are 2005 headlights good enough?

[rjohnson916]

I have not really thought too hard about the lighting on my truck. I will say this though. I know it's the Californian in me, but I drive with my fogs on nearly all the time at night. I can't say how much I think the OEM fogs help. I rarely need highbeams with the factory fogs. Come to think of it, yeah I remember how crappy the stock light were when my truck was brand new. My truck didn't come with OEM fogs, so I purchased them a week later as a kit through Mopar parts $112. 00 $35. 00 replacement headlamp switch. Lights work great now.





-Ryan

 

[brownc1]

I also have no desire to blind anyone with my lights, that was never the point here. Where I drive it gets REALLY dark and there are lots of big crtitters around here that cross the highway. Not being anywhere near a city I have a real need and I am responsible with my high powered lights. I agree that those who do not dim deserve some form of retribution. What better way than to throw something like Matts 120 watt bulbs right at them, I bet they dim their lights after that ;



I might also suggest that you be very careful when considering road rage of any kind. You don't know who else might have come prepared :-laf

Safety is the issue... everyone's. I've had a deer that I did not see come through the passenger window, a very near thing for the passenger, horns just missed... the icy road surface that was beyond the lowbeam that made our daughter's boyfriend into a quadrapalegic... the unseen pothole that killed one of our community near a mine... seeing the hazards can be a life or death reality. . so can blinding folks. . I'm looking for the technical solution that protects everyone as best one can. "Eyes up," as we teach at the track, don't work so good if you can't see. Finding that compromise, including driving inside the lighted envelope, is what I am looking for. Sounds as if some lighting improvement, esp for country conditions, is a good idea. Too many good guys out there, probably with old eyes like mine, "see" a problem. I think I'll keep the standard set up as is and put in some extra lights for the exceptional situation. Be interesting to see how we can set up the switch to be fast and convenient if one wants the quick draw.

 

[betterthanstock]

I would like to see what you say after you have a close encounter with an 1800lb moose due to the poor light on the third gen. ’s.

It's my observation that driving on rural roads with the high beams on, draws out the deer, rabbits, possums, etc to cross right in front of you.

I have applied several times the cure of turning off the headlights and getting on the horn and the brakes to get them out of my way.



I also have been using yellow anti-glare sunglasses at night for the past 15 or so years, ever since the introduction of halogen lights. I cannot imagine how someone can even drive with naked eyes with the current crop of HID and blue headlights, and not become blinded.

 

[brownc1]

It's my observation that driving on rural roads with the high beams on, draws out the deer, rabbits, possums, etc to cross right in front of you.

I have applied several times the cure of turning off the headlights and getting on the horn and the brakes to get them out of my way.



I also have been using yellow anti-glare sunglasses at night for the past 15 or so years, ever since the introduction of halogen lights. I cannot imagine how someone can even drive with naked eyes with the current crop of HID and blue headlights, and not become blinded.

I'm calling the optomitrist tomorrow to see if he can make me some perscription night glasses... good idea.

 

[Matt400]

I'm calling the optomitrist tomorrow to see if he can make me some perscription night glasses... good idea.

Please post back and let us know what he said, I would like to know if he agrees or dis-agrees with this

 

[KDillard]

my.02

Im on my second 3rd gen truck and must admit thet both beat the snot out of my 97 Dakota. The way in which they are focused is a bit of an issue and you can aim them easily. These lights dont have much of a side beam to them and focus mainly straight ahead. What you can do is to measure out 20ft from a wall and Mark with tape. At night pull your truck straight up so your front bumper is in line with the tape and adjust your beams accordingly. Just a few inches to the sides of the truck will do wonders for night driving to help you around corners and such. Also before you do this adjustment try some PIAA or Silverstar Hyper white replacement bulbs Replace both the fog and driving light bulbs. HID's really dont work to well unless you plan on replacing the entire housing with a special one designed for HID use. A proper HID setup for this truck is quite costly and lord help you if a ballast ever goes out on a HID kit because a bulb and ballast will run you close to 300 dollars. Like the title above says this is just my . 02





Keith

 

[MABurns]

I was "flashed" all the time for the low beams in our Mitsubishi Montero. That thing had to have the best low, high and fog lights of any vehicle I ever owned. It made my truck feel like I was driving with two flash lights taped to the bumper.

 

[DPKetchum]

Bet aimed wrong. Too high. I get a LOT of drivers not dimming and running fogs etc. in weather that you can see perfectly well. even in DAYLIGHT I get some running HIGH beams. No courtesy. Like turn signals. I use mine and feel like the ONLY one. If no turn signal and they want out(to turn left or right) I assume they mean straight and I ignore them even if I could be nice and let them out. Pointing kinda in a general direction don't get it with me.

 

[OHale]

I guess my point got lost, polite didn't work, wire cutters did!

Your cut their wires? Maybe I read that wrong.

 

[TowPro]

I wear them also, and I can agree with what that one website says, they actually hurt your night vision, but I feel them help me see better with oncoming traffic at night. If I am driving a distance in the mountains at night, they come off as soon as the oncoming car passes.



I also want to get some of that stick on tint they make baby window shades out of. I plan to stick it to the outside rear view mirrors for those long trips at night on the highway.

I also have been using yellow anti-glare sunglasses at night for the past 15 or so years, ever since the introduction of halogen lights. I cannot imagine how someone can even drive with naked eyes with the current crop of HID and blue headlights, and not become blinded.

 

[brownc1]

I wear them also, and I can agree with what that one website says, they actually hurt your night vision, but I feel them help me see better with oncoming traffic at night. If I am driving a distance in the mountains at night, they come off as soon as the oncoming car passes.



I also want to get some of that stick on tint they make baby window shades out of. I plan to stick it to the outside rear view mirrors for those long trips at night on the highway.

I have just completed an extensive discussion with Dr. Peter Shaw who operates the "low vision" clinic in Toronto. This is a unique facility and is and he is stateof the art in vision. He says that yellow "feels" better but actually cuts out the blue spectrum that is essential for seeing into shadows... hence it reduces night vision clinically. He says that (and is now making for me) clear lenses coated to be antiglare made from the best light transmitting material is the best one can do. My current photosynthetic lenses are not so good as they, though appearing clear, actually screen circa 10% of the light. The materials used in the lenses are very important as "clear" varies in terms of light transmitting properties.

Peter is also one of my high performance driving instructor buddies and has hundreds of hours driving on the edge in all lighting conditions as well providing the glasses for some of our Olympic and world class skeet competitors. He knows his stuff when it comes to acute vision.

 

[ECappleman]

I have two KC Daylighters, that are fitted with GE 4522 sealed beam aircraft landing bulbs. You must use a seperate relay for each light.



These are a spot/flood light that are rated 250 watts @13v. :--)

 

[Matt400]

ECappleman,

Thats an interesting combo, any idea how far out they shine- 2000 feet or more?

 

[brownc1]

Just to follow up. . I ordered Piaa bulbs for the high and low beam and a Piaa set of driving lamps to be installed in the fog light location. We shall "see" how it works. That and new, clearer, glasses lenses should be adaquate when combined with the "slow down to what you lights show" driving rule. I'll do a final report when I have driven rig a while. We will be slow in the break in period anyway.

 

[ECappleman]

ECappleman,

Thats an interesting combo, any idea how far out they shine- 2000 feet or more?

Not in technical terms.

I use them on deserted South Texas roads at night. Lots and lots of deer. I can see a minimum of about a half mile. My eyes are not much good pass that. Not only do they shine that far ahead, but on a 4 lane road ahead, I can see far into the shoulder/trees where the deer like to jump out.

Man they put out the heat, cooks the bugs before they hit!



The only draw back is, they have a 50hr rated life.

 

[Matt400]

and a Piaa set of driving lamps to be installed in the fog light location.

What model lamp are you going to use there?