I've got a 2002 RAM 1500 4X4 and the headlights are lousy. It seems like there is almost no difference between the low beam and high beam setting.

The only thing I've noticed that seems to be worthwhile is if I hold the high beam switch so that both low and high beams are on at the same time.

Is there a "fix" so that high beam setting forces HIGH and LOW beams to come on and stay on when you go to high beams?

I've tried a couple of the expensive bulb types and they really don't make any difference and I don't want to spend the money to fool around with the HID setups.

 

A HID setup will cost $40-75 depending on who you get them from and it you need the resistors for them. Going HID wont be going in the wrong direction. Its the best way to go.

If you have fogs, you can set the truck up to burn the fogs and high beams at the same time. Aside from adding Silverstar bulbs, then only other option would be to add Hella's

 

I found that my headlights sucked right from day one. I probably had the truck for all of three months before I upgraded the bulbs to Sylvania bulbs. Not terribly expensive (around $20) but made a huge difference. Still in my truck six years later.

Without going to HIDs, the only other real fix would be to add a pair of driving lights. A set of 55 watt Hellas installed behind the grill would make a HUGE difference for night driving, cost all of about $60 at Wal Mart (I know for a fact the Wal Mart on Merrit Island has them) and take you all of about an hour to install.

As far as the lows on with the highs, YES, it can be done on a pre-'06 Ram by simply running a jumper wire (exact same way as the "Fog lights on with High Beams" DIY in the FAQ section), but be advised that this is illegal and will get you a hefty ticket. Would both be either on all the time or off all the time.

 

I put a set of '500's in, and tied them to my highs with a switch, made a big differenc, and the plus is you don't alter anything existing... so you can remove it easy.

with them tied to the highs, (through a switch) operation is seamless , the hi/low selector will turn them off, and if I'm driving down a 4-lane divided highway, I can still shut the auxilliary lighs off independent of the high beam so I don't overwhelm on-coming traffic in the far opposite lanes.

 

I got a set of sylvania silverstars. $40 for the pair and they are nice and bright.

 

Got tired of mine as well..know exactly what you mean..my solution was putting in HID's in the headlights anf fog lights and then also having driving lights on when i flip on my brights..never had a problem with that..gives off lots of light