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2021 Bighorn 2500 Headlights LED Reflector Vs Halogens?

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braddgibbo

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Hi all -

Just joined the forums and have been searching for a while and have found some information, but looking for some more help from 2019+ Ram HD owners please!

I am in Canada (Alberta) and have just factory ordered a 2021 Bighorn 2500 CC 4x4, 6.4L Hemi / 4.10 Rear Axle, Hydro Blue, Sport Appearance, Equipment Level 2, Offroad Group, Bedliner, 5th Prep Group. The ONLY option I am / was on the fence with was wrt to the Premium Lighting Group which gives me the factory RAM LED Reflector Headlights (note, I believe these are different to the Laramie and above LED Projector version). I have the LED tail lights with Equipment Level 2, but not headlights, which is an additional $800 option which I think I can still add as only ordered 1 week ago. A few questions on the LED's

1) First, does anyone have pics of both the NON LED and LED versions showing the DRLs on so I can get an idea of what they look like (which lights are used for the DRL's?) Wondering if the LED signature accent strip lights are used for DRLs?
2) Second, how do the LEDs compare to the Std headlights in terms of output? Are the LEDs worth the additional $800?
3) There are the LED "Reflector" version which is the $800 option, and then there is the Laramie (LED Projector) version - aside from the turning feature, are there major differences in these 2 light options? Crazy, so many options and different lights its hard to know which version to order!! To be clear, the only option for the Bighorn is either the standard Halogens or the LED "Reflector" version so that's what I am trying to decide.

Thank you for any advice and pictures!
 
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I believe the LED lighting group available for the Big Horn are the same lights used by the Laramie trim. It’s the Limited that are different. I ha e no experience as mine is on order as well, but I have read the LED are much better so I thought it was worth it.
 
Get the leds the strips are the drls... the halogens are not that bad but its gonna const me 600$ cad to put led bulbs in my tradesman unless i spend the 1100$ To add the reflector leds
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
Get the leds the strips are the drls... the halogens are not that bad but its gonna const me 600$ cad to put led bulbs in my tradesman unless i spend the 1100$ To add the reflector leds
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Thanks for the response! I've read conflicting reports about whether or not in Canada the "LEDs as the DRL's" is a configurable option through UConnect? Are you able to configure the LED strips through the Uconnect menu in your 2019? Mine is a 2021, but I would assume it would be the same. I would want to be able to turn the LED strips off should I want to, but it seems like they're always on, so.... if you want LED's, you need to have the accent strip lighting as well. Not that it looks bad, but sometimes (such as when crawling through the campground early in the morning when I leave for work) I would want to switch them off.
 
braddgibbo said:
Thanks for the response! I've read conflicting reports about whether or not in Canada the "LEDs as the DRL's" is a configurable option through UConnect? Are you able to configure the LED strips through the Uconnect menu in your 2019? Mine is a 2021, but I would assume it would be the same. I would want to be able to turn the LED strips off should I want to, but it seems like they're always on, so.... if you want LED's, you need to have the accent strip lighting as well. Not that it looks bad, but sometimes (such as when crawling through the campground early in the morning when I leave for work) I would want to switch them off.
Click to expand...
I dont have them but no you dont have an option to change them in the evic or uconnect.... the strips are not bright as to bother campers as you mentioned with alpha obd you can turn the signature lighting strips off.... if i do swap them in to my truck i would be turning the strips off with alfa obd because being a Canadian truck i dont want them on in the day or when my plow is on
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
I dont have them but no you dont have an option to change them in the evic or uconnect.... the strips are not bright as to bother campers as you mentioned with alpha obd you can turn the signature lighting strips off.... if i do swap them in to my truck i would be turning the strips off with alfa obd because being a Canadian truck i dont want them on in the day or when my plow is on
Click to expand...
Thanks again. Good information RE: not being able to turn them off, I figured as much and that aligns with what I have already read also.

You mentioned that you could swap to the LED's for $1100 - is that a price you've been quoted in CAD? Or is that just the cost of the headlights themselves? For only $300 more than the factory option I might just leave it and perhaps upgrade later.
 
braddgibbo said:
Hi all -

Just joined the forums and have been searching for a while and have found some information, but looking for some more help from 2019+ Ram HD owners please!

I am in Canada (Alberta) and have just factory ordered a 2021 Bighorn 2500 CC 4x4, 6.4L Hemi / 4.10 Rear Axle, Hydro Blue, Sport Appearance, Equipment Level 2, Offroad Group, Bedliner, 5th Prep Group. The ONLY option I am / was on the fence with was wrt to the Premium Lighting Group which gives me the factory RAM LED Reflector Headlights (note, I believe these are different to the Laramie and above LED Projector version). I have the LED tail lights with Equipment Level 2, but not headlights, which is an additional $800 option which I think I can still add as only ordered 1 week ago. A few questions on the LED's

1) First, does anyone have pics of both the NON LED and LED versions showing the DRLs on so I can get an idea of what they look like (which lights are used for the DRL's?) Wondering if the LED signature accent strip lights are used for DRLs?
2) Second, how do the LEDs compare to the Std headlights in terms of output? Are the LEDs worth the additional $800?
3) There are the LED "Reflector" version which is the $800 option, and then there is the Laramie (LED Projector) version - aside from the turning feature, are there major differences in these 2 light options? Crazy, so many options and different lights its hard to know which version to order!! To be clear, the only option for the Bighorn is either the standard Halogens or the LED "Reflector" version so that's what I am trying to decide.

Thank you for any advice and pictures!
Click to expand...
On all three types of headlights, the DRL location is the low beam bulb. On the LED reflector headlights, the upper and lower strips are called signature lighting. While they just happen to be on at the same time as the DRLs, they are not part of the DRL lighting, and their only purpose is for accent “looks”. Canadian trucks do not have the setting in the radio to toggle the DRLs on or off. On US trucks, when the DRLs are toggled off, the low beam bulbs will no longer illuminate for DRLs, but the signature lighting strips will always be on whenever the engine is running.
 
Jimmy07 said:
On all three types of headlights, the DRL location is the low beam bulb. On the LED reflector headlights, the upper and lower strips are called signature lighting. While they just happen to be on at the same time as the DRLs, they are not part of the DRL lighting, and their only purpose is for accent “looks”. Canadian trucks do not have the setting in the radio to toggle the DRLs on or off. On US trucks, when the DRLs are toggled off, the low beam bulbs will no longer illuminate for DRLs, but the signature lighting strips will always be on whenever the engine is running.
Click to expand...
Thank you. This is very informative and helpful. I think I will phone my dealer tomorrow and see if it's not too late to add the option onto my build (I ordered my truck 10 days back so it could be too late). That will likely be the deciding factor... if it's not too late to add it, I think I will add the LED lights for $800 - I have the LED tail lights with the equipment group 2, so might as well complete the LED look and functionality front and rear!
 
braddgibbo said:
Thanks again. Good information RE: not being able to turn them off, I figured as much and that aligns with what I have already read also.

You mentioned that you could swap to the LED's for $1100 - is that a price you've been quoted in CAD? Or is that just the cost of the headlights themselves? For only $300 more than the factory option I might just leave it and perhaps upgrade later.
Click to expand...
thats the cost of the housings roughly then you gotta put them in and program the truck with alfa obd 150$ to set up with that
 
Was in the same situation as you. Ended up ordering the Tech Package because the front LED headlights and driving lights are included in the package.
The list price on the Tech Package is $2695 here in Canada, so for the extra $1895 over the cost of just the LED headlights and driving lights you are getting
a lot of nice additional features.

I tried to add the bigger fuel tank option about a week after I placed the order but my dealer told me that it was too late. Hope your are able to get it done!
 
I have the BH Level 2 with the LED package and would never consider going back to the halogen after having these. They are very bright and are the best headlight package I have ever owned. I would strongly recommend getting the factory LED, you will absolutely love the bright light output and enhanced visibility.
 
EastCoaster said:
Can the DRL lights be toggled off with the Alpha OBD on the Canadian Trucks?
This way, just leaving the accent lights to to the DRL requirement?
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Should be these settings:
CBC Features: DRL Configuration- Optional DRL
CustSetMenu 1: Daytime running lights CSM Present- Yes
 
EastCoaster said:
Was in the same situation as you. Ended up ordering the Tech Package because the front LED headlights and driving lights are included in the package.
The list price on the Tech Package is $2695 here in Canada, so for the extra $1895 over the cost of just the LED headlights and driving lights you are getting
a lot of nice additional features.

I tried to add the bigger fuel tank option about a week after I placed the order but my dealer told me that it was too late. Hope your are able to get it done!
Click to expand...
Thank you! I hope so also. Good tip about the Tech Package, I might actually check that out before I call the dealer :)
 
Thanks for all the responses. I actually saw a 2500 with the LED's (it was a Laramie) and really love how bright they are. The signature lighting looks cool also. I called my dealer and apparently my truck has changed to "D" (build?) status but they said they would contact their FCA rep and try to get the LED premium lighting group added. Fingers crossed they can still add it from the factory!
 
braddgibbo said:
Thanks for all the responses. I actually saw a 2500 with the LED's (it was a Laramie) and really love how bright they are. The signature lighting looks cool also. I called my dealer and apparently my truck has changed to "D" (build?) status but they said they would contact their FCA rep and try to get the LED premium lighting group added. Fingers crossed they can still add it from the factory!
Click to expand...
I went with premium lighting after seeing a few as well. It is actually one of the things I am looking forward to the most.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 
I came from a truck that had halogen projectors but added 50w HID kit to the factory housings, absolutely amazingly bright. I was kinda underwhelmed by the Laramie LEDs, although they are so much better than most other vehicles I've driven. If you're going to swap to LED lights, I'd suggest the Limited headlights, as that design will offer a better, brighter throw and cut-off. I'm still considering swapping mine to Limited headlights, but that accent strip looks soooooo good on night edition trucks. I'll probably add some aux lights instead for those dark back roads
 
I changed the bighorn halogens to the longhorn limited projector LEDs. Info on page 3 of this thread.

hdrams.com

Laramie Headlights on a Tradesman??

Traded in my Laramie a few months ago on a tradesman. Overall, I'm happy with the switch, but one thing I miss is how bright the headlights were on my Laramie. I hadn't given it much thought until I recently saw a 19+ tradesman at my hotel with Laramie lights. Saw him drive out later and the...
hdrams.com hdrams.com
 
braddgibbo said:
Thanks for all the responses. I actually saw a 2500 with the LED's (it was a Laramie) and really love how bright they are. The signature lighting looks cool also. I called my dealer and apparently my truck has changed to "D" (build?) status but they said they would contact their FCA rep and try to get the LED premium lighting group added. Fingers crossed they can still add it from the factory!
Click to expand...

My 2021 Bighorn is set to arrive in 3 weeks or so and i have already invested in the Alpha OBD so that i can also change the DRLs (and a few other things of course!). Im also in Alberta so if your close and you do get the LEDs and want to make some changes shoot me a PM. I will have guinea pigged it on my truck by then.
 
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