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Lights/LEDs?

1K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  FIRE UP 
#1 ·
Just wondering what people do for headlight/brake light/rear light upgrades?

I spent the past week on and off doing some online searching for some LED conversion kits and I keep running into websites only offering the 2007-2015 model years.

Any tips/pointers much appreciated.

Thanks
 
#3 ·
For headlights, I've heard of people using Harley-Davidson 7" LED conversions. Really any 7" round LED headlight will work as far as I know. As for tail/brake lights, I went to my local trucking supply store and got the 3-post LED tail/brake lights (looks almost identical to stock, just with LEDs). Built in reverse lights too. Just had to get an aftermarket light for my license plate
 

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#6 ·
#8 ·
Thore85,
First off, Lake Havasu huh? We may have crossed each others paths now and then in this little city of ours. We've been here for almost 2 years now.

Anyway, at present, I cannot give you any advice on headlights as, I've had my own share of issues with mine and, have not come up with the top notch solution, just yet. Working on it!

As for the tail lights. I've never been a fan of the stock tail lights on TJs or any of the later Jeeps. So, I changed mine. This is my third TJ and, second Rubicon. I changed them on my last Rubi too. What I did was this. I looked at the outside and backside of the sheet metal where the original tail lights reside. And, my research showed that my picks for intended, flush mounted, chrome or Stainless steel flanged, LED, 4" round tail lights would work.

On the left or, drivers side, it's a clear shot at installing the tail light. One the right side, not so easy. You see, on TJs, there's the evap canister and related components that are all up inside that rear fenderwell, just behind the stock tail light. So, some care has to be taken when laying out, just where the large, 4" hole is to be placed.

Anyway, long story short, I installed two, Maxxima, 32 LED, 4", stop/turn/tail lights w/ polished stainless steel flange for mounting. Now, I will say this. What many don't think about in an operation like this is, the left rear tail light on many Jeeps, especially TJs and JKs, actually has five functions.

1. Stop/turn
2. Running
3. Back up light
4. License plate light
5. Side marker light

All of these lights are required by law so, if you remove the Kleenex box tail light, you have replace all of those with SOMETHING. So, the actual tail lights are as described above. What was used for side marker lights is a 3/4" round LED, one on each side, just behind the fender flare.

As for the backup lights, I installed two, one on each side, CREE, 2"x2" (6-LED) LED beam lights. Those are seriously bright and are 10-20 times brighter than the stock back up lights.

As for the license plate light, I purchased an LED license plate frame. So, now all of those functions are covered. The new 4" round Maxxima lights on each side are both nostalgic and, are several times brighter than the stock bulbs in the old Kleenex box housings. And, the turn signals do flash faster but, I don't mind it. I followed the wife around at night while she made several turns with preceding turn signals and, WOW, those things really broadcast your intentions.

The CREE lights I used for back up lights are as stated, SERIOUSLY BRIGHT for back up lights, just what you need when backing a blind Jeep etc! And, since they are LEDs, they don't require much power to operate that bright. So, I just plugged them into the back-up light wires.

Anyway, that's what I did for our present Jeep Rubicon. It sure looks nice and clean back there and, all of those lights I installed are seriously more efficient than the original ones. If you'd like to see them in person, PM me and, we could meet some place for your evaluation. Good luck.
Scott


 
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