'Ambidextrous' lights on an overlander

FlyingPete · Sep 27, 2015

I was at an overlanders show today in Stratford and got talking to the guys from alpinerovers. They had a very nice series 2 109 kitted out as a camper.

The headlights are a neat setup. The outboard pair are the normal RHD-spec, and the inboard pair are LHD-spec for touring abroad. A switch on the dash selects which ones are used for dipped beam, so when you cross the channel there's no messing around with tape. Plus you have all four wired into the high beam for extra light.

The 1989 lighting regulations specifically allow this as they come under optional dipped beam headlamps- you can fit exactly two LHD-spec lights as long as only one set or the other can be lit at any time. Seems like this setup would work well with an a-bar on a defender too.

John S · Sep 28, 2015

Clever idea. I do like that landy too. Solid looking.

FlyingPete · Sep 28, 2015

It's a really nice setup inside- basically a kitchen area and bench seat/storage built over the standard wheel arches, and a hole in the roof leading to the pop-up sleeping area on top. They'd done a 200tdi conversion too so economical for touring

tacr2man · Sep 29, 2015

Depending on the year of the vehicle its illegal , I had a 2a a couple of decades or more ago , and did the same , so in calais (usually) flick a switch and the other set were selected (LHD) but you have to have the LHD lamps in the wings , and landys after IIRC 1969 had to have lights in wings here in UK ( series 3) . to be legal. HTSH
Having said all that you would probably get away with it in Europe as they would not be aware of year of landrover

FlyingPete · Sep 29, 2015

Not sure how it works exactly when you're on the other side of the channel. According to the lighting regulations the only things you have to comply with for optional dipped beams are vertical position, alignment, colour and adjustment, as well as being designed for driving on the right. (Pre-1991 vehicles can have any number designed for either side of the road.) And if it's legal in the country of registration, in the EU at least I believe it's therefore allowed on the roads.

Requirements relating to optional dipped-beam headlamps

1. In the case of a vehicle with three or more wheels having a maximum speed exceeding 25 mph first used on or after 1st April 1991, two and not more than two may be fitted and the only requirements prescribed by these Regulations in respect of any which are fitted are–

(a)those specified in paragraphs 2(c), 4, 7, 10 and 12(a) of Part I,

(b)that they are designed for a vehicle which is intended to be driven on the right-hand side of the road,

(c)that they form a matched pair, and

(d)that their electrical connections are such that not more than one pair of dipped-beam headlamps is capable of being illuminated at a time.

2. In the case of any other vehicle, any number may be fitted and the only requirements prescribed by these Regulations in respect of any which are fitted are those specified in paragraphs 2(c), 4, 7 and 12(a) of Part I.

That last part means that if you have headlights in the wings on a pre-1991 vehicle, you could just fit a duplicate RHD set in the grille panel and have four main and four dipped beams quite legally.

'Ambidextrous' lights on an overlander

FlyingPete

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John S

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FlyingPete

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tacr2man

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FlyingPete

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