GM truck driving lights on with high beams mod.

mkirsch wrote:
The major downside to this mod is you can't turn them OFF.

Daytime driving is not challenging because the light is not being projected straight into your eyes, as it is from oncoming vehicles.

Yes you can. They're only "auto on" with high beams. Low beams and parking lamps, can still turn driving lights on and off at will.

There is literally zero downside to this unless just for the sake of having something to be negative about.

No overloading of any circuit either. Not sure where that came from....

proxim2020 wrote:

transamz9 wrote:

I agree 100%. I dont know why OEM dont have the driving lights on with high beams.

In some states you're restricted to a max of 4 illuminated lamps that can project a beam.

I believe that is when the high beams are on. The new Cherokee has six light on with the low beam if you have the fogs on.

As far as overloading the high beam circuit, the Euro vehicles do not have this restriction and the fogs stay on with the high beams. So the wiring is adequate unless they are using a completely different harness.

transamz9 wrote:

I agree 100%. I dont know why OEM dont have the driving lights on with high beams.

In some states you're restricted to a max of 4 illuminated lamps that can project a beam.

The major downside to this mod is you can't turn them OFF.

Daytime driving is not challenging because the light is not being projected straight into your eyes, as it is from oncoming vehicles.

Good mod. The real thing that bothers me though are the people that don't use driving lights at all. I see this so much on cars and trucks that are not GM. I don't know what these people are thinking they are part of the group that refuses to turn on their headlight until it is totally dark....... morons.

BenK wrote:
Love lots of lighting...but...only for slow going like off roading.

IF going FAST, then eyeballs need to be looking out there to provide time to adjust (swerve, brake, etc) and with low beams one...might cause a enough of a distraction to miss whatever is 'out there' in the distance...

There is a metric that should be considered for multiple sources of lighting when going fast and has to do with shadowing vs eyeball height. Gotta see enough detail and that shadow to make out distance (time to swerve or brake). Too bright will wash out that depth perception

I hit a deer one time at 70mph on a 4 lane divided hwy with high beams on. He came from the side at a full run and wasn't illuminated until he was very nearly in front of me. More side illumination might have helped me to prevent that. As long as other drivers are not blinded more light is good. If more light was bad daytime driving would be challenging.

While the OP says "driving lights" the article referenced says fog lights. I don't think that fog lights are going to have any noticeable effect on the area illuminated by high beams, just periphery.

My only concern would be the extra load on the high beam circuit. It might be a good time to switch to LED bulbs while doing this mod.

I will move it to Tow Vehicles forum for you. :)
Barney

BTW thx mod for moving this, but now it's in the towing forum, not the tow vehicles.

BenK wrote:
Love lots of lighting...but...only for slow going like off roading.

IF going FAST, then eyeballs need to be looking out there to provide time to adjust (swerve, brake, etc) and with low beams one...might cause a enough of a distraction to miss whatever is 'out there' in the distance...

There is a metric that should be considered for multiple sources of lighting when going fast and has to do with shadowing vs eyeball height. Gotta see enough detail and that shadow to make out distance (time to swerve or brake). Too bright will wash out that depth perception

You're eyes must be older than mine, because my 2 hour drive over 3 mtn passes this morning was pure bliss compared to before.
If I wasn't clear, I am talking about the OE driving lights that only come on with low beams. Not sure how those could be an issue??
Depth perception? Yup, now I can see everything from the bumper to the end of the high beams. Winning!
Just like on my personal truck, low/high/fog lights is way better than the OE high beams alone. Add in the couple Hellas hitting both shoulders and that truck is even better to drive in animal country.
Now to get the pin outs from the BCM for our other vehicles.
All it is, is hooking the high beam relay signal to the driving lights relay signal. Poof! More light, like the factory shoulda built it.

dodge guy wrote:
The new LED’s and HID’s are far worse for blinding people than the mod the OP has done. I see no issues with driving lights on with high beams!

I agree 100%. I dont know why OEM dont have the driving lights on with high beams.