Can I install a higher wattage bulb?

[Ch2500HD]

Hey, guys just wondering if I can install a higher wattage bulb in my 2003 without any consequences. The OE high beam bulb is a 65W. I have found that Hella offers a replacement bulb that is 100W. It is only legal for offroad use, so I couldn't use them on the road, but they would be great offroad at night. I the voltage on them is 12.

 

Any advice would be helpful, since I don't wish to fry my electrical system or cause a fire or short. Thanks

[pwall]

Can't answer with the 2003, but I have higher wattage bulbs in my 2002.

I use the blue xenon lights, 80w lows, 100w high. I think because of the 'blue' coating on the lights, there not as bright as one would think with the wattage they are.

I've been using them since almost day 1 with the truck. I have had only 2 people ever flash their lights at me and that was both on a dark road in the rain.

My brother in law with his 2005 Silverado gets people flashing their high beams at him all the time, and he's running stock.....go figure.

[Shaners]

My brother in law with his 2005 Silverado gets people flashing their high beams at him all the time, and he's running stock.....go figure.

 

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I had to adjust the lights on my '05 because people were flashing me all the time. I have the stock bulbs and about 1/2" of torsion bar lift on the front.

 

On my old '01, I replaced the stock bulbs with a brighter lowbeam, but stock highbeam and never had any problems.

 

Maybe just replacing your bulbs with something like a minor increase or stock wattage "Silverstar", would be sufficient.

[GM-Tech]

Hey, guys just wondering if I can install a higher wattage bulb in my 2003 without any consequences. 

 

Maybe, maybe not. I just replaced a multifunction switch ($$$) in an '03 because he had those high wattage headlight bulbs and the connection for the low beams had melted at the multifunction switch. Also seen plenty that melted the bulb socket itself. Some use them with no problems.

[Ch2500HD]

Thanks for the replies. I decided to go with the OE wattage silverstars. I would like brighter but don't wish to cause any damage to the truck.

 

Also I did a comparison test on the low beam OE vs. Silverstar vs. GE Nighthawk. I marked to the approximate spot where each beam ended. I could not tell a noticeable beam distance between the three bulbs. In fact the only difference I noticed was that the Silverstars produced a whiter light. Hardly any difference between the OE and the Nighthawk.

 

The interesting part is that with the OE bulb I was always having people flash their high beams at me, but since installing the Silverstars I haven't had anyone bright light me. Go figure.

[GetMore]

I saw that the question was already answered, but I wanted to mention that I've looked at the wiring, and I think it is borderline for the stock bulbs. Higher wattage is just asking for trouble.