Mirrors for 8' wide FCFB23

[Matt Kline]

I'm driving to CA to pick up my new 2010 FC 23FB next week, and wonder if the regular truck mirrors on my F-150 are going to be wide enough. It's a 2010 with the big mirrors but they don't telescope. Do I need to get the telescoping mirrors before I pick up my trailer.
If so, is the dealer the best way to go, or does someone have a better idea of where to purchase them.
Thanks,
Matt

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by Matt Kline

I'm driving to CA to pick up my new 2010 FC 23FB next week, and wonder if the regular truck mirrors on my F-150 are going to be wide enough. It's a 2010 with the big mirrors but they don't telescope. Do I need to get the telescoping mirrors before I pick up my trailer.
If so, is the dealer the best way to go, or does someone have a better idea of where to purchase them.
Thanks,
Matt

One way to tell if your existing mirrors will work is to measure the distance from the outside of one mirror to the outside of the other. I would think that if that distance is over 9 feet you are fine. In California you are permitted to have mirrors which extend, I think, 10" on each side of the vehicle and trailer.

Bill

[Aviator]

I brought my 1997 34' Airstream from PA to GA with the stock mirrors on my 2009 F150. They worked, but not great. As soon as I got home, I ordered a pair of the Ford towing mirrors which manually telescope. The difference is huge. I recommend upgrading to the Ford mirrors, as they bolt right in and electrically connect the same as your original mirrors.

If your dealer has the mirrors in stock is should take less than an hour to do both of them. If they need to order them, I got mine from Tasca Ford in NJ. They have a significant discount on genuine Ford parts over my local dealer who charges retail. It took me about 2 hours to change them out.

Should you decide to go that way, send me a PM and I can e-mail you the drawings showing how to remove and replace the necessary parts (the door interior door panels have to come off in order to get at the mirror nuts)

[Aviator]

Matt,

For some reason I am having trouble replying to the PM. If you will send another with your e-mail, I will send the drawings for changing the mirrors. With the factory mirrors, you will have a large blind spot from roughly the truck rear bumper to about halfway down the trailer. It was my first towing experience, and certainly increased the stress level when smaller vehicles kept vanishing beside me!

[SteSpot]

We have these: Tow-N-See Towing Mirrors

They fit on the mirrors with a suction cup that works.....and they can be removed easily....they are relatively inexpensive as well. paula

[Al - K4GLU]

Unless you have some money burning a hole in your pocket my advice is try the stock mirrors first. I got a new Tundra last Oct and ordered the expensive tow mirrors. I also have a 2009 23FB and have found that I don't really need the tow mirrors - in fact the only one that I ever extend is the one on the curb side. While the tow mirrors might be needed with a 34' - believe it is 8.5' wide as opposed to your 8 - I'd be surprised if they're really needed with a 23FB.

[Jammer]

The FC 23 is not a wide-bodied trailer and you should be OK with your stock mirrors.

There are various universal-fit mirrors here if you decide you need one.

[Matt Kline]

After pulling my new 23FB from Irvine CA to Corpus Christi, TX, and two weekenders, I feel I can answer my question and perhaps help someone else.
Pulling down the highway isn't bad with the stock mirrors. You have to lean back and look at the farthest part of the mirror, or do a little "jag" to see what's behind you.
However, backing with the stock mirrors is terrible. I drove semis for ten years and am an expert at backing, but with stock mirrors you can't see the tires which makes backing in a straight line impossible. I taught my wife to back the Casita when we had that trailer, and she's good, but it was her who insisted we get the extended mirrors now. I could have made do, but she hates not being able to see the tires when backing, because that's how I taught her to back a trailer. I'm having the Ford dealer put them on in the morning for a total cost of just under $400.00.
Thanks for all the input.