Looking at getting back into vanning after a 20 year break. Noticed a lot of vehicles towing wide vans without towing mirrors. I'm assuming that maybe they have a rear-view camera. Are these cameras legal i.l.o. of wide van mirrors?
Dougwe said
02:30 PM May 21, 2015
The camera on the back of the van is legal but towing without mirrors IS NOT.
Even with a camera on the back of the van any van or camper trailer that is wider than the towing vehicle MUST have extended mirrors fitted by law.
I have a camera on the back of my van and love it but also have, by my choice, "Clear View" mirrors to save any hassle. I love them equally and use them together. Works for me.
Meredith said
02:35 PM May 21, 2015
Legally cameras cannot replace mirrors when towing. Mirrors allow you to see down the side of the van, to places that a rear view camera cannot see. We have a rear view camera and its very handy to see whats coming up behind, and occasionally use it when backing also, but also have Clearview mirrors that give a very different view and are extremely important.
The Clearview mirrors replace the standard mirrors, are bigger and can be extended out when towing and pushed in when not towing, and are far better than any attached mirror we have ever used. We have had somebody ask us why we didn't have towing mirrors, not realising that the Clearview mirrors were towing mirrors.
Spydermann said
03:05 PM May 21, 2015
Thanks for the replies. Couldn't find anything for Australia hence the post but just found this UK item when I started looking for towing mirrors. I'm guessing that Australia is similar or the same.
I have fitted side cameras at front sides of the van as well as a rear camera. The side cameras provide a rear and side view down the complete side of the van even when turning where my Clearview tug mirrors cant. I can also see any vehicle approaching on either side particularly when passing an "on ramp" on a freeway as well as any vehicle sitting in the blind spot. The additional cost of the 2 side cameras was about $200 at the same time I purchased and fitted the rear camera. Also very good when reversing back into a narrow site or roadway.
NeilandRaine said
08:34 PM May 21, 2015
We have camera and mirrors, however the standard mirrors on our vehicle (Pajero) allows us to see the side of the van. Having said that In NSW it is not actually law that you have mirrors, the wording is Additionally: Extra mirrors may be needed for the towing vehicle if towing a large trailer. Emphasis on the word MAY
-- Edited by NeilandRaine on Thursday 21st of May 2015 08:35:29 PM
Ozzie_Traveller said
09:00 PM May 21, 2015
G'day All
I'm not sure about the wording etc etc -but- as I also understand the rules, the driver MUST be able to view beyond the rear of the caravan whilst the car & caravan are travelling in a straight line down the road
So, as I understand it, the mirrors -must- extend beyond the width of the van so that the driver can see down the road behind the van
On our travels, I come across too many caravans where as I position myself behind them, I cannot see any mirror extending beyond the van, so I presume that the driver cannot see me either. I see caravans doing a slow wiggle left-right where the driver can then see what's behind the van, but this means the driver knows that "he's blind" ~ many drivers do not know they're blind, and we go for miles in a big long conga-line before the driver realises that he's blocking the traffic
Any thoughts?
Phil
Peter1059 said
09:02 PM May 21, 2015
Howdy Guy
Google "safety dave", their kit is a bit expensive but very good........
03_Troopy said
07:12 AM May 22, 2015
I suggest you shop around. Prices vary considerably for the same equipment at different places. The thing that annoys me about Safety Dave's website is that there doesn't seem to be any prices listed. Makes it very difficult to compare to other who are selling exactly the same equipment.
PeterD said
09:47 AM May 22, 2015
Meredith wrote:
Legally cameras cannot replace mirrors when towing.
ADR-14 allows cameras to be substituted for mirrors. However the cameras must cover the same field of view as specified for mirrors. The following is from the ADR (and before someone comments that the vehicle shown is a LHD model, ADR-14 incorporates the European specification in the interest of minimum red tape for international trade.)
Thanks for the replies. Couldn't find anything for Australia hence the post but just found this UK item when I started looking for towing mirrors. I'm guessing that Australia is similar or the same.
I don't think that that comes from any legal document. However it is a damn good diagram detailing the requirement for supplementary towing mirrors. If you are after legislative requirements I suggest you go to ADR-14- download it from here.
The diagram I posted above is just for the main mirror of a vehicle. Trucks are required to have convex mirrors that cover the side view closer than the main mirrors an have a wider field of view. They are also specified in the ADR. The standard door mirrors on our tug cover that requirement.
-- Edited by PeterD on Friday 22nd of May 2015 09:57:32 AM
Moonraker said
06:30 PM May 22, 2015
The side cameras I have installed on my van provide the same view as PeterD's diagram even when turning as I loose view with my Clear View mirrors. There is basically no point in time that I cant see both sides and rear which is a big plus driving through Perth on freeway and dual carriage ways with Perth drivers everywhere!
Looking at getting back into vanning after a 20 year break. Noticed a lot of vehicles towing wide vans without towing mirrors. I'm assuming that maybe they have a rear-view camera. Are these cameras legal i.l.o. of wide van mirrors?
Even with a camera on the back of the van any van or camper trailer that is wider than the towing vehicle MUST have extended mirrors fitted by law.
I have a camera on the back of my van and love it but also have, by my choice, "Clear View" mirrors to save any hassle. I love them equally and use them together. Works for me.
Legally cameras cannot replace mirrors when towing. Mirrors allow you to see down the side of the van, to places that a rear view camera cannot see. We have a rear view camera and its very handy to see whats coming up behind, and occasionally use it when backing also, but also have Clearview mirrors that give a very different view and are extremely important.
The Clearview mirrors replace the standard mirrors, are bigger and can be extended out when towing and pushed in when not towing, and are far better than any attached mirror we have ever used. We have had somebody ask us why we didn't have towing mirrors, not realising that the Clearview mirrors were towing mirrors.
www.caravanwise.co.uk/img/350x240xmilencotowing.jpg.pagespeed.ic.5Bbfpv8E_e.jpg
Im totally with what Doug and Meredith say about cameras and Clearview mirrors - they are brilliant !!!!!
we are using Milenco Grand Aero mirrors and they have been great.
no blowback from trucks and road trains
very little vibration
easy on/off
available from www.caravansplus.com.au
frank
We have camera and mirrors, however the standard mirrors on our vehicle (Pajero) allows us to see the side of the van. Having said that
In NSW it is not actually law that you have mirrors, the wording is
Additionally:
Extra mirrors may be needed for the towing vehicle if towing a large trailer. Emphasis on the word MAY
-- Edited by NeilandRaine on Thursday 21st of May 2015 08:35:29 PM
I'm not sure about the wording etc etc -but- as I also understand the rules, the driver MUST be able to view beyond the rear of the caravan whilst the car & caravan are travelling in a straight line down the road
So, as I understand it, the mirrors -must- extend beyond the width of the van so that the driver can see down the road behind the van
On our travels, I come across too many caravans where as I position myself behind them, I cannot see any mirror extending beyond the van, so I presume that the driver cannot see me either. I see caravans doing a slow wiggle left-right where the driver can then see what's behind the van, but this means the driver knows that "he's blind" ~ many drivers do not know they're blind, and we go for miles in a big long conga-line before the driver realises that he's blocking the traffic
Any thoughts?
Phil
Howdy Guy
Google "safety dave", their kit is a bit expensive but very good........
ADR-14 allows cameras to be substituted for mirrors. However the cameras must cover the same field of view as specified for mirrors. The following is from the ADR (and before someone comments that the vehicle shown is a LHD model, ADR-14 incorporates the European specification in the interest of minimum red tape for international trade.)
I don't think that that comes from any legal document. However it is a damn good diagram detailing the requirement for supplementary towing mirrors. If you are after legislative requirements I suggest you go to ADR-14- download it from here.
The diagram I posted above is just for the main mirror of a vehicle. Trucks are required to have convex mirrors that cover the side view closer than the main mirrors an have a wider field of view. They are also specified in the ADR. The standard door mirrors on our tug cover that requirement.
-- Edited by PeterD on Friday 22nd of May 2015 09:57:32 AM