Bright and classy: How to upgrade your headlights, bulbs

Updated Aug 16, 2013

Night HeadlightsMaximizing your custom rig’s forward lighting capability with retro-style headlights fitted with high-output bulbs can be something of a win-win. The brighter beams enhance safety, allowing you more time to react to what’s ahead, while the retro-style crystal headlights enhance the truck’s look.

Parts needed:
• 80/100W Xenon White 9004 bulbs
• United Pacific 7-inch round crystal headlights
• 4 State Trucks’ high-beam relay kit
• 12-gauge wire and connectors

A popular choice is to replace a rig’s H6014/H6024 halogen headlights with United Pacific’s 7-inch round crystal headlights. The process calls for swapping out the 55/60W halogen bulbs with Xenon White 80/100W bulbs. The extra wattage provides additional road lighting distance and brightness.

Giving your rig the retro-style headlight look with high-performance light output is an easy install, costs less than $150 and applies to both old and new trucks using single 7-inch headlights.

Remove the stock headlight housing. Remove the H4 bulb from each United Pacific crystal headlight and replace it with the high-output 80/100W Xenon bulb. Don’t touch bulb glass with fingers, as oil/dirt can shatter a bulb when it gets hot.Remove the stock headlight housing. Remove the H4 bulb from each United Pacific crystal headlight and replace it with the high-output 80/100W Xenon bulb. Don’t touch bulb glass with fingers, as oil/dirt can shatter a bulb when it gets hot.
Locate the high-beam wire coming out of the firewall. Every factory wire is either tagged or stamped with its own number, so calling a dealership might be a quick way to find it.Locate the high-beam wire coming out of the firewall. Every factory wire is either tagged or stamped with its own number, so calling a dealership might be a quick way to find it.
Mount the headlight relay where it’s high and dry.Mount the headlight relay where it’s high and dry.
Follow the wiring diagram supplied with the relay kit. Relay pole 86 is ground; 87 is power from relay to high-beam on headlights; 85 connects high-beam switch to relay; and 30 connects to battery (or nearest 12-volt direct power point) using an inline 30A fuse.Follow the wiring diagram supplied with the relay kit. Relay pole 86 is ground; 87 is power from relay to high-beam on headlights; 85 connects high-beam switch to relay; and 30 connects to battery (or nearest 12-volt direct power point) using an inline 30A fuse.
Install new headlights in housings, and test high/low-beam system. Adjust headlights as necessary.Install new headlights in housings, and test high/low-beam system. Adjust headlights as necessary.

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