Headlights

Topic: Headlights (Read 1389 times) previous topic - next topic

Headlights

November 28, 2019, 11:18:42 pm

I just purchased a 1999 u270 . I'm wondering why some have round headlights while others have rectangular headlights

Re: Headlights

Reply #1 – November 29, 2019, 06:37:51 am

The round lights were done after. Coach was built. James Stallings at Xtreme figured out how to do it and it not only looks better you get better visibility at night as well.

Re: Headlights

Reply #2 – November 29, 2019, 08:46:29 am

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – November 28, 2019, 11:18:42 pm

I just purchased a 1999 u270 . I'm wondering why some have round headlights while others have rectangular headlights

Owner's update their coaches from time to time. The new headlight technology much better than the incandescent bulbs and reflector assembly originally used.

Re: Headlights

Reply #3 – November 29, 2019, 04:20:35 pm

The original headlights on my 1998 U270 are a total disaster. How FT got around a NTSB recall is a question I ask every time I have to use the headlights. And I refuse to upgrade a clear safety issue on my dime.

Re: Headlights

Reply #4 – November 29, 2019, 05:07:18 pm

It is a matter of individual safety. If replacing bulbs and newer ones would provide better vision, why not? If driving a car made before 1968 seat belt mandatory, and you are carrying your grandchild, why not? Manufacture met standards (Bluebird/Foretravel) at the time.

Re: Headlights

Reply #5 – November 29, 2019, 05:17:24 pm

Quote from: John/Pat – November 29, 2019, 04:20:35 pm

The original headlights on my 1998 U270 are a total disaster. How FT got around a NTSB recall is a question I ask every time I have to use the headlights. And I refuse to upgrade a clear safety issue on my dime.

All older motorhomes of all makes have substandard headlights by todays technology. Cars and trucks as well.

Re: Headlights

Reply #6 – November 29, 2019, 05:41:44 pm

A headlight mod can look nice and certainly improves night driving if you have to do it. We rarely drive at night but if we do we are really glad we did the mod. We drove through KC at night in the winter one year heading south. Got the headlights done the next year.

Lots on our FTs is much better than others of that era and even many from today. There is always room for improvement.

If you are going to spend money improving something change the fold down step to an extending electric step. You use this every day and as we get older a mis-step can be a disaster. This is a great upgrade to improve quality of life and safety in every day use. Some of the best money we spent.

Re: Headlights

Reply #7 – November 29, 2019, 06:19:37 pm

Is there a site you can go on to see all these new options that are available how do you know what's a available at the factory for remodelling like this new headlight style

Re: Headlights

Reply #8 – November 29, 2019, 06:47:04 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – November 29, 2019, 06:19:37 pm

Is there a site you can go on to see all these new options that are available

Ummm.... you're on it

Just read through the Renovations board.

Re: Headlights

Reply #9 – November 29, 2019, 07:36:25 pm

New to this site still trying to navigate around it thanks I'll learn

Re: Headlights

Reply #10 – November 29, 2019, 08:24:35 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – November 29, 2019, 07:36:25 pm

New to this site still trying to navigate around it thanks I'll learn

Welcome to the site and congratulations on your Foretravel. Most of us on here learned our coaches by reading this forum. Try different search terms and read away!

Re: Headlights

Reply #11 – November 29, 2019, 08:44:52 pm

Thank I think I'll in joy this forums all ready talk to people back and forth

Re: Headlights

Reply #12 – November 29, 2019, 08:59:58 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – November 29, 2019, 08:44:52 pm

Thank I think I'll in joy this forums all ready talk to people back and forth

If that is your coach in your avatar you have a head light upgrade already

Re: Headlights

Reply #13 – November 29, 2019, 09:50:32 pm

SORRY. I forgot that FT is perfect. Thats why so many of us have had to do bulkhead repairs. I am only trying to point out a deficient that I would have liked to know prior to buying my 1998 FT. I probably would have done the upgraded lights like so many owners have done if I would have known my headlights were terrible.
And the headlights are terrible. Try as you will there is no way to sugar coat the headlight that is unsafe and useless for night driving.

Re: Headlights

Reply #14 – November 29, 2019, 10:31:59 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – November 29, 2019, 06:19:37 pm

Is there a site you can go on to see all these new options that are available how do you know what's a available at the factory for remodelling like this new headlight style

You can see some modification here: Xtreme Paint & Graphics Home

And this is where I would do headlights and step conversion.

We will be at Extreme starting 9 December for some paint and fiberglass work.

Re: Headlights

Reply #15 – November 29, 2019, 10:40:58 pm

Driving my coach home I was driving in the dark and in low beam I could hardly see, so now I have led bulbs in, the same thing I
did with my Dynasty which had the same Bronco head lights. I haven't driven the coach at night but in the Dynasty they were amazing.

Re: Headlights

Reply #16 – November 30, 2019, 12:11:16 am

So if it just a matter for replacing the Bronco style bulbs with LED bulbs when they burn out, why would you not do it? It's still on your dime then. Correct?

Re: Headlights

Reply #17 – November 30, 2019, 12:30:47 am

Quote from: oldguy – November 29, 2019, 10:40:58 pm

Driving my coach home I was driving in the dark and in low beam I could hardly see, so now I have led bulbs in, the same thing I
did with my Dynasty which had the same Bronco head lights. I haven't driven the coach at night but in the Dynasty they were amazing.

The Monaco's were higher up. My '96 Sig was much better with HID bulbs, but the lights were much higher than my '99 320 was before the Xtreme conversion.

Re: Headlights

Reply #18 – November 30, 2019, 08:37:05 am

The old Foretravel headlights are just one of those things. You can upgrade for several Gs or just not drive at night. I choose the latter.
jor

Re: Headlights

Reply #19 – November 30, 2019, 08:41:15 am

Or... you can do as my PO did and put in after market LED headlights that rock and don't cost what the extreme headlight conversion costs.. to each his own I guess. But imo having a coach that I can't drive at night is not something I would want. Personally. I work nights, am comfortable driving at night. Its cooler, less traffic, better fuel economy, no sun glare.

Re: Headlights

Reply #20 – November 30, 2019, 09:43:44 am

Agree the headlights are bad, but they were using lights that millions of pickup trucks were using, try polishing the lenses and using
better bulbs or just don't drive at night, and let's face it our sight is not the same as in the 90's,to not try and make the lights better
makes no sense to me, they could have put them higher up but they didn't.

Re: Headlights

Reply #21 – November 30, 2019, 12:59:03 pm

J.W. Speaker is a company that has a tremendous listing of lights, lights with mounts. Summit is a seller of their listings. Give it a look for ideas. Also Finditparts.com has listings for headlight assemblies and bulbs. To give the DIY among us the ability to see options. You could also go to Rv, truck, auto yards and shop for units on different vehicles. Extreme has experience with Foretravel. Have what appears to be a quality track record. Many boat yards could do the work, body shops with Corvette experience also. It is fiberglass not rocket science.
Mark

For CB, I gave you wrong name yesterday it is J.W. Speaker

Re: Headlights

Reply #22 – November 30, 2019, 04:58:58 pm

LED bulbs were a HUGE improvement on our GV HUGE..
And I get flashed way more often in the 18 wrangler with LEDs than the coach ( once ) so apparently the coach headlight upgrade is not offensive to oncoming traffic.

Re: Headlights

Reply #23 – November 30, 2019, 05:15:57 pm

The least expensive way would to upgrade to Bob and Julie's lights and just leave the old ones alone, all you would have to do is cut 2 holes and buy the lights and wire them in.

Re: Headlights

Reply #24 – November 30, 2019, 07:41:25 pm

Unlike the older Unicoaches with Ford Bronco headlights, my 2003 came with Chevy Silverado headlights, mounted much higher. I found them to be decent enough but later changed the bulbs to HID, and WOW!!!. A lot of bang for the buck. I would never do anything more with them.

Before the HID, I tried LEDs, but found there was no room for the fan on the back of the LED bulb. FT put some steel behind the lights that interferes.

BTW, I like the idea of keeping the Bronco headlights, but disconnecting them, but adding the J.W. Speaker lights.

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