Value of aftermarket Xenon Headlamps
I like many owners of motorized RVs have less than adequate OEM headlamps. I have seen many kits advertised as "DOT" approved conversion kits for changing to Xenon lamps and they are very expensive a...
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Most if not all the kits that merely replace the bulb with a cobbled-together HID source provide worse (though possibly brighter) illumination. Pattern control is pretty much guaranteed to be worse than the factory lights, with poor cutoff and hot spots and possibly more light leakage near the vehicle. It's doubtful in many cases they actually enable one to see things down the road much better. I don't think any are DOT approved.
There are some normal incandescent headlight bulbs marketed as xenon bulbs because they're filled with that gas (as, I think, is not at all unusual for halogen bulbs). These are just fine, since they're nothing more or less than rather standard headlight bulbs—they don't offer a marked improvement in lighting, but they are DOT approved and provide reasonable light.
I'm not suggesting this is necessarily you, or that your RV lights are good or poor, but many people don't really understand what "good" headlights should do. Having the road immediately in front of the vehicle brightly lit up is not good, as the extra light tends to make the eyes' irises contract, and also tends to focus one's attention too close to the vehicle. Having a sharp (and properly-aligned) cutoff for low beam lights is good, as it gives you the best illumination without blinding oncoming drivers.
There are some normal incandescent headlight bulbs marketed as xenon bulbs because they're filled with that gas (as, I think, is not at all unusual for halogen bulbs). These are just fine, since they're nothing more or less than rather standard headlight bulbs—they don't offer a marked improvement in lighting, but they are DOT approved and provide reasonable light.
I'm not suggesting this is necessarily you, or that your RV lights are good or poor, but many people don't really understand what "good" headlights should do. Having the road immediately in front of the vehicle brightly lit up is not good, as the extra light tends to make the eyes' irises contract, and also tends to focus one's attention too close to the vehicle. Having a sharp (and properly-aligned) cutoff for low beam lights is good, as it gives you the best illumination without blinding oncoming drivers.
