Bright light abusers
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Vero Beach, Florida
I'll second the beef regarding the motorcycles and the bright lights .... while we're on the subject of bikers, and I have nothing against them *but* during our heavy ag season I work 7 days a week, leaving the house at 4 .a.m. (2 hour drive) and typically am back on the road by 10 a.m. going back to the house. Saturday and Sundays is extremely heavy bike traffic here in south Florida, seems like the M-F, 9-5'ers like to get away from the rustle and the bustle of the city, grab a bandanna and gang up to hit the back roads and cruise all lined up 5 or so miles per hour *below* speed limit ... needless to say I have been agitated more than once. But I try to do my part in sharing the road with these center line hugging folks and try to keep my patience.
Back to the bright light issue...
What about that chucklehead who has a low beam burnt out on one side and now believes everything is fine to run the high beams instead of replacing the light. I've also noticed around here quite a number of the rock hauling trucks run with their brights on all of the time and will not dim them after a flash or two. "Bigger than you" mentality I guess.
Back to the bright light issue...
What about that chucklehead who has a low beam burnt out on one side and now believes everything is fine to run the high beams instead of replacing the light. I've also noticed around here quite a number of the rock hauling trucks run with their brights on all of the time and will not dim them after a flash or two. "Bigger than you" mentality I guess.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
If I meet someone with their brights on, I usually ignore it.
When I meet someone and they blink their high beams, I assume they are trying to tell me there is a cop ahead.
If I meet someone and they turn there high beams on, I turn mine on. I might turn mine off if they decide they made a mistake
When I was younger, and the area was much less poplulated, if someone high-beamed me, I'd just turn my lights off since I figured there was nothing that would please them
When I meet someone and they blink their high beams, I assume they are trying to tell me there is a cop ahead.
If I meet someone and they turn there high beams on, I turn mine on. I might turn mine off if they decide they made a mistake
When I was younger, and the area was much less poplulated, if someone high-beamed me, I'd just turn my lights off since I figured there was nothing that would please them
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 1
From: Mercer County, OH
Originally Posted by Texas Outlaw
I have dummies that flip their lights at me all the time thinking that my highs are on. They don't realize I guess that with a 4" lift I am up high and they are down low. I installed a Brite Box just for them so when I flip mine to show them I am in low they get the message, brite and clear.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: SW ND
Bruker, and Mil1ion,
Tell us why a lift needs headlights to be re-aimed?
I don't know the stock headlight height of a F250, but if it's above 39.5" according to http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html there is no adjustment needed.
Is this website the correct way to adjsut headlights? I don't know, but of the 5 i've read so far, a lift does not requre headlights to be re-aimed, if their aimed properly, and the pitch of the vehicle does not change. The above site is the only one that I've seen that gives for X height lights need to be X inches below headlight height. So a lift does not constitute headlights to be reaimed, unless they are already out of aim.
Things that require changing headlight aim should be more than just lifting.
Like, T-Bar crank, tire size change, Lowering, putting projectors on, Spring sag, adding aftermarket accessories that change weight of stock vehicle, basically anything that will change the height, of the headlights, and pitch of the vehicle, can require headlights to be reaimed.
Bruker, mil1ion I put you up front since you decided to hell someone their lights are out of adjustment without telling them how to adjust them properly.
Tell us why a lift needs headlights to be re-aimed?
I don't know the stock headlight height of a F250, but if it's above 39.5" according to http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html there is no adjustment needed.
Is this website the correct way to adjsut headlights? I don't know, but of the 5 i've read so far, a lift does not requre headlights to be re-aimed, if their aimed properly, and the pitch of the vehicle does not change. The above site is the only one that I've seen that gives for X height lights need to be X inches below headlight height. So a lift does not constitute headlights to be reaimed, unless they are already out of aim.
Things that require changing headlight aim should be more than just lifting.
Like, T-Bar crank, tire size change, Lowering, putting projectors on, Spring sag, adding aftermarket accessories that change weight of stock vehicle, basically anything that will change the height, of the headlights, and pitch of the vehicle, can require headlights to be reaimed.
Bruker, mil1ion I put you up front since you decided to hell someone their lights are out of adjustment without telling them how to adjust them properly.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster County PA
Originally Posted by Texas Outlaw
I have dummies that flip their lights at me all the time thinking that my highs are on. They don't realize I guess that with a 4" lift I am up high and they are down low.
Law or no law, if a vehicle's headlights at low beam are aimed into the windshield of oncoming traffic, then I contend that is is the offending vehicle owners responsibility to correct it so as not to constantly impair oncoming drivers.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 4
Ya mean, if a lot of people are flashing their HBs at him, that perhaps the driver should take a hint and have the alignment checked? 
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New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
The answer is in Math class.
Vehicles have "ride height" that changes depending on How High Off the ground they ride.
For your example.
Before you Lifted the ride height you came up behind a car and stopped say 20 ft back. The brightest intensity of your headlight beam say focused on the lower edge of the rear window.
After you lifted the said truck 4" and stopped that 20 ft back again the brightest intensity of that headlight is now in the Middle of thew rear window shining brightly into the rear view mirror of that car.
What every height the truck goes up....the headlight needs to be adjusted down to their proper focal point to avoid blinding people.
There are adjustment screws in many vehicles for:
Up-Down
Left-Right
Vehicles have "ride height" that changes depending on How High Off the ground they ride.
For your example.
Before you Lifted the ride height you came up behind a car and stopped say 20 ft back. The brightest intensity of your headlight beam say focused on the lower edge of the rear window.
After you lifted the said truck 4" and stopped that 20 ft back again the brightest intensity of that headlight is now in the Middle of thew rear window shining brightly into the rear view mirror of that car.
What every height the truck goes up....the headlight needs to be adjusted down to their proper focal point to avoid blinding people.
There are adjustment screws in many vehicles for:
Up-Down
Left-Right
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: wichita kansas
Found this site for adjusting headlights that might help:
http://www.icarumba.com/cobrands/con...ia_lights1.asp
http://www.icarumba.com/cobrands/con...ia_lights1.asp
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: SW ND
Here's the ruling, but I'm having a hard time sorting it out to fully understand it.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...ction=571.108#
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...ction=571.108#
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 0
From: central TX
Different headlight types need different aiming procedures. For many newer lights the only way to get a true aim is with the right equipment. A wall might get you close, but it most likely won't be exact.
It seems like most lift kits "level" the truck out as well. If you have multiple cars flashing you, even if you're convinced you're OK/correct, something needs to change.
It seems like most lift kits "level" the truck out as well. If you have multiple cars flashing you, even if you're convinced you're OK/correct, something needs to change.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Canada
What bugs me is the people that run fog lights... when there's no fog. Now, leading an alternative lifestyle, is none of my business and if that's the lifestyle these people lead then all the power to them... I'm not saying that _everyone_ that uses fog lights is gay, just the ones that run them when there's no fog.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Texas Outlaw
I have dummies that flip their lights at me all the time thinking that my highs are on. They don't realize I guess that with a 4" lift I am up high and they are down low. I installed a Brite Box just for them so when I flip mine to show them I am in low they get the message, brite and clear.