Community Forums

Grandpere · 07-11-2014, 07:56 AM

we have a 1987 Southwind with the old sealed beam headlights. Has anyone done a conversion from sealed beams to the newer halogen headlights? If so would you share what you used and how you did it?

Skip426 · 07-11-2014, 09:32 AM

If your coach has the glass lens , sealed beam, 5" x 7" rectangular, or 7" round, headlamps. There are halogen replacements available.
Napa/ Auto Zone just specify , halogen when you order at the counter.
I wish ,I had the option to convert back to the, glass sealed beams, they are definitely better than the constantly yellowing plastic , crap , that the design engineers , decided was the only option for aerodynamics in the mid 80's.

I guess the needed a way to charge $250 for a headlight lens , rather than $15 for a sealed beam.

Grandpere · 07-11-2014, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

If your coach has the glass lens , sealed beam, 5" x 7" rectangular, or 7" round, headlamps. There are halogen replacements available.
Napa/ Auto Zone just specify , halogen when you order at the counter.
I wish ,I had the option to convert back to the, glass sealed beams, they are definitely better than the constantly yellowing plastic , crap , that the design engineers , decided was the only option for aerodynamics in the mid 80's.

I guess the needed a way to charge $250 for a headlight lens , rather than $15 for a sealed beam.

Thank you for this info,I will check them out and get new headlights, the originals are so dim i can drive on high beam and no one even notices

gbstewart · 07-11-2014, 12:51 PM

Make sure your getting the right voltage to the headlights, and also make sure you have good clean grounds and connections, these will make head lights dim, also check your headlight alignment. You can also add some extra driving lights as well.
gbstewart

Skip426 · 07-11-2014, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbstewart

Make sure your getting the right voltage to the headlights, and also make sure you have good clean grounds and connections, these will make head lights dim, also check your headlight alignment. You can also add some extra driving lights as well.
gbstewart

Thanks , for adding this to the posts, I had not finished my coffee this morning and forgot to rec-commend these tests when I posted.
!/2 asleep , I guess.

Daveinet · 07-11-2014, 08:11 PM

Sylvania has 3 different grade headlights with special lenses to increase efficiency. I changed out the ones on my motorhome and it made a substantial difference.

Grandpere · 07-12-2014, 11:01 AM

Thank you all for your answers, I already did the check on voltage and alignment, but did not know about halogen sealed beam lights, I will be getting some in short order now.

Wallaby Dan · 07-13-2014, 04:49 PM

For those that have the newer "Plastic" lenses, there is a kit you can get at most of auto shops that removes the yellowing that the lenses build up. Used it on my truck and made it almost like new. It also works on the rear lights. Mine look like new!! I need to do this once a year. You can get those "Blue Lights" But you need to do some wiring for them to work. Thats the way i am going. I am also working on a way to mount the Driving lights on the front of the truck. Makes it a lot better to see the road at night where there is nothing but desert and a black ribbon to go on forever. Have fun, Dan

Daveinet · 07-14-2014, 05:53 AM

Polishing the lenses ends up being a waste of time. The reason is that the lenses have a UV coating. Once you polish it, you have taken the UV coating of, which means the lens will deteriorate much faster. Your bets bet is to go to headlight thread to figure out which headlight was used from what vehicle and replace them.