Incandescant or LED

[toolbox]

Which type of tail lights do you prefer, incandescant or LED?

Also, do you recommend any trailer light "kits" (lights, wiring, license plate holder, etc)?

Thanks much - Dave

[mikeschn]

I like the LED... I used LED for the side markers too!

[asianflava]

I too used LED side markers. They are small enough so that they don't stand out. I got mine from Wally Mart.

[doug hodder]

I mounted some 1940-54 GM truck tail lights mounted from underneath on arms that turn 90 degrees and come up on the sides....incandescant bulbs...just for grins however....I stuck another set of red LEDs under neath the tear so that they aren't visable when you are standing there looking at it, but are from the following vehicle...I want everyone to know I'm stopping....they are wired in on the brake and turn....have another set of 3 leds as running lights in the middle of the back frame member...I just don't want aaaaanybody hitting it....Doug

[norm perkiss]

I'm with Doug, be visable! I orginally used '30s style tail lights, but they just did not seem visable enough. I re-fitted with oval LEDs similar to what Mike S. posted. They were from SuperBright LEDs web site, about $20 each plus the pigtail. Easy 3-wire hook up and the wires are labled on housing. Plus I now have a LED 3rd brake light near the top of the hatch. The side markers are also LED as well as most of the rest cabin and exterior lights. The LED tail lights are very bright.
Norm

[mikeschn]

Now that it's light out, I figured I'd share a closeup of the led lights...





Mike...

[halfdome, Danny]

For those of you that have retro tail lights like 1950 Pontiac, 32 teardrop, or model "A" lights you can get LED retrofit assemblys at this website. Danny http://www.shiny-hiney.com/rodcustom.html

[asianflava]

Those LED conversions are neat but man are they pricy
Why not just get a retrofit LED for the standard lamp housing?
http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm

[WarPony]

Norm, thanks for the hit on www.superbrightleds.com. I bought two oval stop/turn/tail LED's for my trailer and got them today. WOW!! I went and hooked them up to my car battery to see how they worked and I am really impressed with how bright they are!! I had to wait a few minutes to reply because my eyes had spots in them and couldn't see the screen well. The ones I bought have 61 LED's per unit and for $21.95/ea. you can't beat the price for what you get, IMO. I'm going to order the side marker lights from them as well.


LED vs. incandescent................... LED's all the way!!!!!!

[norm perkiss]

Warpony,
You're welcome. I did exactly same thing, looked right at the LED as I connected to the battery. You'd think with 50+ years of life experience I'd know better?
Norm