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Rugged Ridge Led Taillights

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Norcal69, Jan 16, 2019.

  1. Jan 16, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    I'm ready to ditch the YJ tail lights that the PO installed on my jeep and get back to the classic round look. with YJ lights people ask me if its an 80's jeep. :rolleyes: I want an at a glance stock look but with the brightness of LED. Has any one used these "kinda stock style" tail lights?

    Here is what I currently have going on, old pic from tire carrier build.

    [​IMG]

    Rugged ridge offering.....
    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jan 16, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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  3. Jan 16, 2019
    kaiser krawler

    kaiser krawler kaiser krawler

    naples florida
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    Iv'e been running these for about 5 years now. I don't remember them being Rugged Ridge though. I bought mine at
    Wal-Mart in the boating isle. I can't remember what i paid but they were cheaper than the last L.E.D. tail lights i had,
    and they have been trouble free. Plenty bright, the license light throws good white light also.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Hellion and J walk like this.
  4. Jan 16, 2019
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Looks like a Bright Idea to me :)
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  5. Jan 16, 2019
    kaiser krawler

    kaiser krawler kaiser krawler

    naples florida
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    Apr 19, 2007
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    113
    Went out and tried to get a few night shots. Running light, not brake light
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Jan 16, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    Dec 25, 2016
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    I have retrofitted LED 1157 bulbs in place of the old incandescent bulbs in my generic "Jeep" taillights. They still look right and/or 'vintage' but glow brightly. The old ones were crazy dim. Painting the inside of the housing (white or silver) also helped immensely as originally it was a light-absorbing black.

    Tail lights are like these:

    [​IMG]
     
    Rick Whitson likes this.
  7. Jan 16, 2019
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Do they incorporate reflectors? Need some somewhere for the law.
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  8. Jan 16, 2019
    3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    virginia
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    Not a good pic for sure, but these are the Rugged Ridge lights on my 73. I was actually trying the LED bu lights. That's one LED and one original.
    [​IMG]
     
    ojgrsoi likes this.
  9. Jan 16, 2019
    kaiser krawler

    kaiser krawler kaiser krawler

    naples florida
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    No Reflectors on the sides of the lights
     
  10. Jan 17, 2019
    Rick Whitson

    Rick Whitson Detroit Area 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I live South of...
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    I have the same lights as you do Hellion, I had them chromed to look like a Tux lights, been thinking about putting 11-57 LED's in them too.
    [​IMG]
     
    Hellion likes this.
  11. Jan 17, 2019
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    I think he meant reflector to the rear.

    FMVSS requires a reflector on the rear and is usually incorporated in the lens. Neither the subject or Hellions lights appear to have rear reflectors. That's also the problem with stock Hall 701 tail lights that have a aftermarket replacement lens. No reflector. The original lens on the Hall 701 had a reflector in the center of the lens. Those original lenses are nearly impossible to find. I had one on my TP and looked long and hard for the second one at a reasonable price with no success.

    The Hall 701 with Stimsonite lens is below. The very center is a reflector. (BTW-This pair of lights is available on eBay for only $149.)

    upload_2019-1-17_7-50-45.png

    This aftermarket lens shown below in a Walck's ad is usually used because of availability at your FLAPS and price.

    upload_2019-1-17_7-53-43.png

    Like Hellion I have painted the inside of the housing white or silver to reflect more light. I have also used chrome tape from autozone and lined the inside of the housing. This seems to work the best IMO.

    All that said :schooled: and most inspectors do not look for the rear facing reflector.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2019
    Norcal69 likes this.
  12. Jan 17, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Thank you for the education on factory lights.
    Those factory lights on ebay are very nice, but would be wasted on me. I understand the need for a reflector on the rear, and my third and my third brake light is reflective for that reason. Because of my license plate mounting I am thinking of going with two right hand lights.
     
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  13. Jan 17, 2019
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    BTW it looks good. (y)

    I think the Rugged Ridge LED tail lights would look great.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2019
  14. Jan 18, 2019
    masscj2a

    masscj2a Member 2023 Sponsor

    Ware, Mass
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    I used the Rugged Ridge LED's on my 47 and they worked very well. Very bright in daylight as well. If it's only a matter of reflectivity, you can buy the tape. I would get them again.
     
  15. Jan 19, 2019
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    I'm working with Rick Whitson on a work-around for the Stimsonite 701 lense with the center reflector. Last May, I got some knock-offs from the Philippines that are very close to the originals, all the way to duplicating the writing, except TS Motor instead of Stimsonite. The reflector is slightly different, but still hatctched style. I have emailed the seller to buy more lenses if they still have them.
    -Donny
     
  16. Jan 19, 2019
    mike starck

    mike starck Member

    salem,oregon
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    Really like your jeep Norcal and the stock taillights would be a huge improvement. There may be some out there that are a little better price.I picked up a set last year at a swap meet for ten bucks.
    I sure do like what you have done to your jeep. mike
     
  17. Jan 19, 2019
    ojgrsoi

    ojgrsoi Retired 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Weatherford, TX
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    Do you have any pictures you can share?
     
  18. Jan 19, 2019
    Norcal69

    Norcal69 Out of the box thinker 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Northern California
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    Mike,
    Thank you for the compliments. I am trending towards the Walck's replacement type lights with the snap ring lens retainer. Lining the inside with silver foil tape and installing some 6000K LED bulbs should be brighter than the lights I have now and provide an older look.
    While my jeep is no where near stock, I would like to get it to more of a "factory look" with some modern goodies. The look on peoples face when they say AMC jeep and I say nope its a Kaiser is priceless.
     
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  19. Jan 19, 2019
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Be careful with which leds you use in the lamps, white leds can be disappointingly dim when shining through a coloured lens., really you should use bulbs that emit red light.
     
    Norcal69 likes this.
  20. Jan 19, 2019
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    The LEDs I got for my taillights emit red light. I went for red because the tail light lens wasn’t red enough for me with clear incandescent bulbs. They were kinda pinkish. :hellokitty:
     
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