The RAM 1500 is one of the most popular full-size trucks on the road — and if you're driving one with factory halogen headlights, you know the frustration. Dim, yellowish, and not nearly enough light when you're hauling a trailer down a dark highway or navigating unlit back roads.
The good news: upgrading to LED is a straightforward bulb swap. No rewiring, no cutting, no dealer visit. But the RAM 1500 has a twist — different trims and years use different bulbs. Find your configuration below to see exactly what fits.
Contents
- Configuration A — 2013–2018 Reflector (Express / Tradesman / SLT / Big Horn / Outdoorsman)
- Configuration B — 2013–2015 Projector (Sport / Laramie / Longhorn / Limited)
- Configuration C — 2016–2018 Projector (Sport / Laramie / Longhorn / Limited)
- Configuration D — 2019–2024 5th Gen (Tradesman / Big Horn halogen)
- Summit vs Coast — Which Series?
- Installation
- Frequently Asked Questions
Configuration A — 2013–2018 Reflector Headlights
Who this fits: Express, Tradesman, SLT, Big Horn, Lone Star, Outdoorsman (and RAM 1500 Classic 2019–2024 with reflector housings)
Identifier: Fog lights sit horizontally. The back of each headlight has a round chrome reflector bowl with a single bulb socket (no lens in front).
| Position | Bulb Size |
|---|---|
| Low Beam | H11 |
| High Beam | 9005 (HB3) |
| Fog Light | H10 / 9145 — special order |
Fog lights use H10 / 9145 — we don't keep this size in stock, but we can source it. Contact us with your Year/Make/Model/Trim for pricing and lead time.
Complete Upgrade
Driveon V7S — H11 + 9005
Low beam · High beam
2 pairs · 50W · 10,000LM · 6000K · Free US Shipping
$129.98
Driveon V4S — H11 + 9005
Low beam · High beam
2 pairs · 23W · 5,000LM · 6000K · Fanless · Free US Shipping
$65.78
Configuration B — 2013–2015 Projector Headlights
Who this fits: Sport, Laramie, Longhorn, Limited (and RAM 1500 Classic 2019–2024 with projector housings, if 2013–2015 platform)
Identifier: Fog lights sit vertically. Each headlight has a small projector lens in front of the bulb.
| Position | Bulb Size |
|---|---|
| Low Beam | 9012 (HIR2) |
| High Beam | 9005 (HB3) |
| Fog Light | 9006 (HB4) |
Complete Upgrade
Driveon V7S — 9012 + 9005 + 9006
Low beam · High beam · Fog light
3 pairs · 50W · 10,000LM · 6000K · Free US Shipping
$194.97
Driveon V4S — 9012 + 9005 + 9006
Low beam · High beam · Fog light
3 pairs · 23W · 5,000LM · 6000K · Fanless · Free US Shipping
$98.67
Configuration C — 2016–2018 Projector Headlights
Who this fits: Sport, Laramie, Longhorn, Limited
Identifier: Fog lights sit vertically, projector lens headlights. The 2016 refresh changed the low beam from 9012 to 9005. Both low and high beam are 9005 (in separate sockets) — you need two pairs of 9005 for the full headlight upgrade.
| Position | Bulb Size |
|---|---|
| Low Beam | 9005 (HB3) × 1 pair |
| High Beam | 9005 (HB3) × 1 pair |
| Fog Light | 9006 (HB4) |
Complete Upgrade
Driveon V7S — 9005 × 2 + 9006
Low + High beam (2 pairs) · Fog light
3 pairs · 50W · 10,000LM · 6000K · Free US Shipping
$194.97
Driveon V4S — 9005 × 2 + 9006
Low + High beam (2 pairs) · Fog light
3 pairs · 23W · 5,000LM · 6000K · Fanless · Free US Shipping
$98.67
Configuration D — 2019–2024 RAM 1500 (5th Gen, Halogen Trims)
Who this fits: Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star without Premium Lighting Group
Identifier: Halogen reflector headlights with a standard bulb socket. If your truck has factory LED running lights with a sharp cutoff, you likely have the Premium Lighting Group — those are sealed LED units, not bulb-replaceable. Laramie, Rebel, Longhorn, Limited, and TRX are all factory LED and can't be upgraded.
| Position | Bulb Size |
|---|---|
| Low Beam | H11 |
| High Beam | 9005 (HB3) |
| Fog Light | H11 (same as low beam) |
Fog lights use H11 — the same bulb as your low beam. Order an additional pair of Summit H11 to upgrade the fogs too.
Note: 2019+ RAM 1500 DT has stricter CANBUS monitoring. We recommend Summit only for this generation — its built-in decoder prevents flickering and "bulb out" warnings.
Complete Upgrade
Driveon V7S — H11 + 9005
Low beam · High beam
2 pairs · 50W · 10,000LM · 6000K · Free US Shipping
$129.98
Summit vs Coast — Which Series Should You Pick?
| Summit (Premium) | Coast (Value) | |
|---|---|---|
| Lumens | 10,000LM/pair | 5,000LM/pair |
| Power | 50W/bulb | 23W/bulb |
| Cooling | 12,000 RPM fan + heat pipes | Fanless (copper PCB) |
| CANBUS | Built-in decoder | No built-in decoder |
| Noise | Silent fan | Zero (no fan) |
| Body | 71mm × 24.3mm | 63mm × 30mm (1:1 halogen) |
| Best for | Towing, off-road, dark rural roads | Daily driver, city, budget-friendly |
Our recommendation for RAM: For 2019+ RAM 1500 DT, pick Summit only — its built-in CANBUS decoder is required to avoid flickering on the 5th-gen CAN gateway. For pre-2019 RAM 1500 Classic, either works — Summit for maximum brightness and towing, Coast for a clean daily-driver upgrade.
How to Install LED Headlights on a RAM 1500
No mechanic needed. No tools required.
1. Pop the hood and locate the headlight housing. The back of the headlight assembly is visible on both sides of the engine bay.
2. Remove the dust cap. Twist the round dust cap counterclockwise and pull it off to expose the bulb.
3. Remove the old halogen bulb. Twist the bulb socket counterclockwise (about a quarter turn) and pull it straight out. Disconnect the electrical connector.
4. Install the LED bulb. Plug the Driveon LED bulb into the connector. Insert it into the housing and twist clockwise to lock it in. Position the LED chips at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock (horizontal) for the correct beam pattern.
5. Test before closing up. Turn on your headlights. Aim at a wall or garage door — you should see a sharp, flat cutoff line on low beam with no glare above it.
6. Repeat for the other side.
Total time: 15–20 minutes for both sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have reflector or projector headlights?
The easiest way: look at your fog lights. If they're mounted horizontally, you have reflector headlights. If they're vertical, you have projector headlights. You can also look at the headlight itself — projector housings have a small round lens in front of the bulb; reflector housings have a large chrome bowl.
Will LED headlights throw error codes on my RAM?
For pre-2019 RAM 1500 Classic, either Summit or Coast works fine. For 2019+ RAM 1500 DT (5th gen), the CAN gateway is stricter and we recommend Summit only — its built-in decoder prevents flickering and "bulb out" warnings.
I have a RAM 1500 Classic — what do I need?
The RAM 1500 Classic (2019–2024) is the same 4th-gen platform as the 2013–2018 RAM 1500. Use the same configuration above — check whether you have reflector (Config A) or projector (Config B/C) housings.
Are LED headlights legal on the RAM 1500?
Yes. LED replacement bulbs are legal for on-road use as long as they produce a proper beam pattern with a sharp cutoff line. Both the Summit and Coast replicate the factory halogen beam pattern.
How long do LED headlights last?
Both the Coast and Summit are rated for 50,000+ hours. At 2 hours of driving per day, that's over 68 years. You'll sell the truck long before the bulbs die.
What color temperature are the LEDs?
Both series are 6000K — a crisp, cool white that matches the look of modern factory LED headlights. A huge upgrade from the yellowish 3000K halogen.
Not sure which bulb fits your vehicle? Contact us with your Year, Make, Model, and Trim — we'll confirm for free.