Mirrors

mike g g · Senior Member

Mirrors

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

You will get a wide variety of 'recommended' mirrors as I think there are nearly as many mirror styles/makes as there are vans.

I have used ORA Big Red for the past five years and have found them very good. I have them fitted like this so that they stop the vehicle mirror getting pushed back by passing trucks.

Towing Mirror 003.JPG

Towing Mirror 002.JPG

I think the "best" mirrors for towing would quite probably be the Clearview range. However, they aren't cheap and are butt-ugly on the vehicle - particularly when not towing. They are just SO unnecessarily BIG. hmm But that is only my opinion. hmm

http://www.clearviewmirrors.com.au/13468/TERRITORY/

Cheers - John

Tony Bev · Guru

Hello mike g g

When I towed a caravan, I used the el-cheapo towing mirrors from Supercheap, or any other auto parts store

Here is a link to the type of mirror I am talking about

They usually come in two sizes, for car, or 4x4

To stop the main car mirror from blowing inwards, I just kept as far to the left as practical, when meeting oncoming trucks. You can usually buy spare rubber straps at any caravan expo show

Fringe Dweller · Senior Member

I Prefer , clip to mirror , takes 2 minutes . But , I like the ones that Are Upright.

I Want to See along the van & what's behind & so I can back into a site .

I will add a pic later.

Hendo · Guru

Mike, I have had all types of mirrors, resulting in paint chips, door damage, and blow backs.
I finally bit the bullet and fitted Clearview mirrors and they are without doubt the best mirrors I've ever used.
Yes they are expensive but you get what you pay for. They aren't really that expensive when you consider the safety they provide you, your partner, your tug and your van.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Another vote for " clearview " . I know you said not fixed Mike but just say'n.

Rocky mate, Sorry but I disagree, they are not " but-ugly " mine don't look anything like a but.

Desert Dweller · Guru

We've had nothing but trouble with our Ora Rossa towing mirrors over the past 4 years. They are strap to mirror & suction cup to door type. They've bit the dust quite a few times & been almost tun over by a road train once. We've spoken to others that have had the same experience as us with them. They are total rubbish & we're about to pension them off so this thread is of interest to us as well. Don't make the same mistake as us.

brickies · Guru

Millenco

KFT · Guru

brickies wrote:
Millenco

Me too, Milenco have been fantastic now for nearly 70,000km

not one blowback, easy on/off and stay aimed correctly when I put them back on.

available in flat or convex

I like the idea of clearviews but just cannot bear the look of them. They look like Dumbo ears. If they made a smaller version I may be interested.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Who you call'n dumbo KFT biggrin biggrin

Mine don't look anything like Dumbo either.

KFT · Guru

Not you Doug ya flamin mirrors mate

just my impression of an oversized mirror that would be better suited to a real truck

hehehe

no KFC for tea tonight either

-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 26th of March 2016 05:41:04 PM

brickies · Guru

Clear view I think would be a great mirror first the price and the look just can't do that to my rig

Explorer · Guru

Cleaview Mirrors! Would be interesting to know the legalities of when the van is unhitched. With the clip on type they are illegal when unhitched as they are outside the required width of ADR's. Often wondered about the CVs still being so wide.

My votes with Rocky & KFT.

Mike.

Desert Dweller · Guru

I reckon they look pretty damn good Doug. The black, non-chrome imitation ones that you have fitted look pretty cool.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Mike, the pic shows them in the towing position. They push in when not towing to be within legal limits. They can also be folded in against vehicle when in car parks and if you think some bunny will knock them as I have them as we speak. A few drunk bunnies around here tonight.

nocat · Newbie

I have tried all types of mirrors.
Bought a set of Brunsgaard mirrors,once adjusted correctly no need to readjust again,two seconds to take on and off,no damage to vehicle.
I wouldnt use anything else,the best i have ever used.
Cheers Noel

Woody n Sue · Guru

Hi Guys well this is an interesting and timely discussion as I did a trip in my semi Wednesday delivered a load of wheat to a dairy farm out Echuca way a trip of some 550 km on which I encountered a few caravans going in both directions first one I came up behind had mirrors so small and narrow that when I lined up with the side of the van I could see only about 1 inch of the edge of the mirror there is no way he could get a decent view of what's behind him with his mirrors and he had no uhf , so I decided to look closely at every van a passed and couple didn't have extended mirrors how dangerous is that! most had small mirrors attached to the existing mirror I would suggest that they may i say may be leagal but to my mind insuficient for the job a couple had mirrors that looked like they were doing the job satisfactory only noticed 1 set of clear view mirrors I have to agree with KFC about these being ugly and would be nice to see a set just a bit smaller in size however they are there to make driving a safer experience which I suspect they do this really well given there size and distance out from the tug, I should add here that I don't know which mirrors I wold recommend as my patrol I simply added an extension to my standard mirrors that can scissor back in when not towing.

My other point is get a bloody UHF radio only seen one van with a UHF fitted all day this is also a safety feature in my humble oppinion it helps us in trucks talk to you when we want to and can get around you remember we are speed limited to 100 km sure some can go a bit faster that 100 but very few can, (also please remember that your speedo is most likely reading 5 kms faster than you are actually going ) we are working usually to a time frame you lucky guys are on holiday and I get that you are not wanting to go at 100kmh and that's fine but PLEASE think of the other road users and let them pass safely as soon as the road allows

Edit I also realise that some truckies use unnesserily rude language which pisses me off too, if you took the f word out there would be almost silence and I understand that you and swambo do not want to listen to that, I dont either I understand if you turn the volume down when this occurs but please remember to turn the volume up again they won't be in range for long

-- Edited by Woody n Sue on Sunday 27th of March 2016 11:48:06 AM

blissonwheels · Senior Member

Gooday,

Well put, and I agree wholeheartedly, as I have said before Decent Rear View Mirrors are not a Cost but an investment, as is a UHF

Radio, monitored & used properly.

Cheers,

Bliss on Wheels.

GerryP · Veteran Member

Agree wholeheartedly with having a UHF. We have one and advertise the fact on the rear of our caravan... on channel 40 all the time, while scanning 18 and a couple of others at the same time.

Talking to a truckie a while ago who mentioned that even though many may display a sticker on the back, some don't even turn them on. confuse Talk to the truckies folks... most are pretty good guys and happy to communicate.

Mutley · Senior Member

Great thread! Some interesting info on here about mirrors, which we are currently looking into. The Super Cheap ones seem too good to be true for the price?

Re UHF; yes, we have & use it on Hwy's, but switch it off in built up areas as there's often some clown using it for their own entertainment. Drove down from Hawker yesterday & forgot about the UHF until we hit the Gawler bypass - sure enough, someone using it like he thought he was a DJ laughing into it & playing the Mission Impossible theme music over it.

brickies · Guru

I have UHF but don't get many calls , very handy on single lane road in western Queensland , Don't use it just to talk to someone only if there is the need .

blissonwheels · Senior Member

Gooday,

I mentioned in an earlier Post on this subject about Spot mirror to fit your Aussie Truck type mirrors, here is a photo of ours mounted on our Vision Plus mirrors which the Aussie Truck are a clone of.

These Spot Mirrors are a fabulous help.

Spot Mirrior.jpg

Cheers,

Bliss on Wheels.