Best "just plug in" headlight upgrade?

[JPL]

Hi all, I searched the forums and couldn't find info on a really good plug in headlight & high-beam upgrade. I'm just looking for bulbs that I plug in after removing the oem bulbs without adding wires, ballasts, fans, or drilling, and without spending hundreds, I don't need the brightest headlights on the street, just something better than oem.
Thanks!

2019 TRD Off Road

 

[Angelo]

Hi all, I searched the forums and couldn't find info on a really good plug in headlight & high-beam upgrade.

Check the thread in my sig. :hatsoff:

 

[00Sebby]

Hi all, I searched the forums and couldn't find info on a really good plug in headlight & high-beam upgrade. I'm just looking for bulbs that I plug in after removing the oem bulbs without adding wires, ballasts, fans, or drilling, and without spending hundreds, I don't need the brightest headlights on the street, just something better than oem.
Thanks!

2019 TRD Off Road

To meet all the requirements you described in your post, the H9 (low beams) and 9011 (hi-beam) halogen bulb conversions will meet your requirements. You have to have a pair of these small clippers and it takes about 30 mins to modify and install all 4 bulbs. You don't have to buy adapters, cut into factory harness, modify housings and you will get 50% greater light output, whiter light, will not blind people like most of the LEDs and cheap HID kits do, and can all be done for less than $50. There are all kinds of threads and pics on how to do this and it is truly a beginner level mod.

 

[ElectroBoy]

To meet all the requirements you described in your post, the H9 (low beams) and 9011 (hi-beam) halogen bulb conversions will meet your requirements. You have to have a pair of these small clippers and it takes about 30 mins to modify and install all 4 bulbs. You don't have to buy adapters, cut into factory harness, modify housings and you will get 50% greater light output, whiter light, will not blind people like most of the LEDs and cheap HID kits do, and can all be done for less than $50. There are all kinds of threads and pics on how to do this and it is truly a beginner level mod.

Yes. Lots of info written about this mod. Search for “Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011”

Or just go to post #122 of this thread for the pictures of how to modify the bulbs.

How To: Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011)

 

[Gamma Ray]

Check the thread in my sig. :hatsoff:

I don't know about the OP, but I'm not reading all of that.

 

[00Sebby]

I just did a swap out of my fog lights for OEM LEDs and it makes a world of difference in the side corners and immediate area in front of vehicle. I also swapped for a set of Sylvania Silverstar Ultras for my low beams. That added a minor bump. All plug in and takes about an hour to do all.

My fear was doing the H9 conversion would generate too much draw and or heat. Don’t need a melted wiring mess....others might chime in if this has been reported before as I recall reading through hundreds of posts and it did come up in discussions.

The draw/heat issue comes up in discussions but I don't remember seeing one example of a 5th gen melting a harness or housing due to this upgrade. Though anecdotal, many of us have done this without any issues. I upgraded my '10 TE and and there were no issues over 100,000 miles. Even the H9s I used lasted a long time. The 9005-9011 is just going to a higher lumen bulb as both are 65W.

As you already mentioned, upgrading the fogs to the TRD Pro fogs is a huge improvement over the halogen fogs. Did this on my '20 and even with the yellow Lamin-X, it is much better lighting in front and to the sides.:thumb:

1st pic is low beam H11 on left, H9 upgrade on right with the LED fogs under. Concrete wall in daytime.
2nd pic high beam 9005 on right and 9011 upgrade on left.
3rd pic is LED fogs with one side yellow Lamin-X also with original H11 low beams above the fogs.

 

[JPL]

Thanks all, but like I said, no mods, I'm not clipping or shaving ect, it would probably work fine, but in my book, if you have to modify it for it to work/fit, it doesn't belong. I just need the brightest, off the shelf, direct plug-in low and high beam bulbs for my 2019. A bulb that would give me a 5% improvement is not worth it either.......maybe there isn't one.........

 

[Par02]

Thanks all, but like I said, no mods, I'm not clipping or shaving ect, it would probably work fine, but in my book, if you have to modify it for it to work/fit, it doesn't belong. I just need the brightest, off the shelf, direct plug-in low and high beam bulbs for my 2019. A bulb that would give me a 5% improvement is not worth it either.......maybe there isn't one.........

For the low beams I did LED (yes yes... blasphemy!) but for me they were as plug&play as could be and such a massive improvement over stock its not even funny. Not cheap though (GTR Ultra 2s).

As for the high beam, I am eagerly watching this thread for a very simple, nice link for exactly what you are asking. Simply unplug the old one and simply plug in the new one.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Yes. Lots of info written about this mod. Search for “Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011”

Or just go to post #122 of this thread for the pictures of how to modify the bulbs.

How To: Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011)

.

The directions and the pictures in that thread are best Ive seen. Thanks.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

For the low beams I did LED (yes yes... blasphemy!) but for me they were as plug&play as could be and such a massive improvement over stock its not even funny. Not cheap though (GTR Ultra 2s).

As for the high beam, I am eagerly watching this thread for a very simple, nice link for exactly what you are asking. Simply unplug the old one and simply plug in the new one.

There is a huge thread over on one of the Taco Forums that says LEDs blow goats. They use science. It’s not some kid waving his hands in the air or some shill pimping shit.

 

[00Sebby]

Thanks all, but like I said, no mods, I'm not clipping or shaving ect, it would probably work fine, but in my book, if you have to modify it for it to work/fit, it doesn't belong. I just need the brightest, off the shelf, direct plug-in low and high beam bulbs for my 2019. A bulb that would give me a 5% improvement is not worth it either.......maybe there isn't one.........

Not "probably", they do work fine. Your book is going to be both limiting and expensive since your only option is a replacement H11 and 9005 halogen. Well, that or you could buy plug adapters for the H9/9011 bulbs. But more likely you will want Sylvania Silverstar Ultras for a 30% brighter and a little whiter light or whatever the Philips equivalent is for halogen replacement bulbs. $50 a pair and half the life of the suggestions above. Most headlight LEDs are gonna require a mod to the dustcover which is likely more difficult than the halogen bulb mods, not to mention getting them aligned properly in the headlight assembly to at least reduce the glare they're gonna create. HIDs are out of the question unless you buy a retrofit headlight assembly ($$$). Anyway, good luck on finding what you're looking for.

 

[00Sebby]

For the low beams I did LED (yes yes... blasphemy!) but for me they were as plug&play as could be and such a massive improvement over stock its not even funny. Not cheap though (GTR Ultra 2s).

As for the high beam, I am eagerly watching this thread for a very simple, nice link for exactly what you are asking. Simply unplug the old one and simply plug in the new one.

Did you have to cut the dustcovers to fit those?

 

[TOYO74]

Thanks all, but like I said, no mods, I'm not clipping or shaving ect, it would probably work fine, but in my book, if you have to modify it for it to work/fit, it doesn't belong. I just need the brightest, off the shelf, direct plug-in low and high beam bulbs for my 2019. A bulb that would give me a 5% improvement is not worth it either.......maybe there isn't one.........

I agree with you: if the part does not fit in the OEM socket, plug, or housing opening without chopping, then it does not belong there. No way would I use something as crude as side cutters to try cutting away millimeters of plastic.

I just can't understand the obsession with all the lighting mods. Seems if you really can't see at night with the DOT approved OEM lights maybe you are over driving the light field or night driving isn't for you.

 

[Par02]

Did you have to cut the dustcovers to fit those?

I didn't have to do anything .

And headlight discussions on these forums are like Ford vs Chevy, Apple vs [anything], blah blah. There are some very passionate people who will do everything they can to prove their point but in the end its your choice.

If you look at this thread and scroll down to the GTR Ultra 2s, the comparison of these LEDs to what many suggest you do is pretty decent.

 

[kenwilliams0803]

Thanks all, but like I said, no mods, I'm not clipping or shaving ect, it would probably work fine, but in my book, if you have to modify it for it to work/fit, it doesn't belong. I just need the brightest, off the shelf, direct plug-in low and high beam bulbs for my 2019. A bulb that would give me a 5% improvement is not worth it either.......maybe there isn't one.........

So then go buy silverstars and replace them every 6 months.

I don't see much wrong with my stock ones but if I did, I'd clip and do the minor adjustment for the upgrade. I'll probably do that anyway once one of my stockers blows out.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Anyhow... this guy knows what he is doing... it’s 145 pages so get your soda and popcorn before you start because you be there awhile

Best is the Halogen ...

3rd Gen HID vs LED vs Halogen H11 projector headlights | Tacoma World

 

[SpeedyKevin]

I agree with you: if the part does not fit in the OEM socket, plug, or housing opening without chopping, then it does not belong there. No way would I use something as crude as side cutters to try cutting away millimeters of plastic.

I just can't understand the obsession with all the lighting mods. Seems if you really can't see at night with the DOT approved OEM lights maybe you are over driving the light field or night driving isn't for you.

The OEMs (imho) arent as bad as some people say they are. They worked OK for me around the mountain roads near Yosemite but the H11 upgrade (not H9) worked much better on the really dark no moon/new moon nights. They cost more than the H9s but are plug and play. Same bulb that is recommended in the Tacoma thread. That OP has some pretty good posts!

Nighthawk Xenon 120 (h11s)

 

[ElectroBoy]

I don’t recall seeing any analysis of the headlight wiring on this forum for increased current for this mod. But here’s a quick way to look at it with some estimates.
The OEM lowbeam H11 is rated 55W. If your engine is off, the battery supplies about 12V. 55/12=4.6A.
The H9 is a 65W bulb. 65/12=5.4A. So you’re drawing 0.8A more. Only 17% more than the OEM bulb.
If the headlight power wires are 14AWG stranded, they are rated for 24A (according to some other references I’ve seen 32A).
Of course Toyota derates everything very conservatively for safety so the insulation doesn’t melt, taking into consideration the temperature rise of the wire during operation, the aging of the wire, the ambient temperature under the hood in a bundle of other wires, current of the circuit under the worst cases, etc.
With all those worst cases and with derating for a huge margin of safety, Toyota fused each headlight for 10A.

So don’t worry about another 0.8 A.

 

[00Sebby]

Best "just plug in" headlight upgrade?

I agree with you: if the part does not fit in the OEM socket, plug, or housing opening without chopping, then it does not belong there. No way would I use something as crude as side cutters to try cutting away millimeters of plastic.

I just can't understand the obsession with all the lighting mods. Seems if you really can't see at night with the DOT approved OEM lights maybe you are over driving the light field or night driving isn't for you.

I think it’s because if you’ve driven any other modern vehicle... and I’ve driven dozens if not hundreds because I rent 40-50 vehicles a year in addition to the 39 I’ve personally owned... you realize how deficient the stock 4Runner lights have been for at least the past decade.


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[TOYO74]

I think it’s because if you’ve driven any other modern vehicle... and I’ve driven dozens if not hundreds because I rent 40-50 vehicles a year in addition to the 39 I’ve personally owned... you realize how deficient the stock 4Runner lights have been for at least the past decade.


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Good point. My 2016 4R is my first "modern" vehicle in 36 yrs. so the lights seem good to me! However I do miss the glass lens rectangular headlights on my 84!