Topic Sponsor
Lighting Come discuss all Ford F150 Lighting questions here!

Retrofitting with LEDs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 24, 2017 | 09:40 AM
  #1  
asdaven's Avatar
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 555
Likes: 38
From: Maryland
Default Retrofitting with LEDs

Bought my '17 XLT couple months ago and I'm interested in converting the stock incandescent & halogen lighting to LEDs. I know the Headlights and Fog lights are controversial as far as changing to LED bulbs using the factory housings as they're made for Halogens. The Anzo Headlights really appeal to me as well. I don't want to be going down the road blinding people or running something that is not street legal. How is the quality of the Anzos and how well do they hold up?

The taillights are another thing. I like the tailights that have the lit outline but I think they are factory ones from a higher trim level than mine. Or I can just swap the filament bulbs out with Leds.

For the license plate and cargo light/third brake light bulbs, is it worth it to get new lenses for those too or do they work good just changing the bulb to LED?

Anzo Headlights and Tailights get expensive. I see they also make a Third Brake Light housing and somebody else makes new tag light lenses. I dont know if those two items are worth it versus just a simple bulb change and keep the factory housings and lenses. So debating whether to change the bulbs or spend the money on new housings.

Thanks

Last edited by asdaven; Aug 24, 2017 at 09:44 AM.
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2017 | 10:13 AM
  #2  
SnapThrow's Avatar
Junior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 18
From: Napa, CA
Default

Originally Posted by asdaven
Bought my '17 XLT couple months ... For the license plate and cargo light/third brake light bulbs, is it worth it to get new lenses for those too or do they work good just changing the bulb to LED?...So debating whether to change the bulbs or spend the money on new housings.
I can chime in on this a little bit -- I bought straight LED replacement bulbs from 4x4truckleds.com for the cargo and reverse housings (so I can see through the tint!) and they seem to be working fine and they are super bright vs the original bulbs. I think the plate would be fine too but beyond that someone else will have to help...
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2017 | 11:09 PM
  #3  
brainpa's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 51
Likes: 7
From: Stuart Florida
Default

To be honest, save the extra cash on a HID retrofit, which, if done right, will eclipse $1K. Unless $$ is not an option with you...

As others above have said, I have a 13 XLT, with the crappy OEM halogens, and researched a TON on here, and elected to go with the 4X4 Truck LED set up.

Could not have been happier. Output is fantastic, form and fitment perfect, install easy. Customer service top-notch.

The extra $700 will be well sent in other areas on my EcoBoost...

My $0.02
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2017 | 07:29 AM
  #4  
eyecandynsx's Avatar
5 Year Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,915
Likes: 1,868
From: Central PA
Default

Originally Posted by brainpa
To be honest, save the extra cash on a HID retrofit, which, if done right, will eclipse $1K. Unless $$ is not an option with you...
$1k if you send it out to someone and get all kinds of halos and led strips and stuff done. You can easily retrofit yourself for around $300-$400...
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2017 | 07:39 PM
  #5  
kruman's Avatar
Senior Member
Supporting Member

 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 189
Likes: 11
From: Stationed in Mississippi
Default

Or retrofit with the new morimoto m led projector and have the best of both.
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2017 | 12:05 AM
  #6  
BigDozer66's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 571
Likes: 88
From: Lufkin, Texas USA
Question

Originally Posted by SnapThrow
I can chime in on this a little bit -- I bought straight LED replacement bulbs from 4x4truckleds.com for the cargo and reverse housings (so I can see through the tint!) and they seem to be working fine and they are super bright vs the original bulbs. I think the plate would be fine too but beyond that someone else will have to help...
Which Reverse bulbs did you go with?

I might have gotten the rear windows tinted a little darker than I should so I need to boost the light output so we can see!
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2017 | 12:39 AM
  #7  
230748's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 515
Default

Most folks get the CL90 reverse. A FEW people ordered the CL70s but CL90 are what I think Snap went with
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2017 | 07:55 AM
  #8  
Ncm86's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 208
Likes: 5
Default

I have a 2012 and need to upgrade... what headlight bulbs did you purchase? Also did you upgrade the housing? I've heard even with LEDs our housings are terrible.
Originally Posted by brainpa
To be honest, save the extra cash on a HID retrofit, which, if done right, will eclipse $1K. Unless $$ is not an option with you...

As others above have said, I have a 13 XLT, with the crappy OEM halogens, and researched a TON on here, and elected to go with the 4X4 Truck LED set up.

Could not have been happier. Output is fantastic, form and fitment perfect, install easy. Customer service top-notch.

The extra $700 will be well sent in other areas on my EcoBoost...

My $0.02
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2017 | 11:17 AM
  #9  
230748's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 3,638
Likes: 515
Default

Ncm86 that's correct. Even with LED bulbs your housings are terrible. With that said upgrading to LED will be a big improvement. Your lows will look amazing. Going to highs won't be as dramatic however since you're just changing the LED bulbs that are on, thus the alignment (similar to what a halogen does, except with halogens you are changing to a brighter halogen filiment). So it'll help a bit going to highs but really the lows is what will outshine everything else.

You want H13 bulbs for your 2012 truck.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2017 | 04:58 PM
  #10  
BigDozer66's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 571
Likes: 88
From: Lufkin, Texas USA
Question

Originally Posted by 4x4TruckLEDS.com
Most folks get the CL90 reverse. A FEW people ordered the CL70s but CL90 are what I think Snap went with
The CL90's are what I went with thanks to the suggestions here!

My wife is impressed with them!

I put the Rear Cargo and 3rd light bulbs in as well and they are impressive to boot.

I should have ordered the rear tail lights when I did the others but did not.
That has been remedied as I ordered them yesterday so I can replace them when my OEM tailgate damper gets here to replace my DeeZee one.

Now I just need to decide on the headlights.

Should I replace the housings (with the outline ones) or just go with the low beams G9's as probably 90% of our driving is with low beams?

Last edited by BigDozer66; Sep 24, 2017 at 07:24 PM.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:32 AM.