[AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.

[Ron Cook]

I travel mostly 2 lane roads and I am sick and tired of being blinded by 
about every other vehicle I meet.  Very few are because of failure to 
use low beam.  Most are just plain too bright of headlights completely 
out of proper adjustment.  More than likely because of the original 
lamps having been replaced by some super bright lamp.  Or some jacked up 
in the air pickup that some youngster thinks is really cool.  Then there 
are the bright light tailgaters that blind you by mirror.  I really 
think the law needs to get involved in a big way.

Ron Cook, Salix, IA


On 1/18/2020 2:36 AM, Steve W. wrote:
> Ken Knierim wrote:
>> I've got an LED retrofit experiment going on my 86 Blazer. I upgraded 
>> the sealed beam lamps to the Hella H4 housings (think 7X5 Chevy 
>> squarebody lights) and put in some Amazon H4 LED bulbs. The Hella 
>> housings are glass, not plastic which was a requirement I decided on 
>> for longevity in the Arizona sunlight. I have the original Hella 
>> incandescent bulbs onboard for if/when the fan-cooled Amazon bulbs 
>> get tired of me crashing through the desert. I'll know more when 
>> summer arrives but for now I have to say the light control on the 
>> Hella housings is amazing and the pattern is as good as some of the 
>> Sylvania halogens I was getting tired of. I DID have to use some 
>> sealant to seal the housings as the Hella's have some vents in them 
>> which would allow dirt and water into them so a touch of RV sealant 
>> on those should fix the problem. We'll see.
>>     The amount of light emitted on low beam is plenty for most 
>> driving, and I haven't had them out to the wilds where I can use the 
>> high beams. I had someone in a Lexus or BMW the other night heading 
>> at me with his brights on and I considered flashing him. Figured it 
>> was not kind to the other drivers if I did that and just let it pass. 
>> The high beams are DeathStar planet-buster bright, and aimed so they 
>> can light up down the road. With the higher profile of the vehicle, 
>> it would be in many drivers' faces too. I haven't measured light 
>> intensity yet but they seem to be questionable. Are they "legal"? 
>> Can't find anyone willing to say they are or aren't so Steve's 
>> comments on "Wild West" are spot on... DOT, SAE, and manufacturer 
>> dance around this question. I need to ask my neighbor who's a 
>> gearhead and police officer, but I suspect it depends on your 
>> attitude. :)
>> I've also upgraded the dash lights and dome lights to LED (use the 
>> high-brightness ones for the dome lights. it really makes a 
>> difference). Between that and the Atomic EFI kit replacing the tired 
>> Quadrajet, this is a different vehicle. And I can still beat the hell 
>> out of it and not worry about paint. (it's my old tractor-towing rig).
>> We'll see how it goes. If it goes well I will probably find a similar 
>> upgrade for my 6-volt Case tractor.
>>
>>
>> Ken in AZ
>
> Depends on your state for enforcement but ANY light source other than 
> the OEM approved and DOT listed fitment is illegal.
>
> If the Hella lights don't have a DOT approval stamp they are illegal 
> as well.
>
> That's under Federal law. It comes down to the way the vehicle was 
> built from the factory. If it has Halogen, they are the only legal bulb.
> As a weird item, ALL of the HID lighting out there is actually under a 
> federal DOT waiver for each make and model built.
>