TruckLite's Newest LED headlights

[Hilldweller]

Once again, a big thanks to Jerry at TruckLite for providing me with a set of their latest generation of 7" round headlight for testing. It marks a departure from their usual multi-emitter dogma (with terrible photometry) to a more tratditional-looking lighting product (with very good photometry). TruckLite listened to consumer input, applied a generous amount of creativity, and came out with a solid performer for our market.

Good job, guys.

What an interesting test we had and what a difficult choice this will be (for some).

This new iteration of TruckLite's is, in many ways, very excellent. Sets a new standard. But they have flaws that some drivers won't want to live with.
It will be up to the end-user.

Test highlights:

Raw lumens are decent on lowbeam and incredible on highbeam. Using a Rallylights.com bypass harness rather than a stock JK PWM circuit, the lights produced over 1900 raw lumens at one foot.
Light to sides of road is VERY impressive.
There is a pair of light artifact "X's" created by the LEDs that can cause target fixation.
The color might be endearing or annoying.

The numbers speak for themselves. The lowbeams make more light off-axis than straight ahead. They are wonderful for spotting the stray dog or child about to run into your lane.

Markers are at 25yards L/R, 50 yards L/R, 75 yards L/R
Jeep is on the right side of a 2-lane road; camera on hood in front of driver. Readings are taken at 12" height from road surface --- this is an important stat since the LUX number is higher at different heights. But, for consistency, the 12" number should be used to compare to other lights previously tested.

Ambient temperature 57 degrees F; ambient illumination from stars less than 1 LUX
Lights are aimed with about a 2" drop at 25 feet --- the lowbeams need to be aimed higher than many other types of lights due to the sharp cut-off and lack of ECE "uptick" for road signs.

Lux readings Lowbeam/Highbeam:

25Right-26/ 39 * 25Left-24/ 24

50Right-3/ 23 * 50Left-4/ 15

75Right-1/ 13 * 75Left-1/ 7

25 feet dead center 416/ 1870

8 LUX at 125 yards center; enough to read by.

Photos: don't pay attention to the dark V at the bottom; this is an artifact from a prerunner bar.

Lowbeam:

Highbeam:

Showing the X:

Looking at the highbeams:

Conclusions:

I had to think about this overnight. Everyone in JeepLand knows that I loved the JW Speaker lights for a variety of reasons --- but there's a new sheriff in town.
If I had a JK, these would be the lights I'd be running right now.
I like the spread of light. I like the highbeams. I like the ease of install. I like that you never have to replace a bulb. I like the conservative look of them.

I don't like the X patterns --- but the 8700s had their own weird artifacts too; I guess that I learned to ignore weird artifacts... ...but I can see this as a PROBLEM to some drivers.

We had no blinking at all in our tests due to the full Rallylights harness. Personally, I couldn't live with a blinking set of headlights.


THIS is my complete Headlight Shootout for Jeeps. The good (this LED product, JW Speaker LEDs, Cibies), the bad (IPFs, Delta), the ugly (Valeo/Sylvania HID), & the illegal (rebased HID capsule kits). The test begins with the last generation of TruckLite headlights; don't confuse them with the new ones. It's like comparing a Chevette to a Corvette.

 

[corax]

Nice, so this is the one described on the Truck-Lite web site as LED "Complex Reflector Optics"? I see they also make a 5" x 7" version of this headlight, do you think the shape change have any effect on "X" you were seeing?

 

[Hilldweller]

Nice, so this is the one described on the Truck-Lite web site as LED "Complex Reflector Optics"? I see they also make a 5" x 7" version of this headlight, do you think the shape change have any effect on "X" you were seeing?

I'd hope so but have no way of knowing.
I haven't had an opportunity to play with a set of the rectanglular units.

Is that what an XJ uses? If so, I could get a donor XJ if they could get me a set of lights...

 

[1leglance]

so my understanding is that my 1970 Suburban pretty much uses the standard 7" round light so these would work for me?
Maybe work best with a harness upgrade (with relays) to take the load off my ancient wiring

 

[lowenbrau]

so my understanding is that my 1970 Suburban pretty much uses the standard 7" round light so these would work for me?
Maybe work best with a harness upgrade (with relays) to take the load off my ancient wiring

These would indeed work in your sub but I wouldn't worry about the wiring. They only draw 3.6 amps and function at any voltage between 9V and 33V.

 

[Hilldweller]

These would indeed work in your sub but I wouldn't worry about the wiring. They only draw 3.6 amps and function at any voltage between 9V and 33V.

What he said.
Just put on the right terminal. At 1.8 amps each, they use less than a brakelight.

There's a vendor giving a discount code in this thread:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f33/2012-led-head-lights-133954.html


and a package deal with a set of Duallies from Rigid in this thread:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f43/...le-trucklite-headlamps-rigid-duallys-1343535/

 

[craig333]

Nice to see they're improving. Price? Anything done about the ice problem?

 

[Hilldweller]

Nice to see they're improving. Price? Anything done about the ice problem?

Coupon code "LIFEISGOOD5" for another 5% off from this site: http://www.discountfleetsupply.com/tlc27270c-p.html

As for ice, they don't get warm. Not sure if ice would be a potential problem...

 

[StumpXJ]

I would certainly be up for a donor XJ... my headlights suck big ones!!! I just checked, they do indeed use 5x7....

On another note, Chris was at the house yesterday, and I was checking out the lights. They look very nice, and are stupid bright. However, we realized the passenger side high beam is not working? Not sure if it was a connection, or an actual problem with the light...we didnt mess with it. Im sure Chris will chime in.

 

[Corey]

Those look nice Bill, thanks for testing them out.
I think my FJ uses a 7" round, may have to try a set of these.

 

[Hilldweller]

I would certainly be up for a donor XJ... my headlights suck big ones!!! I just checked, they do indeed use 5x7....

On another note, Chris was at the house yesterday, and I was checking out the lights. They look very nice, and are stupid bright. However, we realized the passenger side high beam is not working? Not sure if it was a connection, or an actual problem with the light...we didnt mess with it. Im sure Chris will chime in.

Dang.

The highbeam worked when he left my house...
We'll have to check his relays and the connector.

Just heard from Jerry at Trucklite and they're eager to see a set in an XJ ---- we'll soon have a set to try out in Stumpy's stock XJ (stinger-free so that we can see the light pattern).
If the TruckLite 5x7 lights are as good as the 7" round units, what a great farkle for our hobby. You just have to love a bright light with a good spread that uses almost no juice and virtually never burns out.

 

[Hilldweller]

Those look nice Bill, thanks for testing them out.
I think my FJ uses a 7" round, may have to try a set of these.

Make sure that they're replaceable coconuts, Corey. A car like a Mustang uses 7" round lights but you can't swap them.

I believe that the FJC uses a 9003 bulb. Is the power pulsewidth modulated? If so, do you know how low the voltage drops and for how long? And it's all moot if the reflectors don't come out...
I've never wrenched on an FJC so I have no clue.

 

[cjlewis]

Th lights are pretty awesome but as Stumpy mentioned I have a passenger high beam that's out. Didn't have time to check it before heading out town.

If I remember correctly there's only two relays on the Rallylights aftermarket harness. I'll swap the lights when I am back this weekend and see what's what.

I hope I can find the receipt. :elkgrin:

 

[Corey]

Make sure that they're replaceable coconuts, Corey. A car like a Mustang uses 7" round lights but you can't swap them.

I believe that the FJC uses a 9003 bulb. Is the power pulsewidth modulated? If so, do you know how low the voltage drops and for how long? And it's all moot if the reflectors don't come out...
I've never wrenched on an FJC so I have no clue.

I am not sure if they are or not.
I would have to hunt around over at www.fjcruiserforums.com to get the info.
Could be someone there has already done this.

 

[Hilldweller]

Th lights are pretty awesome but as Stumpy mentioned I have a passenger high beam that's out. Didn't have time to check it before heading out town.

If I remember correctly there's only two relays on the Rallylights aftermarket harness. I'll swap the lights when I am back this weekend and see what's what.

I hope I can find the receipt. :elkgrin:

Swap them from side to side to make sure it's not a light that's broken...
Then call Ray at Rallylights and tell him you're the friend that I was talking about and that you have the lights installed. He was going to whip up a pair of dongles for us to try, ones with a larger capacitor wired inline. You wouldn't need the full harness for these lights.

You don't have an extra dongle off your OE terminals for your HID lights, do you?