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CJ7ole · 05-07-2013, 05:20 PM

Two years ago I replaced the rectangular (4 light system) sealed beams with the upgrade GE halogen and am still not happy driving at night. Typically I don't drive the RV at night, but beelining FL to and from MI twice a year I do drive often to 10 or 11:00 at night. Sometimes on the freeway I am not sure my headlights are even on when compared with passing cars with the new style bulbs. Has anyone tried the replacements like Sylvania XtraVision sealed beams or the Hella with replaceable bulbs?

YC1 · 05-07-2013, 05:45 PM

This is a common issue. Measure the voltage across the bulb as close to the socket as possible. It seems the wiring is either not up to the task or connections are weak. Some have cut the wire and used them to run relays that have heavier wiring connected.

AdvntureCats · 05-07-2013, 07:32 PM

A separate wiring harness fed from the battery, switched by relays connected to the headlight switch can be an improvement in quad headlight systems. LMC Truck (Google them) offers kits for GM quad-headlight systems used on pickups; it can probably be adapted to other systems as well, although the connectors may need to be modified. There are probably similar systems out there.

The other issue can be poor grounds -- in a fiberglass coach body, finding a good nearby ground can be tricky. Try locating the grounds and clean them up. Sometimes the ground wire run is ridiculously long, when a better location is available right near the wiring harness. Changing the ground wire to heavier gauge is also a good idea.

Once in a while, you just run into a poorly designed headlight layout that performs poorly no matter how they're aimed, so that's always an (unfortunate) possibility.

Good luck!

sc3283 · 05-07-2013, 09:05 PM

CJ7, I did all the voltage checks on mine and both HL's were under 12v. I rewired with relays and then added the Hella type with replaceable bulbs...MAJOR difference over a sealed beam Halogen. I used the 100w bulbs.....FAR better than an old dealed beam, but not as good as the modern day "Euro" lights like on most all vehicles produced. 1 thing to remember when evaluating your headlights...in the RVs we sit MUCH higher than an auto or PU....thus creating us looking down on the light beam, not through it as we do in an auto or PU.