Well, what are folks feelings on these? I have been towing for getting on for 20 years, using a variety of mirrors, all of which irritated me considerably. Never staying properly adjusted for long, vibrating, scratching either the wing mirror casing, the window or the bodywork! Eventually I made a european trip not using them (although stashed in the van) and didn't really notice the difference. OK you can't see as far behind you, but they don't help that much anyway. A very careful attitude to overtaking and general awareness seemed to be adequate.
However it is illegal to tow without, so I suppose I should use them. What do people consider to be the best, both in terms of visibility behind, and as regards damae done to tow car?
I don't use them myself because I have a Discovery which is wider than a normal car so the standard mirrors I find OK to see with - don't know if I am commiting an offence by doing this though! I also tow with the curtains open as I can use my rear view mirror and see right through the caravan for a good view behind - the higher driving position helps here.
Interestingly on the cover of this months 'Caravan' mag, they are towing a van with a Freelander, without towing mirrors fitted.
i use Smat weekends , attach to the door by sliding between the glass & window rubber & a strap to the door bottom.
Get little or no vibration , great view down the sides of van.Infinitely better than clip-on to the door mirror types ive used in the past.
Just beware when putting window up that it doesnt dislodge the mirror from where it is sited in the rubber channel or even worse , jam the window & force it off the runners.
Hi Bev+jon! I had on of those mirrors as well and found it good for viewing, but it was a real problem for the window. Ended up with scratch marks up it!
We did have a long discussion on another thread about the legality of them , i am sure the outcome was that if you can see down the side of the trailer / caravan without distraction of the tow vehicle then you do not need an extended mirror I,e with a 4X4 vehicle like a disco you don't need them but if its a normal car towing a trailer tent would not need them but if its towing a caravan then it will need at least one extended mirror fitted to the drivers side of the vehicle ( passengers side if in Europe)
Our 4x4 has absolutely huge mirrors, with superb visability. we've tried many sorts of towing mirrors, but have yet to find one with long enough retaining straps to span the mirror.
Mirrors The law requires the driver of the towing vehicle to have an adequate view to the rear. If there is no rear view through the caravan window it may be necessary to have additional exterior towing mirrors fitted to provide a view along both sides of the caravan. In some countries these additional mirrors are a legal requirement. Any rear view mirror must not project more than 200mm outside:
the width of the caravan when being towed;
the width of the towing vehicle when driven solo.
Note: Any additional rear view mirror fitted shall be of an approved European type and cover the field of view as stipulated by the regulations.
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"If I let go of what I am, I can become what I might be".
We use the ones that fix onto the normal mirrors with rubber straps. They do wobble a bit, but stop me getting pulled over and do the job. I can still see cars behind that I wouldn't with the fixed mirrors. And they are cheap.
I useed those that clip into the top and bottom of the door with an elastic arrangement. They worked well most of the time. I fitted them to a Focus C Max today and the vibration at 45 -50 was so bad I had to take them off.
How do I stop thre vibation? Is it just an unfortunate combination of elastic, door, length of arm, position on the door?
Should I be able to stop it by jiggling these things about?
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Topic: towing mirrors
