Replacement Headlight Recommendations

[OldBlue61]

Hey all. My '94 has had the original headlights replaced with God know what brand of replacement headlights. They suck. Big time. THE absolute worst light pattern and quality. I want to replace them with an original style headlight, but which one? There are a lot of different brands and places to purchase them from, but I don't want to end up with a couple of piles of poo for headlights again. I'm not adverse to paying a premium (within reason) for a GOOD set of replacement headlight assemblies, but which ones? Anybody have recommendations and links for decent quality ones? I live out in the sticks where it's dark as molasses at night, and although I don't drive the Ranger that much, I still need a light with a good beam pattern and something that's decent quality. I have considered adding a set of aftermarket driving lights to supplement the high beams, but I'd rather get the factory lighting as good as possible first.

 

[Blmpkn]

Your best bet Is to find a factory pair, and have them polished.

OR.. take those crummy aftermarket ones and have them retrofitted with projectors. Nothing throws light as well as projectors. If you go to projectors.. you could then also use LED or HID headlights and have way better than factory output.

 

[OldBlue61]

Hmm. Yeah, I have projectors in my '19 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and retrofitted them with HIDs. Fantastic upgrade. I didn't know anybody made projectors for a '94, though I'd rather keep the OEM look. If nothing else, I could always upgrade them with projectors if I can't find anything else acceptable.

 

[Blmpkn]

Hmm. Yeah, I have projectors in my '19 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and retrofitted them with HIDs. Fantastic upgrade. I didn't know anybody made projectors for a '94.

Chances are you can find aftermarket housings with projectors in them. Who knows how quality they would be though..

If you purchase your own projectors from say morimoto.. or some other well known company.. and have them installed by someone who knows what they're doing though.. You'd definitely be golden.

 

[Blmpkn]

There's a few 94-97 projector light sets on ebay right now. Between 80-130$

 

[rubydist]

on rockauto you can get TYC brand for around $20 each, they are typically CAPA certified, and their parent company is an oem supplier so they may even be made on the tooling that made the Ford ones. I have had good luck with that brand. On the other hand, I would stay away from the "various manufacturers" grouping on rockauto, because then it can be any brand. I got one from that "various manufacturers" group for my 09 and while it looks good and fits fine, the light pattern is not great.

 

[OldBlue61]

There's a few 94-97 projector light sets on ebay right now. Between 80-130$

I saw some as well, but it appears that the projector is just the fog light?

on rockauto you can get TYC brand for around $20 each, they are typically CAPA certified, and their parent company is an oem supplier so they may even be made on the tooling that made the Ford ones. I have had good luck with that brand. On the other hand, I would stay away from the "various manufacturers" grouping on rockauto, because then it can be any brand. I got one from that "various manufacturers" group for my 09 and while it looks good and fits fine, the light pattern is not great.

I've heard both positive and negative about the TYC brand. Good to hear you had good luck with them. Also heard that Depo was an okay brand?

 

[CrabGuy]

I also purchased the TYC brand in a set from RockAuto and they are working out just perfect. No problem with light pattern at all if you follow the instructions. They also came with good bulbs included (LED low/Halogen high). I gave up trying to polish my OEM back to a serviceable condition. For $50/pr it was a no brainer for me.

 

[truckfan]

TYC is a decent brand as well as the Dorman.

 

[OldBlue61]

I've had good experiences w/ Dorman products in the past as well.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Chapap]

I got this pair off eBay. Was the cheapest clear lens version I could find. I think this style looks allot better than the old school style with textured lenses. Light seems fine. The adjusters are smooth instead of of having a hex pattern so adjusting is a beech.

edit: I initially posted just a photo. The screen changed and I accidentally hit post.

 

[Dirtman]

TYC is a decent brand as well as the Dorman.

I've had good experiences w/ Dorman products in the past as well.

Thanks everyone for your help.

How high are you two right now?

 

[Blmpkn]

This high.

 

[Dirtman]

Yup that seems about right....

 

[OldBlue61]

How high are you two right now?

Instead of a negative comment, how about trying to post something helpful? You obviously have an opinion, so let's hear it, along with your recommendation, if you have one. I've had good luck with Dorman products in the past - evidently you haven't. Never bought their replacement headlights before, but other things I've purchased from them were decent quality, when there weren't a lot of alternatives.