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2020 TRD Off Road Headlight Help

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by travelinscout, Feb 18, 2020.

  1. Feb 18, 2020 at 8:01 PM
    #1
    travelinscout

    travelinscout [OP] New Member

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    I am new to the forum, and I apologize if this topic has been done to death. I am sure that I am not the only one who hates the stock headlights. I just bought a 2020 TRD Off Road Premium, and I absolutely LOVE the vehicle! Except for the weak, yellowish stock headlights. I am not looking to blind other drivers, but I live in a very rural area, and I simply cannot see at night. I have seen the Morimoto for about 1100 bucks, but I am looking more in the under 150 area for replacing low beams, high beams, and maybe fog lights.

    Thank you for your help in advance!
     
  2. Feb 18, 2020 at 8:09 PM
    #2
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

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    Welcome.
     
    travelinscout[OP] likes this.
  3. Feb 18, 2020 at 8:20 PM
    #3
    ForRun

    ForRun 4Runner

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    I recommend the 12 buck H9 mod. I tried about all others.
    Heres a comparison https://www.4runners.com/threads/headlight-comparison-before-and-after.11875/
    The XV2 would have been a winner except they had dark and brite spots that follow the road that were obnoxious. The GTR color and brightness hurt peoples eyes. The 1100 buck XB.. picture shows, they are not that good, they need fog lights on to be complete and the distance just is not that good
     
  4. Feb 18, 2020 at 8:39 PM
    #4
    fajitas21

    fajitas21 New Member

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    I bought some GSR something headlights from Headlight revolution for both my 4Runners. Much better. About $130 for a set of low beams. That did the trick and didn't have the annoying fans.
     
    White runner likes this.
  5. Feb 18, 2020 at 8:44 PM
    #5
    MattAK

    MattAK Headin' for the hills

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    Welcome! I had PIAA Xtreme White Plus and Philips Crystalvision Ultra H11's in my '16 Trail Premium and then tried Auxbeam LED's in my '08 Sport projectors. I'm now using H9's on my '08 using this adapter harness from Amazon.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TXRWOPA/

    The PIAA's weren't really worth the cost, the Philips were ok and a lot cheaper but I got them from Xenon Depot before they got bought out so not sure if I could find them again. The LED's were stupid bright up close but the brightness fell off pretty noticeably at the furthest point. There's a great thread on TacomaWorld about it, should read it. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-hid-vs-led-vs-halogen-h11-projector-headlights.589465/

    The H9's I'm using now are pretty good in my '08 projectors and the bulbs are cheap so I'll probably stick with these until I feel like doing an HID retrofit, if ever.
     
  6. Feb 18, 2020 at 8:59 PM
    #6
    2016Pro

    2016Pro Why all of the Pro hate?

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    HIDs work great in 4runners. Love mine
     
    anthonydotb likes this.
  7. Feb 18, 2020 at 10:30 PM
    #7
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    The adapter harness isn’t necessary for a 2020. Just need to modify the bulb base. It’s a huge upgrade over stock for $14 (literally twice as bright).
     
  8. Feb 19, 2020 at 3:44 AM
    #8
    travelinscout

    travelinscout [OP] New Member

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  9. Feb 19, 2020 at 3:46 AM
    #9
    travelinscout

    travelinscout [OP] New Member

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    Thank you everyone for the replies! As far as the H9 bulbs, are those for hi or low beam, and can I get them at Autozone? Is it possible to post a link? What about the fogs?
     
  10. Feb 19, 2020 at 6:52 AM
    #10
    MattAK

    MattAK Headin' for the hills

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    It's not necessary on the '08 either but this way I just had to modify the adapter once rather than modifying every single bulb I have to buy.
     
    4runningMan[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Feb 19, 2020 at 6:54 AM
    #11
    MattAK

    MattAK Headin' for the hills

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    I bought these and are using them in my low beams. They're a pack of one so get two of them if you do.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YMPN3A/
     
  12. Feb 19, 2020 at 7:20 AM
    #12
    skull

    skull New Member

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    I tried the JDM Astar high performance 1:1 LED in the low beams...69.99 from Amazon and black led OEM fog lights...very impressed and much better than stock.
     
  13. Feb 19, 2020 at 7:26 AM
    #13
    PrettyGoodSam

    PrettyGoodSam New Member

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    this right here ^^^^^^^^^^^. incredibly easy and cheap mod. increases your output a bunch, no worries about extra power draw and retain the property that the bulbs heat up and help melt snow and ice if that is a thing you encounter where you live. you will have to mod the bulb socket and one of the tabs. search for the h9/h11 conversion thread, it will have all the info. you can also put 9011's in the hi beam housing easily too.

    welcome aboard!
     
    anthonydotb and TN_FunRunner like this.
  14. Feb 19, 2020 at 8:09 AM
    #14
    jedraz

    jedraz New Member

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    travelinscout[OP] likes this.
  15. Feb 19, 2020 at 10:49 AM
    #15
    travelinscout

    travelinscout [OP] New Member

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    Thank you jedraz! What kind of fitment modifications did you have to do? Tab removal, etc.
     
  16. Feb 19, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #16
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    There’s no mods with his bulb choices. Those are stock sizes.

    If you want to stay with stock size bulbs (no mods to the bulb), the Philips XtremeVision H11 +100 is an awesome low beam bulb. $30 on Amazon.
    B9754A90-357A-4444-AD5E-BB3540FCA85D.jpg
     
    jack bauer1 likes this.
  17. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:25 AM
    #17
    Ironguy

    Ironguy Kind of New

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    Welcome to the forum. The advice above is all good stuff. Pick one you like.
     
  18. Feb 20, 2020 at 6:54 AM
    #18
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    I, too, think the stock headlights suck. I looked at the two bulbs shown on Amazon, and wonder, why does it say on both that they do not fit a 2019 4Runner?
     
  19. Feb 20, 2020 at 8:29 AM
    #19
    travelinscout

    travelinscout [OP] New Member

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    Thank you!
     
  20. Feb 20, 2020 at 11:58 AM
    #20
    PrettyGoodSam

    PrettyGoodSam New Member

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    are you looking at the H 11 or the H 9? H 11 is the stock bulb, H 9 requires some modification so it wont fit as you buy it. i just clicked through to that Amazon link you quoted and its for the H 11. the page said it will fit my 2012 4runner.
     
  21. Feb 20, 2020 at 12:05 PM
    #21
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    The Amazon link I quoted goes to the H11 SilverStar Ultra, and it says will not fit my 2019. Same with the other link quoted for the 9005, says the same thing.
     
  22. Feb 20, 2020 at 12:39 PM
    #22
    Imnrgman

    Imnrgman New Member

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    I have the same issue. It says it will not fit my 2018 Limited
     
  23. Feb 20, 2020 at 12:46 PM
    #23
    PrettyGoodSam

    PrettyGoodSam New Member

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    thats really weird!
     
  24. Feb 20, 2020 at 1:55 PM
    #24
    anthonydotb

    anthonydotb ig: @phantom.rnr

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    Do yourself a favor and go to Amazon and search for HID's. Buy the product that best suits your budget and don't listen to anyone telling you otherwise. LED's can't compete with HID's and are preffered due to the angle that the bulb is inserted into the housing. Then once you find the bulb you want, move onto youtube to find tutorials. Some bulbs might require that you make a hole in the plastic housing. I did and couldn't be happier with the results.
     
  25. Feb 22, 2020 at 7:23 PM
    #25
    ForRun

    ForRun 4Runner

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    So with a new runner I planned on going H9 but those that know me would know I'm a headlight junkie:der:. Anyway figured I would try the Extreme vision 100+ a try.
    Stock and 100+ both taken within 1/2hr of each other... The H9 is couple months back in the old runner.
    I think H9 is best bang for the buck, but 20 bucks more looks a tad better

    IMG_20200222_184002~2.jpg
    IMG_20200222_185438~2.jpg
    IMG_20191220_214557_MP~3.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2020
    4runningMan[QUOTED] likes this.
  26. Feb 22, 2020 at 10:29 PM
    #26
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    I’m still paranoid about the heat issue with the H9. The performance gain was significant. But the philips H11’s are good too.
     
  27. Feb 23, 2020 at 10:00 PM
    #27
    RotiniDre

    RotiniDre New Member

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    The Silverstars are interesting for a few reasons.

    1) They were the losers in a massive class-action lawsuit a few years ago. Sylvania ended up sending two checks to everyone who bought Silverstars because of their supposed "brightness." Turns out, that claim wasn't true, and Sylvania settled by sending people 2 checks worth ~$20 to 30 total.

    2) Sylvania admits that the Silverstars suck in projectors and can cause your headlamps to fail minimum legal requirements.

    [​IMG]

    3) They're not much of an improvement over a standard bulb, like a cheaper Sylvania Basic. They're only an improvement over a well-used, long-life type bulb.

    4) The Philips XtremeVision handily creams the Sylvania Silverstar while costing much less, as several other posters have noted. Their subjective impressions are correct. Here is the actual data:

    [​IMG]
     
  28. Feb 28, 2020 at 7:49 AM
    #28
    arnette64

    arnette64 New Member

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    Xenondepot H11 HID with phillips bulb, the way to go!
     

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