Couldn't find an appropriate forum for this, so general discussion it is....
Is there a better and simple way to aim headlights besides the "garage door" method?

 

Nothing's simpler than the garage door method.

There are shop tools for headlight aiming, and you may be able to find them on eBay and such, but they are more complicated than just lining it up nice and pretty on the garage door.

Bottom line: They won't aim themselves.

- Eric

 

In my old truck I have the passenger side set up to shine coons in the trees.

 

Have to agree with MDchanic, there is actual headlight aiming equipment you can buy, but really, the garage door method is the quickest & easiest.

 

Not real scientific, but maybe 20-30 ft? You might have to play around with the adjustment a few times, but you're looking for both lights to be approximately the same height, & angled down a bit. Also, side to side adjustment should have them both aimed directly in front of you(duh). Once you have both of them aimed at the same height, take the car around the block & see how you like the setting. You can then adjust up (farther away) or down (closer) from there. If you don't care about originality, I'd get halogen lights, or I've seen HID lights installed on older cars also. They are a VAST improvement over original lights, but do look different even when they are not on & can be pricey.

 

Here. Jeez. I'm in a bad mood. Do I have to find everything?

- Eric

 

Everything except top latches.

 

Well, I found one of those...

 

My understanding of the horizontal aim is; right headlight straight ahead and left headlight to be to the right intersecting the right light at about 75 feet ahead. This is to keep the left light out of the oncoming traffic's eyeballs!! So on the garage door the left light would be near horizontal centre- plus or minus.

 

Just glad I dont have a car port I guess.

 

I just take mine out in the alley at night and tweak the low ones then the high ones until I am happy with the result.
There is an aiming diagram in the chassis manual if you want to get it to factory spec.