If you’ve been behind the wheel of a 2007-18 Jeep Wrangler JK on a blacked out night with the factory halogen headlights, then you likely know they rival the dull yellow lumen output of a candle-powered miners helmet from the 1800s. Of course, some lucky JK buyers were able to opt for the factory LED headlights available on 2017-18 JK models. With such weak headlights on most Jeep JKs, it’s no wonder that the JK single-handedly fueled the aftermarket add-on LED light and bolt-on light bracket industry. Fortunately, there are easy ways to light up the life of your JK on- and off-road without the complexity and increased wind resistance that some aftermarket add-on lights offer. The problem mainly stems from the less than stellar H13 bulbs stuffed into the headlights of the JK grille and an outdated headlight design.
Light is often defined by color temperature and measured in Kelvin. A color temperature of 5,000-6,000 Kelvin most closely resembles sunlight. This is where the human eye sees best. The factory JK halogen lights function at around 3,000 Kelvin so you can see why visibility would be limited. There are several options when it comes to JK headlight upgrades. The easiest headlight upgrade involves merely swapping out the H13 headlight bulbs for something brighter with a whiter light. This can be accomplished with higher-quality halogen bulbs or LED replacement bulbs. You can also convert the JK headlights to H4 bulbs and housings. The most expensive, but usually brightest option, involves completely replacing the factory halogen bulbs and light housings with an LED headlight conversion. The right JK light upgrade for you will depend on your budget and personal preference. Before you go adding extra lights to your JK, we would start with the headlights.
DV8 LED Projector Headlights
DV8 offers LED projector beam headlights that are said to reach out almost twice the distance of stock JK headlights. They use advanced optical technology to make the most of the LED lights that are housed within them. The beams are a white light instead of the dim amber of a stock headlight. DV8 LED headlights are sold as a pair and are available with and without a white halo light. Both styles come with a full harness to allow for easy installation.
JW Speaker 8700 LED Headlights
The JW Speaker 8700 Evolution J Classic LED headlight is said to be the world’s first LED headlight with integrated anti-flicker technology, which eliminates the flickering caused by the Jeep electrical system. Other LED headlights often require expensive and/or bulky anti-flicker harnesses. Each 8700 Evolution J LED light is completely plug and play and provides 1,350 raw lumens on low beam and 1,770 raw lumens on high beam. They feature a black inner bezel, UV-resistant polycarbonate lens and are available in two-pack LED light kits. The lights are also compatible with 2017-18 model JKs that came factory-equipped with LED headlights when used with the optional trim ring.
JW Speaker Evolution Dual Burn Headlights
The JW Speaker 8700 Evolution J2 series Dual Burn 7-inch LED replacement headlights feature black or carbon fiber bezels and an easy plug and play installation. The Dual-Burn feature allows for both high and low beams to be turned on at the same time for an extra punch of light in extreme darkness. The 8700 J2 Series Dual Burn 7-inch LED headlights are sold as a pair, are DOT-compliant for on-road use, and no anti-flicker wiring harness is required for installation. They are a high-quality option for those looking to throw some extra light down the road.
KC HiLites Gravity LED Pro Headlights
The KC HiLites Gravity LED Pro 7-inch Jeep JK headlights use CREE LEDs. They are DOT compliant for street use and feature low and high beams as well as daytime running lights. Other features include a die-cast aluminum housing, polycarbonate lens, a built-in DRL and anti-flicker capacitors. They are made in the USA, sold in pairs, are totally plug and play, and include the necessary H13 to H4 adapters. We have used the Gravity LED Pro 7-inch JK headlights before and they are definitely a serious upgrade over the stock headlights.
Products we used in this article
KC HiLites H4 Headlight Conversion Kit
The KC HiLites H4 Gravity headlight conversion kit is said to offer improved performance and looks over the stock JK headlights. The 7-inch round replacement lights are street legal and DOT compliant. The kit features 55/60w H4 Halogen bulbs and the necessary H13 to H4 conversion connectors. Each 12-volt headlight draws only 4.58 to 5 amps and produces 1,650 raw lumens on high beam and 1,100 raw lumens on low beam. Other features include a plug and play installation, coated polycarbonate lenses, and KC’s precision multi-surface reflector optics. They make a solid choice for someone who is looking to upgrade their lights without spending money on LEDs.
Oracle Lighting 7-inch LED Headlights
Oracle Lighting offers LED replacement headlights with and without halo lights. Optional halo rings come pre-installed and are available in white, green, and color shift models. The LED headlights produce 3,600 raw lumens on low beam and 4,800 raw lumens on high beam with a color temperature of 6,000 Kelvin. Each light features high-output CREE LEDs, a die-cast housing with a corrosion-resistant coating, heavy-duty solid-state electronics, a hard-coated polycarbonate lens, and a two-year warranty. Installation of the DOT compliant and SAE certified lights are plug and play with the included H4 to H13 connectors that feature built-in warning cancelers. The color shift models are great for those looking to stand out from a sea of Jeeps or need portable disco lighting on the trail.
Pro Comp 7-inch LED Headlights
Pro Comp LED conversion headlights are sealed beam lamps that help improve visibility at night, in dense fog, or heavy rain. The plug-and-play LED replacement headlights are built with UV-cured chrome reflectors with a protective coating, hard-coated polycarbonate covers, UV-resistant acrylic lenses with 96 percent transparency, and feature 20 Luxeon ZES LEDs. Each light produces a pure white light at a 6000K temperature. The die-cast aluminum alloy housing increases heat dissipation, and each light has a built-in anti-flicker module. The required H13 to H4 pigtails are included. A limited lifetime warranty backs up the Pro Comp lights.
Putco Luminix LED Headlights
For a really different headlight look on your JK, Putco offers the Luminix LED headlights made from aircraft-grade aluminum. They are said to provide a 6,000-lumen output per light, offering a total of 12,000 lumens on high beam per pair with a 5,500 Kelvin color temperature. They are a direct factory replacement of the OEM Jeep H13 headlamp assemblies and feature a plug and play installation. The Luminix LED lights have high and low beam capabilities and the design includes thermal control chips with over and under voltage protection. Putco LED headlights have a 50,000-hour expected bulb life and are covered by a three-year warranty. They are definitely one of the more unique looking JK headlights on the market.
Products we used in this article
Rampage Products H4 Headlight Conversion Kit
Rampage Products offers a complete H4 headlight conversion for the Jeep JK Wrangler. The kit replaces the H13 housings and bulbs with H4 halogen lights, which are said provide 60 percent more luminescence while maintaining DOT compliance for street use. The new H4 headlight assemblies are a direct replacement and the kit includes a pair of die-cast aluminum housings with solid clear glass lenses and two H4 55/60W bulbs. Like the KC halogen lights, they make for an affordable option for those looking for extra illumination without the cost of LED replacement housings.
Rigid Industries Truck-Lite Heated LED Headlights
A very unique feature of the Rigid Industries Truck-Lite LED headlights is that they are available with regular non-heated lenses as well as heated lenses for snowy and icy conditions. The automatic heaters only activate when the temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The heated lights also feature an anodized aluminum housing, while both heated and non-heated lights feature hard-coated polycarbonate lenses, parabolic reflector technology, encapsulated circuitry, and a 3-year limited warranty. Regardless of which Truck-Lite LED headlights you choose, you’ll also need to purchase the proper H13 to H4 adapters for a direct fit installation.
Vision X Vortex 7-inch LED Headlights
Vision X is well known for making high-quality lighting and also offers LED headlights for the JK. The direct plug-and-play kit is available in polished chrome or black chrome. Each kit comes with everything you’ll need to get your headlights up and running, including a Canbus adapter to remove the electrical interference that may occur. The Vision X LED headlights are DOT compliant in all states. An optional kit is available to illuminate all three beam modes simultaneously to increase visibility and overall light output. We recommend the later to get the most out of your headlights when on the trail.
RT Off-Road LED Conversion Bulbs
RT Off-Road offers LED conversion bulbs that fit in place of the OEM H13 headlamp bulbs. Each bulb features four Cree LEDs that produce 1,500 lumens at only 16.8 watts. This provides more light without the need to upgrade the charging system of the vehicle. A copper weave cloth is used as a heat sink in place of a noisy and failure-prone fan. The color output from these bulbs is 6,500 Kelvin. Each kit includes two direct-fit LED headlamp bulbs. No cutting or splicing is necessary for installation. They offer LED light output without the cost of a full replacement housing.
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