Replacing stock head lights

[FirstTimer]

Hi guys my head lights need replacing and I'm thinking of not going stock.  Ive been looking at smoked out ones or the new halo style. I will also be putting half dome headlight covers on, like old school hotrods have.  Any advice on which way to go?

[Knox]

depending on what you wheel, the H4 conversions are relatively inexpensive.

[FirstTimer]

I'm wheeling an black 02 TJ Sport APEX...  I leaning towards the Halo style b/c then I will get the constrast I want with the half-dome head light covers.  I've been trying to find a pic to show what I am trying to achieve but with no luck....

[w squared]

You may find that expensive headlight conversions can get very....well....expensive on a vehicle that is offroaded.

Like Knox suggested, I am running an plain-jane Hella E-code H4 conversion on my JK and it's a HUGE improvement over the stock lamps.

[FirstTimer]

Below is the link to the headlights I am hoping to get. 

http://cgi.ebay.ca/97-06-JEEP-WRANGLER-TJ-HALO-HEADLIGHT-SMOKED-SIGNAL-4x4-/310270252981?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item483d8c57b5

Not sure on how the extra wiring will go, and if it will be to much of a hassle.  Anyone have any experience with this type of headlight?

Thanks

[hps4evr]

someone has a headlight bulb that uses a bunch of LED's. that would be slick, its in magazines.

[FirstTimer]

You're talking something like the new Audi's have? If so that'd be awesome! You don't happen to have a company name do you?

[w squared]

someone has a headlight bulb that uses a bunch of LED's. that would be slick, its in magazines.

Truck-lite is the name of the company. The US Army humvees over in the sandbox are using the 24V version. They last forever, and are tough...but I don't know that they offer great performance in terms of the amount of light thrown.

FirstTimer-the lights that you're looking at are cool, but you may want to bar in mind that going offroad causes things to break. Expensive add ons are expensive to replace. Then again, it's your Jeep and if that's what you want to have for headlights, then that is what you should have for headlights! 

[Dagoose]

I also have the H4's and they're a huge improvement. I'm pretty sure I need to aim them a little lower though, everyone was flashing their highbeams at me on the way home Saturday.

[FirstTimer]

W Squared, good call on expensive things are expensive to replace! I think I'm going to go for the H4 lights, just need something brighter. Not to mention the halo lights require some after market writing, which is not something im ready to tackle yet. Colin, you better lower those lights, or our jeeps are going to get a bad rap on the highway!

[Pookapotamus]

have you considered just doing a head light loom upgrade? do they offer one for the tj? this is on my list of things to do for the xj but i have to fab it my self.

[Tinkerer]

If I wanted "plug 'n play" (sorta), I'd  use Painless P/N 30815 http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcatalog/largeview.php?SearchField=30815&SearchAll=4x4%20OffRoad

Or you could build up something similar yourself, though sometimes I have trouble finding the right connectors to not have to cut the factory harness.

My harness crispy fried in my '04 with the H4's when I was doing a lot of night driving. What a light output difference when I replaced the burned wiring!

[BlackYJ]

Or you can just go buy some GE nighthawks (~$30 each) from the local parts store and call it a day

[w squared]

H4's are a HUGE upgrade from factory - especially on a JK. You also get a big choice for ordering bulbs to get what you want in terms of brightness and colour. New bulbs are good, but they won't fix the inherent problems in the anemic stock headlights or the lightweight wiring that comes from the factory.

I don't know if they do TJ harnesses, but a company called Susquehanna Motorsports makes plug 'n play JK harnesses complete with relays. I installed one a year ago, and it's a first rate piece of kit. http://www.rallylights.com/

[Tinkerer]

They make a good point on that site... the relay kits don't work with DRL systems very well at all since they are on or off. It is possible the relays don't really like reduced voltage on the coils either.