If you're thinking of putting 5th gen tail lights on 4th gen ram pickups, you're not alone in seeking that cleaner, more modern look. Let's be honest, the 4th generation Ram (2009–2018, and the Common models) is still one of the particular best-looking trucks on the road, but the particular factory tail lights—especially the halogen ones—are starting to show their age. They look a bit "bubbly" when compared to sharpened, aggressive lines we see on the particular newer 2019+ versions.
The good thing is that will you can really get that high-end 5th gen cosmetic without having to trade in your truck plus take on the massive new car payment. However, it isn't always as easy as just getting a pair of lights off a wrecked 2022 Rebel and bolting all of them in. There are several things you need in order to know about fitment, wiring, as well as the various ways to pull off this exchange.
Why the 5th gen appearance is so popular
There is something about the "C-clamp" DIRECTED signature on the particular newer Rams that will just looks right. It's crisp, it's bright, and it can make the back from the truck look wider and more rooted. Most 4th gen trucks came with either basic halogen bulbs or the early-style LED units that will had those visible individual "dots" associated with light. Compared to the smooth, diffused light piping on the 5th gen, the ones look like technology from a different era.
Over and above just the looks, it's a safety factor too. If you've ever followed a 4th gen with old, oxidized lenses and weak tungsten halogen bulbs, you understand they aren't the particular easiest to see in the heavy rainstorm. Switching to the 5th gen design LED setup makes your intentions much clearer towards the person tailgating you.
Can you make use of actual OEM 5th gen lights?
This is the big issue. If you find a great deal on the set of stock OEM 5th gen lights, can you get them to work? The particular short answer is usually: yes, but it's the massive headache.
The actual physical shape of the particular tail light housing on a 5th gen truck is slightly different through the 4th gen. If you try to bolt a 5th gen light straight onto a 4th gen body, you're going to possess gaps that appear like someone took a bite out of your truck. Your body lines don't line up perfectly. In order to do it right with factory components, you'd be looking at custom bodywork or specialized conversion brackets which are often more expensive than the lights themselves.
Because of this particular, most guys within the Ram local community go with "5th gen style" transformation lights. These are aftermarket housings designed specifically to suit the particular 4th gen entire body perfectly while mimicking the exact internal look of the particular 5th gen LEDs. It gives you the particular best of both worlds—the modern look without the body shop bill.
Deciding on the best conversion lights
When a person start shopping for 5th gen tail lights on 4th gen ram trucks, you're heading to view a massive range in prices. You've got the particular budget-friendly options on eBay and Amazon, and then you've got the expensive stuff from manufacturers like Morimoto or AlphaRex.
If you go the inexpensive route, you may get lucky, yet keep an eye on the weather sealing. There's nothing at all that ruins the particular look of the truck faster than a tail lighting that appears like a mini aquarium after a car wash. The higher-end options usually have much better UV coating therefore the lenses don't turn yellow in two years, and the LEDs themselves are usually usually a lot higher quality.
One cool thing about these automotive aftermarket conversions is that will many of them include sequential convert signals . That's something even the factory 5th gen lights don't usually have, so it's actually a bit of an upgrade over the more recent trucks.
The particular wiring situation: Plug-and-play?
Wiring is how things can obtain just a little dicey. This depends heavily on what your pickup truck came with from your factory.
If your 4th gen has stock halogen lights, the plug is different than in case your pickup truck has the manufacturer LEDs. When you buy your new lights, you really sure you're getting the ones that will match your truck's original harness. Nearly all reputable sellers may ask you: "Does your truck have got factory LEDs? "
In case you mess this particular up, you'll be staring at the pile of wires wondering where it all went incorrect. Most modern transformation kits come with a "plug-and-play" use, which is a lifesaver. It essentially bridges the space between old truck's wiring and the particular new LED technology.
Dealing with hyperflash
One common annoyance when changing to LEDs is hyperflash —that's whenever your blinker whizzes super fast because the truck believes a bulb is usually burnt out. This particular happens because LEDs pull way less power than tungsten halogen bulbs.
To fix this particular, most 5th gen style lights with regard to the 4th gen come with built-in resistors. These resistors mimic the power draw of a halogen bulb so your truck's pc stays happy. Just a heads up: all those resistors get hot . When you're installing them, make sure you mount all of them to the metal of the vehicle bed, never to plastic material or wires, so they can dissipate that heat safely.
Step-by-step installation tips
Installing 5th gen tail lights on 4th gen ram is truly a pretty fun Saturday morning project. You don't need a whole shop's worth of tools—usually just a T25 Torx bit and a screwdriver.
- Drop the tailgate: You can't get to the screws with the gate up.
- Remove the two anchoring screws: They're located on the interior edge of the light housing. Don't lose them!
- The "Pop" factor: After the screws are out, the lighting is held in by two plastic alignment pins. A person need to draw the housing directly back toward a person. Don't pull this out to the aspect, or you'll snap those pins best off.
- Disconnect the funnel: Unplug the main connection. If it's stuck, provide a little wiggle, but become gentle with all the reddish colored locking tab in the event that your truck offers one—those get frail over time.
- Connect the new light: Plug-in your conversion harness. This is the period to test everything before you bolt it in return in. Switch on your risks, your reverse lights, and your brakes. It's way easier in order to fix a loose plug now when compared to the way it is right after everything is tightened down.
- Mount the resistors: If your lights have exterior resistors, find the flat metal spot in the tail light bucket and use the provided double-sided tape or anchoring screws to secure them.
- Switch it up: Line up the pins, push the light within until it ticks, and put your two T25 screws in.
Typical issues to watch out for
Despite having the greatest kits, sometimes things go sideways. If your new lights aren't working, the very first thing to check is usually the ground. LEDs are very picky about a good connection.
Another weird dodge with Rams is the CANbus program. Sometimes the truck's computer will "reject" the new lights, causing a "Lamp Out" message on your dashboard. If your kit didn't come with anti-flicker modules plus you're getting this particular error, you might need to utilize an OBDII tool such as AlfaOBD to inform the truck's computer that will it's now operating LEDs. This might sound overwhelming, but it's the common tweak intended for Ram owners.
Is it well worth the money?
Within my opinion, it's one of the best bangs for your buck. You can spend thousands on a good start kit or new wheels, but for a couple of hundred dollars, some 5th gen tail lights on 4th gen ram totally changes the "vibe" of the vehicle. It takes a truck that's beginning to look like a "used car" and causes it to be appear like a modern machine.
As well as, if you ever decide to sell the vehicle, it's an enormous marketing point. Buyers enjoy seeing those modern LED accents. Just be sure you keep your old factory lights in the box in the garage. That will way, if you ever trade the particular truck in, a person can swap the stock ones back in and sell the 5th gen design lights separately in order to make several of your own money back.
At the finish of the day time, customizing your vehicle is about which makes it yours. The 4th gen Ram is really a classic for the reason, and providing it a little flavor of the 5th gen's styling is a superb way to maintain it feeling fresh for another hundred, 000 miles.