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What you need to know about Towing Mirrors
When towing a caravan, camper trailer or pop top your tow vehicle’s internal rear view mirror is obstructed and for some tow vehicles the fixed external side mirrors on your door may not have the capacity to provide a clear view of any following vehicle. This is where towing mirrors come into play.
A reversing camera fitted to the rear of your caravan and connected for viewing on a display screen in the tow vehicle cab will also provide a good rear view but may not adequately provide good vision so you can see down both sides of your caravan or trailer.
If your caravan, camper trailer or pop top is wider than your towing vehicle by law you must fit towing mirrors to your vehicle. The driver must have an unrestricted clear view of the road to the rear of the caravan or camper trailer and be able to view any overtaking or following vehicles. Extended (external) rear view mirrors should be used where the trailer is wider than the tow vehicle to accommodate this.
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What are the best types of towing mirror?
There are various bonnet, guard, door and clip on mirrors available. The cost of the towing mirrors can range from $14 to $250 per mirror and as the saying goes ‘You get what you pay for’.
Towing mirrors should be stable and as rigid as possible as any bouncing or vibrating effect can make it difficult for clear vision.
Bonnet towing mirrors
A metal cross bar extends from one side of the tow vehicle bonnet to the other. The bar straddles the bonnet and is held by a clip inserted on each side of the bonnet near the wheel arch. A mirror is attached to each end on either side. Some brands have a bracing arm for extra support.
The disadvantages of this type of mirror are that it can take some time to set it up on the tow vehicle and adjust the mirrors. When you are seated in the tow vehicle the mirrors are beyond your reach to be able to adjust them whilst you are driving.
Clip-On or Strap On towing mirrors
As the name suggests these either clip on or strap on, together with suction clips, to the tow vehicle’s external door mirrors. The mirror can be swivelled horizontally or vertically and the arm can be extended to accommodate the desired viewing position.
As you are no doubt aware, the tow vehicle external mirrors have an adjustment so they can be pushed in against the body of the vehicle.
Door Mounted towing mirrors
These type of mirrors are reported to be more stable and are considered to be the best performers. They also cost more than the clip-on type.
Three such brands are Aussie Truck Mirror, Pro Towing Mirror and Ora ‘Enzo Magnetic Mirror’ etc. The Aussie Truck Mirror brand has had excellent feedback. As the name suggests, Aussie Truck Mirrors are Australian.
Door mounted towing mirrors operate similarly no matter what brand. The adjustable arm attached to the mirror has a piece that slides into the window cavity of the tow vehicle once the window is down. The adjustable strap (similar to a seat belt) has a non-scratch mounting pad that rests against the door and a clip at the bottom of the strap attaches to the bottom of the door. A winding ratchet system at the top tightens the strap.
Take care when closing the window of the tow vehicle after you have secured the door mounted towing mirror. Make sure the mirror strap has been tightened. Close the window slowly to avoid any scratches to its surface particularly if it has been window tinted.
There are many different types of towing mirrors available if you’re unsure of what type of towing mirror best suits your vehicle contact a Prestige RV Sale Consultant for their professional advice. |
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