Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:21:43 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Bike Rack Rec - spotlight?
In-Reply-To: <341538.32045.qm@web110607.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
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I've written it up a while ago.
Again for those who are interested..
I installed a Unity brand spotlight, available online. Also often listed
on ebay, but I never could win an auction there at much under the cost of
buying a new one, so ...
I wired mine into the auxiliary battery in my rig so that I can use it
to light up my campsite or my surroundings, with my ignition off and without
worry about draining my starter battery. I also use it to reverse with
sometimes.
With the control handle easily reached while driving (it comes into the
van just behind the rearview mirror) the spotlight is really handy for
finding campsites in the dark, for scoping-out side roads without having to
actually turn the van into them to see. I often camp after dark while
traveling using forest service or BLM roads when I get too sleepy to
continue...With the spotlight I don't have to 'nose-into' every possibility,
I can light them up with the spotlight to see if they "go". On small
highways, I put the spotlight on and shine it about a mile ahead onto the
roadside to spot upcoming side roads...then I can slow and shine the
light out the possible road. Another use is in deer infested areas for very
early warning of animals on the road...You can pick up their eyes glowing at
about a full mile distance.
Mounting on the roof allows 360 beam. Handy. My only alteration would be
to mount it a few inches further rearward from the top "corner" so that when
the beam is facing forward during nighttime driving there would be less
"over-spray" of light into the interior of the van. Where mine is mounted,
enough of the 'halo' of light off the beam bothers me a little if I drive
using the spotlight as a 'driving light'..Maybe two inches further back
would eliminate that and yet not put the handle into contact with your head
as you pass between the front seats.
I also have two KC daylighter off-road style auxiliary driving lights.
One with a 'pencil-beam' and one with more of a wide angle beam. Those, in
combo with my E-code headlamps, make my night driving much safer where I
seem to do most of my night driving...Back roads in the Western US..
Don Hanson
On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 9:02 AM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>wrote:
> Don,
> It looks in a couple of those pix like you have a spotlight installed in
> the center front of the roof. Any info on the install and/or the utility of
> that? Thanks!
>
> Stephen
>
> --- On *Tue, 12/29/09, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Bike Rack Rec
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 10:50 AM
>
> If you have the rain gutter mount Yakima towers...
>
>
>
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