Halogen Headlights are terrible

[NC_Overland]

I replaced my halogen headlights with Koito H4 headlights from Daniel Stern. Best 7" units I've ever owned, better than OEM in my opinion. I like the timeless look of glass lenses. I'm not a big fan of blinding people with white LEDs, and I don't think they are necessary.

You couldn’t be more wrong about the factory LEDs. I guarantee you they are less blinding to oncoming traffic or traffic in front of you than any halogen bulb. Assuming that they are aimed correctly. They have a way sharper cut off. Some, like Acuras and some Fords are blinding and dangerous. Ours are not.

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[NC_Overland]

Because the factory Jeep LEDs are shit in the snow. Some of us live where snow is common, and some of us don't have the luxury of being able to sit home when it does. When the Governor gets on the radio and declares a state of emergency and orders everyone off the roads because they're so bad, that's time for me to head to work.

Because they aren’t heated? I’ve heard of that as a common complaint up north.

 

[TimC]

More prone to getting snow-blind because of the whiter light.
Yellow-ish halogens cut through better and don’t reflect back as much.
I kept my halogen fogs partly because of this. I’ll get yellow fogs when I’m able to.

 

[NC_Overland]

More prone to getting snow-blind because of the whiter light.
Yellow-ish halogens cut through better and don’t reflect back as much.
I kept my halogen fogs partly because of this. I’ll get yellow fogs when I’m able to.

I absolutely loved my diode dynamics yellow fog lights I had on my Canyon. They were awesome in the snow and rain and didn’t strain my eyes as much in late night driving. Just a random thought.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Because they aren’t heated? I’ve heard of that as a common complaint up north.

It's a problem here under SOME conditions. I've had to clear snow and ice off mine a couple of times. It varies with the wind, the temperatures, the type of snow and other fun stuff. Some snow is dry, some is wet, maybe like we almost always have with snow, there's some freezing rain with it. These things are funnels in the right circumstances.

I absolutely loved my diode dynamics yellow fog lights I had on my Canyon. They were awesome in the snow and rain and didn’t strain my eyes as much in late night driving. Just a random thought.

I did a lot of research on lighting and found selective yellow is good in part for this very reason. My DD SS3 selective yellow fog lights have been shipped as of today - or at least label generated. Can't wait.

 

[fst96se]

I ditched my LED bulbs, both cheap amazon ones and my expensive morimoto units. Got the Audexen 7” units. Best headlights Ive ever had, even beating my cherokee Trailhawk factory LEDS.

I bought these a year ago or so for my wife’sJKU. THEY ARE AMAZING! We put them next to a friend’s JL with LED package and these seemed brighter!

We never get brighted by other vehicles either.

Another friend with a JL bought them and loves them.

I just bought them for my gladiator but have yet to install them.

 

[chaosjake]

I was running at 75 down 281 on Monday night and I hit a ~200 lb hog.

I think a lot of people are missing the point here... What did the truck look like after hitting a 200lb hog at 75???

 

[j.o.y.ride]

I never had any issues with halogens though I rarely if ever drive on roads at night that don't have their own street lights.

Darkest place I drove was Yosemite at 11pm, yeah could have used a little more power but it wasn't undriveable.

 

[Courtsm3]

Where did you order them from Amazon? which bracket did you use? Any issues with installation etc? Did you get the fog lights as well?

Amazon yes and they came with the 9” to 7” inch aluminum brackets. Install on both lights is legitimately 20 minutes. Took me another 20 mins to wire up the DRL. I absolutely love these lights and cant recommend them enough. For the price, I honestly believe they are best deal for JK/JL/JT owners. I did the LED bulb replacement at it was pretty much useless on high beam and I had failures. So far so good with these and they are SAE too.

 

[IamPro2A]

Because they aren’t heated? I’ve heard of that as a common complaint up north.

Mainly because they aren't heated, but also because of the whiter light. Most other vehicles, unheated is not a huge deal, but like @ShadowsPapa said above, the way ours are recessed into the grill not only catches the wet snow, but it traps it there and lets it build up thick. That can't happen on most other vehicles with their aerodynamic flush lights and sloping front ends. If that were the case, maybe you could deal with just the white light issue a bit better.

My solution for now is halogens with a bumper-mounted LED combo spot/flood bar. Gives me the light I need when I'm on the rural back roads around here. As soon as I can find one of those rare round tuits, I'm gonna use my highbeams to trigger a relay so when the highs are dimmed the LED bar will turn off automatically. Easier than hitting the aux switch for the rare oncoming car, and still able to leave the LED off when it's snowing.

 

[Trippin01]

Yep......................If you live anywhere with snow, and you have a brain, you'll re think the LED headlight decision. They cause white out conditions to the driver in falling snow, your headlights get caked with snow ("0" melting ability) and depth perception is so minimal it's dangerous. They are too white and with no heat being generated by headlights, useless in snowy conditions. 9 of my 13 forward lights are LED, which are awesome for summer night wheeling, but headlights and KC Day-lighters (with upgraded 130watt bulbs) can't be beat for winter driving and wheeling. I upgraded the rest of my running lights and rear lights to LED, and I love them, especially my LED backup lights. LED's have their place, if you believe in function over form. See you on the trail, not at the mall.

 

[Gvsukids]

Another discussion on LEDs, https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/led-headlights-snow.23842/

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Mainly because they aren't heated, but also because of the whiter light. Most other vehicles, unheated is not a huge deal, but like @ShadowsPapa said above, the way ours are recessed into the grill not only catches the wet snow, but it traps it there and lets it build up thick. That can't happen on most other vehicles with their aerodynamic flush lights and sloping front ends. If that were the case, maybe you could deal with just the white light issue a bit better.

My solution for now is halogens with a bumper-mounted LED combo spot/flood bar. Gives me the light I need when I'm on the rural back roads around here. As soon as I can find one of those rare round tuits, I'm gonna use my highbeams to trigger a relay so when the highs are dimmed the LED bar will turn off automatically. Easier than hitting the aux switch for the rare oncoming car, and still able to leave the LED off when it's snowing.

My wife's Grand Cherokees only have a problem in freezing rain mixes - and in those cases it builds up on the grill, antenna, you name it. Can't do anything about that other than heat things. And frankly, best to not be out in it if ya don't have to as it means there's ice on EVERYTHING.
My prior truck - Silverado, wife's GC, none of those have issues with any sort of snow at all.
We have a double-whammy in the Gladiator = headlight shape + LED.

 

[JET_83]

Because the factory Jeep LEDs are shit in the snow. Some of us live where snow is common, and some of us don't have the luxury of being able to sit home when it does. When the Governor gets on the radio and declares a state of emergency and orders everyone off the roads because they're so bad, that's time for me to head to work.

I’m in the snow a lot of the time and I have no such issues with the LEDs. Hals are totally garbage like their light output

 

[IamPro2A]

I’m in the snow a lot of the time and I have no such issues with the LEDs. Hals are totally garbage like their light output

Not sure where you are, but as you can see from this thread and the other linked above, plenty of people DO have issues in the winter with unheated Wrangler/Gladiator headlights.
Hell, I just came inside from cleaning the current winter weather off my Gladiator so we can go out later. This morning started as snow, quickly turned to freezing rain, and then back to snow a hour or so later. Only have maybe 1-2 inches of snow and no wind, yet the Gladiator's headlight grille opening was packed halfway up the headlight with snow and ice just sitting in my driveway. Ran it a bit to soften the ice on the windows, and the ice on the headlights was also melted and the snow practically fell out. Wish I had my phone with me to take before and after pics. OEM LED headlights don't generate any appreciable amount of heat to melt the ice and snow, which is why there is a whole aftermarket industry producing heated replacements.

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