Travelling around this great wide land of ours, I have comeacrossfar too manycaravannerstowing their pride and joy with no towing mirrors. Not only is this dangerous but the fine for doing so will put a decent dent in the wallet. It appears some of our fellow travellers do not understand the concept of, if you trailer is as high or higher than the side mounted mirrors and wider than the tow vehicle your rear view is extremely limited. How many others have seen this.
woolman said
04:47 PM Dec 20, 2024
Mirrors are not the only option to view vehicles approaching from the rear or overtaking on either side as the legislation requires.
NEIL
Dougwe said
06:16 AM Dec 21, 2024
I too have seen that Klaus. I don't know their thinking or how they even get away with it. "BOOK 'EM DANNO"
The law is the law. No if but's or maybe's. If the object being towed is wider than the towing vehicle you MUST have towing mirrors fitted. No excuses! Yes, you can have cameras on the towed object but that doesn't cover to law.
I have both, mirrors on car and good quality full time camera on back of the aluminium tent.
I decided before I even got the aluminium tent to get Clearview mirrors fitted. Some don't like them because they reckon they look like elephant ears. SO WHAT! Safety is more important. The camera on back is a Safety Dave wired full time camera. No blue tooth or whatever it's called, for this old Chief.
Do I regret the Clearviews? Not on your sweat bippy. I love everything about them. Towing or not towing. The vision is second to none. Between them and the camera I can always see where I am going and where I have been and both sides. CLEARLY!
Yep, I love my Clearviews and never leave home without them.
(I just love them and don't own the company or sell them)
Keep Safe on the roads and out there all.
Long Weekend said
11:59 AM Dec 21, 2024
After trying several brands of clip ons I settled on Clearviews. Larger than any clip-ons they gave such an improvement in views both behind and alongside.
(The Clearviews even do away with the annoying problem with clip-ons each time they were fitted after being removed they have to be realigned!)
Those advocating rear view cameras overlook one critical factor the cameras do not show vehicles alongside vans.
When following a caravan you can tell that the tug doesn't have suitable mirrors as the driver puts the indicators on for several hundred metres. You can read their minds, "Well, I've given them enough warning to get out of the way so I can change lanes."
Murray
DMaxer said
12:53 PM Dec 21, 2024
I have had the same set of Milenco mirrors for about 8 years and they are brilliant. It is just a matter of inserting the arm into the existing side mirror and tightening up the screws. I don't need to adjust them as they go into the same position each time. When not towing, simply undo the two screws and secure them inside the tug.
They don't blow about when trucks go past and don't vibrate. I think they cost me about $150 when I bought them but haver seem them much cheaper online and at discount places.
Dick0 said
04:15 PM Dec 21, 2024
San Hima. Half the cost of Clearview.
Derek Barnes said
04:22 PM Dec 21, 2024
My car is a Nissam Patrol Y62, which is so wide that we can see down the sides of our Kimberley Kruiser E3, and could see down the sides of our previous caravan a Golf 390. We also have rear view and reversing cameras on our new caravan.
Possum3 said
05:47 PM Dec 21, 2024
DMaxer wrote:
I have had the same set of Milenco mirrors for about 8 years and they are brilliant. It is just a matter of inserting the arm into the existing side mirror and tightening up the screws. I don't need to adjust them as they go into the same position each time. When not towing, simply undo the two screws and secure them inside the tug.
They don't blow about when trucks go past and don't vibrate. I think they cost me about $150 when I bought them but haver seem them much cheaper online and at discount places.
Too true DMaxer; Would have to be the best value for money and, they attach to existing mirrors, so they fold in when you lock vehicle.
Warren-Pat_01 said
09:04 PM Dec 21, 2024
I don't know what OE mirrors DMaxer has on his car or the type of Milencos - there is a large mirror (Grand Aero 4) & also one that is significantly smaller (Aero 4). Perhaps his Isuzu mirror is different to my 2019 model. I could only get the Grands & was assured that vibration would be minimal!
I removed both - the OE & the Milencos & fitted MSA mirrors. No they don't fold in when the ignition is off but I can live with that (so far). I can leave them on permanently as they are of similar size to the OEs - I extended.
Issues I had with the Milencos - vibration that I couldn't stop & the last straw was when the OE mirror housing started to crack. I gave them to my son who has recently bought a camper & Ford Everest. He too has vibration issues but they were "cheap"!
Looking at my mirror history, the best ones I had were the ORAs but with the cheap imports, they are harder to obtain.
woolman said
10:09 AM Dec 22, 2024
Derek Barnes wrote:
My car is a Nissam Patrol Y62, which is so wide that we can see down the sides of our Kimberley Kruiser E3, and could see down the sides of our previous caravan a Golf 390. We also have rear view and reversing cameras on our new caravan.
Totally legal according to legislation and police, and actually better than mirrors only.
Neil
DMaxer said
10:51 AM Dec 22, 2024
I bought them in 2016 Warren and although I don't know what type of Milenco mirrors they are, they are the ones with four screws, two to secure them to the outside mirror and two to adjust the up and down. They fit snugly into the Dmax mirror and there is no vibration. Mine don't fold in and I remove them when not towing or parking anywhere as it is only a matter of turning two screws and they are off. I keep them on the same adjustment and the same side so that all that is needed is to fit them back into the mirror and tighten the two screws.
I get absolutely no vibration. Perhaps it is a better fit into the type of side mirrors I have on my 2014 Isuzu then on later models. Anyway, I have had no issues.
I think Doug likes his mirrors as when he is driving along and no one is looking he can turn them inwards and wave to himself.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Sunday 22nd of December 2024 10:52:14 AM
DMaxer said
07:32 PM Dec 22, 2024
Come on Doug. Give it to me.
Radar said
02:14 AM Dec 23, 2024
We had a set of MSA mirrors on our dual cab ute for towing but was dissatisfied with them when it towing. I found I had a blind spot and after 2 near misses took them off while the car was on loan to a family member.
Time to get away again, I put the old clip on el cheaper back on for the week and yes they will be staying on. No blind spot, no worries folding in, less mental stress in Shopping Centers.
I did have a set of Milenco which I enjoyed using, found them to be lifting my standard mirrors at the swivel and was concerning me that would cause more damage. So sold them on and now to my disappointment I have a set of MSA to sell also.
It amazes me how many people will tell how good things are just to justify why they spent the money.
Good old cheap clip ons for.me, we do regularly 16 000 kilometres a year towing our caravan and I can see down the side of the caravan as per the Law.
To the original poster, yes we do see some Carvaners without extended mirrors mostly on larger 4wd station wagons.
Dougwe said
12:17 PM Dec 23, 2024
DMaxer wrote:
Come on Doug. Give it to me.
Consider yourself given to BigD. With my good looks mate, I have to keep checking I am still in good shape so yes, I do do what you say
Have enjoyable but safe festive seasons BigD and all on GN's.
I'm currently spending the festive season in the tropics so hot, humid and wet. All good.
DMaxer said
02:13 PM Dec 23, 2024
Thanks, same to you Doug. Enjoy The Strand. A favourite place of mine.
Brodie Allen said
08:56 AM Dec 28, 2024
Although clip-ons are simple and convenient, you need to be sure that
when extended far enough for you to see the rear corners of your van,
that the standard mirrors have enough resistance to a 200k blast of
wind to not fold backwards and inwards due to the leverage pressure
from the extended mirror.
This forced fold back is quite violent when it occurs and I suspect less
than godd for the original mirror mechanism.
I use a set that have about an A4 size magnet that "slams" against the
door skin and has a brace to the window slot.
Over the years and different tugs these seem to be the best for me. A
bit difficult to find on the web, though.
B
Dick0 said
10:50 AM Dec 28, 2024
Brodie Allen wrote:
Although clip-ons are simple and convenient, you need to be sure that when extended far enough for you to see the rear corners of your van, that the standard mirrors have enough resistance to a 200k blast of wind to not fold backwards and inwards due to the leverage pressure from the extended mirror.
This forced fold back is quite violent when it occurs and I suspect less than godd for the original mirror mechanism.
I use a set that have about an A4 size magnet that "slams" against the door skin and has a brace to the window slot.
Over the years and different tugs these seem to be the best for me. A bit difficult to find on the web, though.
B
My first towing mirrors were the clip-on type. My tug was a Ford Territory and the drivers mirror would fold in truck and other wind gusts. Had to tie the mirror with rope to the engine bay.
Threw the mirrors in the bin and upgraded to Sam Hima elephant ears and have now only used these type of mirrors on my tugs, the latest being a Jeep.
peter67 said
11:14 AM Dec 28, 2024
Just a little aside, it's almost impossible to park in the next bay at crowded shopping centres when some boofhead has parked his 4x4 with wide towing mirrors still attached in the next bay.
Ozzie_Traveller said
08:18 AM Jan 4, 2025
G'day all
Over the yrs of our travelling, there have been many times when we've found ourselves behind someone who very obviously had inadequate rear vision due to no mirrors -and- no visible camera on the rear of the van
Some time back there were two of 'em in convoy, spaced about 75-metres apart and hitting the main highway at about 75km/h too. The truckies were using ch-40 with no success and these two vans had gained a string of shadows of about 25 vehicles - and they went on for about 30km before they pulled off in a small town
No doubt they had had a beaut day's drive in the countryside Phil
1)- the van we were behind much of the time
2)- part of the shadow tail
-- Edited by Ozzie_Traveller on Saturday 4th of January 2025 08:23:19 AM
Not good at all OT. Inconsiderate drivers. Sadly, they are out there.
Good towing mirrors, a full-time rear-view camera on back of van and UHF (turned on, scanning 40 and 29 minimum) are a must have IMO. I have all three and always have. I actually scan 5, 11, 18, 22, 29, 35 and 40 on UHF and on at all times I am in car. Towing or not towing.
Have to listen out for SOME inconsiderate road train drivers :) That said, I have great respect for most heavy vehicle drivers.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Southern Cruizer said
08:02 PM Jan 4, 2025
Dougwe wrote:
Not good at all OT. Inconsiderate drivers. Sadly, they are out there.
Good towing mirrors, a full-time rear-view camera on back of van and UHF (turned on, scanning 40 and 29 minimum) are a must have IMO. I have all three and always have. I actually scan 5, 11, 18, 22, 29, 35 and 40 on UHF and on at all times I am in car. Towing or not towing.
Have to listen out for SOME inconsiderate road train drivers :) That said, I have great respect for most heavy vehicle drivers.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Yes you certainly do Doug especially when some are up to 120 tonne as has been quoted on this forum
Travelling around this great wide land of ours, I have come across far too many caravanners towing their pride and joy with no towing mirrors. Not only is this dangerous but the fine for doing so will put a decent dent in the wallet. It appears some of our fellow travellers do not understand the concept of, if you trailer is as high or higher than the side mounted mirrors and wider than the tow vehicle your rear view is extremely limited. How many others have seen this.
Mirrors are not the only option to view vehicles approaching from the rear or overtaking on either side as the legislation requires.
NEIL
The law is the law. No if but's or maybe's. If the object being towed is wider than the towing vehicle you MUST have towing mirrors fitted. No excuses! Yes, you can have cameras on the towed object but that doesn't cover to law.
I have both, mirrors on car and good quality full time camera on back of the aluminium tent.
I decided before I even got the aluminium tent to get Clearview mirrors fitted. Some don't like them because they reckon they look like elephant ears. SO WHAT! Safety is more important. The camera on back is a Safety Dave wired full time camera. No blue tooth or whatever it's called, for this old Chief.
Do I regret the Clearviews? Not on your sweat bippy. I love everything about them. Towing or not towing. The vision is second to none. Between them and the camera I can always see where I am going and where I have been and both sides. CLEARLY!
Yep, I love my Clearviews and never leave home without them.
(I just love them and don't own the company or sell them)
Keep Safe on the roads and out there all.
(The Clearviews even do away with the annoying problem with clip-ons each time they were fitted after being removed they have to be realigned!)
Those advocating rear view cameras overlook one critical factor the cameras do not show vehicles alongside vans.
When following a caravan you can tell that the tug doesn't have suitable mirrors as the driver puts the indicators on for several hundred metres. You can read their minds, "Well, I've given them enough warning to get out of the way so I can change lanes."
Murray
I have had the same set of Milenco mirrors for about 8 years and they are brilliant. It is just a matter of inserting the arm into the existing side mirror and tightening up the screws. I don't need to adjust them as they go into the same position each time. When not towing, simply undo the two screws and secure them inside the tug.
They don't blow about when trucks go past and don't vibrate. I think they cost me about $150 when I bought them but haver seem them much cheaper online and at discount places.
San Hima. Half the cost of Clearview.
Too true DMaxer; Would have to be the best value for money and, they attach to existing mirrors, so they fold in when you lock vehicle.
I removed both - the OE & the Milencos & fitted MSA mirrors. No they don't fold in when the ignition is off but I can live with that (so far). I can leave them on permanently as they are of similar size to the OEs - I extended.
Issues I had with the Milencos - vibration that I couldn't stop & the last straw was when the OE mirror housing started to crack. I gave them to my son who has recently bought a camper & Ford Everest. He too has vibration issues but they were "cheap"!
Looking at my mirror history, the best ones I had were the ORAs but with the cheap imports, they are harder to obtain.
Totally legal according to legislation and police, and actually better than mirrors only.
Neil
I bought them in 2016 Warren and although I don't know what type of Milenco mirrors they are, they are the ones with four screws, two to secure them to the outside mirror and two to adjust the up and down. They fit snugly into the Dmax mirror and there is no vibration. Mine don't fold in and I remove them when not towing or parking anywhere as it is only a matter of turning two screws and they are off. I keep them on the same adjustment and the same side so that all that is needed is to fit them back into the mirror and tighten the two screws.
I get absolutely no vibration. Perhaps it is a better fit into the type of side mirrors I have on my 2014 Isuzu then on later models. Anyway, I have had no issues.
I think Doug likes his mirrors as when he is driving along and no one is looking he can turn them inwards and wave to himself.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Sunday 22nd of December 2024 10:52:14 AM
We had a set of MSA mirrors on our dual cab ute for towing but was dissatisfied with them when it towing. I found I had a blind spot and after 2 near misses took them off while the car was on loan to a family member.
Time to get away again, I put the old clip on el cheaper back on for the week and yes they will be staying on. No blind spot, no worries folding in, less mental stress in Shopping Centers.
I did have a set of Milenco which I enjoyed using, found them to be lifting my standard mirrors at the swivel and was concerning me that would cause more damage. So sold them on and now to my disappointment I have a set of MSA to sell also.
It amazes me how many people will tell how good things are just to justify why they spent the money.
Good old cheap clip ons for.me, we do regularly 16 000 kilometres a year towing our caravan and I can see down the side of the caravan as per the Law.
To the original poster, yes we do see some Carvaners without extended mirrors mostly on larger 4wd station wagons.
Consider yourself given to BigD. With my good looks mate, I have to keep checking I am still in good shape so yes, I do do what you say
Have enjoyable but safe festive seasons BigD and all on GN's.
I'm currently spending the festive season in the tropics so hot, humid and wet. All good.
when extended far enough for you to see the rear corners of your van,
that the standard mirrors have enough resistance to a 200k blast of
wind to not fold backwards and inwards due to the leverage pressure
from the extended mirror.
This forced fold back is quite violent when it occurs and I suspect less
than godd for the original mirror mechanism.
I use a set that have about an A4 size magnet that "slams" against the
door skin and has a brace to the window slot.
Over the years and different tugs these seem to be the best for me. A
bit difficult to find on the web, though.
B
My first towing mirrors were the clip-on type. My tug was a Ford Territory and the drivers mirror would fold in truck and other wind gusts. Had to tie the mirror with rope to the engine bay.
Threw the mirrors in the bin and upgraded to Sam Hima elephant ears and have now only used these type of mirrors on my tugs, the latest being a Jeep.
G'day all
Over the yrs of our travelling, there have been many times when we've found ourselves behind someone who very obviously had inadequate rear vision due to no mirrors -and- no visible camera on the rear of the van
Some time back there were two of 'em in convoy, spaced about 75-metres apart and hitting the main highway at about 75km/h too. The truckies were using ch-40 with no success and these two vans had gained a string of shadows of about 25 vehicles - and they went on for about 30km before they pulled off in a small town
No doubt they had had a beaut day's drive in the countryside
Phil
1)- the van we were behind much of the time
2)- part of the shadow tail
-- Edited by Ozzie_Traveller on Saturday 4th of January 2025 08:23:19 AM
Good towing mirrors, a full-time rear-view camera on back of van and UHF (turned on, scanning 40 and 29 minimum) are a must have IMO. I have all three and always have. I actually scan 5, 11, 18, 22, 29, 35 and 40 on UHF and on at all times I am in car. Towing or not towing.
Have to listen out for SOME inconsiderate road train drivers :) That said, I have great respect for most heavy vehicle drivers.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Yes you certainly do Doug especially when some are up to 120 tonne as has been quoted on this forum