Mirror extensions recommendations

[slowmover]

Keep in mind that one needs a set of mirrors to do the following:

1] Provide good sight lines along the TT. What is behind us. Distance.

2] Also give information about what is next to us. Wide field-of-view.

These two are vital.

IOW, [1] the standard mirror, and, [2] the convex spot. The latter must be of sufficient size. Three inches, round, is about worthless, IMO. 4-5" is better and larger than that better yet.

I don't find mirror extensions to be worthwhile given the problems to be solved in a near instant.


.

[Gene]

Rednax' makes a good point.

I tried clip on mirrors (rubber straps actually) years ago and found them lacking. The image was blurry because they vibrated and I had to look in the mirror longer to figure out what I saw—every second with your eyes off the road is not good.

The cheap mirrors I had bought in '02 just had one mirror, so they did little to tell me what was next to me. I know there are better aftermarket mirrors, but I think they, like Rednax says, have to have 2 mirrors and not vibrate. I don't see how anything not screwed to the truck will not vibrate and eventually loosen. I love the lower, rectangular mirror on our Tundra to see alongside the truck—it helps when we're not towing too.

Gene

[MaxTow]

While it's a bit of an old thread, I'll add my two cents.

I started towing with what were recommended by many as the best add-on mirrors. These were the McKesh towing mirrors. I added spot mirrors on both sides (highly recommended if you go with these mirrors).

These units are easy on / easy off and provide good visibility.

On my new Ford F150 TV, I installed the factory tow mirrors rather than keep with the Mckesh mirrors for a number of reasons:

1. Safety. Because the Mckesh mirrors are not on the vehicle all the time, I found it would get slightly confusing as to which mirrors to look at. This is not a problem in normal driving - but at a time when a quick decision is required, I don't want to be looking at the wrong mirror.

2. Adjustability. One can get the mirrors set up with enough manual adjustment. But because they stick out so far, it is inevitable that somebody is going to hit one and knock it out of alignment. It then takes time to get everything all adjusted again.

3. Visibility out the passenger side mirror. Because the mirrors are identical on both sides, the view out of the passenger mirrors is limited. The factory mirrors like all permanent mirrors have a wider field of view on the passenger side because you view it from further away as compared with the driver mirror.

4. Shake. While the view from the Mckesh mirrors were ok with respect to stability - the OEM mirrors are significantly better.

I'm much happier with the OEM mirrors. I feel they represent a significant improvement in safety over the add-ons.

[gsmithii]

"After unsuccessfully trying to find OEM towing mirrors for my '06 Chevy Silverado HD I've ordered after-market mirrors from etrailer.com

<< http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Towing-Mirrors/Chevrolet/Silverado/2006/KS62075-76GE.html?vehicleid=2006300792 >>

After we install and test the mirrors we'll post a comment."

We had our first experience with these mirrors when we brought the trailer home from storage for our forthcoming trip. Over a short distance although in city traffic they were great..

Key points were extended view behind the trailer - not a lot more but anything toward Virginia's requirement of two-hundreed feet is welcome.

The blind spot mirrors on both sides are a great improvement. Now I can really see my blind spot and clear it. In traffic as we all have experienced it seems there is always a (fellow citizen - arrgh!) who lives in the blind spot.

The unexpected benefit was that in making turns I could easily see the trailer wheels in the blind spot mirrors. There have been times in close quarters when that would have been welcome.