ShadowsPapa
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Bill
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2019
- Threads
- 180
- Messages
- 29,422
- Reaction score
- 34,996
- Location
- Runnells, Iowa
- Vehicle(s)
- '22 JTO, '23 JLU, '82 SX4, '73 P. Cardin Javelin
- Occupation
- Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
- Vehicle Showcase
- 3
You are doing a direct comparison, same size, same shape - which is a far better way.Is this your first JK JL or JT?
If so the halogens are notoriously terrible in these modern wranglers. I tried every combo in my JK and LED is the best one to be had and there is a reason its a factory option now because people complained about them A LOT. The led actually landed in the JK as a factory option due to complaints.
I personally tried
KC h4 conversion. (worked okay not much better than stock for 300 bucks)
led bulbs. (good but the factory deflector blocked the high beam so it was lows only. Better than the kc h4 kit and only 100 bucks
Trucklites. (weird artifact patterns and required euro spec adjusters to aim correctly. for 500 bucks I expected better.
JW speakers. ( these were awesome and for the price they had better be.
KC LED / Peterson 701 (KC just rebranded a very popular headlight for semi-trucks in the Peterson. This was my favorite headlight and the one I left on the Jeep for the next 60k miles before selling. at 395 it was the best upgrade I had ever done to my Jeep. I even took the 20in light bar off the grill as it was unneeded anymore. )
ALL OF THESE suck compared to the factory JT LEDs. Cleaner and brighter. No goofy artifacts or odd shadows caused by the reflector. If I had to stop every mile and wipe them clean I would still take the LED over anything halogen ever again. I live in northern Utah. Our annual snow fall here is over 60in and some areas see over 400 annually. I've lived in Montana and Alaska too and would NEVER go back to halogens because of a little snow accumulation. Especially when heavy wet snow will collect on the halogens too. again recessed headlights, not the emitter is the issue.
I'm comparing generically. The size and shape of the other lights is very different which has an impact that skews my references, I'm sure.
I don't "advocate" switching, but if the owners don't like the LED - the only other remedy is my farther up post - try a product, WD40, rain-x, whatever, or switch. But there's no perfect LED for these that's heated. I guess I say to those with the problems - it's out there, it's LED, try the products and if you don't like it still - then you either live with it and deal with it or switch.
I've had icing troubles - but then I have not tried the other options, so I'm still in the "I don't hate these lights" stage, I'll find a way to work with 'em.
I have other reasons I like LED - my PERCEPTION of the light is better due to my vision, LEDs don't fade out like others, including halogen, which over time lose more "lumenosity" than LED, There are enough things I like about them that outweigh the problems.
Perhaps my post immediately prior to your wasn't worded well or as I really intended to convey.
Your comparison is excellent - gotta be honest -any Jeep people should look at it give other things a try. It's a DIRECT comparison, shape and size, depth, all of it.
Sponsored