[spoiler] Wife and I are debating what we should be able to see on our "Tow Mirrors" when we are hitched to our van. She feels she needs to see the cars behind .... If so, how far back behind the 'van should we be able to see a following vehicle ... In single file .... assuming there is a car say 3 metres behind our van .. How much of him should we see??
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[spoiler] May the Road rise up to meet you, May the Sun always shine upon your back, The Wind blow gently upon your face, And the Rain fall gently upon your fields.
I might have to check for myself now - with the mirrors set up on the vehicle and van connected.
But, if I recall fairly correctly, with my mirrors set up I would not be able to see a vehicle that was only 3 metres behind the van. I would think the vehicle would have to be more than 3 metres directly behind the van before I could see any of it.
I would think to see a vehicle behind the van, it would have to be at least two and a half car lengths behind to see any, or some, of it.
At least three car lengths behind before I could see the at least half of the front of the following vehicle.
A good way to check what YOU will experience is like that sign says on the back of some trucks - "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you".
Travel behind a truck and stay back far enough so you can see the driver's mirror - that is about how far away a vehicle would be behind your van so you could see them. Any closer and you will not know they are there.
I use any shadow on the road cast by vehicles following to see if they are close behind me. Often, obviously, I need to see either on the left side or right side, dependent on the sun's position. Sometimes, I move left while checking my mirror and as that moves the van and exposes a bit more road, I can see if there is someone up close before the rig all moves back to the 'centre' of the lane.
Hope some of that helps - if not, others will offer their advice from experience.
And again - welcome to the forum
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Why not go to an empty car park with your van and another car and experiment. Park directly behind the van and see what you can see then move car back and look again.
I might have to check for myself now - with the mirrors set up on the vehicle and van connected.
But, if I recall fairly correctly, with my mirrors set up I would not be able to see a vehicle that was only 3 metres behind the van. I would think the vehicle would have to be more than 3 metres directly behind the van before I could see any of it.
I would think to see a vehicle behind the van, it would have to be at least two and a half car lengths behind to see any, or some, of it.
At least three car lengths behind before I could see the at least half of the front of the following vehicle.
A good way to check what YOU will experience is like that sign says on the back of some trucks - "If you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you".
Travel behind a truck and stay back far enough so you can see the driver's mirror - that is about how far away a vehicle would be behind your van so you could see them. Any closer and you will not know they are there.
I use any shadow on the road cast by vehicles following to see if they are close behind me. Often, obviously, I need to see either on the left side or right side, dependent on the sun's position. Sometimes, I move left while checking my mirror and as that moves the van and exposes a bit more road, I can see if there is someone up close before the rig all moves back to the 'centre' of the lane.
Hope some of that helps - if not, others will offer their advice from experience.
And again - welcome to the forum
Cheers - John
Thanks for that folks ... Basically agreeing with my thoughts .... Like John, I use the shadows as a guide and if a car/Ute/truck is about 20 metres back I can see them in my mirror .... Basically used the parked car trick when parked as my initial guide. [spoiler]
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[spoiler] May the Road rise up to meet you, May the Sun always shine upon your back, The Wind blow gently upon your face, And the Rain fall gently upon your fields.
We use a reversing camera wired through a switch on the dash, instead of the reversing lights. we normaly only turn this of at night when we find the light from it can be a bit distracting. Landy
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In life it is important to know when to stop arguing with people
and simply let them be wrong.
I have not towed vans much over the years but in recent times have relaxed more. The way I see it i am comfortable, travelling around 90 in a 100 zone. Keeping to the left where possible, ignoring those up my rear at those speeds, tail gating anyway. I set drivers side towing mirrors out as far as they reach without too much blur from vibration. This is aimed at cars behind, the car mirror aimed down at the axle. The passenger side to the axle and fog line as my towing mirror on that side is magnified a bit, why, maybe some one may help.
I use those door mount tension up type that are quite common securing under door with a small ratchet tensioner.
Those mirrors you describe Graham are good, just a little bit of a trick,fit a piece of electrical wire under the top mounting bracket to stop crushing your window rubber,but if you want to spend $600.00 on the best mirrors they are available, my opinion when your not towing they make your tug look like a truck that just my thoughts.
Lance C
Lance C
-- Edited by Olley46 on Tuesday 10th of June 2014 04:01:23 PM
Graham, the $600+ ones are Clearviews. I use them when towing and remove them if not towing for awhile but you can leave them on. Google Clearview mirrors.
Sorry Jonathan/Graham, answered before reading your post.
-- Edited by Legendts on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 07:16:16 PM
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Cheers Jeff
Ticking off the bucket list before we kick it!
200 TTD with Evernew 22'6" and 40+ years in the oil & gas industry, now retired. CMCA Member.
I strongly advise the use of a combined large plain mirror with a smaller convex mirror as a single unit.
On our 10 meter motor home the mirror is adjusted so that the convex section shows me what is beside me and the larger flat mirror is adjusted so that it picks up the area starting from the rear edge of the van. The combination of the 2 gives me the best view of the road and whatever is there, wherever it is.
These days I only use the rear view camera to see if some idiot is tailgating, having failed to read the sign saying 'if you can't see my mirrors etc." or decided to ignore it.
Great idea with the cable, over here in adelaide we can't drive around with them on they say, don't know if that's true.
Graham, I take it you are referring to the removable towing mirrors.
There are two magic dimensions for mirrors. If the mirrors do not fold then the dimensions are:
"At least one such mirror shall be affixed to each side of the vehicle and may project 150 mm beyond the point of 'Overall Width' of the vehicle, or the 'Overall Width' of any trailer it may be drawing"
If the mirrors are of the folding type then the following applies:
"The minors may project 230 mm on each side beyond the point of 'Overall Width' of the vehicle provided that the mirror is capable of collapsing to 150 mm. "
Note the bit "beyond the point of 'Overall Width' of the vehicle, or the 'Overall Width' of any trailer it may be drawing"
If you have uncoupled the trailer and running solo then the bit "'Overall Width' of any trailer it may be drawing" no longer applies and you have to comply with the bit "'Overall Width' of the vehicle"
To me, the regs are clear, if you don't have the trailer in tow then any mirror that is used to see around the trailer makes the solo tow vehicle over width.
-- Edited by PeterD on Friday 13th of June 2014 08:45:38 PM
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Nomad,, the mirrors in Olley's photo are still about $200 per pair in SA if you shop around, We've had our 7 years and I repainted twice and recently new seat belt webbing fitted for $50 by upholsterer. Good value IMHO.
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
We bit the bullet and got a pair of clearview mirrors. Yes they are $800. That would be one of the best investments I have ever made for my safe towing. Make my Ranger look like a mac truck.
Safe travels
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
