I Hate my Stock Jeep CJ5 Headlights! It is time for an upgrade.

[Zeppe807]

Well... I made my decision: KC Hilites Gravity LED Headlights. I really like that they are a plug and play application that reduces my loading on my electrical system, and no other upgrades.

They state only a 1.88 amp draw!

I feel confident in the brand, warranty, and therefore the product. I have read and seen some good post on the web for the JKs, but not the CJ models.

I like the look, since they don't have any bug eye looks, and they are simple yet state of the art technology, not modified and pushed to the limits old lenses.

I have seen what KC Lights can do in the offroad racing industry and on plenty of Jeeps.

I will post up when I get them.

It's something new, we shall see how they compare.


Joe Zeppe

 

[gert]

Let us know for sure with some pics please we love pics, headlight upgrade has always been on my must haves and I would like to hear your review on them


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hole]

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f7/h4-headlight-upgrade-13786/?highlight=headlight+upgrade
This was the route I went. Cant recommend it enough, amazing set-up.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Joe-First confirm you have clearance in the headlight 'cup' for these.
Also-in your 'thread' here. PLEASE do the wiring upgrade.
I Hate my Stock Jeep CJ Headlights! It is time for an upgrade. - JeepForum.com
Search Youtube for LED comparison tests among makers.
It's a real eye opener.
If I was going to change out my Hella's to LED. These are the ones I would go to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pkkm0KXMP4
Good luck,
LG

 

[Zeppe807]

Joe-First confirm you have clearance in the headlight 'cup' for these.
Also-in your 'thread' here. PLEASE do the wiring upgrade.
I Hate my Stock Jeep CJ Headlights! It is time for an upgrade. - JeepForum.com
Search Youtube for LED comparison tests among makers.
It's a real eye opener.
If I was going to change out my Hella's to LED. These are the ones I would go to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pkkm0KXMP4
Good luck,
LG

I watched the video, it's an interesting video, and I liked the comparison with VisionX and the speaker branded ones.

I should note, my best friend is sponsored by VisionX in his off road racing truck, and I navigate... so KC is a competitor brand. That being said I like KC products thoroughly, and KC's lights don't have the bug eyed look like the VisionX and Speaker types.

The lights will be here tomorrow or Thursday.

I will see what I can do for comparisons: stock CJ to stock TJ to KC Gravity LED headlights, and maybe I'll run some wires to mock up a relay setup on the stock CJ.... the irony was that I was doing this to save time!


Joe Zeppe

 

[Lumpy Grits]

IF you really want to save time---------SELL, the Jeep.

LG

 

[Zeppe807]

IF you really want to save time---------SELL, the Jeep.

LG

Very True.

Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

I think you made me eat my words!

Joe Zeppe

 

[Lumpy Grits]

The KC's your getting. Are these the DOT legal ones?
LG

 

[Zeppe807]

The KC's your getting. Are these the DOT legal ones?
LG

Those are the DOT Legal, non Pro style. They updated them and they don't have a black line horizontally across the light. It is just a single black spot where the LED are held.

http://www.kchilites.com/downloads/dl/file/id/302/product/940/gravity_led_7_headlight_datasheet.pdf



Joe Zeppe

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I'm jealous.....
LG

 

[gr8dain]

I can't wait to see these installed.

 

[djnineball]

i upgraded my headlights to LED and went with Pilot Nolden lights. i come from the old 911 world and there is a guy making drop-in replacement sets for early 911s and he has done some extensive testing. the two early favorites based on performance were the pilots and trucklites however the pilots were a little too deep for some 911s and caused more work on the bucket to make them fit. he ended up using jw speaker and the trucklites in his products. i was lucky and picked up a practically brand new set of the pilots (in black) he had used as a test subject for $400 shipped. i could explain my happiness but the pics will do more justice than i could. i did have to modify the cup to get them to fit due to the extended depth but other than that it was all pulg-n-play, and any excuse to use the cutoff wheel on the angle grinder is a good one!


stock passenger, led driver







both led installed (i like that it looks like a bra!)



here are the various finishes of the pilot lights

 

[Neuner]

Well... I made my decision: KC Hilites Gravity LED Headlights. I really like that they are a plug and play application that reduces my loading on my electrical system, and no other upgrades.

They state only a 1.88 amp draw!

Joe Zeppe

Anxious to hear/see how they work.

When my current headlights go, I plan on getting the H4 glass enclosures but then get H4 LED bulbs. Best of both worlds and not as expensive. If there ever is an issue with the LED bulb, it's a cheaper replacement than buying the whole enclosure. Also gives you the classic CJ look.

Haven't seen anyone complain about the light spread or power with this option. In addition, you don't have to upgrade the wiring either because of the low draw.

 

[Zeppe807]

Well I Got Them Today!





















Well I am a little excited to see these and how well they are made. The quality is apparent and they are solid!

:drool:

The optics seem very crisp. The lens is barely curved, but not a concern, I have not tried installing it yet, so I have yet to know if they will fit in the buckets like someone had warned me about with LED lights, but I trust KC has made these correctly, plus they said it would fit...

I hope to get these in tomorrow or Friday for a comparison.



More to come!

Joe Zeppe



P.S. let me know if these pictures work.

 

[gr8dain]

The pics work for me. Now get them installed!!!!

 

[Zeppe807]

So here is a question: Is it fair for me to test these lights with a protective film installed on them. Would it be fair for KC?

I like these lights so much, and I want them to last. I'd like to say I am the first one in line running down the road, or trail, or desert path, but I'm not. So I bought these Xpel Headlight Protection films. (PN:H9903A) for the headlights.



At $12 I couldn't pass up the deal on Amazon. These things are THICK!

So What Do You Say?

Should I test them real world on my Jeep with the protective lenses? (I'm leaning towards that)

Let Me Know!


Joe Zeppe

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Hard to break that poly lens.
When it starts to get cloudy look'n. Use some Turtle Wax Polishing Compound, and all will be good.
LG

 

[Zeppe807]

Well... These Xpel films are perfect for a curved 7 inch lens, but they are about 1/16" to 3/32" wider all the way around the flat lens. Due to their thickness I don't think I can bend it over the edges to my performance specifications (i'm a little particular).

If I try to install the covers and don't like them then I wonder if the would come off without leaving a film or damaging the poly KC Light.



I will not be adding the Xpel on these lights currently.


Joe Zeppe

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Any updates?
LG

 

[Zeppe807]

I did the installation!

Holy Cow these things are Awesome.

Let me get my pictures labeled and I'll do a write up.


These are like nothing I've ever seen!