Adjusting your headlights

[82sbshortbed]

I was wondering how y'all adjusted your headlights. I was thinking of just shining them at the garage door and then adjusting them. How far away should I be? What have yall done? I'd like to hear other ideas.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I used to go down to our local fire hall and shine them on the side of the building because i had nothing to shine on in my yard.

 

[Swearbody]

From 15 feet away I adjust mine to three feet from the bottom of the beam using a wall or garage door. I adjust the horizontal until the beams inner edges are approximately 6 inches off center line of my hood while viewing from the center of the bench seat.
Done this at least to 5 squares. always pretty happy

 

[78C10BigTen]

I always just approximate mine by eye. I like mine higher then normal though. Dad always said i set mine to "coon spotter"

 

[Swearbody]

I always just approximate mine by eye. I like mine higher then normal though. Dad always said i set mine to "coon spotter"

You drive too fast!!! lights cant keep up with your eyes on the road,LOL

 

[Swearbody]

Caveat: Three feet vertical if its a c10....maybe more if its a k or lifted obviously.

 

[Snoots]

I measure from the ground to the center of the bulb; record that, and tape a piece of twine to the door and tape the other end to the garage door/building (about 15 feet away).
This allows you to measure from the string to the center of the lamp to the center of where it shines on the building/whatever.
That way using the twine and ground to the center of the bulb measurements, you can do the same thing to wherever you're shining them and adjust accordingly.

 

[Turbo4whl]

@Snoots & @Swearbody have the plan. Best way I fine tune the lights after setting on a screen (garage door, wall etc.) is on a lightly fogy night. Straight level road, you can see exactly where the lights are pointing. This is also very helpful adjusting fog lights since the beams are wide but very narrow in height.

 

[DoubleDingo]

About 20 feet from the wall of church next door. Then adjust so they're not going to be pointing in the eyes of oncoming drivers and at a good height, typically about level with the lights themselves.

My vehicles are not lifted. I guess a lifted 4x4 might need them adjusted down a tad.

 

[shiftpro]

Each head light has two screws to adjust up and down... and sideways. WTF is the problem here? Stand in front of one light and study the pattern on the ground then switch sides. In a minute you can see where each light hits the road and then adjust them where you want them to be. What's the big deal?
I like my drivers side to be hitting the center line and not too high... the passenger side can be a bit higher and more to the left, hitting the ditch somewhat to see the deer.
A quiet country road (and a beer) serves me better than the side of a barn.

 

[eskimomann209]

I prefer the wall/ garage door setup as well. I Pull up close too the wall and mark off a + at the center of the beam. pull back 20 feet or so and make the beam hit just under the + and a little to the right on both sides.

 

[Matt69olds]

I prefer the wall/ garage door setup as well. I Pull up close too the wall and mark off a + at the center of the beam. pull back 20 feet or so and make the beam hit just under the + and a little to the right on both sides.

This^

A friend of mine has the Hoppy headlight aiming kit that was a required GM tool at every dealership. It includes things to calibrate them to compensate for floors being not level. Once they are calibrated, each one has internal mirrors that reflect the view of the cross-hair on the opposite side headlight it’s a pretty slick setup.

Anyway, in the instructions it states the DOT regulations for whatever year the tool was made that the passages side headlight is suppose to be calibrated with a one foot drop for every 50 feet. The drivers side is the same, except it is also to be aimed to the right 6 inches from straight ahead. I assume that’s so your drivers headlight doesn’t blind oncoming traffic

You can do something similar at home easy enough. Find a smooth flat, level parking lot. Turn on the headlights, pull up as close to a building as possible. Put a tape mark on the wall the center of the light beam. Back up the truck 50 feet, adjust the pass headlight so the beam center is a foot lower than your mark. Do the same on the drivers side, but adjust it towards the pass side 6 inches.

 

[Matt69olds]

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I decided to look up the hoppy headlight tool and found this video.

 

[Snoots]

Beer cans
along the highway
are ugly
many say,
But then
at night
their reflecting light
safely guide the way!

Burma Shave

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

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I decided to look up the hoppy headlight tool and found this video.

I copied the ETCG hoppy aimer video before seeing that you posted it. I thought me, the “kid,” was gonna be the one to reveal that little nugget.