Driving lights
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Freshman User
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Driving lights
Hello all,
I have an '03 F250 and am toying with the idea of adding a couple of driving lights. I live in California, so legality is a concern - maybe more so than other states. KC Hilites makes not only driving lights, but also a no-drill light bar that looks pretty good. Note I could probably use anybody's driving lights with the bar from KC.
Basic question - if the lights are wired to come on only when the hi beams are on, do I stand to get hassled by highway patrol because the lights will be uncovered? What about wattage? Am I limited to 55W, or 100W, or is there any limit?
Now that I don't drive the truck every day, I find the general headlight setup on the '03 is a bit sad compared to the HID lights on my '07 passenger car. Hence the curiosity about upgrading. for on-road use.
Your thoughts/experience? Thanks!
Doug
I have an '03 F250 and am toying with the idea of adding a couple of driving lights. I live in California, so legality is a concern - maybe more so than other states. KC Hilites makes not only driving lights, but also a no-drill light bar that looks pretty good. Note I could probably use anybody's driving lights with the bar from KC.
Basic question - if the lights are wired to come on only when the hi beams are on, do I stand to get hassled by highway patrol because the lights will be uncovered? What about wattage? Am I limited to 55W, or 100W, or is there any limit?
Now that I don't drive the truck every day, I find the general headlight setup on the '03 is a bit sad compared to the HID lights on my '07 passenger car. Hence the curiosity about upgrading. for on-road use.
Your thoughts/experience? Thanks!
Doug
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
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Agree, thought my lights were fine until the xenons on the wife's Audi showed how pitiful they were 
and you are correct to be concerned in the communist state of Kalifornia
Even here in Texas, iirc, the laws state something to the effect of no high beans within a certain number of feet of another vehicle and in the dfw area, you are ALWAYS near other cars...
When I added my lights to the 03 ex I was told I could not add any more than I did... between the stock headlights and driving lights and the 2 PIAA 520's I was maxed out...I did put the piaa's on a separate switch so I could control when they came on...
and you are correct to be concerned in the communist state of Kalifornia
Even here in Texas, iirc, the laws state something to the effect of no high beans within a certain number of feet of another vehicle and in the dfw area, you are ALWAYS near other cars...
When I added my lights to the 03 ex I was told I could not add any more than I did... between the stock headlights and driving lights and the 2 PIAA 520's I was maxed out...I did put the piaa's on a separate switch so I could control when they came on...
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
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From: Stevens Point, WI
WI is pretty lenient with lights and laws. I have always had some sort of extra running lights on my trucks because I am always taking them on long trips with lots of night driving with all kinds of animals trying to commit suicide.
My last truck I had 2 fog lights (outer ones) that were always on with low beams. Then the inner ones were driving lights (pencil beams) that came on with the high beams. I could see for a mile down the road with the highs on! The fogs had 55w bulbs and the driving lights had 100w bulbs. My headlights also had aftermarket bulbs which had 100w highs. So on highbeam I had 400w of light and it was nice! I am working on the same deal with my 03 excursion now.
My last truck I had 2 fog lights (outer ones) that were always on with low beams. Then the inner ones were driving lights (pencil beams) that came on with the high beams. I could see for a mile down the road with the highs on! The fogs had 55w bulbs and the driving lights had 100w bulbs. My headlights also had aftermarket bulbs which had 100w highs. So on highbeam I had 400w of light and it was nice! I am working on the same deal with my 03 excursion now.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,391
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From: NorCal
In California you are limited to 2 fog lights (which can be used anytime your headlights are on) and 2 driving lights (which can be used only with your highbeams).
I have a Truck Off Road Light Bars: Ford Lightbars lightbar with 2 KC Daylighters on it that are wired through an upfitter switch and the highbeam circuit so that if I have the upfitter switch turned on, the lights automatically come on when I turn on my highbeams.
I have never been pulled over for my lights in this setup but in the past on another truck I had 4 driving lights on the front bumper and have been pulled over by the CHP for not having them covered.
If you put 4 driving lights on it then you would have to have 2 of them covered to be street legal.
I have a Truck Off Road Light Bars: Ford Lightbars lightbar with 2 KC Daylighters on it that are wired through an upfitter switch and the highbeam circuit so that if I have the upfitter switch turned on, the lights automatically come on when I turn on my highbeams.
I have never been pulled over for my lights in this setup but in the past on another truck I had 4 driving lights on the front bumper and have been pulled over by the CHP for not having them covered.
If you put 4 driving lights on it then you would have to have 2 of them covered to be street legal.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
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I was just reading a old thread on a person here who got a ticket somewhere in the south for having his DRL/ fog lights or whatever you want to call them on.
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Thanks, guys!
Sounds like I'll be OK as long as I aim them properly and wire them with the high beams. I don't often need the highbeams, but better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
Any comments on preferences between KC Daylighters versus Hellas versus any other contenders?
Doug
Sounds like I'll be OK as long as I aim them properly and wire them with the high beams. I don't often need the highbeams, but better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
Any comments on preferences between KC Daylighters versus Hellas versus any other contenders?
Doug
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