Question 2024 DutchStar head light bulb replacement LED

[Stuart W]

Not positive on 2024, it looks the same as 2023
I listed the bulbs I purchased earlier in this thread for my 2023

 

[Joe Hogan]

From The Newmar Parts Catalog the 2024 DutchStar headlight bulb looks to be a Sylvania Vendor Number #9012SU-2.

Thought I'd try these
Amazon product ASIN B0CLGY6PNR

And a review





From NEWMAR Parts Cat.

 

[Stuart W]

9012 is the same for 2023

 

[cardiofuse]

I think RB did a complete writeup on that some while back. hopefuly he is around and provide more detail info. from what I can remember, the LED bulbs are designed for an 'LED' headlights. The ordinary headlights bulbs are designed for their own specific headlight. This has to do with how the light is spread. You can use an LED in a regular headlight, however, the light will be spread such that it becomes an irretant for the oncoming traffic. An LED headlight will focus the brightness of the LED bulb accordingly, so it is not an irretant for the on coming traffic.

It may be better to replace the entire headlight with one designed for LED.

Other option, 'owners' should consider writting Newmar new pres. and asking if he has driven his newmar at night? If no one ever writes these people about such short comings, such problems will remain for eternity.

Anyone have Casey’s email???

 

[Roadglide117]

I think RB did a complete writeup on that some while back. hopefuly he is around and provide more detail info. from what I can remember, the LED bulbs are designed for an 'LED' headlights. The ordinary headlights bulbs are designed for their own specific headlight. This has to do with how the light is spread. You can use an LED in a regular headlight, however, the light will be spread such that it becomes an irretant for the oncoming traffic. An LED headlight will focus the brightness of the LED bulb accordingly, so it is not an irretant for the on coming traffic.

It may be better to replace the entire headlight with one designed for LED.

Other option, 'owners' should consider writting Newmar new pres. and asking if he has driven his newmar at night? If no one ever writes these people about such short comings, such problems will remain for eternity.

I changed both dim and high beam bulbs on my 2015 Ventana with no issues. Got them on Amazon. Napa was $150 for 2 bulbs...Amazon was like $60 for 4...same bulb for all 4

 

[Roadglide117]

I have Lasifit in my Ventana, dim and brights. 100X better than stock. I can't believe any coach should leave factory without LED lights all the way around.

 

[Joe Hogan]

Ended up purchasing and installing Fahren bulbs. They seem to work well. Fitment not an issue. Went right in.

 

[Joe Hogan]

Just to tie up loose ends. The Fahren LEDs expired early. Six months and LED is dead.
Not sure if it was vibration, the harsh ride, or just QC, but one died.
Back to Sylvania Silverstar for now.
Met Jason Maybie here at Newmar AKA RVHEADLIGHTGUY. He works in engineering and has a side business building very highend headlights, mostly for DutchStar.
He explained much of the issues with LEDs in the OEM housings.
Back to square one on the headlights.
Not sure I want to drop $3k on custom, high-end custom headlights. We’ll see. Pun intended.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Just curious. How late are most of you on the road? You say you try not to drive and get in late. What is the latest you have wound up getting in?

 

[team bradfield]

Just curious. How late are most of you on the road? You say you try not to drive and get in late. What is the latest you have wound up getting in?

4pm , I try to arrive before 2:30pm

 

[Rich W.]

Try M4 products. My LED headlights were a whopping $84 and simply amazing. Illuminated everything and on coming drivers never flashed their lights at me. M4 LED Products

 

[Neal]

Fahren's in 3 vehicles, love them, no issues. Sounds like you had a bad one. I'd just replace it and keep a spare, if you were happy with how it worked for you.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I hear LED stands for lower energy devices.

 

[Joe Hogan]

So the DutchStar headlight output is again measured in Candlepower

The Flex LED driver side headlamp is now intermittent. Driving my nuts. Left wing conspiracy!!!

 

[Roadglide117]

The Lasifit have been in mine 2 years...25k miles....and I drive at night some

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

I hear LED stands for lower energy devices.

And here I thought is was Lousy Executive Disorder…

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Met Jason Maybie here at Newmar AKA RVHEADLIGHTGUY. He works in engineering and has a side business building very highend headlights, mostly for DutchStar.
He explained much of the issues with LEDs in the OEM housings

This, I believe, is the root cause of headlight issues on Class A.

There hasn’t been enough engineering thought in the headlights. Just grab something off the shelf that wasn’t designed for the height position for where they mount it nor thought into the overall mass of the vehicle and stopping distances.

Headlights designed for the chassis is one of the benefits of a class c chassis.

If you don’t drive at night, then these are only for emergency use, just drive slower when dark.

The prior owner of our coach (Freightliner Cascadia based Super C) upgraded the headlights to LED. They swapped out the entire housing to ensure the housing and reflectors were designed together to maximize the lighting.
Love the headlights. Work well on low beam, great on high beam, and when on a long country road without cars will flip that other switch for the light bar, then we can see down the road in almost daylight conditions for more than 1/2 mile.

It might seem pricey to swap out the entire housing, but if you want to drive at night, might be worth considering this route and see if you can see a real life demo of the difference.

In the overall scheme of the coach price, $3k for total headlamp housing doesn’t seem too bad. But Newmar, IMO, should be considering these as standard or making them a factory option.