Ram 5500 high beam and low beam headlight bulbs use sizes 9005, 9008, H11, and 9012 depending on configuration. The replacement chart covers 2011 through 2018 production years with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 9005 bulb is the most frequently specified type across the Ram 5500 headlight data, appearing in both high beam and low beam positions across multiple years and headlamp configurations. It operates at 65 watts and uses a single-filament design within a P20d base, producing a focused, high-intensity output suited to high beam applications.
The 9008 bulb, also known as H13, is a dual-filament bulb that serves both high beam and low beam functions within a single housing. The Ram 5500 (2011-2012) with a 2-headlamp configuration uses the 9008 for both positions, meaning one bulb type handles the full headlamp function on those vehicles.
The H11 bulb appears consistently as the low beam specification for non-projector headlamp configurations across the 2011-2018 model years, as well as for the 4-headlamp setup in 2011-2012. It is a single-filament halogen bulb rated at 55 watts with an L-shaped base, and it is not interchangeable with the 9005 despite both using similar connector housings.
The 9012 bulb is specified for low beam use in projector-type headlamps on the Ram 5500 for 2013-2015. It is physically similar to the 9005 but is rated at 55 watts rather than 65 watts, and the two are not directly interchangeable due to tab differences on the base that prevent incorrect installation.
For 2016-2018, projector-type headlamp configurations shifted from the 9012 to the 9005 for the low beam position. This represents a within-generation change in low beam bulb specification tied strictly to headlamp type.
The Ram 5500 in 2011-2012 had two distinct headlamp configurations, a 2-headlamp system and a 4-headlamp system, each requiring different bulb types. The 2-headlamp setup used the dual-filament 9008 for both beams, while the 4-headlamp setup used the 9005 for high beam and the H11 for low beam.
From 2013 onward, the 2-headlamp and 4-headlamp distinction is no longer present in the specifications, with headlamp type differentiation shifting instead to projector versus non-projector configurations for the low beam position.
The H11 and 9005 bulbs share a similar physical form but use different base configurations, making them non-interchangeable. Vehicles specifying one cannot accept the other without modification, which is relevant for the Ram 5500 years where both types are listed as options depending on headlamp configuration.