Towing Mirrors

T

TOGO

New member
I am one of the worlds worst trailer backers. Because of a few messed up vertebra I need to use mirrors. With the empty trailer I loose sight of the trailer on the ramp. I think that extending the mirrors may help. I do some times open the back gate which helps. I tow with a Ford Explorer V8 7500 lb towing.
I have been on the net looking there are a lot of different types of mirrors what works and what does not.
Will some of you please share your opinions with me. thank you

Guy
 
The stock extending mirrors on the Chevy/GMC pickups are great. If you can find something aftermarket like those, they are two piece - one regular mirror and one wide angle. Also, if you don't have them, goal posts on the trailer might make it easier to see in your mirrors.
 
What i use , i attach those magnetic trailer backing and hitching guides by Align-Quik on the rear trailer frame..they are orange in colour and about 44 inches tall. Even if i loose sight of the trailer i can still see the orange guides to back up the trailer.......they also work great when backing the truck up to attach the trailer to the hitching ball. Tug
 
The Ford F-250 has the small rear view mirrors, but both give a true view, objects are NOT closer than they seem. I don't know how that one slipped through, but I appreciate it.

The only problem I have backing the trailer is when the empty trailer goes over the edge of the ramp, that is, the trailer starts down the slope, and it disappears from view. And no mirror is going to help that. I think that, as mentioned above by Tug and Jim, a stick with a flag would be the best help in backing the trailer. One on each end would let you see when the trailer starts to go cattywampus. And let you correct it at once.

Boris
 
TOGO":wok54r20 said:
The mirror I have been looking at is
http://www.etrailer.com/Mirrors/CIPA/40375.html
Click to expand...

I would be concerned with vibration -- that is a problem with most clamp-on mirrors. If you end up buying them, please post your experiences.

On my Dodge I replaced the factory mirrors with Power Vision mirrors. The biggest problem I had with them is that the right mirror was not convex so my field of view was much less than with the factory mirrors. I looked at the CIPA but they do not make models with turn signals and do not recommend installing on trucks with turn signals, like my GMC. So I may take another look at PowerVision down the road, because they do offer models with turn signals.

Warren
 
On my Tundra, the mirrors are electric. Works great to tilt them and swing them in to keep track of the empty trailer. On my Dodge van I used to have a set of 5x7" curved mirrors, that came from Thrifty Auto. Stainless, and absolutely eliminated any blind spots. Yes they were curved and "objects might appear smaller" but if there was a kid standing next to the van, they did show up.

As to backing, Pull forward until every thing is straight and pointed right, then back, slow and turn the wheel VERY Little. Turn the BOTTOM of the steering wheel the way you want the back of the trailer to go.

Good luck and enjoy,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP6318.thumb.jpg
 
I have a pair of the mirrors Jay suggests. They worked fine on the Volvo 240 pulling our 16 footer. Once I put them on in the Spring I just left them on until I put the boat away for the winter. I recommend them.
 
I will give the Camper World mirrors a try. and will do something for visible posts. thank you all for your input. I will keep you informed on my progress.

Guy
 
Everyone has their own backing style. I too use mostly just the mirrors but not because I cannot twist in the seat. Rather, I find that the mirrors give me a pretty good way of directing the boat once I know which way I need to go. When backing the boat straight I try to have the same amoutn of boat in each mirror. The boat should be backing straight. If the boat appears to be filling more of one mirror and is disappearing from the other, I steer into the mirror where the image is growing. That is, if I find that the boat is filling the left hand mirror I just turn the wheel to the left and the boat straightens out. If the boat is filling the right hand mirror, I turn to the right. Conversely, if I want the boat to move to the left my left), I turn into the right hand mirror to make the boat disappear from the right hand mirror. And if I want to turn the boat to the right my right), I turn the wheel to the left to make the boat disappear from the right hand mirror.

It sounds a bit weird but it works for me. I seldom feel the need to pivot around and look at the boat.
 
Several years ago our son gave us a set of the add-on mirrors from JC Whitney for our 99 Dodge Ram. Still use them. Provide just enough extra vision that I'm comfortable with all sorts of trailers; boat, car, snowmachine, cargo, etc. I've used them all over Alaska and down into Texas without a problem (except the right one has to be readjusted a couple of times every day).
 
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