Headlight brightness

[JACKSMYDOG]

Not sure why you're making it personal. The allowable maximum is set out in statutes and Ford doesn't make laws. See: "The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher . . . than forty-two inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of seventy-five feet ahead."

At any rate, the issue OP was facing is that they were being flashed by other drivers. It is obvious to that adjusting the headlights to be level with the headlamp assembly can easily either make it so that the beams are blinding other drivers and/or illegal depending on the height of the vehicle.

And the same quote without 3 dots replacing a very important factor.

(1) The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of five inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes, and in no case higher than forty-two inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of seventy-five feet ahead.

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[docarter]

And the same quote without 3 dots replacing a very important factor.

(1) The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of five inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes, and in no case higher than forty-two inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of seventy-five feet ahead.

I am not sure how that affects the maximum height? It just specifies that it shouldn't be lower than 5 in below the center of the headlight assembly. We weren't discussing minimum headlight adjustment were we?

 

[docarter]

Those three dots usually mean there's more text not shown. Typically happens when you copy something from a search rather than from the actual site or document.
"The head lamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher than a level of five inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes..."

I am not sure how that affects the maximum height? It just specifies that it shouldn't be lower than 5 in below the center of the headlight assembly. We weren't discussing minimum headlight adjustment were we?

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

I am not sure how that affects the maximum height? It just specifies that it shouldn't be lower than 5 in below the center of the headlight assembly. We weren't discussing minimum headlight adjustment were we?

It was adjustment angle at question was it not?

The headlight can't be at aimed at 42 inches at 25 feet if the headlight itself is mounted at 24 inches high.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

I am not sure how that affects the maximum height? It just specifies that it shouldn't be lower than 5 in below the center of the headlight assembly. We weren't discussing minimum headlight adjustment were we?

It can't be higher than 5 inches below the center of the light projecting it.

 

[Msfitoy]

In your case it really doesn't matter. Hill or flat they're still getting blinded! ?

I don’t have them on in public obviously...but when I do they go over hills and around corners?

 

[Msfitoy]

When behind a sedan at night your low beam cutoff line should never be shining through their back window . If you're too close then back off and if they are still shining inside the rear window from a couple car lengths back then they are adjusted too high . If you're blinding me I'm probably not going to get over it .

That’s correct...easy way to check lights aim...??

 

[D Fresh]

Not sure why you're making it personal. The allowable maximum is set out in statutes and Ford doesn't make laws. See: "The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the high-intensity portion of the light shall at a distance of twenty-five feet ahead project higher . . . than forty-two inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of seventy-five feet ahead."

At any rate, the issue OP was facing is that they were being flashed by other drivers. It is obvious to that adjusting the headlights to be level with the headlamp assembly can easily either make it so that the beams are blinding other drivers and/or illegal depending on the height of the vehicle.

Where did I say anything personal about you? I mean, if telling you that facts don't care about your feelings is "personal" to you, I'm sorry that YOU TOOK OFFENSE.

Not sure where your bolded quote came from but if it came from your previous title 49 link it's irrelevant.

The vast majority of us here, I'd venture to say all, are not required to abide by title 49 as we are not employers, employees, and commercial motor vehicles that transport property or passengers in interstate commerce.


So it boils down to your state law. As you linked to previously your home state, I assume, of Maine allows lights at up to 54"

My Ranger is lifted 2" up front on 33" tires. The headlights sit at 42", yeay I could be a commercial vehicle, currently. I just went out to measure.

Theoretically I could put my truck on 39"s with an 8" lift and still be within the law in the state of Maine, in respect to the headlights at least. And if I pointed those lights at 42" and 25ft they would basically be pointing at the ground.

Also, there are no Rangers with an 8" lift on 39" tires in the US. That I've seen at least.

My state caps headlight height at 54" as well. But they also require this...

"The distribution of light or composite beam shall be of such intensity as to reveal a person and vehicle at a distance of at least three hundred fifty feet ahead."

If a person aims their lights at 42" and they start at 54" the cutoff would hit the ground well before 350ft.

 

[erty176]

To answer OP's question, yes they can be adjusted. I haven't fiddled with it myself, but I believe there is something in the manual for it. If you want just a general overview, ChrisFix has a good video on how to get them in generally the right place. When towing, the rear of the vehicle squats and the lights tend to point higher than they would unloaded. The ranger has a pretty steep rake from factory, so I would imagine a small adjustment downward when towing would be all you need. If possible, I would check them unloaded, then again loaded and find a happy medium.

 

[HotShotOffroad]

When behind a sedan at night your low beam cutoff line should never be shining through their back window . If you're too close then back off and if they are still shining inside the rear window from a couple car lengths back then they are adjusted too high . If you're blinding me I'm probably not going to get over it .

I should clarify my original response. What I was trying to say was oncoming traffic even at a far distance have been the ones to flash for some reason. I do not have direct light going into the vehicles in front of me to be in a blinding sense as I have adjusted the beams down quite a bit to offset the higher lift and everything. However, on lower vehicles (the example vehicle that this problem happened once was with a stanced out FRS), light still gets in there on occasions so I do best to keep a little more distance to make up for it.

I just want to be clear that I am not intentionally blinding others or supporting not adjusting lights appropriately. I have made the proper adjustments using level ground and my garage wall with minor measuring to adjust. My comment about others getting over it were in regards to oncoming traffic where I am not sure what the flash was for when I know I have taken the measurements to adjust safely. Apologies if my comment seemed abrupt or careless as it was not the intention.

 

[D Fresh]

To answer OP's question, yes they can be adjusted. I haven't fiddled with it myself, but I believe there is something in the manual for it. If you want just a general overview, ChrisFix has a good video on how to get them in generally the right place. When towing, the rear of the vehicle squats and the lights tend to point higher than they would unloaded. The ranger has a pretty steep rake from factory, so I would imagine a small adjustment downward when towing would be all you need. If possible, I would check them unloaded, then again loaded and find a happy medium.

I posted it earlier but it was surely lost in the kerfuffle.


Page 21 I believe.

 

[Jason B]

Another thing in the mix is the intensity of headlights, whether that's stock or replaced with LEDs.
Go back 20 years and headlights were nowhere as bright as they are now.
And the info on the height is the lesser of the two:
No more than 5" below center at 25', and no circumstance higher than 42".

 

[D Fresh]

And the info on the height is the lesser of the two:
No more than 5" below center at 25', and no circumstance higher than 42".

Again. Absolutely incorrect.

Where are you getting this imaginary 42" number? DOT title 49 DOES NOT apply to passenger cars.

Do the math. A headlight which sits at 54", legal in at least two states, pointed at 42" would hit the ground at less than 125ft. Nowhere near far enough to be effective, or legal in my state.

 

[Jason B]

Again. Absolutely incorrect.

Where are you getting this imaginary 42" number? DOT title 49 DOES NOT apply to passenger cars.

Do the math. A headlight which sits at 54", legal in at least two states, pointed at 42" would hit the ground at less than 125ft. Nowhere near far enough to be effective, or legal in my state.

You are correct.
I was taking the numbers from post #31. I plotted it out based on what was posted there.

Headlights at 54" adjusted to be down 5" at 25' would hit the ground at 112.5'
Headlights at 54" adjusted to be at 42" at 75' would hit the ground at 337.5'

And as you stated, that doesn't apply to passenger vehicles.
Bottom line is to check with your state regulations.
I remember a time when headlight aim was part of the annual state safety inspection. Now here in Louisiana all they check is if lights, horn and wipers work.

 

[WesternFlyer]

The procedure to align the lights is pretty easy.
The procedure to get my lazy ass to get out and do it is more problematic.

I'm with you there, Jason. It is on my list to do somewhere near the bottom...

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