The classic halogen headlights found on old vehicles are not very efficient for driving in the evening and at night. Especially when you decide to venture on dark remote roads. When we travel in a van, we are often looking for peaceful and quiet spots to spend the night. We want to camp on remote sites that allow us to enjoy nature. The paths to get there can be dark and difficult to access. This is why it is recommended to have powerful headlights for optimal lighting and better visibility.
If you have a vintage van or an old converted school bus like mine, the information below may be useful to you. The steps to follow to replace your headlights are simple and inexpensive. You will be able to do it easily with a little research and simple tools.
LED headlights are made of electroluminescent light bulbs which have a much longer lifespan than incandescent and halogen bulbs. In addition, these headlights are more energy efficient and provide better visibility on the road. Nowadays, a lot of new vehicles are equipped with LED headlights. This is unfortunately not the case for old cars.
On the other hand, some LED headlights are very expensive. Replacing an LED headlight on a newer car can cost several hundreds of dollars. Unlike conventional headlights, it is not possible to replace a bulb on LEDs. The headlamp is sealed and must be replaced entirely if broken.
Before purchasing your headlights, make sure they are compatible with your van or bus. Check the dimensions and the socket of your current headlights. On auto parts sites, enter the make, model and year of your vehicle before searching.
For my skoolie, which is a 1998 Ford E-350 Econoline, I chose the LEDUR 5x7 LED Headlights which are available on Amazon. This brand offers two size options that are compatible with several models of Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and Jeep. My headlights cost only CAD $48.99 and they come with an H4 socket which is compatible with my bus.
Once you have received your new headlights, you can remove the old ones. The steps to follow for a Ford Econoline are very simple. There are two bolts to unscrew above every headlight. You must open the hood of the van to access these bolts. Then, you can remove the headlight’s frame and unscrew the 4 screws hidden behind. The headlights can now be easily removed. The last step is to unplug the H4 socket located behind every headlight.
You can now follow the same steps to install the new headlights. They will fit perfectly. The H4 sockets on my van were a little loose and there was a risk that they would unplug while driving. I used some electrical tape to secure them well. Before screwing everything in and closing the hood, you can turn on the high beams and low beams to check if everything is working properly.
At night, you can go for a ride to test your new LED headlights! Make sure your high beams and low beams are still working properly. After the ride, check if everything is still in place. Verify that the headlights are in place and that nothing is moving. Tighten the bolts and screws if needed.
Having LED headlights on my van is a game changer for vanlife. I can now explore mountain roads without the fear of being stuck in the dark. These headlights give me excellent visibility. If an animal jumps on the road, I can see it sooner and stop before having an accident. When I arrive at my campsite late at night, the lights allow me to verify the spot before parking. The LED headlights compatible with vintage vans are inexpensive. Their price is around CAD $50.00 and the installation can be done by yourself in just a few minutes. Is it worth it!
Have a good trip and see you on the road!
