01'+ Tacoma Headlights for RHD

5044 Views 24 Replies 8 Participants Last post by vroomy, Jul 26, 2010

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · Feb 15, 2010

Hey Guys,

I have a complete 01'+ taco front on order from the US to graft onto my Hilux and it is due in to NZ in the next week or so. I have one slight problem, we dont get Tacoma's over here in New Zealand and all our cars are RHD, so i dont think the headlights will pass a complience check.

I have seen Tacoma's in Japan/UK so i was wondering if there was a "JDM spec" headlight with a different beam pattern that dips to the left instead of right??

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

Enola Gaia

· #2 · Feb 15, 2010

A very interesting situation / question - one I'd never have expected to come up ... :thinking:

They actually check the direction of the headlight shift? Wow ...

My first suggestion would be to check whether there's an OEM manufacturer (like Philips, Osram, etc.) who offered a model / unit that would fit the Tacoma but was also used in a market area with RHD vehicles.

I'd hate to think you might have to go to the extent of doing a headlight mod / retrofit just to change the direction of the high beams ...

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 15, 2010

Yeah our country is incredibly anal about saftey of vehicles, Vehicles must first be complied to NZ specs(very hard to get a LHD imported and on the road, which is why im converting my RHD hilux) then have 6 monthly "warrents of fitness". Both checks test the head light beams....

I guess this is one of those questions some one from the UK or Japan could answer fairly easily??

I'd hate to think you might have to go to the extent of doing a headlight mod / retrofit just to change the direction of the high beams ...

I have heard of it having to be done

behemoth

· #4 · Feb 15, 2010

SHIFTBOY said:
Yeah our country is incredibly anal about saftey of vehicles, Vehicles must first be complied to NZ specs(very hard to get a LHD imported and on the road, which is why im converting my RHD hilux) then have 6 monthly "warrents of fitness". Both checks test the head light beams....

I guess this is one of those questions some one from the UK or Japan could answer fairly easily??

I have heard of it having to be done

I've got the same dilema as the beam shift is checked here in the UK too. My current answer is to use beam pattern correctors which stick to the outside of the lenses. They are common here in the UK as they are required by people travelling to Europe. If you don't come up with anything and they are unavailable in NZ I can get you a set and ship them over to you. They look really bad stuck to the lens though

I can stick up some pics of my current lenses to give you an idea what they look like if you want.

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 15, 2010

Nice...your truck was probably one of the ones my dad saw last time he went home haha.

I have got my local toyota parts guy on the hunt as of now, he has been getting a few tundra bits in out of Japan lately so wants to give himself a new challenge to track down these headlights. I may require a chassis number off one.

If i am successfull i will make sure i post up the part numbers and info.

behemoth

· #6 · Feb 15, 2010

SHIFTBOY said:
Nice...your truck was probably one of the ones my dad saw last time he went home haha.

I have got my local toyota parts guy on the hunt as of now, he has been getting a few tundra bits in out of Japan lately so wants to give himself a new challenge to track down these headlights. I may require a chassis number off one.

If i am successfull i will make sure i post up the part numbers and info.

If you need a chassis number let me know, I'm running a '02 4wd.

Your Toyota guy sounds like the guys at the dealership I use, really helpful in sourcing genuine bits from different vehicles.

How many Tacoma's did your dad see when he was back here? I only know of 3 in the country at the moment, my one and two much newer 2wd's.

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 15, 2010

Yeah my toyota guy is really good, i usually go in with some odd requests especially when i was putting 1UZ-fe V8's in all things toyota.

Dad says he saw a couple over there and was really surprised to see them. He is from Burnley origionally but was just back to catch up with relatives and my sister, who was living in Kendal. I think he did spend a bit of time in Liverpool watching a few league games as well.

Enola Gaia

· #8 · Feb 15, 2010

3

behemoth said:
I've got the same dilema as the beam shift is checked here in the UK too. My current answer is to use beam pattern correctors which stick to the outside of the lenses. They are common here in the UK as they are required by people travelling to Europe. If you don't come up with anything and they are unavailable in NZ I can get you a set and ship them over to you. They look really bad stuck to the lens though

Are those the same sort of 'beam benders' listed at this UK website:

http://www.fasteronline.co.uk/continental-driving-beam-benders-c-29_279_517.html

??? ...

See less See more

behemoth

· #9 · Feb 15, 2010

Enola Gaia said:
Are those the same sort of 'beam benders' listed at this UK website:

http://www.fasteronline.co.uk/continental-driving-beam-benders-c-29_279_517.html

??? ...

Yeah that's the type of thing I talkin about. Works well enough on my truck to make it pass the MOT inspection so for the moment they will suffice but if we can find a headlight that bolts on then I will get a set of then so that it looks stock again

sean

· #10 · Feb 16, 2010

I would like to see pics.

behemoth

· #11 · Feb 16, 2010

sean said:
I would like to see pics.

Ok will get some at the weekend

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 21, 2010

Still no luck here finding headlights with the RHD beam pattern.

I talked to a lady that imported her 02 Tacoma when she moved to NZ from the US and she spent $1700 getting her headlights modified to suit our Gay laws!!

Is there anyone on here that does RHD conversions to export?

Enola Gaia

· #13 · Mar 21, 2010

My guess is that there's no such thing as Tacoma-styled headlight units with internals configured / designed for RHD operation. The beam pattern is controlled by the reflector configuration, not the bulb.

It seems to me the key question is whether there's an international market (presumably Toyota, but who knows ...) headlight pod whose dimensions and shape is similar enough to a Tacoma's that it could be swapped in without messing up the front end's looks. I tend to doubt it, but it's conceivable. ... And I can't find any mention of anyone having seriously researched this.

If there's no swap-able alternative headlight pod (available in a RHD configuration), you're left with the task of modifying the USDM Tacoma headlight pods to get the reversed beam dip pattern. I only see 2 approaches to doing this:

(1) retrofit projectors so your beam pattern isn't dependent on reflectors inside the pod
(2) somehow modify the 'bucket' (shell, casing) itself to change the reflectors' aim

It seems to me the most workable approach to option #2 would be to take a pair of 2001 - 2004 headlight units, cut off the 'bucket' (casing; everything but the lens and mounting structure), and graft a similarly-sized RHD 'bucket' onto it.

I suspect it would be a frustrating exercise to try and modify the Tacoma unit's reflector geometry, so why not transplant a back end / 'bucket' whose reflector geometry is already what you need?

See less See more

Enola Gaia

· #14 · Mar 21, 2010

SHIFTBOY said:
... I talked to a lady that imported her 02 Tacoma when she moved to NZ from the US and she spent $1700 getting her headlights modified to suit our Gay laws!! ...

For the record ... Did she give any indication as to what sort of modification was actually done?

It would be really helpful if you could tell us how the local 'fallback option' is being accomplished ... :thinking:

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 21, 2010

I have asked a few of the local RHD conversion specialists what they do and they dont really answer that question. The 01-04 hilux head light is very similar to the Tacoma and i mentioned doing exactly as you said (ver 2) only to be told i shouldnt attempt it.....I probably will though, i cant see any other option.

No unfortunatly the lady here in NZ that has had it done, simply paid a company to sort it, that company doesnt appear to be around any more. She drove around for quite a while with out any issues till it came time for our 6 monthly warrent of fitness checks.

I had also considered the projectors but im just trying to find out the legalities of them over here.

hot-taco

· #16 · Mar 22, 2010

i jus wanna say i love america! i cant believe the things u have to go through to just drive a vehicle that is rediculous!

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 23, 2010

Yeah its rediculous some of the things we go through. These are just the damn headlights too, you wait till i do the chassis, brakes, suspension and engine haha....can see why the likes of Steve and Rod Millen live over in the U.S. now.

I spent a good portion of my morning on the phone to more RHD conversion companies. Most work with Ford Chev and Dodge which actually have RHD models so really they are just parts fitting. It appears Toyota Tundra's also have RHD parts available(posibly same as our Landcruiser).

Most guys just said to fit the LHD lights up then adjust and shim them to try get it passed. Only one suggested cutting the bucket out of the tacoma lamp and fitting the hilux bucket in its place....so i guess this is the best option.

Chris D.

· #18 · Mar 23, 2010

post some demensions and measurments of your hilux headlights.

SHIFTBOY

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 23, 2010 (Edited by Moderator)

2

I can do better than that, how about a photo:

The taco light below looks bigger, as its closer to the camera, but basically its similar dimensions to the Hilux.

the hilux is
11" wide at the base
8.75" along the top
6.75" tall

See less See more

Enola Gaia

· #20 · Mar 23, 2010

SHIFTBOY said:
... Most guys just said to fit the LHD lights up then adjust and shim them to try get it passed. Only one suggested cutting the bucket out of the tacoma lamp and fitting the hilux bucket in its place....so i guess this is the best option.

It may be difficult to get it 'passable', because the OEM 2001 - 2004 Tacoma headlight adjustment setup allows for vertical-only (no horizontal) adjustment.

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.