Help with purchase

[Gvsukids]

Same in Michigan...lol you talking about being a big and gangly corn fed country boy or stubby bumpers

Here, you can have both.

Sponsored

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Thanks for all your help guys. I ended up buying a new Gladiator with max tow, premium package, technology and convenience groups.
The only thing I didn't get that I really wanted was LED lights, I am looking into aftermarket solutions now.

I'd look for some factory takeoffs.

There are a few nutty people out there that remove the nice factory LED lights and replace them with less reliable aftermarket lights.

 

[Stan H]

Some of the aftermarkets are better than the factory stuff. Whats gets me is why any vehicle come with halogen incandescent lights in 2025.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Some of the aftermarkets are better than the factory stuff. Whats gets me is why any vehicle come with halogen incandescent lights in 2025.

Better than?
Maybe in the opinion of the buyer, but not really better than factory LEDs.

LEDs have become so problematic that you can look for the NHTSA to get involved again. The aftermarket LEDs are crap - you believe they are better, but they aren't as far as scientifically or actually. More light doesn't mean better vision, and it can mean problems for other drivers.
If the NHTSA does get involved, your headlights are going to get a lot more complex, thanks to those shitty aftermarket units on Amazon and eBay and so on.

The memes out there joking about LED headlights are based in fact - mostly because of aftermarket junk.
Again, I wish it was legal to shoot out some of those lights.

As far as halogen lights - I found that one of the biggest issues is the lack of voltage to the lamp - if they don't get full system voltage, the output is reduced drastically.
The halogens in the last vehicle I owned that had them were actually very good and I'd put those silverado headlights up against Jeep lights of any type.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Some of the aftermarkets are better than the factory stuff. Whats gets me is why any vehicle come with halogen incandescent lights in 2025.

As far as halogen lights - I found that one of the biggest issues is the lack of voltage to the lamp - if they don't get full system voltage, the output is reduced drastically.
The halogens in the last vehicle I owned that had them were actually very good and I'd put those silverado headlights up against Jeep lights of any type.

I had LED bulbs in my Gladiator for a bit. They worked great. One burned out after three years and I didn't see any that I liked (they seem to be getting brighter and I didn't need to be EVEN BRIGHTER than I already was).

So I stepped down to Sylvania Xtra Vision bulbs as a temporary landed pad until I picked out new headlights.

Well, it's been a couple months and I know I'm going to be an outlier here - but I don't really have plans to buy ridiculous expensive LED headlights anymore. The Xtra Visions work totally fine in my night time driving.

Personally sick to death of factory LED headlights in other vehicles and how expensive they are. Especially on anything that's not a Jeep. When it or the DRL burns out your taking the whole front end apart and buying another $1,000+ assembly.

 

[Stan H]

Better than?
Maybe in the opinion of the buyer, but not really better than factory LEDs.

LEDs have become so problematic that you can look for the NHTSA to get involved again. The aftermarket LEDs are crap - you believe they are better, but they aren't as far as scientifically or actually. More light doesn't mean better vision, and it can mean problems for other drivers.
If the NHTSA does get involved, your headlights are going to get a lot more complex, thanks to those shitty aftermarket units on Amazon and eBay and so on.

The memes out there joking about LED headlights are based in fact - mostly because of aftermarket junk.
Again, I wish it was legal to shoot out some of those lights.

As far as halogen lights - I found that one of the biggest issues is the lack of voltage to the lamp - if they don't get full system voltage, the output is reduced drastically.
The halogens in the last vehicle I owned that had them were actually very good and I'd put those silverado headlights up against Jeep lights of any type.

I am speaking of going with Oculus or JWSpeaker Units . Not those cheap bulb replacements all they do is flood an area with light a unit system directs that beam. Even that place in PA has a Unit they sell thats far better than factory. The Halogens suck. The Halogens in these Jeeps actually shine brighter after they been on for 10miles or so. They are so old school Thomas Edison would be proud

 

[ShadowsPapa]

LEDs, all of them, get DIMMER over time. It's called "lumen depreciation".
Instead of "burning out", they get dimmer. A lot of things impacts how long that takes, heat, time, supporting circuitry, but the lifetime of an LED is stated at how many hours it takes to drop to 70% of the original output.

LEDs will not get brighter with time.

As far as the halogens in the Jeeps we owned - those would have been in our Grand Cherokees, and they didn't get brighter the longer they were on, nor dimmer. I found that keeping halogens fully powered, made a huge difference, as did keeping the lens clear.
I've got halogens in my Eagle that will rival many LEDs - because they are powered directly from the battery with heavy gauge wire, sealed connections, and relays. The power doesn't go through any switch or dimmer. IF I don't keep them aimed properly, I'll get flashed with them more often than with other cars I've had. Check up on Daniel Stern lighting site about how much brightness is lost for every tenth of a volt drop in voltage. It's amazing.

 

[ORACLElights]

I am speaking of going with Oculus or JWSpeaker Units . Not those cheap bulb replacements all they do is flood an area with light a unit system directs that beam. Even that place in PA has a Unit they sell thats far better than factory. The Halogens suck. The Halogens in these Jeeps actually shine brighter after they been on for 10miles or so. They are so old school Thomas Edison would be proud

We’d love for you to try our Oculus Bi-LED Headlights; they sound exactly like what you’re looking for. They’re a complete unit system, not a bulb swap, and they throw a super clean, controlled beam pattern that outperforms halogens in every way.

You can even use promo code GLADIATOR10 to save a bit if you decide to give them a shot.

 

[Stan H]

LEDs, all of them, get DIMMER over time. It's called "lumen depreciation".
Instead of "burning out", they get dimmer. A lot of things impacts how long that takes, heat, time, supporting circuitry, but the lifetime of an LED is stated at how many hours it takes to drop to 70% of the original output.

LEDs will not get brighter with time.

As far as the halogens in the Jeeps we owned - those would have been in our Grand Cherokees, and they didn't get brighter the longer they were on, nor dimmer. I found that keeping halogens fully powered, made a huge difference, as did keeping the lens clear.
I've got halogens in my Eagle that will rival many LEDs - because they are powered directly from the battery with heavy gauge wire, sealed connections, and relays. The power doesn't go through any switch or dimmer. IF I don't keep them aimed properly, I'll get flashed with them more often than with other cars I've had. Check up on Daniel Stern lighting site about how much brightness is lost for every tenth of a volt drop in voltage. It's amazing.

Well that it just how it seems to me , it may just be my aging eyes

 

[Chasm]

We’d love for you to try our Oculus Bi-LED Headlights; they sound exactly like what you’re looking for. They’re a complete unit system, not a bulb swap, and they throw a super clean, controlled beam pattern that outperforms halogens in every way.

You can even use promo code GLADIATOR10 to save a bit if you decide to give them a shot.

Great advertising!

 

[Stan H]

Great advertising!

I love Pizza Hut

 

[Q Tip]

My other vehicles are so old and yellowed it's like driving around with two candles, so the new Jeep is like the sun with just the halogen lights.

 

[Master_Cylinder]

So, when are we going to see pictures of this new Gladiator?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My other vehicles are so old and yellowed it's like driving around with two candles, so the new Jeep is like the sun with just the halogen lights.

I had the rocker panels replaced on a WJ I bought from my father's estate. The headlights were like you describe. When I told the body shop I was going to replace the headlights they said no, we'll take care of that.
Wet sanding, finer and finer, then a clear spray - they were like new again. Amazing what a difference they made, and they did it free since I was having a lot of other work done on that Jeep. (and they'd be spraying clear anyway)

 

[mdbrock7]

So, when are we going to see pictures of this new Gladiator?

Here it is. I put on a bed cover and step rails this weekend. Still need to add LED lights and decide if I want to attempt adding the parking sensors. Don't plan to do too much else to it. Maybe a Gladiator decal on the hood.

Sponsored