Folks:  Check out the Hella XL's low beam auxiliary lighting kit that solves
just the problem you're discussing.  Paid under $125 for the lights and
stone guards.  They mount on the bumper light fog lights, but really light
up the road without blinding everyone.  Seen several deer since the
installation that I wouldn't have seen w/o them.  You know the kind, the
ones that jump out and commit suicide at your expense.  Rich folks can buy
those E-code mothers, this is well within most people's pocketbooks.

Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2000 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: Sylvania 9004 CB headlight bulbs

>>NO. Save your money. There is no easy solution to better vanagon lighting.
>>The bulbs are not the problem; the problem is that the reflectors suck.
The
>>solution is to scrap your stock hi/low beams and convert to E-Code
>>headlights.
>
>
>I have heard that the problem with dim VW lights is that the charge rate is
>at fault; the alternator just supposedly doesn't feed enough juice to heat
>up the filaments. Certainly the stock H4 lights in my Caravelle are very
>bright, and I'm really fussy about being able to see at night, not just
>having headlights only good enough to let others see me!
>
>Of course my bus doesn't have a VW alternator...