Towing mirror question - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-31-2006, 08:51 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Trailer: 1977 Scamp 13 ft
Posts: 25
Hi,

We have a question about towing mirrors. We have a Honda Element and are towing a 13' Scamp. We got some strap on mirror extenders to help us tow the trailer but noticed that they don't really help much. There doesn't seem to be much difference between the view when the towing mirrors extensions are on and when they are off. I can see the back corners of the trailer either way. Has anyone else had this experience? Do I really need the extended mirrors? Is it a legal requirement anywhere? (We are starting in California and going through about ten states in the western U.S.)

Thanks,

Linda
Chris Seddon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2006, 09:41 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Byron Kinnaman's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
Registry
I don't know about the leagle stuff except that an uncle was stopped about 30 years ago and told to extend his towing mirrors by 3 inches.

As for usefullness, I find the extensions very usefull. When towing the additional towing mirrors give a bit of a view closer to the back of the trailer than I can get with the factory mirrors. Cars following will always follow too close. I can tell they're back there if all I can see is what's behind the back door of the following car. I can't see anything with the factory mirrors. I'm towing my 13' Scamp with 1998 Chev Blazer, which could be bit wider than your Element.

That said, many people like to tow with the front and back windows of the trailer certains open and no gravel gaurd. I did that for awhile, you can see right through and no need for towing mirrors.

Gina! Do you use towing mirrors or just look through the trailer windows?
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
Byron Kinnaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2006, 09:47 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Mike Taylor's Avatar
 
Trailer: Hunter Compact II
Posts: 154
California Vehicle Code requires mirrors to see at least 200 feet behind trailer. I have the strap on extended mirrors on my 1999 Nissan Frontier pickup towing the Compact II and they help out a lot. Mike
Mike Taylor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2006, 09:50 PM   #4
Moderator
 
Frederick L. Simson's Avatar
 
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
Registry
Send a message via AIM to Frederick L. Simson
Talking

Quote:
We got some strap on mirror extenders to help us tow the trailer but noticed that they don't really help much. There doesn't seem to be much difference between the view when the towing mirrors extensions are on and when they are off. [b] I can see the back corners of the trailer either way. Has anyone else had this experience? Do I really need the extended mirrors? Is it a legal requirement anywhere?
My extended mirrors do a better job of showing me the cars behind my trailer than my regular mirrors do; the wider angle helps me see those cars that are closer behind me. My extensions are oriented horizontally:

Click image for larger version

Name:	Backing_in.jpg
Views:	71
Size:	176.2 KB
ID:	3318

I chose them over ones that were oriented vertically:


Name:   10438A.JPG
Views: 73
Size:  6.9 KB

The wider the mirrors are, the closer to the back of my trailer I can see.
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
Frederick L. Simson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2006, 09:53 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Byron Kinnaman's Avatar
 
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
Registry
Quote:
California Vehicle Code requires mirrors to see at least 200 feet behind trailer. I have the strap on extended mirrors on my 1999 Nissan Frontier pickup towing the Compact II and they help out a lot. Mike
Mike, do you know if that means 0 to 200' or 200' and beyond? or maybe something else?

Thanks
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
Byron Kinnaman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2006, 10:58 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Gina D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: Former Burro owner and fan!
Posts: 9,015
Registry
I do not use extention mirrors with my Element, no. I use the open curtain method, and I tried someone elses mirrors once. They had zero additional benefit.

The Elements mirrors are larger than most, almost trucklike, for a car it's size.

Interestingly enough, I had a less than pleasant experience with a gung ho young CHP officer one my way down the hill the day before Cambria.

He pulled me over for no other reason than to bawl me out for towing with the Element and HAD to inquire about the weight. I had to get inside to look at the reg. (Which does NOT have the weight printed on it) He for some reason believed my staements and calmed down after he learned the Burros true self. He THEN proceeded to patrol around the trailer looking for violations. He then told me I didn't need brakes or two safety chains for a trailer this size. First he grumps cause he thought I was being unsafe, then he grumps because I am TOO safe.

Not once were mirrors mentioned. And I was happy to see him dissapear in my mirrors as I got back underway.
Gina D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2006, 12:18 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Jackie's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1977 Scamp 13 ft
Posts: 190
Send a message via Yahoo to Jackie
Gina.....he probably just wanted your phone number.....
Jackie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2006, 12:27 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Gina D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: Former Burro owner and fan!
Posts: 9,015
Registry
Har!

Liz thinks he just wanted to see my cute little..

TRAILER

Gina D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2006, 05:10 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Mike Taylor's Avatar
 
Trailer: Hunter Compact II
Posts: 154
I think the vehicle code states if you can see a car 200ft or more behind your ok. It would be nice to know if an emergency vehicle is behind you with lights flashing.
Mike Taylor is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Towing question Bobbie Mayer Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 15 04-13-2007 12:27 PM
Mirror, Mirror on the ..err.. Odyssey? Matthew Lyon Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 12 12-06-2006 03:22 AM
5er towing question Al Stansell Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 13 01-26-2006 09:06 PM
The Old Towing Question Legacy Posts Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 4 02-25-2003 11:30 AM
Mirror Question Legacy Posts Modifications, Alterations and Updates 10 10-17-2002 11:30 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.