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Driving Lights, LED's, Fog Lights?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by tpolo, Dec 17, 2015.

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  1. Dec 17, 2015 #1
    tpolo

    tpolo Light Load Member

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    Hello,
    Can anyone tell me if there is a regulation against driving lights, led's on your tractor? I'm not finding any information (yet) stating that you "cannot" use driving lights of any sort on your tractor. The headlights I currently have are the filament type bulb which is quite dim compared to the LED and HID headlights that are available on the market. They are MUCH brighter. I was considering driving lights too which are a bit different than headlights in a way the projection of light illuminates the first 5 to 6 feet in front of the truck while the headlights are for distance. My concern would be this:
    1. To have the truck legal
    2. Not blind other drivers on the road
    Here is what I've read so far: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/393.11

    Thanks in advance for any input,
    Tim
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2015
    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    #1
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  3. Dec 17, 2015 #2
    tpolo

    tpolo Light Load Member

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    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    #2
  4. Dec 17, 2015 #3
    Hick

    Hick Heavy Load Member

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    In some states any modification to OEM headlights is illegal. And I think if you still go HID you can't just stick the bulb in the original housing, you have to do the entire kit.

    At any rate, those ###### headlights are just a PITA to everyone else.
     
    Hick, Dec 17, 2015
    Hick, Dec 17, 2015
    #3
    25(2)+2, Getsinyourblood and tpolo Thank this.
  5. Dec 17, 2015 #4
    tpolo

    tpolo Light Load Member

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    Jul 24, 2015
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    Hey Hick,

    Thanks for the reply.

    The HID does require a ballast but the bulb itself is installed into the headlight just as any other bulb, so I wonder if this still creates a legal problem?!

    I'm not sure what you mean the headlights are a PITA to everyone else! I could see if when installing them you don't take the time to aim or re-aim the headlights but is there something else your implying here?

    Thanks again,
    Tim
     
    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    #4
  7. Dec 17, 2015 #5
    breadtrk

    breadtrk Heavy Load Member

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    You need a HID fixture too. The optics are completely different between filament bulbs and HID's. They are not legally interchangeable, no matter what the advertising says.
     
    breadtrk, Dec 17, 2015
    breadtrk, Dec 17, 2015
    #5
  8. Dec 17, 2015 #6
    tpolo

    tpolo Light Load Member

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    Jul 24, 2015
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    Hey breadtrk,

    What do you mean "legally interchangeable"?

    Thanks
     
    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    tpolo, Dec 17, 2015
    #6
  9. Dec 17, 2015 #7
    breadtrk

    breadtrk Heavy Load Member

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    The actual light source is either further out our further in with the hid kits. The optics (the shiney part of the reflector) are computer designed and engineered for a very precise placement of the light source. You can not adjust the headlight to prevent blinding others.

    It is illegal period to modify any oem headlight. Look at what you have on the truck right now, molded or etched into the lens is the DOT approval. It is illegal to do anything other than replace the bulbs.
     
    breadtrk, Dec 17, 2015
    breadtrk, Dec 17, 2015
    #7
  10. Dec 17, 2015 #8
    breadtrk

    breadtrk Heavy Load Member

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    You can, however, refit LEDs or HID's entire fixture from a newer model of the same truck. I doubt any DOT officer would know the difference.
     
    breadtrk, Dec 17, 2015
    breadtrk, Dec 17, 2015
    #8
  11. Dec 18, 2015 #9
    truckthatpassesyouby

    truckthatpassesyouby Road Train Member

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    Is 100watts not enough?? Anything brighter is just blinding to everybody else. If you need more light, flip on the high beams.
     
    truckthatpassesyouby, Dec 18, 2015
    truckthatpassesyouby, Dec 18, 2015
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    Hick Thanks this.
  12. Dec 18, 2015 #10
    jammer910Z

    jammer910Z Road Train Member

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    I love the new trend of LED/HID fog lights that some drivers are putting on their trucks. (sarcasm )
    They're blindingly white bright and you barely see their headlights for the giant white orb emanating from their lower air dam.

    But hey.. as long as THEY can see , who cares.

    Not positively certain but I believe those are illegal as well. They just need enforcement.

    People nowadays are eaten up with that IDGAF attitude.
     
    jammer910Z, Dec 18, 2015
    jammer910Z, Dec 18, 2015
    #10
    1johnb, scottlav46, Hick and 2 others Thank this.
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