that there are crap drivers everywhere.
I've always lived in IL but have driven in many states. Extensively in some. You are RIGHT there are crap drivers everywhere, however... Chicago area has the most self-centered drivers in my experience. That translates into "nasty" drivers, not just "crap" drivers. WI has "crap" drivers, but they aren't "nasty". AZ has nasty drivers but like I always say to my wife, they're probably from Chicago ;]