Aftermarket tails: LED vs non-LED

[ScottyBoy]

I've been wanting some aftermarket LED tail lights for quite a while now. Not particularly just to have LEDs, but really because I hate the way the stock lights look. Well I was browsing around on eBay and came across these tails.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/301393231313
They look VERY similar to the red and clear LED tails that I like, yet they just use stock bulbs (or I could use LED if I choose to) and are about half the price of LED tails that look like these. I was wondering if anyone on here has bought a pair of these or ones very similar to them. And what do you guys think about them? Whats your thoughts about them?

 

[05Single]

I have those exact same ones and I love them.
Unlike headlights or turn signals you never see tails fog up. So that's one thing not to worry about lol.
They fit pretty good for aftermarket. Mounting is spot on, socket seats are a *****. Have to work them in there. But since I did the 6hi mod on mine all my sockets are slightly trimmed down anyway.
I was suprised on how much brighter the reverse lights are with the clear reverse lens. Huge difference.
For some reason mine have very tiny stress cracks on them, but I bought mine used and they came like that. But other than my set I've never heard of it being a common issue.

Final note , these really clean up the back end. My candy tails looked very clean as well but they still had the bubble design and I do prefer the smooth look that the aftermarket tails give.

 

[jaxman7]

If you have barn doors they'll work but you'll need to modify them. Also. I recommend the lights (on the running and blinkers) purchased have bulbs that face to the side or rear and not the front. You won't get much reflection with typical forward facing because the housing for the reflectors are mainly behind the bulb. Bad design but it's not like these are super expensive. Also don't use white lights for the running/blinker lights. Shining through the lens it almost looks pink at night. Get red. Looks much better.

 

[mdnitedrftr]

Have'em. Love'em.

 

[shreksbrother]

Have'em. Love'em.

Ditto. They really freshen up the back end.

 

[mdnitedrftr]

Ditto. They really freshen up the back end.

They have a very "factory" look to them, which is what I wanted. Needed to get rid of the faded stock lights.

 

[05Single]

They have a very "factory" look to them, which is what I wanted. Needed to get rid of the faded stock lights.

Did you try and sand them ?

 

[mdnitedrftr]

Did you try and sand them ?

Nah. I don't particularly care for them.

 

[05Single]

Nah. I don't particularly care for them.

Understand lol

 

[W8TVI]

I also hated my stock tails... you couldn't see anything behind you when it was in reverse.

I bought a set of these on ebay for $130:
https://www.carid.com/spyder/red-eu...d00-led-rc.html?singleid=145252411&url=938261

It has a similar look to the ones you posted, but in LED.
They are styled in a way that makes it look (to me anyway) like what GM might have put on the truck if they did LEDs.
I like how the entire thing lights up for parking lights (more light so "blind" people notice you), but it still has separate brake and turn sections of the lamp.

 

[Fosscore]

Those will look nice. Similar to my LED Spyder versions with the JDM Astar reverse bulbs in there. Very bright behind even through the dark tint.

 

[J Mac]

I have those same ones. Took a few tries but finally found some LED's that work well in them. I bought these from ebay in red for tail/brake/turn and white for reverse. Very bright.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-3157-3...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[05Single]

I have those same ones. Took a few tries but finally found some LED's that work well in them. I bought these from ebay in red for tail/brake/turn and white for reverse. Very bright.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-3157-3057-High-Power-Cree-LED-Chip-Bright-Red-Brake-Tail-Stop-Light-Bulbs/262228014044?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Could've just got white for all 3. Be brighter. Lens is already red. Js

So you say 'took a few tries', what do you mean by that? Those didn't work at first or a type of bulb you had before that I should steer away from ?

 

[MidwestMike]

Could've just got white for all 3. Be brighter. Lens is already red. Js

Don't forget that LEDs work different than incandescent bulbs. The best brightness is achieved by having the same color bulbs as the lens when working with LEDs.


http://betterautomotivelighting.com/2012/10/18/which-color-leds-should-i-use/

 

[05Single]

Don't forget that LEDs work different than incandescent bulbs. The best brightness is achieved by having the same color bulbs as the lens when working with LEDs.


http://betterautomotivelighting.com/2012/10/18/which-color-leds-should-i-use/

White inherently has the brightest light output. The lens emit whatever color the lens is lol. That article doesn't make sense to me lol
But now I wanna do my own test and see. The article is from 2012 and no info on what bulb was used. And they used a fluted lens. With today's bulbs and higher watts/output/design and newer style clear lenses, might tell a different story.

 

[MidwestMike]

White inherently has the brightest light output. The lens emit whatever color the lens is lol. That article doesn't make sense to me lol
But now I wanna do my own test and see. The article is from 2012 and no info on what bulb was used. And they used a fluted lens. With today's bulbs and higher watts/output/design and newer style clear lenses, might tell a different story.

"Normal" white light is made up of different colors. (Think about how a prism separates the white light in to the other colors)
A red lens on a "normal" white light source filters all but the red, so you are losing the brightness associated with the other colors.
This is why any colored lens will not be as bight as a bulb without a lens.

But LEDs are different. A red LED produces red light, so the red lens lets all the light though, it is not filtering any out.
(without getting in to minor loss of the light and lens not being the exact same version/frequency of red)

The date of the article and type of equipment used is not a factor here. This topic was well covered as soon as LEDs started to become popular.

I only learned about it when I went through the process of converting my bike to LEDs.

https://www.google.com/search?q=led+lens+same+color+as+the+bulb

 

[ge0rgin0]

Not bad for $60 on those pair of headlights. Im looking at this set but now you guys got me thinking about that brightness factor

 

[MidwestMike]

Not bad for $60 on those pair of headlights. Im looking at this set but now you guys got me thinking about that brightness factor

It's not that other setups do not work at all.

But in my case on the bike I already had red lenses, so when swapping to an LED and having the option to go red or white LEDs, it was a simply decision to choose the red LEDs.

 

[05Single]

Not bad for $60 on those pair of headlights. Im looking at this set but now you guys got me thinking about that brightness factor

View attachment 182720

Those in the pic are for Silverado. Careful you don't order the wrong ones. But they do make C style lights for ours.

 

[05Single]

"Normal" white light is made up of different colors. (Think about how a prism separates the white light in to the other colors)
A red lens on a "normal" white light source filters all but the red, so you are losing the brightness associated with the other colors.
This is why any colored lens will not be as bight as a bulb without a lens.

But LEDs are different. A red LED produces red light, so the red lens lets all the light though, it is not filtering any out.
(without getting in to minor loss of the light and lens not being the exact same version/frequency of red)

The date of the article and type of equipment used is not a factor here. This topic was well covered as soon as LEDs started to become popular.

I only learned about it when I went through the process of converting my bike to LEDs.

https://www.google.com/search?q=led+lens+same+color+as+the+bulb

Hmmm makes sense but it don't but it does lol. Either way I planned on getting red so have a deeper red tone instead of a lighter almost pink look.