Best 2nd Gen aftermarket headlights?

I’m just wondering what aftermarket headlights are best to get for my 2nd Gen Tacoma.

 

I think my retrofits are about as good as you can get, from @kustom54lighting. I have no affiliation with them, just impressed with their work.

 

Stock
This is a good read
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

 

I'll answer your question with the same question I always pose to folks asking your very question. Are you looking for looks or performance?

 

I have a set of kustom54’s and I love them.

 

Thank you for the shout out

 

Lighting Question:
Recently "upgraded" my headlights to Alpharex Novas, love the style and looks, lighting is fair.
The problem I'm having is, when I'm away (and haven't been in the truck for sometimes hours) the orange DRL will light up for a minute or so then turn off. I don't have an exact picture of it, but imagine the orange on, without the low beam.
What issue could this be? Any input would be appreciated

 

Ground maybe?

 

I've got Kustom54 as well and really like them. I'm not a lighting guru and these are my first retrofit headlights. I got a very basic setup..no halos or anything and they still look good going almost 3 years now.

 

Maybe its just me, but I'm struggling with how "fair" output is an "upgrade." Any wall pics of the pattern?

 

Are you tapped into a fuse in the engine bay fuse box? Some fuses will get power every 4 hours or so for a minute.

 

Another vote for @kustom54lighting

 

if your tapped into the fl12 fuse it comes on every once in a while for 30 seconds.

 

1st picture: Stock reflector housings with GTR Ultra 2.0 LED
2nd picture: AlphaRex Nova
both with fog lights off

 

Well, it's an improvement over the OEM housings with drop in LED bulbs. What would be more interesting is to compare the new housings with OEM and halogen bulbs because they produce a much better pattern than the drop in LEDs.

BTW, I think I see why the new units are only "fair." The hot spot(s) are way too low. This limits distance projection, but gives one the impression of better lighting due to all of the light being concentrated right in front of the truck. Common problem with aftermarket lights.

 

https://youtu.be/vPhQPqA8VqM
Skip to 8min 33 sec. these were the instructions I followed, and I used the same fuse location as him.

I will try something else if you have another suggestion, I appreciate the comments.

 

Correct they are very bright up close, long range projection could be better with the low beams, however when i can drive with high beams on, it's very impressive because the low beams stay on! so thats very nice

 

I'm not 100%, but I'm pretty sure the fuse he's connecting to is the EFI 10A fuse, which makes sense that this is the one that gets power every 4 hours or so, even when the truck is off. I think your best bet is to try and find a different fuse location that isn't "hot" when the engine is off. I know there are some in the cabin fuse box for sure, not sure about the engine fuses.

 

Unfortunately, that's actually very bad for night distance vision. Your pupils adjust for the short range light and thus do not allow you to see further out. Said another way, it actually negates the high beams. Very bad.

 

these are the low+high beams, on the highway, they feel very effective. My choice to upgrade my lights was mostly for the sweet DRL, and aesthetics.