I just mounted some PIAA back up lights to my bumper last night. I should say that I haven't had a lot of time to test them out but I drove around last night, backing up in dark areas etc. and felt a little diasppointed with the output.

They are definately an improvement over stock. I have a bed cap and want something that is extremely bright not only to light things up for the mirrors back maybe make the view through the cab and cap somewhat useful.

My questions are:

1. Am I being too critical and will learn to appreciate the lights with more time?

2. Is it unrealistic to expect the lights to be bright enough to make seeing better through the cap a reality?

3. Could the lights be sensitive to the adjustment angle and I just need to play around with them?

4. Are there any PIAA lights that would be brighter/better that would be compatible with the existing mounts, wiring, harnesses, relays etc. that came with the PIAA kit?


* I must say that the PIAA lights are very high quality and the parts they provide are top notch. I'm just wondering if I should have ordered a different lamp from them. I am planning on adding some PIAA's to the front of my truck as well.

Any input is appreciated.

TIA

 

Hmm, well those are 55 w halogens, I've got a set going on my truck soon as well. Where did you mount them? When mounting backup lights, you always want them closer to the outside edges of the bumper, than the middle. It helps disperse the pattern better than if you have them real close together. Still, a couple of 55 watt bulbs should light up pretty good. Did you wire them up directly to the stock wires, or did you use the relay provided? You have to use a relay on lights that bright, the stock wires won't power them very well.

 

If you find the midpoint on the bumper between the center and the outside edge, they're mounted just inside that midpoint on either side.

If you look under the dodge bumper there is very little area to mount anything until you get closer to the inside of the bumper. There is some area underneath the bumper near the outside but it would have pointed the lights out and up. It definately didn't look right (enough to mount them more inboard), I'm not sure how the performance would be.

Me and my buddy rationalized that the difference would probably be negligible since they are "flood" lights.

Yes we used all factory wires, relays, switches, etc.

I have a feeling that once I start using them in similar situations that I'm used to, I will notice an improvement. It's just that I wanted something ultra bright and I'm feeling these aren't what I was looking for.

 

did you run a seperate power source from the fuse block or did you just tie into the reverse lights? If you tied into your reverse lights at the rear of the truck w/o a relay and a seperate power source you won't see their full potential.

 

I went with KC Daylighters...those things are like looking into the sun! They also worked well for getting tailgaters to back off.

 

They're wired directly to the battery.

I didn't connect the function that allows the lights to come on when put into reverse.

 

Did you flip the lense over? If you mount them upside down you have to flip the lense so the word PIAA is rightside up. Very important!!

 

If you are not running with the relay in line than you are not receiving the full power to the lights. I have the small rectangular ones in my Road armor bumper annd through limo tine on my side windows along with my shell the do me great!

 

when I was working at IAC "international armoring corp" custom armored cars as seen on the discovery channel, I would swap out the stock piaa bulbs will 130 watt bulbs and we would use them as rear blinding lights. hey they worked. just make sure not to leave them on for over 30 mins with out moving. they get a bit warm. hope it helps.. cole

 

Update...I have decided that the lights work well. I think my expectations were not realistic. I was picturing the rear of my truck being lit up like a spotlight in all conditions. Where as in reality, this is only the case in very dark situations, or basically when you really need them.

All in all I would recommend them to anyone and consider them a must have adition if you have a cap or can't use your rear view mirror.