AggiePhil, That was a very well written and detailed article. I found it very helpful in my decision on installing a set of these on my truck. I printed out your article and will use it for a reference. Thanks

 

I didnt use any silicone on both trucks and never had a leaky light. I also never had to change a bulb. If I did, it would take about 1 minute to get up on the roof, 15 seconds to remove screws, 10 seconds to replace bulb, 15 seconds to put screws back in, 5 minutes to get back down. Its not that hard. That is after consuming a few drinks and doing it in the cold with ice on the ground with a 40lb backpack strapped to me and the ole lady yelling at me.

 

I'd pick a different time, if it were me... Then again, finding a time when the ole lady isn't yelling at me might be tough.

 

Who said it was hard? Not I. Let me explain how things are on my 1998, 245,000 mile truck, which spent much of its life baking in Texas.

1 minute to get screwdriver and get on roof.
15 seconds to remove screws, noticing that the plastic gasket under the screw head how now disintegrated.
30 seconds to gently pry the clearance light off the roof as not to tear the seal to heck.
15 seconds to change the bulb.
15 seconds to re-install now less sealing screws.
(Fast forward to after a rainstorm)
5 seconds to notice something odd.
15 seconds to get on the roof and notice the light has condensation inside it
5-10 minutes looking for something to replace that *&(*&$ little gasket that disintegrated, to no avail.

See where I'm going with this?

You've said you never had to change a bulb. I've changed 3. While they don't leak water into the cab, guess which ones have condensation in them? Yup.

No seal lasts forever, but clear silicone can be your friend.. right until you need to remove the light.

 

I found LEDs somewhat appealing but to help alleviate the switch problem I paid $20 for a headlight rewire kit from Summit racing (was on clearance) which takes the headlights right off the circuit. So now all my headlight switch does is dim my gauges and run my parking lights. Can't buy many LED lights for $20, but there is the brightness/ longivity factor there too.

 

Does anyone know if the older style lights will fit on a newer truck?

 

i at one time was goin to put 01 cab lights on my 96 they were goin to work just fine what you have to look close at is the roll on the front of the cab i think every thing from 94 to 01 is fine maybe the o2s allso i know the third gens are out of the question diff cab

 

So if I wanted to put on the lights and have it look like it would have come off the line in 1998.5 these would be the lights?

Thanks for the help,

 

Those look about right.

Here is what mine look like... in clear, which only works for a few colors.



They have chrome covered amber bulbs but the color isn't consistent, I'd recommend going straight to LED. I actually have some but haven't installed them yet.

 

Those lights in the link look like the low profile lights. My brother-in-law's 98.5 3500 has the older "triangle" shaped lights.

 

just got off the phone with my dealer. awsome price on the light kit, but for them to do it requires a few limbs. 340.00 to install! ouch! I guess I wont be having clearance lights.

 

BoostCTD, i like that look! I have a champagne colored vehicle and i was thinking the shaded lights would look pretty good on it.