Tow mirrors a must?

[Diesel Donnie]

For the SAFETY of all involved, install the BEST mirrors you can find- You could save your own life and/or equipment

[tpennington70]

I just bought a Fit System Universal clip on tow mirror set from Amazon. Good reviews. Hoping it does the job. Thanks for the helpful info.

[Plowtoy]

I've run both ways. Up until a couple years ago, I didn't use them. Our camper was short enough I could look for shadows in my oe mirrors. Now that I have a set of mirrors that mount to my oe mirrors and a 31' camper, they go on in the spring and don't come off until fall, since that's mostly what the truck does in the summer (tow the camper)
My sister and BIL just upgraded campers and now are pulling a 29L with their 03 Durango. It has the sport mirrors and he has tried the one size fits all add on mirror with no success. He's still looking for shadows when he goes to pass, because he hasn't found a mirror that will work on the truck.

[NewBlackDak]

I towed a similar setup with a Titan, and it was terrible. I tried some clip ons, and ended up taking them back. I bought some stock tow mirrors, and put them on in 40 minutes. Best $250 I ever spent on that truck.

[Jagiven]

Mirrors are a necessity. I have been told, but have never verified, there is a federal law that states you must be able to see down the full length of the trailer. I could not image anymore not using auxiliary mirrors. I use AEARO 2 by JR products, easy to put on, and very stable. No vibration, I have hem setup to reach out as far as physically possible so I can see the bumper on the HTT. They are absolutely great.

JR Products :: Catalog

Here is a website about various tow laws for each state. No mention of mirrors thou.

Towing World Official Website

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by sailor

Many states have legal requirements for mirrors, they vary from state to state. Here is AAA's summary of mirror requirements.
Trailer Mirrors | AAA/CAA Digest of Motor Laws

Just returned from a trip that covered several of the states mentioned on this link [Ala, Ga, Fla, Miss, Tn]. None of the regs mandate special tow mirrors, just mirrors that give you a clear view 200' of road down a line parallel to the side of your trailer. Check it out and standard mirrors on the most popular tv's [full sized trucks] have perfectly adequate and legal mirrors per this requirement. If you are towing with a compact truck or mid sized SUV add on mirrors might be necessary.

When towing, you don't drive with your mirrors, just a glance or two after signaling your intention to change lanes or turn. You just need to insure you are clear in what is typically called your blind spot. Proper adjustment of your stock mirrors make this very easy and safe.

[Dagwood]

I tried towing with the Stock mirrors on my Tacoma and I was essentially blind. I did try the strap on type but they were brutal, too much vibration to make them useful. So I got lucky and got in on a group buy via another site and purchased these. These are in the normal position but when towing they flip up which allows me to see down the sides of the Trailer.

[Snake Plissken]

Amazon.com: CIPA 11650, Deluxe Door Mount Towing Mirror: Automotive

[Desert RVers]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

I tried towing with the Stock mirrors on my Tacoma and I was essentially blind. I did try the strap on type but they were brutal, too much vibration to make them useful. So I got lucky and got in on a group buy via another site and purchased these. These are in the normal position but when towing they flip up which allows me to see down the sides of the Trailer.

What a great design! Do you know if they would make these for a 1st gen Toy Sequoia? Better yet, can you share the web site of the company that makes your towing mirrors? Thanks! Those JR mirrors Jagiven mentioned look interesting too. I'll have to read up on those some more.

[Vaneta]

After doing a trip without extended mirrors, I put them on for the return trip and thought the bit of extra sightline they provided was helpful. After some research, I just got the ones at Advance Auto that rachet onto existing mirrors (about $30 each....there was a cheaper one that didn't rachet) and thought they were pretty stable. I put one on the driver's side first and then decided I did want the one for the other side.

[Flyrotor]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Don't have them, have never used them, and experience from 20 years of towing reinforce they aren't necessary. But don't believe me, go to any CG or look at the RV's you pass on the hwy. The stock mirrors on my silverado 2500HD provide adequate view angles and we use hand held radios when backing into a site or parking area.

You probably don't need different mirrors with your 2500HD, but the OP has a Nissan Armada, the vehicle width is much narrower than your pickup, I doubt the mirrors on the Nissan have the lateral reach to see what is needed to tow safely

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Desert RVers

What a great design! Do you know if they would make these for a 1st gen Toy Sequoia? Better yet, can you share the web site of the company that makes your towing mirrors? Thanks! Those JR mirrors Jagiven mentioned look interesting too. I'll have to read up on those some more.

The mirrors are made by ProEFX,
I bought them as part of a Group Buy over on TacomaWorld.com.
Message Mach1man001. He is the guy selling them.

THERE IS CURRENTLY A 3rd Group Buy underway now.

ProEFX Towing Mirrors GB #3 - Tacoma World Forums

He will know if the have mirrors for your TV. You can also look online for them I suppose but the particular model for the Tacoma's only appear to be available via TacomaWorld.com

[Vaneta]

And BassDogs, not everyone travels with someone who can communicate with hand held radio so we loners will take all the mechanical (mirror) help we can get.

[jamaddox]

I use the slide on sometimes but my my f-150 the stock mirrors are wider than they are tall (I have the non towing mirrors) so they have a pretty good field of view

[33 RLDS]

My Avalanche has power extend mirrors. I miss the power fold my 1/2 ton had but the larger power extend are great for towing and slide back in when not towing.

[gvn71]

We tow with a Nissan pathfinder. I have forgotten to put my mirrors on once or twice. It is no fun towing and not being able to see down the side of the trailer. I would definitely get some mirrors for your Armada.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by Vaneta

And BassDogs, not everyone travels with someone who can communicate with hand held radio so we loners will take all the mechanical (mirror) help we can get.

Never a good idea to tow by yourself or more specifically park at a site etc by your self. If you do, you need mirrors, and all I'm saying is that stock mirrors on almost all fullsized tow vehicles are more than adequate.

Someone mentioned seeing your tires so you can notice a soft tire. Don't follow this at all. At 60 or 65 mph a tire going down will not be noticed in a mirror unless you are stareing at it. Not a good idea. More likely you will feel a jerk or vibration and look back to see a tire flopping and most likely destroyed by then. Check your tires before you pull out in the am and every time you stop for fuel.

Obviously there are different opinions to the ops question. I say again, go to a CG and take a look. Most TV's do not have tow mirrors.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Someone mentioned seeing your tires so you can notice a soft tire. Don't follow this at all. At 60 or 65 mph a tire going down will not be noticed in a mirror unless you are stareing at it. Not a good idea. More likely you will feel a jerk or vibration and look back to see a tire flopping and most likely destroyed by then. Check your tires before you pull out in the am and every time you stop for fuel.

Not so much for a "soft" tire. I know better than to think you can tell the pressure of a tire from looking at it; if you can tell it's low, it's WAY low.

I was thinking more that I wouldn't be able to feel a tire blow, and am afraid that the narrow view I get down the side of my trailer wouldn't be adequate enough to see the rubber flapping. I've just never had it happen before, so I don't know if I'd be able to see it. I guess since I can see my sidewalls bulging out, I should be able to see rubber flapping, but again, I just don't know, and hope I never find out.

[jerdog]

Originally Posted by SouthCo

Lots of good advice. I will say I've towed both with and without the wider tow mirrors, and I wouldn't tow again without them....

I agree, bought a pair from CW for my Silverado back in 08 when I borrowed a friend's 26' Prowler for a weekend. Had them in the garage when we bought our Kiwi 17 last May and couldn't find them and thought I was going to have to buy new ones. They DO make a difference.

[Snake Plissken]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Never a good idea to tow by yourself or more specifically park at a site etc by your self. If you do, you need mirrors, and all I'm saying is that stock mirrors on almost all fullsized tow vehicles are more than adequate.

A few years ago my family was camping near Muskegon (my family, my sister's family, and 2 of my cousin's family). I came back from the beach for lunch with my then 2-year old and then put him down for a nap while everybody else stayed at the beach. At that time an older couple with a 5th wheel came in and pulled into the site across from my cousin (sho was next to my site). I hear a loud crash and come running out to see the guy backing in to his site without assistance even though his wife is sitting next to him in the truck. He had backed into my cousins car and ran the camper bumper from her front tire to her rear bumper. Literally picked the car up and moved it almost 2 feet. The driver never even felt it and didn't see it because he didn't have extended mirrors and his wife was tired and didn't want to help back him in.

That cost him a lot in insurance that trip and he was so embarrassed he checked out the following morning and went somewhere else to camp.