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07-27-2018, 09:06 PM
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#57
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,525
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followingsea, what point are you making?
Not sure if it's relevant, but I hated both of my motorhome headlights and upgraded both. the Bounder's works well now. Still working on improving the MountainAire's.
And I have not and will not be reporting them to any agency other than IRV2.com
And I worked for an OEM for 30 years. Not sure if that is relevant though.
__________________
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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07-27-2018, 11:03 PM
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#58
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Melbourne Beach, FL
Posts: 1,945
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JoeHogan, your link was excellent!
I started putting together a pros and cons between the Flip-Chip & COB (Chip on Board) LEDs but it's just too much info, so go here to get the gist of it:
https://www.vehicode.com/blog/what-a...he-market.html
But here's the deal, in tracking down exactly which bulb I have, I removed one from my headlight on my 1997 RexAir and guess what the date was..."Aug-09-96". 1996!!!!!!! That's the original BULB!
Life span of LEDs bulbs...30,000 hours. Hmm, how long is that actually? Well, if you used your lights 24 hours a day, that comes out to 3.42 YEARS. The halogen bulb I just took out of my rig...192,720 hours...or 22 YEARS!!!!!
Sure sure..but the LEDs are brighter, and that's what I really want. But have you read the reviews on Amazon of some these bulbs? "Stopped working in 3 months, 6 months, intermittent after 2 weeks"...problem after problem. Of course these were all "LASFIT" bulbs so perhaps the ones from VehiCode that DavL suggested might be a better bet as they seem, I don't know, more professional..??
I guess I would love to hear from folks who have changed to LEDs and have run them for more than two or three years to see how rugged they are as well as their longevity.
Dang..I was soooo ready just to order these but the more I read the more I feel like I'm putting something in that will quit working after a very short time, especially compared to the bulbs I have in there now. Is it just too early for the LED technology? Maybe it needs to mature a bit longer before we all switch over....just shaking my heads as I just don't know.
Once again, I'm going to lean on you guys for your expertise.
__________________
___________________
2005 Newmar Essex 4502
1997 Suzuki Sidekick JX, Spokane, WA (Hoping to replace this soon)
1997 RexAir 32' Ford F53 Chassis, Banks system.
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07-28-2018, 03:52 PM
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#59
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 1969
Posts: 2,656
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dav L
followingsea, what point are you making?
Not sure if it's relevant, but I hated both of my motorhome headlights and upgraded both. the Bounder's works well now. Still working on improving the MountainAire's.
And I have not and will not be reporting them to any agency other than IRV2.com
And I worked for an OEM for 30 years. Not sure if that is relevant though.
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My first point is headlight performance is something that is measured in how far you can see down the road not how well you blind other drivers.
I used drive US-24 between Ft. Wayne, IN and Defiance, OH at night a couple times a week because that where my girlfriend lived. At the same time, I worked at a gas station where my job included replacing headlights and adjusting them with a gadget. I have also adjusted head lights manually by measuring the light height on a wall.
High beams are angled higher so you can see farther down the road. The problems is oncoming traffic and traffic ahead of you is blinded by high so you should 'dim' your lights.
In '87 I moved from Michigan to California. A traffic jam was another car at the 4-way stop. Later I started commuting 140 miles to San Jose. Once I got to the interstate, I could no longer use my high beams because there was always traffic.
My second point is that I have never had a problem with head lights but if there is a safety defect you have an obligation to report. Since Dav L works in the industry, not doing so is criminal.
We love to customize. We love our toys. Just look at TJ pictures. It is only an upgrade if there improved performance.
__________________
Kit & Rita (in memory)
37 foot ‘98 HolidayRambler Endeavor diesel pusher
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07-28-2018, 07:44 PM
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#60
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,474
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I have no idea what the hell is being discussed in this thread anymore.
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2021 DSDP 4326 Freightliner
2023 Winnebago ERA 70A
2005 KSDP 3910 Spartan
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07-28-2018, 07:52 PM
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#61
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 604
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Quote:
Originally Posted by followingsea
My first point is headlight performance is something that is measured in how far you can see down the road not how well you blind other drivers.
I used drive US-24 between Ft. Wayne, IN and Defiance, OH at night a couple times a week because that where my girlfriend lived. At the same time, I worked at a gas station where my job included replacing headlights and adjusting them with a gadget. I have also adjusted head lights manually by measuring the light height on a wall.
High beams are angled higher so you can see farther down the road. The problems is oncoming traffic and traffic ahead of you is blinded by high so you should 'dim' your lights.
In '87 I moved from Michigan to California. A traffic jam was another car at the 4-way stop. Later I started commuting 140 miles to San Jose. Once I got to the interstate, I could no longer use my high beams because there was always traffic.
My second point is that I have never had a problem with head lights but if there is a safety defect you have an obligation to report. Since Dav L works in the industry, not doing so is criminal.
We love to customize. We love our toys. Just look at TJ pictures. It is only an upgrade if there improved performance.
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Ummmm.... I’m guessing bright headlights are a pet peeve of yours? I agree with the above post, can we get back to discussing upgrading of headlights? TJ did you find a suitable replacement?
__________________
2008 Newmar Dutchstar 4023, 425hp Cummins ISL
SOLD: 2005 Winnebago Journey 39K, 350HP C-7 Cat
Toad: Flat deck car trailer hauling a 1932 ford tudor sedan
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07-28-2018, 08:00 PM
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#62
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 193
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Check to make sure you have the correct voltage going to your headlight first. Voltmeter should read above 12 volts with motor running. I had the same problem on a 99 Freightliner chassis to only find out I was getting less than 7 volts to the bulbs. Not sure where the problem was due to the fact I let Freightliner fix it. Took 3 trips for different tech to correct it.
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07-29-2018, 07:47 AM
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#63
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Lake McClure, CA
Posts: 1,449
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You will find the same negative posts about headlight upgrades on other forums. (Same person).
__________________
2018 Dutch Star 4369 Spartan Chassis
2016 Jeep Cherokee, 1952 Willys CJ3A
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07-29-2018, 09:23 AM
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#64
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snap-On Man
Check to make sure you have the correct voltage going to your headlight first. Voltmeter should read above 12 volts with motor running. I had the same problem on a 99 Freightliner chassis to only find out I was getting less than 7 volts to the bulbs. Not sure where the problem was due to the fact I let Freightliner fix it. Took 3 trips for different tech to correct it.
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The retrofitsource has a nice relay pack that is cheap (I think it's $12 or so - less than you can buy individual relays) for this purpose. Goes to Ground, battery plus (a known good one) and the original factory headlight connections. The factory headlights just turn the relay on and the relay supplies the voltage from the good battery connection to the aftermarket headlight bulbs.
Has a fuse, has the special connectors to plug right into the factory wiring (different types are available), and has nice heat shrunk convulated tubing protection.
__________________
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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07-30-2018, 08:48 AM
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#65
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: none
Posts: 175
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Edit to LED experience
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeHogan
There is a tremendous amount of information, some good, on the Internet about headlights. I have found a basic primer that discusses the basics which may allow you to make a better decision when it comes to headlight changes.
https://www.vehicode.com/blog/the-co...ght-bulbs.html
All LEDS and HIDs are not created equal so you need to understand the information supplied with the products and what information might be missing.
I have found that a 6000 Kelvin producing 7300 lumen LED bulb set in standard DOT approved halogen lens makes reflective road signs almost unreadable until you are very close. Consequently I am searching for projector lens and 4800 K HID bulbs from an OEM supplier like Philips.
See video for an example
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Thinking about this thread and my post, I looked at the adjustment of the LED lights on my vehicle. Sure enough even though I just swapped the bulbs the aiming was a full three to four turns of the adjustment screw high. Now that the light is closer to being appropriately aimed the signs are readable at a distance that is legible and the roadway well lit. BTW these are Lasfit bulbs. So far they operate as expected. That said I try not to drive at night so not too many hours over the last several months. Typically in my experience electronic items fail quickly or last to normal expected life.
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07-30-2018, 10:00 AM
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#66
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 229
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Quote:
Originally Posted by followingsea
Drove I-5 just last fall going 65 in the MH at night. This old guy did not have a problem seeing with the MH headlights.
First time I-5 at night was before TJ was born. I was a young sailor coming from Long Beach to Mare Island. The headlight were installed with baling wire on my POS '64 Impala. The CHP made me take them in and have them tested. They were properly adjsuted.
TJ is right I should not have to lecture him. I suspect that TJ suffered from a lack of hearing BS from older adult males. My father was at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and my FIW lied about his age to join navy at 15.
BS!
On the score of being passed by trucks I prefer that they get by me quick. If I am driving a car I will not get trapped beside a truck. I hang back until the car in front of me past then I accelerate and get around.
Since TJ thinks his headlights are not safe but has not filed a complaint, my BS meter is pegged.
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You say you're done, but you just don't quit, do you? I'm not even going to bother responding to you or your BS meter. Have a good one, and keep on truckin'.
To the rest of the folks in the thread, thanks for the constructive input.
-TJ
__________________
2019 Newmar Mountain Aire 4018
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07-30-2018, 05:27 PM
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#67
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Hotsprings, Ar
Posts: 298
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Check and see if the headlight recall is on your coach. My 16 did and Newmar replaced a harness and relay while at the Gillett rally. Have not tried it out yet but before at night while raining could not see, thought about using my walking stick😁
__________________
2018 Jayco Eagle 322rlok
2016 F250 6.7
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07-31-2018, 02:57 PM
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#68
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Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tjZ06
There's no two ways about it, the headlights on my '17 Dutch Star aren't great. To make matters worse, it honestly seems like it is dimmer when I hit the high beams.
What have you done to upgrade your lighting? On my '11 Silverado I swapped the low beams to HIDs and put LED bulbs in the Foglights and it made a huge difference.
I'm just hesitant to change anything that could later be "blamed" for wiring or electrical issues on the coach (I have a 7 year warranty).
-TJ
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There is a recall for the Ventana's for this issue. New harness is being provided that supposedly corrects it. The issue is that when high beams are turned on, the low beams go off. both are supposed to be on.
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08-01-2018, 07:56 AM
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#69
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: none
Posts: 175
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Looking for a high quality LED bulb
For those that have verified that they do not have a mechanical/electrical issue with their headlamps and still want higher light output, there are bulbs that have been designed to replicate the halogen bulb light patterns and therefore are a good swap using a standard light bezel.
After viewing a number of side by side demonstrations, one of the better/best LED bulb manufacturers is GTR. Their 3 Gen bulbs appear to be designed specifically as a retrofit for your standard non projector headlamp fixture.
After looking into many options for the CanyonStar, this is the brand that I have chosen.
Is it more expensive than others, yes. Are they competitively priced with other high quality options, yes. Do you get what you pay for, generally, yes. Spend less and typically you end up with an inferior product.
https://gtrlighting.com/
I am not sponsored or compensated in any way by anyone or any entity. Also, I am not a mechanic nor do I play one on Youtube or Facebook.
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08-01-2018, 08:30 AM
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#70
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Metamora, MI
Posts: 5,525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deucenut
Ok now that made me laugh cause I’m both and still don’t know what they are from. Lol.
Here’s a pic of the front end. The lights aren’t really in a car housing.
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Maybe these would help
LED Headlights – Model 90
__________________
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire Limited 4370 w/ Spartan K2 and Cummins 500hp
ASE Master Certified (a long.....time ago...)
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