Lights

[JoshXCski]

I know it is different in every state but does anyone know what is legal to drive on roads with for lights. I want to put 2, 55 watt driving lights on the front of my rig, for use all the time. Are 100 watt lights too strong for regular driving or are either fine?? thanks for the input

[WildYoats]

Utah states you can have no more that four white lights on at the same time at night on streets. 100 W lights here are considered off road lights and not street legal. Im sure 100 watts anywhere will just instigate some road rage amongst other drivers.

[CoreyPerez]

Johnny,

I'm curious, does a vehicle have to have OEM lights or OEM style of lights? What about using a lower wattage light. I'm going to need some, and need to know what to do. I know that Michigan Plate is only going to get me so far ;)

Corey

[WildYoats]

I'll have to get into the code book to be 100% certain on this, but I almost cure that it needs to be a headlight style light. Mounting a pencil beam 55w KC light probably would not suffice. Maybe if you got into the HELLA 500 series you may be able to get away with it. Definately not the 11" round Hella's im sportin! :D

[rcrvndl]

I swapped out my stock lense/bulb combo for a set of hellas which fit perfectly. Then I'm able to change the bulb itself to what ever wattage I want. Currently I'm running 85/100's and as long as I keep them adjusted properly I don't get hassled by anyone. With the new technology out there for headlights halogen is fairly dim looking to oncoming traffic compared to the new gas stuff. I'm still trying to locate 85/130's. I saw them once but didn't pick them up. I was running a street truck at the time and didn't need them. For highway use the 85/100 have been working great. The only thing I've been thinking about is adding something for a little more peripheral lighting but that hasn't been that big of a concern yet. Just keep them adjusted and you shouldn't be hassled too much. California likes to see no more than 55 watts for driving. Hope that's of some help.

[robrocketanski]

that is what i did in my celica. 55/100 from jcwhitney. they have 130 watt i am pretty sure.
corey i drove around slc for an entire year w/ my michigan plate b/c my wife didnt change her address which i think is legal for her to live in michigan and stay w/ me all the time right? but i still got at least one mudflap ticket and one for not having a rear bumper on. i still dont think it is ok to give an out of state vehicle a mudflap ticket but oh well.

[CoreyPerez]

Well thats good news about the lights. I don't know exactly how much I'll be driving it during the night, but it would suck to break down, and try to get it home, just to get pulled over because of some light issue. I'll try to keep the cops away from the truck, after all, if they started with the lights, I'm sure they would have something to say about the huge holes in the floorboard/fire wall area.

As far as mudflaps, I'm thinking about running them just to keep the coppies off my arse. I don't know all the limitations about out of state plates, but being military, I don't have to worry about it. I may be pushing it though if I'm driving the Toyota: Truck-Michigan Plates, Me- North Carolina Drivers license, Insurance - Utah... But all the paperwork will be in order.

Later,

Corey

[robrocketanski]

the insurance, i think is where you may be pushing the limit (i did the same) but if you have mich. plates and ut insurance doesnt that say you live in ut, i mean mich wouldnt let you register it w/ insurance from ut.

[robrocketanski]

poor thread starter, we have not offered you one bit of advice have we?:D i think the key to not getting in trouble (and i have done this alot) is to look inconspicuos. flashlights would work if they looked normal enough. the game is if your truck looks way far from legal then you better be ready for a ticket for everything and i dont think any light but dot headlights are legal. you can add whatever you want but if your rig is crazy they will probably right one for not having the proper equipment. (listen to me limp all those po-po's into one group, its like stereotyping)

[sd1]

Yup I agree on this one...in any state driving with anything other than your headlights and integrated driving lamps is a no-no. Like they said above if you pick up a set of Hella's that are approx the same size as the stock headlight and mount it close enough to them so it looks somewhat integrated you can probably get away with it....otherwise be prepared to switch them off and on a lot :cool:

[JoshXCski]

Well I guess i was not clear on what i posted... i was wondering about driving lights... I am planning on getting the conversion light kit and then i wanted to put some hella 55w driving lights mounted on the bumper. So i just wanted to know if 55 was to bright for a fog/driving light or if I could go higher. Thanks for the input

[sd1]

55 sounds like plenty to me personally........

[CoreyPerez]

Rob,

Michigan doesn't track insurance like... Say North Carolina. North Carolina has it set up that if you drop insurance, the insurance company is required by law to send a notice to the DMV they in turn will contact you with a nice nasty gram that states: Get insurance, or give us our plate. We will come and collect it if you don't return it.

As far as Michigan, I had Utah insurance on the ??truck?? when I got it, and the Secretary of state didn't care. The insurance company did question why I only had insurance on the vehicle for a week thou- . I explained that i just needed the insurance to transport the vehicle, and they were happy with that. Currently the plate is sitting on my wall, and the truck is being pieced together in the drive way. Rest assured that when it is moved under its own power, it will be fully insured.

As far as head lights, if rock crawlers start getting flack for being on the streets and the cops give us crap about it being a "non-production" vehicle, or "this and that is not DOT approved" than tell me how the hell a person can get a dune buggy street legal. I've never seen one of those at the Toyota, honda, mitsubish, gm, ford, dodge... dealerships. So, if they want to give you crap about it, I'd stop just short of telling them to piss off. My vehicle won't be unsafe, or dangerous to other drivers on the street, so I don't really care all that much. When it comes down to it, I'll research the local laws and prepare what I have to, and if it comes down to harassment that is what a lawsuit is for. Like I said, I'll have to research the laws to see exactly how much footing I have, and ground to stand on.

Corey

[WildYoats]

Gee whiz Corey.... Getting a little sensitive about the Ol' POlice????:D I would be more than happy to furnish you with the LONG list of everything YOU need to make your vehicle street legal. And if you dont want it, look in your rear view mirror buddy!!!
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/314655/i/my_car.gif

[robrocketanski]

unfortunatley the officer is right, oh wait thats it the officer IS always right.
i guess you are right, it doesnt matter much where you get your insurance. my younger brother starts law school in a couple weeks, thats my way out:D i think you just have to look like normal and your ok. around here a ford on 44's is no big deal but i was pulled over (from a stop, no possible moving violation) w/ 35x14.5 and they had to call the station several times (i know b/c i was in the backseat!!) to determine what the law was that i was breaking which turned out to be having my tires stick out beyond the wheel wells and a broken windshield.

but really i do appreciate what police do in general and i realize i am pushing the law all the time so its my own fault.

[CoreyPerez]

I'd love to get the list of vehicle limitations! As far as giving the police a bad time, i'm not trying, but I know of a lot of dune buggys that drive around with no fenders, or mud flaps, aftermarket headlights and or yes/no windshields. And yes, these carry current tags and drive on the street.

Don't even get me started on Harley Davidsons with no pipes and cops pulling over sport bikes with DOT pipes just because they are louder than stock!