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Zed999
Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2018
Posts: 1244
Location: UK
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 Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 3:50 am Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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50mph. Hmmm. An embarrassment to the bus owning fraternity, I cringe as I pass these buses at 70mph. They are usually lowered with tiny tyres and noisy exhausts, driving in the gutter to some show or another.
I was lucky enough to regularly drive a nearly new 2l panel van in the 70's. It went like hot snot, the handling was awesome and the brakes worked. I think a lot of bus owners assume that these beasts were crap from new with wandering steering, slewing brakes, stinking of burnt oil and petrol with a max speed of 55mph. Wrong! Sort your vehicle out and speed up a bit. 
Rant over. |
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vwwestyman
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5688
Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:16 am Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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At some point I'll probably add a 3rd brake light. They make some now that flash a couple times before coming on full bright. I've even seen that function on newer cars. It might be nice to be able to turn it on with the press of a discrete button so you don't actually have to hit the brakes to get someone's attention.
A couple years ago I added some reflective tape to brighten things up, especially if I happen to be stopped on the side of the road.
_________________
Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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KentABQ 
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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| vwwestyman wrote: |
A couple years ago I added some reflective tape to brighten things up, especially if I happen to be stopped on the side of the road.
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Excellent idea! And the reflective strips are hidden when the doors are closed. That is a definite gotta-do-it.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
         ---williamM |
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vwwestyman
Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5688
Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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| KentPS wrote: |
| vwwestyman wrote: |
A couple years ago I added some reflective tape to brighten things up, especially if I happen to be stopped on the side of the road.
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Excellent idea! And the reflective strips are hidden when the doors are closed. That is a definite gotta-do-it. |
Thanks! Not shown as well (you can sort of see them in my first pic on the passenger side), I also have the strips on the back edges of the front doors, too.
I was thinking if I ever had to stop on the side of the road, I wanted to be as visible as possible!
Otherwise, I do drive at or above the highway speeds!
_________________
Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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| vwwestyman wrote: |
Thanks! Not shown as well (you can sort of see them in my first pic on the passenger side), I also have the strips on the back edges of the front doors, too.
I was thinking if I ever had to stop on the side of the road, I wanted to be as visible as possible!
Otherwise, I do drive at or above the highway speeds! |
I have added reflective strips to the back inside edge of my front door on several of my vehicles. Seems like a lot of added safety for the price. |
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white74westy
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2011
Posts: 777
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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To follow up from earlier, here are a couple of pictures of the bus, with the third brake light installed:
I like that the lens is actually clear, when it is not in use. The second shot gives you an idea of what it looks like in comparison to the original lights. I think it makes a significant difference and adds the additional light that most people are accustomed to looking for nowadays. Hope this helps! |
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Cap10323
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2016
Posts: 604
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:53 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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I am 100% stealing this idea. Especially on the sliding door.
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-Ian
'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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they make a license plate 3rd light FWIW
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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StellatheVW
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2018
Posts: 4
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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| my59 wrote: |
You could rethink your strategy re avoiding traffic.
If you are the only thing on the road doing 50, and because of the light traffic every one else is flying, yeah, it's dangerous.
If you left earlier and there was traffic, everyone else is going slower. Less dangerous.
Since you are only going 50, it's not like you are saving time by driving later. |
The issue is if I leave directly after work then i'll be sitting in heavy traffic (lots of stop and go, waiting with engine running long amounts of time) -- which isn't too good for an aircooled |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:30 am Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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| StellatheVW wrote: |
| my59 wrote: |
You could rethink your strategy re avoiding traffic.
If you are the only thing on the road doing 50, and because of the light traffic every one else is flying, yeah, it's dangerous.
If you left earlier and there was traffic, everyone else is going slower. Less dangerous.
Since you are only going 50, it's not like you are saving time by driving later. |
The issue is if I leave directly after work then i'll be sitting in heavy traffic (lots of stop and go, waiting with engine running long amounts of time) -- which isn't too good for an aircooled |
Assuming your thermostat is working it shouldn't hurt much, you want your engine hot enough to keep any moisture boiled off. A crankcase temperature of above 160° should be fine. |
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StellatheVW
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2018
Posts: 4
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:49 am Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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This is the LED Tap on Tap off
I'm thinking reflectives, new bulbs that came in the mail, and driving faster.
Re-did timing, changed oil, tuned up the bus
I was going 50 as it was a new engine breaking it in, was running really rough (timing in teens during idle, and yet the mechanic said to use same for 500 miles before changing) NOW 65 no problems thank goodness
Next steps are installing new bulbs, get + add reflectives, replace all the gas lines (including taking off rear panels to put new left rear '24' according to diagram as preventative measure) and put in a charcoal filter (two open ends in engine bay because fire by prior owner they took it out, then left two ends open but just closing leads to pressure, not filling tank more than 3/4 til I fix it. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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that's going to be ineffective at highway speeds
and well illegal in my (NY) state to have a rear illuminated white light unless you are travelling in reverse. not that that little puck light would really gather the attention you are looking for..
swing and miss
try again..
not that I'm endorsing your plan here, I think you should figure out how to get up to 60-65mph..
I carry one of these battery operated magnetic lights in my travel and towing vehicles in event of a failed rear light.. use an an EMERGENCY LIGHT.
can be bought at farm & fleet or most FLAPS for under $30..
has a steady on and a blink function..
homedepot for $15
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blazer-International-W.../202498031
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| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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jtauxe
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 5780
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Lighting for night driving on highway |
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Unless I missed it...
Why has no one mentioned the obvious fix? A stock rear fog light? You can wire this in to your rear lights, and it gives an nice bright extra rear light. I run with mine all the time. Let me see if I can find a pic...
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD
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