I spoke to a headlight LED vendor who says his bulbs are waterproof (there is a gasket around where the bulbs fit in the socket) and he says that with his bulbs, the boot that the stock lights have are not needed. Short of taking my lights out to stare at them, can any one say whether the boots would be required if the bulb gaskets keep the light unit waterproof? I am skeptical but have no proof either way...

4x4truckleds sells larger boots to go over the LEDs he also sells adapters to move the ballast (why does an led require a ballast?) so the old boot will fit (the old boot will not fit over the new lights).

 

The boot isnt there only for waterproofing. The boot also keeps dust and debris from gathering in your headlight. I would either trim the boot you have to fit which is what I did on my old truck or buy a larger boot. I wouldnt go bootless if it was me.

 

The only place that what the vendor is saying would be true is on the fog lights. W/o a boot water is going to get on the inside of the housing. Ford nor Anzo went to the trouble and cost of designing a watertight housing, bulbs on the inside of the housing, with watertight door because it makes it more difficult to change bulbs. My speculation is the vendor is not familiar with these housings, as many manufacturers housings where the bulb goes is the exterior casement of the light. Not the case with our F150's

 

The boot that 4x4truckled sells fits perfectly in the rear of the headlight. But with my led kit that I had bought from TRS didn't all fit into the housing so I had to mount the driver outside. What you are referring to the gasket on the bulb yes it'll seal but what will seal the housing from the elements and dirt. So a boot is necessary in the install of LEDs