Uprated headlights (1 Viewer)

Dude

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Oct 22, 2010
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My Tiffin is based on the workhorse chassis, I would like to fit HID lights to the front, does anyone know if there are suitable lights available with no beam patern??????? The lights fitted on mine are the basic rectangular lights.
 

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Snowbird

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Hi,I see you have the same problem as I have always found with American vehicles.Have never been able to see in the dark with them.My Tiffin has the stacked headlights and to be honest they are the next best thing to useless.Have put spots on it which make it much better on high beam but not much help on dip.Was told by an American mechanic that a lot of Yanks dont have a fuse on the headlights,dont know how true it is but did have a light switch melt once.So if it is correct take care with the upgrade.
 

pappajohn

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could be wrong but i thought HID replacements were simply an HID bulb and a 'driver'.
direct replacement for a normal H4/H7 bulb.

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pappajohn

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Was told by an American mechanic that a lot of Yanks dont have a fuse on the headlights

if this is true i'd fit a relay (fused) to the headlamp wiring and rewire the headlamps (fused) through it.
 

MicknPat

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Dec 16, 2007
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Try and find out which source vehicle your RV manufacturer used for your headlights, for example Fleetwood used the headlight and side/indicator lenses from the Ford F series pick-up for our Discovery so if I wanted to upgrade I'd just consider the lights from a more recent model.
 

Snowbird

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Was told by an American mechanic that a lot of Yanks dont have a fuse on the headlights

if this is true i'd fit a relay (fused) to the headlamp wiring and rewire the headlamps (fused) through it.
The spots on the RV have relays fitted,but as yet have never been able to fing headlamp fuses on my John Deere chassis.My Rockwood on the Oshkosh chassis was the same.Oshkosh bought out John Deere chassis at about the same time mine was built so maybe that explains it.As I said before Yank headlights leave a lot to be desired.Come to think of it the brakes do too.:Eeek:

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OP
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Dude

Dude

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Oct 22, 2010
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could be wrong but i thought HID replacements were simply an HID bulb and a 'driver'.
direct replacement for a normal H4/H7 bulb.

The HID 'bulb' will fit in the light unit but the pattern is all over the place, if you look at any modern car with HID's there is no diffuser on the glass to give a beam pattern, I have the same lights in my Gulfstream and the light is all over the place with the HID's in place, I need to replace the lights anyway and thought this would be a good upgrade. We had a Mk2 escort in the other day and it had exactly that, the big round lights but no beam deflectors.
I'm going to fit some big spotlights with relays but seeing on dipped beam is an advantage as well.
 
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Dude

Dude

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Oct 22, 2010
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Try and find out which source vehicle your RV manufacturer used for your headlights, for example Fleetwood used the headlight and side/indicator lenses from the Ford F series pick-up for our Discovery so if I wanted to upgrade I'd just consider the lights from a more recent model.

Good thinking dude, will try and find that out tommorrow but I think these are the cheapy commercial style ones.
 

motor roamin

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May 23, 2010
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Hi,I see you have the same problem as I have always found with American vehicles.Have never been able to see in the dark with them.My Tiffin has the stacked headlights and to be honest they are the next best thing to useless.Have put spots on it which make it much better on high beam but not much help on dip.Was told by an American mechanic that a lot of Yanks dont have a fuse on the headlights,dont know how true it is but did have a light switch melt once.So if it is correct take care with the upgrade.

You are correct most American Vehicles don't have fuses and the only one I have ever bought where the headlights didn't need a cave mans flint at lighting up time was a new 05 Avalanche, my Corvette you could drive round on main beam not get flashed an still cant see.

I think spots are the answer but remember it is illegal to use use spots or fogs if there centres are below 2' exept in fog, mist and falling snow, not that it is enforced very often but it can be.

Hope this helps Rick.

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Dude

Dude

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Oct 22, 2010
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You are correct most American Vehicles don't have fuses and the only one I have ever bought where the headlights didn't need a cave mans flint at lighting up time was a new 05 Avalanche, my Corvette you could drive round on main beam not get flashed an still cant see.

I think spots are the answer but remember it is illegal to use use spots or fogs if there centres are below 2' exept in fog, mist and falling snow, not that it is enforced very often but it can be.

Hope this helps Rick.

I will be fitting spots but would also like to see on dipped beam :Eeek:
 

pappajohn

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The HID 'bulb' will fit in the light unit but the pattern is all over the place, if you look at any modern car with HID's there is no diffuser on the glass to give a beam pattern, I have the same lights in my Gulfstream and the light is all over the place with the HID's in place, I need to replace the lights anyway and thought this would be a good upgrade. We had a Mk2 escort in the other day and it had exactly that, the big round lights but no beam deflectors.
I'm going to fit some big spotlights with relays but seeing on dipped beam is an advantage as well.

never really thought about the beam pattern on the lens.

dip beam....could you fit secondary driving lamps set at dip beam height ?

in my youth a had a mk1 Escort with twin 8" Cibies on main beam and a couple of cheap 'Ring' spots on dip.
 
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Dude

Dude

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Oct 22, 2010
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never really thought about the beam pattern on the lens.

dip beam....could you fit secondary driving lamps set at dip beam height ?

in my youth a had a mk1 Escort with twin 8" Cibies on main beam and a couple of cheap 'Ring' spots on dip.

I could fit new lamps and higher wattage bulbs but if you have ever driven with HID's you would know why I want them.

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madbluemad

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I hate HID'S but I can understand why somebody would want them. The headlights on mine are next to useless.
Jim
:Smile:
 

motor roamin

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I will be fitting spots but would also like to see on dipped beam :Eeek:

No problem putting them on a relay and working with dipped beam.....it is just that the law states, to do that then the centres of the spot lights must be a minimum of 2 feet from the ground....or you can only use them in fog, mist and falling snow.

Hope this helps Rick.

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Oct 15, 2007
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HID, my understanding is they have to be self levelling now, and this new Euro ruling due 2014 (?) outlaws after market fitting period?

As to RV lights, our dipped on the Winne are fantastic, bog standard rectangular units with standard bulbs, they are however not the origionals and, again, my understanding is they are available and fit most (not just our Winne) RVs. I beleive Duncan at starspangled spanner may be of help here, I haven't spoken to him but I'm sure I saw somewhere he did such things.

Ours are about due to be replaced as the reflectors starting to 'rust', MOT fine last year but I don't wont to leave until it fails. Still fantastic light though, well once I'd adjusted the offside one out of the near side gutter:Doh:
 

dazzer

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Try and find out which source vehicle your RV manufacturer used for your headlights, for example Fleetwood used the headlight and side/indicator lenses from the Ford F series pick-up for our Discovery so if I wanted to upgrade I'd just consider the lights from a more recent model.

Ive got a F150 pickup and headlights on that are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard :Doh: I wouldnt bother upgrading to them, they are just as bad as the originals :Doh:
 
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Dude

Dude

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Well hopefully Ive located some headlamp shells with clear lenses and some projector units to go in them, will post results when they arrive.

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mercuryarv

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Sep 9, 2007
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If you need them we stock Hella units that will fit and give you a pilot bulb and a correct cut off on the beam, you can then fit the high output 4000k bulbs that will give you the intense white light.
 

rainbow chasers

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Have a look at how they are mounted. Usually nothing too complicated - in which case, convert them by using some from a scania or similar!

Have a measure up. :thumb:
 

Geo

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Jul 29, 2007
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Amongst many more new regulations
From Jan 2012 Hid headlights
unless fitted along with self levelling system and or wash wipers will be a MoT failure
So in order for your after market hids to pass, at least a wash wipe system must also be fitted
Geo

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May 6, 2010
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I fitted a HID kit (£35 Ebay) a couple of weeks ago on our Windsport and the difference over the standard 'Elton John' bulbs (candles in the wind) is brilliant, Had an early 4am start trip down to Signature of Wolverhampton and did not get flashed once, Mine are 9007 bulbs and the kit was a doddle to fit, plug and play all done in about 30mins, I will just put the standard bulbs back in come MOT time, also fitted ice white side light bulbs for an overall more modern look
 

Hocky54

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Feb 6, 2011
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I fitted a HID kit (£35 Ebay) a couple of weeks ago on our Windsport and the difference over the standard 'Elton John' bulbs (candles in the wind) is brilliant, Had an early 4am start trip down to Signature of Wolverhampton and did not get flashed once, Mine are 9007 bulbs and the kit was a doddle to fit, plug and play all done in about 30mins, I will just put the standard bulbs back in come MOT time, also fitted ice white side light bulbs for an overall more modern look

Where did the kit come from, and who supplied them on ebay as I'm looking for the same type!:thumb:
 
May 6, 2010
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Hi
Got mine from here
Link Removed

If you search 'HID 9007' I'm sure there will be others selling them
Dave

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