That’s it. I give up. LED Headlights, Fog Lights and light bars?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by otterinthewater, Jan 17, 2019.

  1. TravR1

    TravR1 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2017
    Messages:
    3,695
    Thanks Received:
    9,615
    Location:
    TX
    0
    I have idea, i havent tried them because I have to drive with Rx glasses but do those glasses at the truck stops help? The ones with the yellow tint..
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  2. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2012
    Messages:
    3,376
    Thanks Received:
    7,794
    Location:
    in the bush somewhere
    0
    I have a solution on my tanker for such people when they are behind me. LED work lights on the back, controlled by a switch in the cab. That usually does the trick. For the idiots coming towards me, I have nothing but high beams for them. Halogen high beams...

    It seems around here, it's usually an older Volvo or Century pulling a container from Jersey that is the culprit. But the dilapidated Peterbilt crowd has them as well. ( These are the guys that have big, shiny straight pipes (which I have no problem with) on a worn out dilapidated Pete with the battery box held on by a bungee cord and the paint blowing off as they drive down the left lane telling everyone how great they are, only to be found the next night along the road with their hood raised, waiting on a wrecker)


    But, I have been noticing lately that Penndot hasn't done their annual line painting this year. Seems like every year in the fall they'd take a day and truly screw up traffic while they painted lines on the road. They didn't do it this year, and I find myself longing for brighter lights when it rains at night. Or brighter lines at least.
     
  3. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2011
    Messages:
    22,442
    Thanks Received:
    117,086
    Location:
    Michigan
    0
    These manufacturers needs to get serious about lighting, especially with pickups. Ford by far has the worst lighting of any manufacturer and GM is right behind them and more and more the insurance and other organizations are starting to take notice of these lights on these vehicles.

    The truck are no different, they are horrible lighting, I have issues with a number of my trucks where the lights are horrible even if aimed right, and I've complained to the manufacturer which of course falls on deaf ears.

    These LED conversions that flood the market are not just badly done (lack of cut off, lack of focus, too much light scatter) they are also illegal in 99% of the cases. ANY conversion light that says or claims to be DOT approved it not, they don't approve lights.

    One of the issues with cars and pickups is that the cabin light is too bright and the idiot designers of the cars (had one admit to this) wants extra lighting to compensate for the bright cabin. This is true with any and all LCD displays like the ones that do multitasking - radio, nav and driver butt wiper. I have mine turned as far down as I could because of the blue light it creates which is part of the cause with the need of brighter external lights. On pickup trucks, like the Ford that was behind me coming off the freeway blinding me so much I could read small print while sitting at the light, those lights needs to be lowers below the average car mirror height and this would not effect the lighting quality.
     
  4. Moose1958

    Moose1958 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    15,185
    Thanks Received:
    33,449
    Location:
    Williesburg, Virignia
    0
    Don't shoot me I'm just the piano player! There is another really good reason lighting is better. There are two different things that have converged. I actually did not put these things together till early this morning. First, the US population is aging. The average age is way up there today. This along with other factors has caused more people on the road to need more light. I know for myself I don't see as good at night as I once did. Then this fact crossed better technology that has made that better light people are demanding possible. The "baby boomers" are getting into their 60s and 70s today. This generation is not like their parents were. They are forceful in maintaining their independence and are mobile. Just as laws against cell phone use and texting are worthless, laws about these lights are as well. I suggest you look for a good way to protect your eyes. This light issue is not going to go away.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  5. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Messages:
    4,897
    Thanks Received:
    16,807
    0
    I was driving last Tuesday night from Oregon down to Redding CA in a heavy rain, and I must have passed at least a dozen trucks with those stupid light bars that were blinding me. You'd think they would be illegal because they seriously do blind oncoming traffic.

    A few years ago I worked for an outfit driving a 2014 T680 with probably the worst headlights I've ever seen. They were so dim you couldn't see anything at night. I often wondered if there was a charging system problem. Then they got me a new T680 with the LED headlights, and it was great. Now I have my own new T680 and it came factory equipped with the old incandescent bulbs. Can't figure out why they wouldn't just put LED's in from the factory. I wonder how much it would cost to convert them over to LED's?
     
    Rideandrepair and otterinthewater Thank this.
  6. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2011
    Messages:
    13,388
    Thanks Received:
    72,036
    Location:
    South west Missouri
    0
    I use Truck-lite LED lights, 4 by 6 rectangular. High and low.

    They’re DOT compliant, and the light spectrum is closer to natural daylight than halogen or regular incandescent bulbs.

    Cut off is sharp, I keep them aligned and aimed. Never been ‘flashed ‘ or whined at.

    But not everyone wants to spend $600 to do a job right.
     
    stwik, 1johnb, Rideandrepair and 4 others Thank this.
  7. intrepidor

    intrepidor Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2017
    Messages:
    380
    Thanks Received:
    848
    Location:
    Western Iowa
    0
    I see said the 70 year old man
     
    Rideandrepair and otterinthewater Thank this.
  8. otterinthewater

    otterinthewater Road Train Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2018
    Messages:
    5,550
    Thanks Received:
    29,156
    Location:
    Santa Barbara, Ca
    0
    That’s the exact area I was in when I had enough. Weed to Orland in the rain.
     
    Rideandrepair and SteveScott Thank this.
  9. JC1971

    JC1971 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2013
    Messages:
    2,673
    Thanks Received:
    9,784
    Location:
    Southwestern U.S.
    0
    Probably not, unless you want to potentially catch a manslaughter charge.

     
    JReding and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  10. otterinthewater

    otterinthewater Road Train Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2018
    Messages:
    5,550
    Thanks Received:
    29,156
    Location:
    Santa Barbara, Ca
    0
    Where do I get them. PM if you'd prefer. I will spend the money for good stufff. Thanks