slow96z
Member
I installed a set of 08+ tail lights on my 04 and I love the smooth look of the lights, but just like when I did the same on my 99 F250 the reverse light left a lot to be desired. The socket that you have to use to swap these tail lights holds a 194 wedge base bulb, which is not very bright at all so I went online looking for options and here is what I came up with.
I initially tried the Sylvania Silver Star bulbs, which cost $10 a pair. They were less than stellar and did not produce enough light to be servicable.
I then found a post online that discussed 12 volt landscaping lights available at Home Depot in the garden lights section. These lights are 18 watt bulbs and produce 150 lumens of light. The base is the same wedge style so they are a direct replacement for the 194 bulbs and were $6 for a pack of 4. Much more light and much cheaper.
In the above picture I have replaced the driver side with a landscaping bulb and the passenger side still have the silver star bulb.
I hope this helps anybody that has done the swap and is not happy with the light output of the 194 bulbs as reverse lights.
I initially tried the Sylvania Silver Star bulbs, which cost $10 a pair. They were less than stellar and did not produce enough light to be servicable.
I then found a post online that discussed 12 volt landscaping lights available at Home Depot in the garden lights section. These lights are 18 watt bulbs and produce 150 lumens of light. The base is the same wedge style so they are a direct replacement for the 194 bulbs and were $6 for a pack of 4. Much more light and much cheaper.
In the above picture I have replaced the driver side with a landscaping bulb and the passenger side still have the silver star bulb.
I hope this helps anybody that has done the swap and is not happy with the light output of the 194 bulbs as reverse lights.
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