Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[Grumpycat]

If fog lights are installed properly they should not blind anyone.

I totally disagree.

A 2007 Toyota Prius comes with token "fog" lights which are little more than white parking lights.

Every 3/4 ton truck I have seen comes with blinding "auxiliary" lights in what most drivers call the "fog light" mode.

DOT/NHTSA/CFR definition of "high beam headlights" is more than 2 filaments illuminated. Fox/Auxiliary lights are legally high beams whether or not the blue indicator is illuminated on the dash.

 

[Grumpycat]

“If you can’t beat them, join them.” The first car I ever drove with HID’s was about 20 years ago, and I was instantly hooked. Our old Volvo in particular (2005?) actually yielded better visibility for spotting deer at night, than daylight, I almost felt bad for oncoming vehicles.

I have ordered HID’s or Xenon lights on every car we have purchased since 2005. I wouldn’t even consider any other option.

2000 Toyota Avalon with halogen headlights was better than 2007 Prius with HID.

2013 Tesla Model S with HID was very good.

2018 F-150 XLT halogen are quite satisfactory.

2023 Tesla Model Y LED is quite nice.

 

[Grumpycat]

Euro spec cars have adjustable headlights that work quite well.

Must be a regulation preventing USA vehicles from having this feature.

Used to be a requirement in the USA for HID to be self-adjusting for height. Might still be. Seems to have been dropped for LED.

 

[WinterDeere]

I blame it on modern digital dashboards. The dash is lit so the driver thinks the headlights are on.

I can't think of a car I've owned, where the digital dash doesn't dim when the headlights go on. In fact, with your pupils open wide at night, most these dashes go so blindingly bright when the headlights are switched off, that I can't imagine not realizing you're running dark.

Euro spec cars have adjustable headlights that work quite well.

Must be a regulation preventing USA vehicles from having this feature.

I remember learning about this my first time driving in Germany, and thought it was hilarious their cars were so small and light that a few passengers or suitcases changed the car's attitude so much as to require headlight readjustment. So, half the answer might be that they have a history of driving tiny 50 hp cars the size of our golf carts, whereas we are still descending from our land yachts of the 1970's.

But moreover, Germans are rule followers. Of course I asked why I can't just always turn them up, and their response was "it is forbidden". I wonder how the Italians handle them, their roads and driving style are more dangerous that our post-Civil War wild west.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Euro spec cars have adjustable headlights that work quite well.

Must be a regulation preventing USA vehicles from having this feature.

They're all adjustable, I'm guessing that you mean self adjusting?

If I remember correctly, my '23 Durango had automatically adjusted headlights.

 

[Oaktree]

Euro spec cars have adjustable headlights that work quite well.

Must be a regulation preventing USA vehicles from having this feature.

As others have noted, most if not all U.S. vehicles have adjustable headlights. They seem to have done away with horizontal adjustments, but they still have vertical. I suppose a corner could have been cut in the manufacture of Jstpssng's truck, but I'd venture a guess that the adjuster is just not obvious.

I can't think of a car I've owned, where the digital dash doesn't dim when the headlights go on. In fact, with your pupils open wide at night, most these dashes go so blindingly bright when the headlights are switched off, that I can't imagine not realizing you're running dark.

No kidding. I've got 'em set as low as they'll go in my truck, and it's still brighter than I'd like.

I have ordered HID’s or Xenon lights on every car we have purchased since 2005. I wouldn’t even consider any other option.

I suppose if you're buying new, but not always possible when buying used.
Does anyone make a retrofit HID that isn't junk? I read somewhere they use a voltage higher than 12V.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I suppose if you're buying new, but not always possible when buying used.
Does anyone make a retrofit HID that isn't junk? I read somewhere they use a voltage higher than 12V.

You can have projector HID retrofits done by a few companies, or do it yourself.
About the only tricky part is taking the housing apart and sealing it back up.

Just be aware that there are very good HID projectors out there, as well as ones you really shouldn't use.

 

[Jstpssng]

Funny, I made a similar comment last year after doing a search which said there was no way to adjust them.

After making my comment above I did the same search, with the exact opposite results.
If we ever get snow, I will have to find out which search was right.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

After making my comment above I did the same search, with the exact opposite results.
If we ever get snow, I will have to find out which search was right.

I use reflective signs and such along the road for initial adjustments. No need for snow.

 

[Jstpssng]

I use reflective signs and such along the road for initial adjustments. No need for snow.

If we don't get snow I won't be hauling my sled, so no need to adjust them.