I found some really cool clear lamps with red or yellow LEDs for my flat bed here.

http://www.buytruckstuff.com/

X

 

i wish i was as good with wiring/electrical as mr. lane is

definitly doing a nice job

 

Excellent write up! I'm here because I've already had a front marker and both brake bulbs burn out. The truck is just over 16 months old. Although, in all fairness, city driving is the pit's (pardun the pun). Add in 3 multiple R.R. track crossings twice a day (and who with a 3/4 ton pick-up is going to slow down for rr tracks?).

I'm seriously thinking of going all LED where possible.

Thanks,
Fruitman

 

now you just need some pulsing brake lights...
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/circ/flashing.htm

 

jim lane according to this web site http://whitegauges.net/led_results.php?brandID=998510 the 6 lights in the cluster

dan

 

If you're lacking in the "do-it-yourself" catagory like me, here's a site that sells the entire rear brake light assembly:
http://www.puredieselpower.com/catal...s-c-29_83.html

or if you know what you are doing and like the look of the tailight assembly and want to replace just the bulbs in there here are two places I found that seem to have exactly what a truck owner needs:

http://www.autolumination.com/

or

http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes.htm
(this link takes you to the part of the website where they make a disclaimer that you may need a electronic flasher unit. Also it states that with red lenses you should use red led's not white, yada yada yada, you get the idea)

If anyone has any opinions or actual experience's switching filament bulbs on newer trucks with led's please respond. Some of the led's they sell have the diodes pointing straight out the back and some have additional diodes pointing at 45 deg towards the tailight reflector, maximizing the overall intensity or "glow". Obviously we want them to be as bright as possible so the more diodes the better.

I'm not so mechanically inclined but I got through switching both brake light bulbs while at a local Auto Zone the other day in under 45 minutes. What a pain. Torx screws and then special clips holding the wiring harness together, bla bla bla. If i have to do this again in 16 months it will definately pay to switch to led's.

More important to me, my truck is a daily driver, in the early am to work and at night to home. Most of that is highway driving. For safety (and coolness) I thought I would add an aftermarket light bar in the rear and on each side but now I'm thinking of going totally led, front and back in the factory locations too for durability.

Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated, but a more simple approach (other than making them myself) would be best for me.

Thanks,
The Fruitman

 

On Monday night I had some work that ran way into the early morning hours.

Now if I have to park anywhere somebody might run into me I will always leave the parking lights on so I can be sure the truck is easily seen.

I turned my lights on at 8:00 P.M. when I got there and I left at 4:00 A.M.
I had all of my marker and taillights on for 8.0 hours
In addition to a strobe flashing, When I went to start the truck I had the thought "What if it wont start" but I turned the key and it cranked over instantly and started on my main battery as if I had just turned it off.

There was no unusually heavy charging.

Guess what I am trying to say is with all of my lights converted to LED's I would guess I was drawing probably only about 5 or 6 amps from the battery.

When I get a chance I will check it with my Fluke and get an exact reading.

I actually leave my lights on whenever I have the opportunity to.

Oops I still have the dash lights and the front turn signal lamps to go.
Jim

 

That's crazy! But imagine if you hunt and want to stay out late into the evening. Sure would be nice to have that as a marker to find your way.
The benefits are many.

 

jim this is an awesome write up. i just got done putting mine in last night and man do they look amazing. the only thing i noticed is when i turn my turn signal on the front signals flash and then when they are off the led lights flash but i think it looks cool anyway!!!

 

That Was Aswome Tahnks A Lot

 

I just replaced another fog light bulb. This time it was a 25 dollar (50 for the set) blue diamond ice thing (they really do make a difference for country life driving where street lights etc don't exist). I swear I want to get rid of them (filament bulbs) all.

 

Did anyone find any LED's that would fit the markers under the headlamps?

I see the side marker and the cab lights.

 

You can get LED 1157A's to go in there.

 

OK, yes.

I was thinking maybe a one piece LED with leads that would replace the whole lens bulb assembly.

 

Get the same LED modules that I have in my taillights except get them in amber.
Jim