floater212

are the brighter bulbs for the backup lights really brighter or just the same? I have a 2012 lariat with the rearview camera and when I back into the driveway ( nothing around to find your way) there doesn't seem to get much light for the camera...lots of shadows and if it's not white you can't see it. so I am looking for better lighting for my backup lights; which bulb or light fixture do you recommend? I'm thinking LEDs but would I need the resistor for them or not....thanks!!

Fritzz

I stuck a set of LEDs back there an they are brighter, but honestly they still aren't enough. The stock housing just does not work well with a standard LED. If I choose to try something else I will try and LED with a projector on the tip. If you want to go with something that goes in the stock housing I would suggest the same. Otherwise there are some reasonably priced LED cubes you can stick under the rear bumper and wire in.

Bulbs to look at.
JDM Astar
Diode Dynamics

There are a ton more companies out there, the above two are the ones I have personally used.

Brokemillwright

I have the fancy dynamic diode with projectors, they were a big step up but I still plan on adding a set of diffused cubes or ridig srm under the bumper

Steve Osborne

my first set of leds....shame that good ones are expensive...got a company price on these...and would do it again...

Toshbar

I put these in my 2005 factory sockets.




And here is what it looks like on my $20 camera hooked up to my Edge CTS.

230748

floater the real way to go are LED lights that turn on... the easy way to go are the LED bulbs. The LED bulbs DO help a bit and are DEFINITELY better than your stock lights. I find they do a pretty good job lighting up the road when I back up. Where I live, we have lots of lights so the LED bulbs are great for me. I MAY upgrade later to the full-blown LED kits but for now, I like the LED bulbs. Cheap enough to do and VERY easy.

You DO NOT need a resistor pack for the reverse lights. Load resistors are only needed on the front turn signals and the rear turn signals/brakes.

If you let me know the year of your truck I can help you find the right style bulb. I sell them but there are many other sites on the net you can find them as well. Typically I find people buy complete LED kits (reverse lights, rear tail/brake lights, license plate lights and front indicator lights). That's what I did, one of the first things I did.

Happy Eco

I need LED bulbs for my taillights. @013 F150. Ant one have any suggestions ?

Fritzz

Please be careful when selecting brake light bulbs, the biggest concern with these is the lumen differentiation from running light to brakes applied or low to high. Most LEDs like the ones suggested above don't have enough differentiation from low to high and IMHO make them more dangerous. I have tried quite a few different bulbs and finally settled on These and I am totally happy with them. I bought the HP48 bulb.

Here is a picture comparison I did between stock, 3157s like the ones posted above and the HP48s. It illustrates the differences from low to high. I wanted something close to stock but with the instant on of LED.

230748

Frittz makes a good point, you do want them to differentiate... I'll post some photos tonight of what stock look like and what the LED's I mentioned look like.

Fritzz

My camera was set to manual with these settings 1/30, F4, ISO 400. Should help give a better comparison.