I can't see!

[Sunova121]

Good morning,


I'm am new to the forum and was wondering if you can share your experiences.

Twice a year, my wife and I with 4 dogs cross the country in our 2013 Sunova 35G. My problem is that when dusk comes around, and for the next few hours, its very hard to see the highway. After dusk is over, the headlights are adequate. I have upgraded the bulbs from the original H4 halogen to LED and its a little better but still not great. I know that I'm up above the light and not behind the light like in a car but in the Midwest when they replace the pavement, many times the pavement is black without highway lines which makes it really hard to see.
Inside my headlight housing, where the light bulb is inserted, its like a soccer ball. Should I replace the headlight assemble?

Has anyone tried a bar light that is DOT approved? Should I take the rig to a body shop and have them create fog light inserts for additional light? Any thoughts for better dusk driving viability is very much appreciated!


Bruce

[Persistent]

You did not post your age. Age matters. At age 45 you may notice deteriorating eye sight. Almost everyone has it, but does not notice until later.

By the time you reach 60 or so you may not notice loss of brightness and contrast. This sounds like your condition, but not exactly.

Try the yellow tinted glasses sometimes sold as "shooting glasses". They block blue light that causes low contrast. "Fit Overs" are available. I have a pair. The difference is amazing even in mid day.
https://www.amazon.com/yellow-fit-ov...t+over+glasses

I wear progressive lenses and have plastic lenses implanted (cataracts removed) in my eyes. The blue blockers still help a lot.

Better to see an eye doctor for a more precise diagnosis. Fit overs are cheap. Profit minded eye doctors may try for more profitable solutions.

[HighDesert]

Over the past few years, my ability to see good at night has diminished, with age. I am at the point now, that I plan on not driving at night, if possible, while traveling. I can see, but not of the quality I had 10 - 20 years ago. I talked with my optometrist about night vision degradation and the starburst / flaring I see on yellow / reflective road signs at night and the response was, "yep - welcome to old age as this is pretty normal".

[Flyer15015]

Persistant is right.
I had Lassic at 65 and Cataracs at 75 (plastic lenses), so now at 83, I wear yellow lenses religiously from dusk to dark. I DO drive a lot at night, so they really help with the typical "starburst effect" you get with the lenses.

Mike in Colorado

[groveln]

Originally Posted by Sunova121

Good morning,


I'm am new to the forum and was wondering if you can share your experiences.

Twice a year, my wife and I with 4 dogs cross the country in our 2013 Sunova 35G. My problem is that when dusk comes around, and for the next few hours, its very hard to see the highway. After dusk is over, the headlights are adequate. I have upgraded the bulbs from the original H4 halogen to LED and its a little better but still not great. I know that I'm up above the light and not behind the light like in a car but in the Midwest when they replace the pavement, many times the pavement is black without highway lines which makes it really hard to see.
Inside my headlight housing, where the light bulb is inserted, its like a soccer ball. Should I replace the headlight assemble?

Has anyone tried a bar light that is DOT approved? Should I take the rig to a body shop and have them create fog light inserts for additional light? Any thoughts for better dusk driving viability is very much appreciated!


Bruce

I've got Great Night vision & I got tired of driving blind at night with the OEM HELLA Halogen projectors & even with an expensive LED replacement filaments & went to Harbor Freight & mounted this in between & at headlights level & problem solved! I put an Aux. switch on the dash if I get flashed which rarely happens. ROADSHOCK 22 in. Spot/Flood Combo LED Light Bar..it has 40 LEDS & LOTS of LIGHT!!!

[Campfamily]

I'm 63, about to turn 64. I've noticed a significant decrease in my night vision. But, like the OP, the impact when driving the coach during dusk is far greater than driving other vehicles, or doing other tasks in the dusk. I chalk it up to the coach headlights being much higher than a passenger car, plus I'm even higher than that, so items that normally reflect back into my eyes are instead reflected much lower, and so I don't see them. My solution has been simple....unless absolutely necessary, I don't drive my coach after about 4 PM. And, that fits right in with another hobby I try not to start until after 4 PM, and that I'm not allowed to do (and won't do) while or before I'm driving.

OP, you mentioned mounting a light bar or fog lights. I'm not sure if that would do anything, since the reflections off of the pavement markings will still be too low for you to see them sitting up high in the coach. I think all they will do is piss people off coming the other way or that you are following, by putting more glare onto them.

Keith

[George Schweikle]

Bruce doesn't mention the occasionally blinding headlights; but being able to view the pavement during dusk period. I agree this can be challenging and don't really have a solution.

That said, I have trouble with the oncoming very bright headlights and am happy to read that some of you feel the yellow lenses help, in spite of other web search "experts" claiming otherwise.

Originally Posted by Sunova121

Good morning,

I'm am new to the forum and was wondering if you can share your experiences.

..... My problem is that when dusk comes around, and for the next few hours, its very hard to see the highway. After dusk is over, the headlights are adequate. I have upgraded the bulbs from the original H4 halogen to LED and its a little better but still not great. I know that I'm up above the light and not behind the light like in a car but in the Midwest when they replace the pavement, many times the pavement is black without highway lines which makes it really hard to see.
Inside my headlight housing, where the light bulb is inserted, its like a soccer ball. Should I replace the headlight assemble?

Has anyone tried a bar light that is DOT approved? Should I take the rig to a body shop and have them create fog light inserts for additional light? Any thoughts for better dusk driving viability is very much appreciated!

Bruce

[Sunova121]

Thanks all,


I'm in my mid 50's and don't have issues driving at night, no halos, starbursts, etc. There just doesn't seem to be enough light coming out of my headlights to adequately light up the highway.

Thanks groveln. I will log onto Harbor Freight and check out what you purchased.

[Flyer15015]

Originally Posted by Sunova121

Thanks all,


I'm in my mid 50's and don't have issues driving at night, no halos, starbursts, etc. There just doesn't seem to be enough light coming out of my headlights to adequately light up the highway.

Thanks groveln. I will log onto Harbor Freight and check out what you purchased.

FYI, I put Sylvania SilverStar halogen bulbs in my OEM headlights and I'm a happy camper. I really cannot stand the new white fisheye headlights the new cars have, so I do like the OTR truckers are taught. Don't look at oncoming lights, look at the white line on the right side of your lane

Mike in Colorado

[groveln]

Originally Posted by Sunova121

Thanks all,


I'm in my mid 50's and don't have issues driving at night, no halos, starbursts, etc. There just doesn't seem to be enough light coming out of my headlights to adequately light up the highway.

Thanks groveln. I will log onto Harbor Freight and check out what you purchased.

You won't regret it when (if) you go with it & you'll probably say what I did..Why in the world did I wait so long to do this!!! I'd post a photo but my coach has got it's full winter cover on it here in Northern Illinois.

[Psneeld]

Originally Posted by groveln

I've got Great Night vision & I got tired of driving blind at night with the OEM HELLA Halogen projectors & even with an expensive LED replacement filaments & went to Harbor Freight & mounted this in between & at headlights level & problem solved! I put an Aux. switch on the dash if I get flashed which rarely happens. ROADSHOCK 22 in. Spot/Flood Combo LED Light Bar..it has 40 LEDS & LOTS of LIGHT!!!

Not sure exactly how you use these lights....but these are the first 2 things listed in the owner's manual under safety precautions....

"1. For off-road use only.
2. Install on vehicles that will not
be used on public roads only."

https://www.kchilites.com/campfire/p...s-street-legal

"Is it Legal to Drive with a Light Bar or Ditch Lights on?
In general, it's illegal to have off-road-only lights turned on while on the roadway, and those who do anyway often end up annoying other drivers, leading to even more restrictive laws on what you can add to your rig. The real answer is that because each state has different rules, it's up to you to know your state's regulations regarding auxiliary lights. Our list below can give you a head start."

[George Schweikle]

I acknowledge that some people have used non-DOT lights to improve their night time driving, but have to agree with this post that they are not really legal.

However, an old saying comes to mind: there are always two sides to any issue

Originally Posted by Psneeld

Not sure exactly how you use these lights....but these are the first 2 things listed in the owner's manual under safety precautions....

"1. For off-road use only.
2. Install on vehicles that will not
be used on public roads only."

https://www.kchilites.com/campfire/p...s-street-legal

"Is it Legal to Drive with a Light Bar or Ditch Lights on?
In general, it's illegal to have off-road-only lights turned on while on the roadway, and those who do anyway often end up annoying other drivers, leading to even more restrictive laws on what you can add to your rig. The real answer is that because each state has different rules, it's up to you to know your state's regulations regarding auxiliary lights. Our list below can give you a head start."

[groveln]

Originally Posted by Psneeld

Not sure exactly how you use these lights....but these are the first 2 things listed in the owner's manual under safety precautions....

"1. For off-road use only.
2. Install on vehicles that will not
be used on public roads only."

https://www.kchilites.com/campfire/p...s-street-legal

"Is it Legal to Drive with a Light Bar or Ditch Lights on?
In general, it's illegal to have off-road-only lights turned on while on the roadway, and those who do anyway often end up annoying other drivers, leading to even more restrictive laws on what you can add to your rig. The real answer is that because each state has different rules, it's up to you to know your state's regulations regarding auxiliary lights. Our list below can give you a head start."

I've probably driven 25K miles & a lot at night as I'll sometime drive 12 to 15 hrs. since installing that light bar & as I stated earlier rarely have had oncoming another driver flash me to dim them...I do dim them when approaching vehicles in front of me & have never been stopped any police. They're aimed down enough to not cause issues & only used on the Hwys.

[SandiaMan]

Our headlights are dimmer than I would like and have been thinking about solutions to remedy this issue. As we are in our 60's we have been noticing driving at dusk is more difficult than in the past, not just with our motorcoach but all are other vehicles as well.

Once it gets fully dark it is not really a problem, for us it just occurs at dusk where it is not dark enough. We both have annual eye exams and brought this issue up and since there is no issues that is directly causing this dilemma Dr. stated it is primarily age related.

As with any of our vehicles we avoid driving at dusk if we can help it, daytime and night driving pose no issues, only the few minutes at dusk. Has no effect on our RVing adventures as it is rare that we are not already parked enjoying dinner and cocktails well before dusk.

I have also thought about LED light bars, fog lights, and upgrading headlights. Again as we don't drive our class A much at dusk anyway it is lower on the mod list, I will follow this OP to see if there are some viable options that won't disturb other drivers on the road.