Light Em Up

JackE · 09-21-2020, 04:51 PM

I am changing all my exterior lighting to LED. I have all my marker, brake/blinker, tail lights waiting to install. I'm not finding anything I really like for the front marker/turn signal lights. I really like the small rectangle markers that sit next to my headlights, but they are just a marker and set into a rubber boot, there is no reflector backing to help brighten them up, so I can't just put a dual element socket in there. Anybody have any suggestions that they have used? I really do not like the giant square arrow blinker that is on the front. I also don't think the 6" oval lights look right next to the single rectangle headlights I have.

JackE · 09-21-2020, 05:15 PM

As is so typical, 10 minutes after I ask the question I find exactly what I am looking for. I have spent several hours searching Amazon, Ebay, Google, all to no avail, until I ask for help.

I might as well try to get something useful out of this thread.

Are there any preferences for a LED headlight to replace the stock 5"x7" single hi/low sealed beam? I really like being able to see in the dark!

Truthseeker4449 · 09-21-2020, 09:13 PM

This video is a bit dated now by 5 years, but this man does a couple of good comparisons of beam patterns. For one of my buses with 7" round headlights, I ended up going with a model by Trucklite for a mix of affordability and good high beam output.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ifsEY7KbBg

Native · 09-22-2020, 12:15 AM

When I have the bucks available, I'd like to get a few of those Trucklite headbeams.

JackE · 09-22-2020, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the link. I like the Truck Lite. I'll have to wait until I'm a bit closer putting the bus on the road to get them. Interesting that the guy doing the review has obvious dislike for the Chi-Comm knock off lights, but when I dug deep enough on the Truck Lite to see where they are made, it says - Country of Origin=China. That's ok, I'll get them anyway.

skoontz · 09-22-2020, 07:28 AM

I just put these on my bus, and really like them:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They light up the road well and seem to have a good focus (maybe better than the stock headlights on my other cars). On my night drive, no one flashed their high beams at me. Amazon has them at $82 currently.

skoontz · 09-22-2020, 08:56 AM

I should add though that my bus had daytime running lights that ran the headlights at low voltage. The LED headlights would rapidly flicker for the DRL. In my bus, I was able to disable the DRLs by simply unplugging the DRL module, located between the steering column and firewall.

kazetsukai · 09-22-2020, 10:32 AM

I did a full LED conversion in my build, may want to check it out.
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/k...tml#post330205

Had to change the flasher relay:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GIU9M0Y

Headlights are similar to another poster's link. I also replaced the dash lights with LEDs and it looks much sharper/brighter/better for it, definitely recommend it. Also, for the headlights you might want to add an inline CAN bus filter (mine turn on when the rig is running without actually flipping the switch, I believe because I don't have a filter and they draw much less power).

JackE · 09-22-2020, 12:30 PM

I was planning on using the LED neon rope lights down the sides with the flashers, but my order for the other marker lights got lost in the mail so they resent it. A week later the original order showed up. Now I have 30 amber lights to use instead of 15, so I'm just going to keep the extras and set up 5 or so down the side for flashers.

I'll keep the filter in mind when I get around to adding the LED headlights.

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