Do you use extra mirrors when towing?

[BCDave]

I have found that many times even the "extra-extension' camper mirrors on my GMC are just not able to let me see past my trailer - and when using a smaller vehicle, the mirrors are almost completely useless.

I use a CIPA (strap onto the door) kind for towing, in addition to whatever the vehicle came with.

To see this type - go onto the Summit Racing home page and enter part number CIPA 11650 (its the only place I have seen them on line - I did NOT get mine there, however, but at a local racing/speed shop)

Do you use any additional mirrors for extra safety?

If so, what kind?

[Daniel A.]

CIPA 10900 Chevrolet/GMC Custom Pair Towing Mirrors

I've found these to be good.

[BCDave]

I should have googled "CIPA 11650" before posting my original. There are a LOT of places on line that sell them and nearly all other sites are cheaper than Summit. Amazon has them as well.

[RonMayo]

I find that with my (2004) Jeep Liberty's standard rear view mirrors I can see fairly well around my 2005 13' Scamp. It is not 100% but it is fairly close.

[rgrugg]

Towing our Egg Camper with our minivan I need extra mirrors. Towing our Egg with our Chevy Silverado I don't need extra. Towing our Kodiak with anything, extra mirrors are needed.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by Daniel A.

CIPA 10900 Chevrolet/GMC Custom Pair Towing Mirrors

I've found these to be good.

I second that... We have Cipa slip-on mirrors and find their performance to be nearly as good as OEM

[Jon Vermilye]

No, but I have a camera mounted on the trailer from Rear View Safety. Works Great as a rear view morror.

[mcbrew]

Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye

No, but I have a camera mounted on the trailer from Rear View Safety. Works Great as a rear view morror.

I like that idea!

My new car is 4" wider than my old car. I use extension mirrors, and even with the old car (67.9" wide), I was able to see around the Scamp pretty well.

I find that most people have their side mirrors set incorrectly. Most people set the mirrors so that they see behind their car in both mirrors. That's what the REAR veiled is for! Side mirrors are for seeing to the SIDEs of the car! With the extension mirrors on, I set them so that I am looking right down the sides (and a bit behind) the trailer, and use the vehicle's side mirrors for seeing to the sides.

[Herb Sutton]

I used extension mirrors when we had an 8'wide stick built. They were a pain because they vibrated and got out of adjustment.

I included them when I sold the trailer.

I am fine without them towing our Casita with a Blazer.

[honda03842]

We have clip on mirrors but rarely use them. We have added convex mirrors to the corners of the Honda's mirrors and that seems to help.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by honda03842

We have clip on mirrors but rarely use them.

I have extra mirrors that strap on to the regular mirrors.



I bought them when I bought the Fiber Stream, and have always used them.
Yes, they vibrate a little. But after 3 travel mugs of coffee so do I.

I can make sense of what I see in them with only a glance.

[Doug Mager]

The Tow Truck, (Dodge Dakota) already has a trailer tow package on it so add ons are not needed.

The Plymouth needs add on mirrors which are straped to each door. The heads of these mirrors are older Toyota (1983)truck mirrors which work well and have no vibration at all. They are a customized version of the Mckesh mirrors.

[Tom Trostel]

I use McKesh towing mirrors to see around our 8' wide Bigfoot. Piggyback strap-on mirrors didn't work well for me.

1980 Bigfoot :: NW New Mexico picture by tomNjo - Photobucket

http://hensleymfg.com/products/mckesh-mirrors/

[John J. M]

Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye

No, but I have a camera mounted on the trailer from Rear View Safety. Works Great as a rear view morror.

We do the same ,what a difference the camera made !

[radloffc]

Jon and John, we're looking at doing the camera thing too with our 13' Burro. Any suggestions, what features to look for, how much is too much or too little pay? We're just starting to look and some guidance would be great. Thanks much!

~carrie

Originally Posted by John J. M

We do the same ,what a difference the camera made !

[Jon Vermilye]

Rear View Safety is more expensive than some of the other suppliers but they are very helpful when you call in putting together a system that meets your needs. For example, in my case they threw in a "demo" cable because I had a short run for part of the system. I don't remember what I paid for the system, but they do have their prices on their website. My only complaint with the system is the connector for the trailer is tight enough that it is a bit of a pain to plug & unplug (particularly plug) each time I unhook. It is a bit of an overkill - it is the connector that is often used to feed a tractor trailer rig.

That said, I've been told that Costco has the same cameras & system at lower prices. I don't know that for sure since I've never been to a Costco.

There are other suppliers - my suggestion is to go with a wired system & two cameras (one for the trailer & one for the tow vehicle to see the hitch).

[jen b]

I have been using clip-on mirrors and while it can be a pain in the butt to get them adjusted into the right place (when putting them on standing still you have to anticipate how wind resistance while driving will push them forward) I've found them really helpful.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Doug Mager

The Tow Truck, (Dodge Dakota) already has a trailer tow package on it so add ons are not needed.

The Plymouth needs add on mirrors which are straped to each door. The heads of these mirrors are older Toyota (1983)truck mirrors which work well and have no vibration at all. They are a customized version of the Mckesh mirrors.

Doug, I tow with a Dodge Dakota trailer tow package. I still use strap on mirrors.
Many states have a 200' law. That is you have to be able to see what's behind you at the 200' and beyond mark. Without the wiggle waggle and without extension mirrors I can't see that close. With the stock mirrors there's also a blind spot on the right side, making changing lanes a bit risky without the extension mirrors. I do have a canopy over the bed so it's a bit more difficult to look out the rear and side.
I vote for bit more safety.
I think the rear view camera will work pretty good for what's right behind you, but again there's the blind spot thing.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by jen b

I have been using clip-on mirrors and while it can be a pain in the butt to get them adjusted into the right place (when putting them on standing still you have to anticipate how wind resistance while driving will push them forward) I've found them really helpful.

I have a couple of pairs of those mirrors which have the rubber straps, and while they work , they are still annoying to install and even once adjusted, they tend to vibrate going down the road.
I recently gathered these parts... a Bicycle mirror, a stainless steel screw, a nylock nut, and a cheap screwdriver handle.
I then drilled one 5/16" hole in the frame of the Escape's mirror and installed my new "extension mirror".
I works remarkably well.... In fact better than the strap mirrors.
The cloth bag with a velcro seal is used to store the mirror in the bottom of my console when not in use.
Here are some pics....

[brendadave]

I use the strap on mirrors ever since my first trip without. I was surprised how much more you can see with them, wouldn't tow without now.