Tag: aftermarket truck lights

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The Top Tips for Maintaining Your Truck

Well maintained white pickup truck.



Once you’ve customized your truck using the best aftermarket parts and lights, you’ll want to know the best truck maintenance tips to keep your vehicle in prime condition. Keeping your truck properly maintained does more than just ensuring that it looks its best at all times, but it will help you save money in the long-run.

If truck accessories and lights are properly maintained, you will have to replace them less frequently. Follow this truck maintenance check list to get the most out of your aftermarket lights and truck parts. 

How to Maintain Your Truck

If you follow this list of top tips for maintaining your truck, you’ll be sure to get the most out of the accessories and lights you’ve purchased. Your truck will look great for years to come and you will be less likely to incur expensive repairs or replacements. 

Inspect Your Truck Regularly

The best way to maintain your truck is to inspect the vehicle regularly. If you routinely check your aftermarket truck lights and accessories, you will be able to spot small problems before they become large problems. Look for cracks in your headlight and taillight covers that may be letting water into the installation. Water can lead to the erosion of wiring and metal, leading to what can be an expensive repair.

Follow this same approach with all the other parts and accessories on your truck. Regularly test your brake lights, turn signals, high beams, windshield wipers, and any aftermarket parts you have put on to ensure that they are working properly and fixed securely to your truck. If you catch a problem early you’re more likely to save yourself from a larger inconvenience down the road. 

Keep Your Aftermarket Truck Lights Looking Their Best

Keeping your truck’s lights looking their best has little to do with the HID or LED headlights you’ve installed, and more to do with the headlight cover. Overtime, headlight covers can turn yellow and dull, dimming the shine of your bright new lights. 

You can either have routine headlight restoration done at a shop, or use do-it-yourself methods at home. There are many headlight restoration kits available for sale at major brick and mortar stores and online retailers. Additionally, there are home remedies that truck enthusiasts swear by, such as cleaning the headlight covers with toothpaste or baking soda mixtures.

No matter which route you choose to go, keeping your headlights from turning yellow is an essential part of maintaining your truck looking like it’s brand new. 

Keep Extra Aftermarket Truck Lights On-Hand

One of the best truck maintenance tips is to be prepared in advance, in the event that you do find yourself in need of a replacement bulb. Keep extras on-hand, either in your truck itself or in the garage at home. This way, if you notice that a light has gone out you can replace it right away. Otherwise, you’ll have to make another trip to the store or wait for another bulb to be delivered. 

Along with keeping your lights lit up for aesthetic reasons, if a headlight or tail light goes out you’ll want to change it as soon as possible, as in most states it’s illegal to drive with a light out and can land you with an expensive ticket. 

Clean the Exterior of Your Truck

Cleaning the exterior of your truck seems like a no-brainer, but a routine wash can do more than just give your truck that sparkly, shine-in-the-sun look. Ridding your truck of dirt, dust, and any small abrasive fragments will stop your paint, your lights, and any other aftermarket accessories such as an antenna, from incurring damage. 

If you keep the exterior of your truck clean, you will prevent the chances of paint chipping, which can lead to rust and erosion. It’s key to keeping your vehicle looking its best for years. We recommend using high quality detailing products or having your truck cleaned professionally for the best results. 

Don’t Run Your Battery If You Don’t Have To

If you’re looking to maintain your truck accessories and aftermarket parts, be careful about how frequently you run your battery. If you don’t need it running, it’s best to turn it off. When your battery is turned on, it’s powering your truck lights, and the lifespan of the bulbs is based greatly on how many hours they are used. Turning off your battery when it’s not needed can help preserve the life of your HID or LED headlights, meaning you’ll have to replace them less frequently. 

Maintain All Other Elements of Your Truck

Of course, we can’t talk about proper truck maintenance tips without touching on the more general aspects as well. We know that you’re looking to keep your aftermarket truck accessories and lights looking and working their best, but don’t forget about the rest of regular maintenance.

This includes making sure your oil is changed regularly, the timing belt gets replaced when needed, and that you check your battery and spark plugs for damage or erosion. If you maintain your truck and all of its parts properly, you’ll be enjoying it for many years. 

Upgrading Your Truck’s Aftermarket Lights and Accessories

Eventually, even with the best truck maintenance, the time will come for either a repair or an upgrade. Whether you need to replace a light or accessory that has reached the end of its life, or are looking to make a change to your truck’s appearance, shop RECON for the best aftermarket truck parts. 

With a wide selection of HID and LED headlights, tail lights, cab roof lights, and a range of universal parts to go with any truck, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. You can also shop by make and model, and we offer handy installation guides for truck lovers who like to do the work themselves. 



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Choosing the Best Custom Tail Lights for Your Truck

Rear view of red pickup truck with custom tail lights.



When choosing the best aftermarket, custom tail lights for your truck, there are many options to consider. Not only can you select custom tail lights, but you can opt to purchase tailgate light bars, custom brake lights, truck bed light kits, and illuminated license plate kits. The options to customize your truck with aftermarket tail lights and accessories are endless. With all the parts available, you can design a one-of-a-kind truck that is truly yours.

Choosing Custom Tail Lights for Your Truck

There are endless ways to customize your truck’s tail lights, beyond just the type of bulb that is used in the tail light itself. There are many other components of lighting on the back of your truck, and there are even more aftermarket parts that you can use for customization.

Knowing what’s right for your truck ultimately comes down to personal preference. There are many options that can not only increase the aesthetic of your vehicle but also increase safety for yourself and other drivers.

Custom LED Truck Tail Lights

Just as LED headlight bulbs are becoming a more popular choice for aftermarket truck parts, so are custom LED taillights. While the LEDs provide a crucial safety function, as they are brighter and easier for other drivers to see, they also last much longer than the stock halogen bulbs most trucks come with.

Aftermarket truck tail lights come in a variety of designs, meaning that you can choose an installation that’s unique and matches the rest of your truck’s look. You’ll stand out on the road. LED taillight installations come in a variety of shapes and color arrangements, with white, red, and black elements. From the classic vertical, rectangular shape, to winged or angled styles, custom tail lights provide a modern, rugged look.

There are smoked lenses, and a wide arrangement of the LED truck tail lights. If you own a Ford F250/350/450/550, check out these custom tail lights. They utilize the OEM blind-spot warning system, and even though the lens is clear, the bold white lines against the chrome background and red accents make a strong statement.

If you’re looking for something clean and sleek, check out these tail lights with scanning OLED turn signals designed for the Dodge 13-18 Ram.

For other makes and models, you can search here to find the best custom tail light for your truck.

Custom Aftermarket Third Brake Lights

If you’re going for a whole-custom look, don’t stop at just the tail lights themselves. Many products compliment tail lights on the back of your truck and add to the uniqueness of your vehicle. They also increase your safety on the road.

Third brake lights are the perfect addition. Here at RECON, we offer a wide variety of third brake lights for Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Toyota, GMC, Hummer, and Jeep trucks. Third brake lights are a must-have for truck owners. They’re positioned at the top-center of the back of your cab, providing one more level of protection for yourself and other drivers.

Third brake lights activate at the same time as your regular brake lights, providing one more added signal to cars behind you that you are slowing down. This is crucial if you’re driving in the dark.

Just like custom tail lights, third brake lights come in a variety of designs for you to choose from. Whether your preference is clear lens, smoked lens, red, or white lights, Recon provides tons of options. Select either a sleek “stealth” third brake light or a high power scanning LED 3rd brake light to complete the look of your truck.

Rain or shine, snow or sleet, these lights provide optimal visibility for other drivers.

Custom LED Tailgate Bars

Another way to increase visibility on the road, while showing off the bold look of your truck, LED tailgate bars add style to your vehicle. Tailgate bars come in a variety of colors and styles. They are installed on the back of your truck bed, over your license plate. Not only do they add more visibility, but LED tailgate bars illuminate the back of your truck for ultimate style.

Tailgate bars can be a variety of lengths, depending on the look you’re going for. They can be as short as 12 inches, or span the entire length of the back of your truck. They come in different styles, from a straight, seamless line of LED light, to lines of dotted light, and can be customized to virtually any color.

If you’re looking for something different, check out this mini-tailgate bar with LED running lights, turn signals, and ultra bright reverse lights.  For a tailgate bar that will span the length of your truck bed, Recon offers this 60 inch, dual row LED amber light. This particular model also features white LED reverse lights, providing even further benefit.

Custom Bed Rail and Cargo Light Kits

If you work, go fishing, hunting, or off-roading while it’s dark out, you’ll definitely want to check out the custom bed rail and cargo light kits for your truck. With LED bulbs, these kits provide clean, bright lighting in even the darkest environments.

If you’re frequently getting material in and out of your truck, these light kits provide an extra element of convenience. No more holding flashlights while you’re trying to secure items in your truck bed. The bed rail and cargo light kits do the job for you.

This universal model comes with two mounts that can be attached almost anywhere on the back of your truck and can be customized in seven colors.

Illuminated License Plate Kits for Your Truck

You’ve already put so much work into customizing the rest of your truck with aftermarket tail lights and accessories. You can’t forget the license plate. Custom license plate illumination kits are just another option you have to make your truck stand out.

Just like all other aftermarket truck parts from RECON, there are assemblies that meet everyone’s style. You can choose a brushed aluminum plate holder, that fits all standard license plates and has LED reverse lights or illumination kits that include both red and white lights. The red lights act as running lights, while the white LED lights face your license plate.

The variety of aftermarket lights that you can add to the back of your truck are all extensions of your custom tail lights, adding to the distinctive look you’ve created. There won’t be another truck on the road that’s quite like yours.

Installing Custom Tail Lights and Accessories on Your Truck

Once you’ve chosen the right custom tail lights for your truck, along with any additional accessories to complete the look, the next step is the installation process. Many of our products have a “plug and play design,” meaning that you’ll be up and running with your new custom lights in just a matter of minutes. Whether you’re a car professional, or just getting into the world of aftermarket products, RECON parts make it easy for you.

For installations that may be more difficult to complete, we offer installation guides and have expert staff on hand to help you throughout the process. Not only are we able to find the best tail lights and accessories for your truck, but we’ll help you find the right product at the right cost.

Our support for our customers doesn’t end after you’ve completed a purchase. Our Customer Service line offers support over the phone, should you have any questions either while you’re installing your new parts, or in the months to come. RECON prides itself as not only offering a great selection of aftermarket truck lights but also as serving as a resource for each one of our customers.

The Benefits of Buying From RECON

There are even more benefits of purchasing aftermarket truck tail lights and accessories from RECON. We offer same-day order processing and fulfillment, online warranty return authorization forms, and product specialists to assist with installation.

We work directly with dealers and manufacturers, to ensure that our products are of the highest quality and compatible with the makes and models they are designed for. This means our products will last, and you can be assured that you’re getting the very best aftermarket truck lights on the market.

Not only do we produce parts for major model trucks and SUVs, but we offer a large selection of universal parts, too. You can customize virtually any vehicle using RECON aftermarket lights.

Visit RECON today for even more accessories to personalize your vehicle.

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Do My Truck’s LED or HID Headlights Blind Other Drivers?

Truck LED headlights close up.



The question many drivers have is whether or not their aftermarket truck headlights blind other drivers. If you’ve recently installed HID and LED headlights, you know that they’re much brighter compared to the traditional halogen bulbs. So are they blinding to other drivers on the road?

Road safety always comes first, so while you may be able to see what’s ahead of you better with your new aftermarket truck headlights, you want to ensure that other drivers can maintain a proper line of vision as well. It all comes down to the quality and the positioning of your bulbs.

The Problem with Poor Quality Aftermarket Truck Headlights

One of the biggest mistakes that truck owners make is purchasing HID or LED headlights that are poor quality, usually in hopes of saving money. HID and LED lights do tend to be more expensive than their halogen counterparts, but with good reason. Not only do the aftermarket truck headlights have a much longer lifespan than traditional halogen bulbs, but they provide a much better quality of light too.

If you try to skimp on the bulbs, you may be sacrificing quality and putting other drivers in danger. It’s important to always purchase your aftermarket truck headlights from a reputable, professional brand to ensure that you’re getting the best quality lights possible.

Poor Quality Bulbs Can Be Too Bright

While the purpose of HID and LED headlights is to provide better illumination, when you purchase poor quality bulbs, you may end up with a light that’s too bright. When the light becomes too bright, it can pose a danger to other drivers. Those in oncoming traffic may be blinded by the lights, making it difficult for them to see what’s in front of or around them.

Drivers in front of you may suffer from the bright reflection in their rearview and side mirrors, too, causing the same effect. The effect that blinding headlights may have is why it’s essential to make sure that the aftermarket truck headlights you purchase are high quality.

The Positioning of Aftermarket Truck Headlights

If you’ve followed our install guides before, you know that a crucial part of installing HID or LED headlights is to ensure the proper positioning after installation. If your aftermarket truck headlights are angled incorrectly, they can blind other drivers.

It’s vital that when you make the switch to your new headlight bulbs, you use the proper conversion kit, which helps assure that the lights are correctly aligned. Bulbs that are aimed too high, too low, or too far off to the side will not only fail to provide you with an adequate line of vision, but they may blind other drivers as well.

The Bottom Line When It Comes to HID and LED Headlights

If you’re wondering whether or not your aftermarket truck headlights blind other drivers, you can take your truck to a shop for them to evaluate the positioning. However, if you have purchased high-quality bulbs from a reputable sale center and installed them correctly, they should not pose a risk to anyone else on the road.

If you’re looking for the perfect aftermarket truck headlights, visit RECON today and use our handy install guides or customer support representatives for all your lighting needs.