I believe the tabs on the expensive set are tinned copper (like the good battery cable wires) and the loop is a ferromagnetic baffle to decrease radio interference (like on old computer monitors etc.)
I have the original Truck-Lites. Mine are 5 years old. I replaced them as soon as I got our Jeep. They are tough, still look good, and the light output is amazing. I love them and would pay the premium for the better built American originals. Mine don't melt snow, but I bought halogen fog lights that I use during inclement weather. Awesome video!
Red Rock Crawlers in really cold areas the heated is nice as the led doesn’t produce the lens heat a halogen light does. I didn’t get the heated as I live in eastern NC.
RTV silicone offgases as it cures. It will deposit a layer of hazy material on the reflector and the inside of the lens, thats part of the reason the lens is faded. The other is that the trucklite is actually coated with a UV hardcoat, and clearly the knock-offs are either bare polycarbonate (most likely) or have a much more inferior uv coating (not likely). Use butyl rubber to seal the lenses if you take them off of the lamps. Some silicone should be ok if you dont take the lamp apart and just seal the lenses edge. The beamshots you showed on your garage show that you do get what you pay for. And not just you, but the people in oncoming traffic.
the solvents in the caulking evaporating and getting trapped inside the housing that you used to seal the knockoffs is most likely what caused the plastic to yellow so quickly.
I had fake jw speaker lights I paid almost $200, one burnt out so I went with the real jw speaker lights, whoa big difference. The real ones actually punch far down the road and people don't flash me anymore
Jason Bacon I think you get what you pay for. Sometimes people can't afford the name brand so I totally get going with the cheaper version. But like you said there's definitely a difference
Great Video. I was thinking about the cheap version but the one thing you did in the video is compare the light beams and brand name is way way better. Thanks!
Eric Peden I really like the truck lites. Great lights and they use that 7 inch housing well I think. I agree the light pattern was better with the real ones
I bought $92 LED headlights (not the Trucklite clone) on Amazon for my '01 Cherokee and they perform better than the $300 Trucklite lights I put in my '06 Wrangler.
Oh interesting. I'm not knocking the cheaper version lights, as I completely understand not wanting to spend a bunch on lights when you don't need to. I currently have a $80 amazon light bar that works just fine. Do you think it has anything to do with the square versus round housing? Also can you shed more light... lol, on what you mean by saying they perform better.
Thank you for the video. It always comes down to pocket, versus supporting a local US company. It is a shame that it does. The warranty from TL does make a difference. If only we could get local purchases by local companies subsidized and even a break on taxes, we would be able to support local jobs and enterprises as well.
HOMEGUY4X4 totally agree. There was a noticable improvement on light output with the real lights. I was actually surprised. JW speaker make some great lights
What's your opinion, Get the name brand or save the bucks? Let's hear your thoughts.
I’m not spending no dam 300 on some dam lights hands down
Terminvtor X haha that's fair. I'm not suggesting people should do that. This was just my thoughts on the subject and wanted to share with everyone
I bought $400 Holly RetroBrights for my TJ. There is no alternative if you want a classic look without looking like an LED.
with cheaper housings i find seal them right away and put a extra UV protective coating to help prevent yellowing and they will work alot longer
thats what I learned. Even if they say they are waterproof, they are not.
I believe the tabs on the expensive set are tinned copper (like the good battery cable wires) and the loop is a ferromagnetic baffle to decrease radio interference (like on old computer monitors etc.)
I have the original Truck-Lites. Mine are 5 years old. I replaced them as soon as I got our Jeep. They are tough, still look good, and the light output is amazing. I love them and would pay the premium for the better built American originals. Mine don't melt snow, but I bought halogen fog lights that I use during inclement weather. Awesome video!
Thanks for watching. I've never really seen a need for the heated version. I agree the USA made lights are generally better quality.
Red Rock Crawlers in really cold areas the heated is nice as the led doesn’t produce the lens heat a halogen light does. I didn’t get the heated as I live in eastern NC.
I've had my trucklight for 4 yours and would buy again in a minute
RTV silicone offgases as it cures. It will deposit a layer of hazy material on the reflector and the inside of the lens, thats part of the reason the lens is faded. The other is that the trucklite is actually coated with a UV hardcoat, and clearly the knock-offs are either bare polycarbonate (most likely) or have a much more inferior uv coating (not likely). Use butyl rubber to seal the lenses if you take them off of the lamps. Some silicone should be ok if you dont take the lamp apart and just seal the lenses edge.
The beamshots you showed on your garage show that you do get what you pay for. And not just you, but the people in oncoming traffic.
the solvents in the caulking evaporating and getting trapped inside the housing that you used to seal the knockoffs is most likely what caused the plastic to yellow so quickly.
I had fake jw speaker lights I paid almost $200, one burnt out so I went with the real jw speaker lights, whoa big difference. The real ones actually punch far down the road and people don't flash me anymore
Jason Bacon I think you get what you pay for. Sometimes people can't afford the name brand so I totally get going with the cheaper version. But like you said there's definitely a difference
Perfect timing on this video, as I am looking to replace my headlights. Helped me make my decision to buy a name brand.
JK southwest right on man. Glad it was helpful. I was actually really surprised when I saw the difference myself
Great Video. I was thinking about the cheap version but the one thing you did in the video is compare the light beams and brand name is way way better. Thanks!
Glad this was helpful to you! thanks for watching
I have the heated trucklite on my tj and it doesn’t bother your eyes standing in front of the Jeep
Very good information, I’m definitely going with the more expensive headlights.
About the wireing , the Loop is a anti-noise , IT kill the interférence cheap LED with the radio
Awesome thanks for the info 👌
You won't drill your hard top, I won't spend $400 on lights. lol, another great video!
Haha. Thats how much they cost but I didn't say thats what I paid for them ;)
There's a shit ton of profit in those light...holy crap!
True. But you also get what you pay for I feel like. There’s pros to both
I think you forgot to mention a very important factor; warranty. I believe the truck lites have a lifetime warranty.
Ralph M ah good point! Yes I believe you're correct on that. Warranty can be a great factor to consider
I want these for my Chevelle but damn... that's expensive
Like you said you get what you pay for. The cheap lights had horrible light pattern. That alone is enough for me to buy the Truck Lites
Eric Peden I really like the truck lites. Great lights and they use that 7 inch housing well I think. I agree the light pattern was better with the real ones
I bought $92 LED headlights (not the Trucklite clone) on Amazon for my '01 Cherokee and they perform better than the $300 Trucklite lights I put in my '06 Wrangler.
Oh interesting. I'm not knocking the cheaper version lights, as I completely understand not wanting to spend a bunch on lights when you don't need to. I currently have a $80 amazon light bar that works just fine. Do you think it has anything to do with the square versus round housing? Also can you shed more light... lol, on what you mean by saying they perform better.
Yes they are way more expensive but as you said, "you get what you pay for". Just save up until you can afford it. I choose Truck Lights
You definitely get what you pay for
great comparison!
Ok so I got the truck-light off Amazon for 170$ but I've seen them for like 60 all the way to 305$ did I get the real one or a fake 🤔
No comparison the truck light units are way brighter and have a better high pattern very even
What's the best color changing RGB headlight out there? Thanks.
Thank you for the video. It always comes down to pocket, versus supporting a local US company. It is a shame that it does. The warranty from TL does make a difference. If only we could get local purchases by local companies subsidized and even a break on taxes, we would be able to support local jobs and enterprises as well.
Really educated video thanks you brother!
Dory and rainbow canales thank you. Glad it was helpful
You could buy a cheap one every 3-5 years.
Yeah that’s an option
Is there an update to this video?
what do you want to know? I still have the Truck Lites in my jeep if that tells you anything ;)
@@RedRockCrawlers That was mostly it, Thank You.
@@timbutts809 as much as I liked the idea of saving money. They just didn’t last. You get what you pay for right?
You get what you pay for. I will only buy the original. I run JW Speakers on my Jeep.
HOMEGUY4X4 totally agree. There was a noticable improvement on light output with the real lights. I was actually surprised. JW speaker make some great lights
I have learned, you get what you pay for in most cases. Stick with the best.....
very good
Little Jun Zang Terrebi thanks for watching. 🤘
These lights are both junk.. but the Morimoto lights!!
MoneyPit Jku the out put is garbage! Look at the Morimoto lights way better beam pattern and lux output! Checkout retrofit source CZcams video’s