Nice. I’ve been kicking around whether to upgrade from stock. I’ll def keep these in mind. How much were they if you don’t mind my asking?

 

I got them when they were on sale. I think they were ~$375 for both sets. Yes, they are pricey, but they’re a local company to me so when I got them, I was given a tour of their facility. It’s huge and very impressive. These are also rated for 30,000-50,000 hours. They have a lifetime warranty as well.

 

Those definitely look like they output better than the SL1!

 

I have set each of these H11/9005 for sale in the marketplace classifieds if anyone is interested.

https://www.coloradofans.com/threads/diode-dynamics-sl-2-pro-led-bulbs.449808/?post_id=5700623#post-5700623

 

I have a Gen 2, but these should work just fine on the Gen 3

Generic Rant: No, do not install LED bulbs in gen 3 halogen lamps. Factory gen 3 project lamp LED Z71 / ZR2 are sealed single use units anyhow meant to last the lifetime of the truck, or the very least a long time before a headlight replacement is required.

Yes I am talking to you Trail Boss / WT owners. It is the one obnoxious "upgrade" you can do on any vehicle with halogen lamps.

They are fine on gen 2 Colorados because all a lot of gen 2 head lamps use a non-sealed proper projector designed headlight for low beams (or combo)

 

They are fine on gen 2 Colorados because all gen 2 head lamps use a proper projector designed headlight for low beams (or combo)

There are lower-end 2nd gen trims that also have reflector low beams where LEDs shouldn't be used. The 2nd gen doesn't use projectors across the board.

 

The Diode Dynamics SL2 Pro has got to be the best LED bulb out there, hands down. I bought these several months ago and have been blown away at how nice they are. The build quality, fitment, and light output are all well worth the price. They’re not the cheapest LED out there, but the best is rarely the cheapest.
I have a Gen 2, but these should work just fine on the Gen 3 (if they use an H11 low/9005 high beam).
I don’t drive at night often, but these should other day I had a chance to stop and snap these pics. I think it’ll show in the pics, but if not, trust me, the light output and quality is stellar. And yes, I aimed my lights down a bit; not been flashed since installing these.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Thank you so much @Diode Dynamics !!!!
Low beam
View attachment 490779

high beam
View attachment 490780

Curious if these fit behind your stock dust caps or if you had to modify? I couldn't get my SL2's to fit without modding the dust cap.

 

I think they "might" have fit under the stock dust caps. I followed the thread that @GraniteBlue05 started that shows how to modify the OEM caps. Basically, you cut the end off one, and glue the other to it, making an extended dust cap. It worked like a champ.

 

The Diode Dynamics SL2 Pro has got to be the best LED bulb out there, hands down. I bought these several months ago and have been blown away at how nice they are. The build quality, fitment, and light output are all well worth the price. They’re not the cheapest LED out there, but the best is rarely the cheapest.
I have a Gen 2, but these should work just fine on the Gen 3 (if they use an H11 low/9005 high beam).
I don’t drive at night often, but these should other day I had a chance to stop and snap these pics. I think it’ll show in the pics, but if not, trust me, the light output and quality is stellar. And yes, I aimed my lights down a bit; not been flashed since installing these.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Thank you so much @Diode Dynamics !!!!
Low beam
View attachment 490779

high beam
View attachment 490780

Thank you for the positive review and support!

For those interested in learning more about the SL2 Pro LED bulbs from our team:

 

Yeah, I knew I would be stirring the pot on this one....

 

I just bought and installed the SL2, not pro in my low beams. I like the fanless design and size. Agree that the build quality of Diode Dyn is great. They fit perfectly in the Canyon Gen 2 projection and go in the same way as regular bulb. The cables seemed a little short but I was able to get my hands in there to get the connectors tight. The connectors are not keyed so you may have to flip them around to get polarity right. Install videos are available on the website. Hope this helps. Might put the brighter bulbs in my high beams.

 

Not to further stir the pot, but looking to understand the implications of doing an LED upgrade on a truck who's light housings are not designed for it. I own a 2025 Trail Boss and would really like to have better lights (although stock halogens are really pretty decent). What I think would be best for me is to add fog lights (very disappointed that I could not get them on the Trail Boss).

What are the legalities of upgrading to LED lights in a housing designed for halogens? Creating a blinding hazard for oncoming drivers is not just rude, it is downright dangerous. When I was younger, I felt it was simply an annoyance to drive toward overly bright lights. Now that I have mid 60 year old eyes, it literally causes pain to look into "too much light intensity".

Another situation I encounter a lot is guys who hook up a trailer to a truck that doesn't have the rear suspension set-up for the tong weight, causing their low beams and fog lights to become intense high beams. I've often thought that if they caused a wreck and were caught, they might be opening themselves up to a significant lawsuit.

An LED upgrade sounds really intriguing and I would love to see the road better at night, especially in the rural areas that I generally drive. However, I feel it is irresponsible to not fully consider what I might be doing to the vision of oncoming drivers.

 

I don’t have the docs on hand but generally the LED upgrade is “for off-road use only” though of course many of us do a lot off mods and assume the risks and consequences and be as responsible as you want (like adjusting your headlights when the rake changes.) You have to do what you think is right for you.

 

Again, LEDs in reflector lamps has nothing to do with light cut-off limits. When people adjust their head lamp vertical angles it is to adjust the light cut-off.

What LEDs do in reflector head lamps is create what is called glare or spillage.

That halo ring of light is what is the problem. There are no (as in zero) adjustments you can make to mitigate this. It is more or less like running a very powerful fog light as a head light.

"Do right for you" is just code for "I'm a self-centered and I will do what I want to do".

This guy actually made a very detailed info dump on the topic; Why LEDs should not be run in Halogen reflectors

 

My bad for not watching the YouTube video linked above by Diode Dynamics. Appropriately, they begin the video by stating that these are not legal for on-road use anywhere in the US. There is a reason for that. Enough said.

 

"Do right for you" is just code for "I'm a self-centered and I will do what I want to do".

That may be true but good luck trying to get people to do what you want them to do

My bad for not watching the YouTube video linked above by Diode Dynamics. Appropriately, they begin the video by stating that these are not legal for on-road use anywhere in the US. There is a reason for that. Enough said.

These must be what everyone in my neck of the woods are using these days.

Seems like a lot of folks have extra bright lights now, and some folks are no longer dimming their lights for oncoming traffic and nothing can be done about that unless a cop just happens to see it and even then he probably won't go after them and give them a ticket.

 

That may be true but good luck trying to get people to do what you want them to do

Well actually...

I do, almost on a daily basis. I happen to be in the profession of forcing (when required) people to do what is right either through education, fines, or loss of their freedom.

But I am a realists, so I understand your statement.

We use the phrase, "Wish in one hand, **** in the other; see which fills up first."

 

Well, they are the experts, the trained professionals. View attachment 491137

Well, they are the experts, the trained professionals. View attachment 491137

Their R&D facility is pretty impressive. I'm not sure where you're located, but if you're anywhere close to them, I'd recommend a trip to their facility.

 

Their R&D facility is pretty impressive. I'm not sure where you're located, but if you're anywhere close to them, I'd recommend a trip to their facility.

I don't doubt that at all... it's just puzzling as to why I'd want to install bulbs when the company making them says "This product is not DOT compliant for use in headlamps on public roads in the United States"

I'd kinda like to thrown in some LEDs that are compliant with Federal DOT regs.

 

Because they are a business and that is what a business will do. Put out a legal disclaimer, but knowing full well a massive chunk of their incoming profit is based on misuse. Some one logically explain to me how anyone with a shred of common sense is going to think a customer is going to manually swap out head light bulbs every time they go on an off-roading trip.

External lighting (pods, bars, etc etc) does make logical sense, it is operated on a switch, something that can remain in place and be used appropriately at will as the situation calls for it.

I'm not saying these companies are responsible for what their customers do in the slightest, but I will call a spade a spade. Or in this case, money is money.

Personally I don't care about after-market LED bulbs in projector head lights, the two products are designed to work properly together.

Halogen reflector head lights are absolutely a red hot negative.

 

Do they have any LEDs bulbs that are compliant with DOT regs that can be used on public roads?

At some point I'd like to upgrade high and low beam lights to LEDs but I'd like them to be legal.

Also, are their bulbs adjustable where the blade can be turned if need be so when installed it is horizontal? I see some LED manufacturers have have this where the blade can be turned at needed.

 

Yes, you can adjust the SL2 Pro. I didn’t need to, however, when I installed mine. I’ve had mine installed for several months and just got my truck inspected. Zero people have flashed their highs at me and the truck sailed through the safety (& emissions) inspection.

 

the led glare issue was when LED bulbs had leds on more then 2 sides, they had them as a triangle 3 sides , 4 sides 5 and even 6 sides with 6 led's scattering light all over.

noN the major ones have 2 sides as thin as can be. Similar to a halogen filament bulb, very little if any glare.

that first video some one posted it you looked was not a 2 sided LED bulb. but a round bulb...

 

noN the major ones have 2 sides as thin as can be. Similar to a halogen filament bulb, very little if any glare.

This is simply not true and I am not sure how it all got started. No LED design will work properly in a reflector housing.

Some LED companies have even tried tried running opaque cylinder "sleeves" over their LEDs to try to mimic halogen light distribution. The idea never caught on and the few reviews I saw on them reported the sleeves ended up melting or the sleeve diminished light output to the point they were useless.

 

I have a 2020 LTCC w/o the 'convenience package '. How do I determine whether it has projector headlights versus the standard headlight? Currently, if has the H11/9001 bulbs.

 

You can tell just by looking, a projector headlamp has a "glass eye" that projects the light whereas a reflector just reflects light off a ribbed reflector at the back of the housing. Since you have an LT you likely have a reflector that looks like this...

 

Here we go with the fallacies. Not going to happen. You want to take this as "win" have at it, but everyone else will see it for what it is.

Your argument boils down to fundamentals vs. anecdotal evidence.

 

not arguing at all, yes the fundamentals, I am a fact guy, the way you talk, you have done it with a vehicle you own or maybe worked in an aftermarket car shop installing the new led bulbs in vehicles.
I asked what vehicle and what bulbs you have experience with. If you cannot answer then yes , your is anecdotal dialog is just an opinion.

 

Thank you!

 

How about someone post pics of the headlight housings that you CAN put LED bulbs in.... verses pics of headlight housings you should NOT put LEDs to keep it simple.

 

Projector vs reflector

 

Kool, thanks. Mine are definitely not projector.

Seems odd that in this day and age the manufacturers would use a housing that does not work well with LEDs

 

Legally for GM to offer LED headlamps the housing has to be DOT approved for LEDs and then you can legally only use LEDs in them.

 

I would be shocked if any state inspections actually look at the head lights and confirm anything other than "they turn on and off and are of proper color".

I don't think any bulbs are going to have a DOT/SAE stampage outside of their boxes. I do know sometimes the light housing fixtures themselves have a DOT/SAE mold imprint in the lenses, because the fixtures themselves have their own guidelines.

Random google photo;