Dot requirements ?

[mygmctruck1]

With a 4 head light system , is it legal to have all 4 head lamps with low and high beams . Which means I would have 4 high beam head lamps instead of just 2 ?

I am wiring up all the lights now and thought this would be great for lighting if it’s allowed ?

[71gmcC15]

If your talking about gmcs that the way there sappose to be. All 4 on hi. The low beam is dull element and the hi single elemen. The reason that it is not all 4 on hi is that the low beam bulbe is kinda hard to find. Have to order it. So it was probably replace with a single element bulb.

[71gmcC15]

On my 94 chevy I made it have the hi for mod so that the lows would stay on with the hi beams. I never had a issues but I don't have state inspection or anything ether.

[mygmctruck1]

Ok

[firedemon]

I would recommend the relay upgrade to draw power direct from battery . it will take a lot of stress off the original wire and give brighter lights too

[mygmctruck1]

Originally Posted by firedemon

I would recommend the relay upgrade to draw power direct from battery . it will take a lot of stress off the original wire and give brighter lights too

Brand. New wiring system but still putting in a relay

[Grumpy old man]

[palallin]

I sure *hope* it's illegal to run 4 hi-beams.

'Way too many drivers running far too much lighting. It may make them feel all warm and fuzzy, but it blinds the rest of us.

[mygmctruck1]

Originally Posted by palallin

I sure *hope* it's illegal to run 4 hi-beams.

'Way too many drivers running far too much lighting. It may make them feel all warm and fuzzy, but it blinds the rest of us.

It’s a matter of road respect , I don’t run with my high beams unless I’m on the road and no traffic even close .

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by palallin

I sure *hope* it's illegal to run 4 hi-beams.

'Way too many drivers running far too much lighting. It may make them feel all warm and fuzzy, but it blinds the rest of us.

To agree with several other posters -- 4 high beams are not only completely legal, that's the way they all left the factory since 1958 when 4 headlamps were introduced.

High beams are not to be used when meeting other traffic anyway, so it's a moot point.

[KQQL IT]

New F-250s are 4 on low beam.
Really annoying when they're pulling a trailer but legal.

[mygmctruck1]

Well checked into this a little more , the feds dictate lighting requirements . The states primary get involved when the police get blinded by our head light. At least that’s what I have found.
I did manage to find some one who has the proper head light aiming equipment, so that in it’s self will help . You can not properly aim by the old wall method ?
Which is what everyone does even after they rebuild wrecked cars .

Anyhow , I misspoke about high beams , I want to have all 4 lights with low beams .

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by mygmctruck1

Well checked into this a little more , the feds dictate lighting requirements . The states primary get involved when the police get blinded by our head light. At least that’s what I have found.
I did manage to find some one who has the proper head light aiming equipment, so that in it’s self will help . You can not properly aim by the old wall method ?
Which is what everyone does even after they rebuild wrecked cars .

Anyhow , I misspoke about high beams , I want to have all 4 lights with low beams .

You can do it against a wall but you have to make sure that the vehicle is sitting level. We had the aiming equipment, but we also had the pad on one of the pump blocks at the gas station floated level as opposed to 1//8" slope per foot for drainage. That's about .6º, and the spec is 1º down and 1º right, so you could be out of tolerance if where you're measuring isn't level. Or at least it was the spec back when I was doing it.

[palallin]

Originally Posted by Stocker

To agree with several other posters -- 4 high beams are not only completely legal, that's the way they all left the factory since 1958 when 4 headlamps were introduced.

High beams are not to be used when meeting other traffic anyway, so it's a moot point.

I interpreted his question to mean that he wanted ONLY brights. The laws are apparently irrelevant: too many people put too much light on their vehicles ALL THE TIME.

80% of the time, vehicle lighting is primarily to benefit the OTHER drivers--blinding them is counter-productive.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by mygmctruck1

With a 4 head light system , is it legal to have all 4 head lamps with low and high beams . Which means I would have 4 high beam head lamps instead of just 2 ?

I am wiring up all the lights now and thought this would be great for lighting if it’s allowed ?

I'm pretty sure that this is unlawful. Where you live you might get away with it, Idunno. I'd go with that relay kit, as was mentioned. Here is a thread where I did a before/after on installing a headlight relay kit that takes power straight from the battery. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=782071

[Andy4639]

The law in your area maybe fine with it but I would check. There are all kinds of vehicles with 4 lights on when on high beam. You just need to find out what your area law is on it.

Yes the relay upgrade is a good idea also.

[jocko]

I've never owned a GMC - if what 71gmcC15 said in post 2 is correct, then I see no problem - in fact, perhaps all you need is the correct bulbs to make it work the way you're describing. If that's not how it's supposed to work - a modification of the factory lighting system is very likely not legal. I'd check with your friendly State Trooper beforehand. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

[special-K]

All four lights do come on for hi-beam. Do you mean change to four on low-beam? Why? If you need more light use hi-beams. Even if four on low are legal, which I believe it isn't, oncoming traffic will see all four lights lit up and flash you as if you were on high beams. A lot of the difference between hi-beam and low-beam and how they affect oncoming traffic is the aiming. If you aimed your hi-beams the way low-beams are aimed you wouldn't have much better lighting. If a headlamp isn't aimed out and down like a low-beam it will annoy oncoming drivers. I doubt four lights on low-beam would give much more due to the aiming. If they do, you probably need to aim them farther out

[HO455]

I lived in several bigger cities on the east coast long ago and it was common for Checker cabs to have 4 low beam lights. I'm sure it is legal is some states and with the prevalence of aftermarket lights that do not meet DOT standards it not likely you will be stopped for it. Especially if they are aimed properly.

[special-K]

You might get it right using the wall, but I've always had mine aimed by equipment. Same with front end alignment. so basically the law is good enough is good enough. If you can see and people aren't flashing you, you're good to go... except for safety inspection. But that's when you get them aimed properly.

[Richard]

I run a 4 hi relay kit on my 94 and also have driving lamps. Was curious and looked up my state.

24405. (a) Not more than four lamps of the following types showing
to the front of a vehicle may be lighted at any one time:
(1) Headlamps.
(2) Auxiliary driving or passing lamps.
(3) Fog lamps.
(4) Warning lamps.
(5) Spot lamps.
(6) Gaseous discharge lamps specified in Section 25258.
(b) For the purpose of this section each pair of a dual headlamp
system shall be considered as one lamp.
(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any authorized emergency
vehicle.

[Richard]

@ mygmctruck1. For what you want to do, as long as each pair of lamps is hi/low perfectly acceptable.

MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 300 of 1949


257.685 Head lamps; number; modulator; height; auxiliary, spot, or other lamp; exemption.
Sec. 685.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), a motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least 2 head lamps with at least 1 head lamp on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, in compliance with this chapter. An implement of husbandry manufactured on or after January 1, 2007 shall comply with section 684a.
(2) A motorcycle or moped shall be equipped with at least 1 and not more than 2 head lamps that comply with this chapter.
(3) A motorcycle or moped head lamp may be wired or equipped to allow either its upper beam or its lower beam, but not both, to modulate from a higher intensity to a lower intensity. A head lamp modulator installed on a motorcycle or moped with 2 head lamps shall be wired in a manner to prevent the head lamps from modulating at different rates or not in synchronization with each other. A head lamp modulator installed on a motorcycle or moped shall meet the standards prescribed in 49 CFR 571.108.
(4) Every head lamp upon a motor vehicle shall be located at a height measured from the center of the head lamp of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands.
(5) When a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as required in this section is also equipped with auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front of the motor vehicle projecting a beam of an intensity greater than 300 candlepower, not more than a total of 4 of those lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at a time when upon a highway.
(6) A motor vehicle licensed as an historic vehicle is exempt from the requirements of this section if the vehicle as originally equipped failed to meet these requirements. An historic vehicle shall not be operated in violation of section 684.