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Headlights

Brought our new to us 1999 U320 home yesterday. Everything worked great except the headlights. It has the headlight conversion with the small round headlights. Had to drive home in the rain. The light from the headlights is terrible. Does anyone know if there is a  brighter bulb replacement?

Re: Headlights

Reply #1 –
Quote from: JChafton –
Brought our new to us 1999 U320 home yesterday. Everything worked great except the headlights. It has the headlight conversion with the small round headlights. Had to drive home in the rain. The light from the headlights is terrible. Does anyone know if there is a  brighter bulb replacement?

IF your headlights are receiving enough power to function as designed, maybe they need to be adjusted to suit the law and maybe your driving style?  A voltmeter will tell you the former and a flat wall, level ground, and tape measure the latter.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Headlights

Reply #2 –
My concern would be "Did You have the correct switch on" Being a retrofit maybe the correct beams were not functioning... ::)  Maybe you only had the "Day Time " Running lights" on????
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Gerry & Brenda
CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FL
1994 Grand Villa - # 4466
U300 Unihome - 6V92 Detroit
4 speed Allison - Jake Brake

Re: Headlights

Reply #3 –
That's a Xtreme headlight conversion. Headlight switch should be the same. I would suggest what art said. Put the coach facing a wall and see where your headlights are aiming. When I was at xtreme in 2020 getting work done they asked me if I wanted to switch over to the headlight conversion from my JW speaker headlight setup. I said no thanks. I love my headlights on the coach now.
Although I try not to drive at night anymore I've had to several times and having good headlights was the difference.
After you check out whether the headlights are aimed properly I would give Xtreme a call. Ask  about upgrading the lighting. Or do you like most of us and try not to drive at night.
Congratulations on your new coach and let us know what you find. Also when you get a chance at a signature to your name with your coaches year build etc that way when you ask questions people will know what kind of Coach you have.
Bob
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Headlights

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Journey, Roam, Explore –

After you check out whether the headlights are aimed properly I would give Xtreme a call. Ask  about upgrading the lighting.
I have done exactly this and spoken with Rance directly. He'll tell you the same thing I responded to the OPs Facebook comment with: adjust them and upgrade to LED bulbs if that's not satisfactory.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Headlights

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Elliott –
I have done exactly this and spoken with Rance directly. He'll tell you the same thing I responded to the OPs Facebook comment with: adjust them and upgrade to LED bulbs if that's not satisfactory.

BUT, still start out with your digital voltmeter to confirm that with the engine running, there is 13.5+ VDC at the bulbs.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Headlights

Reply #6 –
Check the voltage first. I don't know anything about the little round bulbs but as Elliott said
maybe you can get LED bulbs for them. I have LED lights even out of adjustment they would
throw out lots of light. I drive a lot at night so I now have great lights.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Headlights

Reply #7 –
 I now have LED in everything .
      Some points of interest for the lights.  If there is no relay in the circuit, all of the voltage passes through the switch .  If you can reach the switch, jump the wires and see if the lights get brighter. Or simply power them with a long jumper lead directly to the light.  with the engine running and the switch on.  If the circuit is sound, no increase in light will be the result .
 The fix is to use the switch to trigger a relay that is close to the light. Reduce switch loss, reduce wire run loss. 
  Low light output is /was a very common complaint with Ford  trucks.  Same reason, may be the same switch  even.

Re: Headlights

Reply #8 –
For those of you that upgraded to LED's, is there a plug and play part number? Never had them out so don't know what the bulb's socket look like.
Dylan and Aimee
2001 U320 4013
Unit# 5896
450 HP/IFS
 

Re: Headlights

Reply #9 –
The socket on the Xtreme conversion is the standard plug. I believe it is H-4 but not sure. I bought led bulbs and just plugged them in. Also the high and low both take the same bulb.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Headlights

Reply #10 –
No one has mentioned the return path for the electricity aka "The Ground."

Anecdote:

Recently I decided to bite the bullet and re-arrange the headlights i the Studebaker in DOT fashion rather than where the "Restoration Shop" put them on my nickel.  I found very nice paint on the tab where the headlight bucket should ground such that the only contact was through the mounting screw.  14.4VDC going in, with little place to go.

So check where the return wire from those little round headlights is connected to the chassis.  That Extreme conversion should be the Cat's Pajamas for night time driving.

aka "It's always the ground."
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Headlights

Reply #13 –
They would work in mine. I have the same number just a different manufacturer.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Headlights

Reply #14 –
The bulbs in my link have the elements at the proper heights to mimic the standard H4 bulb
They seem to work well in the stock reflector housings. Decent cut off. Bright enough .
This is for the motorcycle BTW. 

Re: Headlights

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
The bulbs in my link have the elements at the proper heights to mimic the standard H4 bulb
They seem to work well in the stock reflector housings. Decent cut off. Bright enough .
This is for the motorcycle BTW. 
I'm only confirming because in other posts I see people referring to the H9 bulb socket working in the extreme conversion, which seems to be a different socket than the H4.
...though you could be throwing my scent cold because you're referring to your motorcycle not your coach??
Dylan and Aimee
2001 U320 4013
Unit# 5896
450 HP/IFS
 

Re: Headlights

Reply #16 –
I believe my conversion has the H-4, a simple call to Xtreme with your coach info would get you the answer for your coach. Maybe they did different bulbs on different coaches.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean
 

Re: Headlights

Reply #17 –
JChafton, can you post a better picture (or pictures) of your coach garage?

Thanks
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio