I was considering the clearview extenda mirrors, alas they are not being made for my model ( they did trail it but was not feasible ).
So then I started looking at various towing mirrors, from clip-ons, door mount, mudguard mount to across the bonnet ones, the latter two are most likely the better choices as being in front of the A pillar they offer easy quick glances without having to turn your head, whish is the downfall of clip-ons and door mounts,
But they are all butt ugly and when you unhook the van, they should be removed, then stored somewhere.
Now some of you kind folk have reversing camera's mounted on the rear of the van to assist you in seeing what behind you, do you have one or two, do you have the monitor on always or not.
Where do they stand in a legal sense, because I see a lot of van's where some people think I work (but that's another story) and more than 50% do not have additional mirrors.
It funny how a stupid idea pops into your head and then you wonder, would it work? then how could I do it.
So the guts of my stupid idea is my Ranger has large mirrors enclosures, would there be enough room to fit a reversing camera or pinhole camera in there and drill a hole in the mirror for the camera to look through, as they are powered mirrors there would be access to run the cables from the mirror to power and connect up to a display in a suitable location.
The easy part is drilling the mirror the rest become complicated, an 170 degree camera would have too wide a view, perhaps a 60 degree with an offset mounting.
Hmmmm this has me thinking perhaps a trail with a camera mounted on the top or the side of the mirror with double sided tape to gauge the effectiveness.
Ok you tech savvy people could it work?
-- Edited by Gundog on Saturday 22nd of November 2014 03:44:42 PM
I may be out of place here, BUT, the idea of the extended rear view mirrors is so that the driver can actually see the actual rear and side panel corner of the towed van/trailer on each side in the mirrors. Hence the mirrors need to be wider than the towed vehicle (max of old 8ft, current 2.5[I think] metres) and light travels in straight lines hence the need for the wider mirrors and this is permitted to be more than the 2.5metres.
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Cheers - Ian
I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.
Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
I remember a debate on this forum some months ago about rear view cameras, and I am sure someone mentioned on there that the use of cameras did not remove the requirement for a mirror that could see down the side of the towed trailer.
The camera in the mirror that you found is basically a parking assist camera, it works with a number of other cameras around the vehicle to give a composite view of the surrounds of the vehicle, they are often also used as part of a lane tracking tool, to enable an alarm if you wander out of the lane without indicating.
Yes. Mirrors are the only 'legal' compliant rear view medium. However, cameras may be used, and are probably recommended, to supplement the towing mirror.
This diagram gives an idea of the range of vision required - and it can only be provided by towing mirrors extended beyond the limit of fixed wing mirrors on the vehicle.
[edit: it may not be long before the fitting of two or more cameras to the rear of the caravan to give a view to the left, right and directly behind the van will be 'appended' to towing mirror rules.]
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 22nd of November 2014 08:05:44 PM
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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
One day extended or supplementary mirrors will be illegal but, now they are compulsory even though better solutions are available for rear view, i.e. cameras.
Who can remember the time (unfortunately I do) when hand signals were the norm. Arm extended for right turn, arm bent at the elbow & forearm vertical for left turn or stop signal. When indicators became available, the little flick up arm from the centre pillar first, followed by flashing light on turning side, they could be used but hand signals still had to be used.
Now you are fined & lose demerit points for having an arm outside the car for ANY reason.
In the near future you will not be able to have ANY protrusion beyond the factory fitted mirrors, cameras, side and rear will be compulsory.
Cheers....
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
I was considering the clearview extenda mirrors, alas they are not being made for my model ( they did trail it but was not feasible ).
Gunny, I have a 2012 XL dual cab WITH clearviews, check the website, easy as pie to fit and mine cost me $800. Im pretty sure the PX Ranger is covered, unless something has changed in the past 12 months.
Cheers
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
The pictures in the last couple of posts confirm my case a. they are butt ugly. b. you need to turn your head to see what occurring in the extended mirror, therefore your attention is diminished and c. there is an obstruction to the right forward quarter.
The pictures in the last couple of posts confirm my case a. they are butt ugly. b. you need to turn your head to see what occurring in the extended mirror, therefore your attention is diminished and c. there is an obstruction to the right forward quarter.
I rest my case your honour.
Sorry Gunny, thought you had a PX.
It does block out a bit of that side quarter view and it takes a bit to get use to with the way its used. AND its butt ugly, makes the ute look like a mack truck, however it works a treat and doesnt rattle about like the others I tried before I got these. I must admit there are times when I would like to take them off when we are not towing the van.
Case closed.
Take care mate, safe travels
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
The pictures in the last couple of posts confirm my case a. they are butt ugly. b. you need to turn your head to see what occurring in the extended mirror, therefore your attention is diminished and c. there is an obstruction to the right forward quarter.
I rest my case your honour.
Gday...
As they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
But, at the risk of being confronting, I find the comment "you need to turn your head to see what is occurring in the extended mirror, therefore your attention is diminished" somewhat unbelievable.
Surely when driving you are constantly moving your head from right to left checking traffic and conditions ahead and to the side as well as checking mirrors. For me, it is not an actual 'turning of the head' needed to check the driver's side mirror - more of a right glance with a slight movement of the head.
Just my thoughts.
Anyway, those apparently "ugly" mirrors can be removed when not towing and re-attached easily, retaining their setting, whereas those 'clearview' mirrors remain ugly all the time.
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
I think I found a good fit for my patrol I simply bought another pair of the original mirror mounts and bolted them on I did have to turn up on the lathe a half ball for the join thought, looks neat I can see down the side of the 5th wheeler they don't vibrate and I leave them on all the time I can push them in if I want and simply pull them out again when I hock up the van, doubt that anyone would give them a second glance, and only cost me $34.
When the power of Love becomes greater than the love of power the World will see peace ! 24ft Trailblazer 5th wheeler n 05 Patrol ute and Black Series Dominator camper trailer ( for the rough stuff)
I think I found a good fit for my patrol I simply bought another pair of the original mirror mounts and bolted them on I did have to turn up on the lathe a half ball for the join thought, looks neat I can see down the side of the 5th wheeler they don't vibrate and I leave them on all the time I can push them in if I want and simply pull them out again when I hock up the van, doubt that anyone would give them a second glance, and only cost me $34.
Now That is a very neat and tidy solution.
well done
frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
have you phoned Clearview?? Theyre extremely helpful and they do carry a range of Ranger mirrors up to 2014, although it maybe specified as a different vehicle type.
I have them on my 2014 D-Max - the best buy I ever had - and Ive had a few 'vans and mirrors in the past. These are the best thing since sliced bread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
We started development on Clearview Towing Mirrors to suit the Ford Ranger PK and Mazda BT-50 (pre 2012 models) some time ago. Unfortunately, we found the door skin was unable to cope with the weight of our mirrors. Test results proved there was too much vibration in the mirror head, making vision poor. At this stage there are no plans to persue alternatives any further.
rockylizard wrote:Yes. Mirrors are the only 'legal' compliant rear view medium. However, cameras may be used, and are probably recommended, to supplement the towing mirror.
This diagram gives an idea of the range of vision required - and it can only be provided by towing mirrors extended beyond the limit of fixed wing mirrors on the vehicle.
[edit: it may not be long before the fitting of two or more cameras to the rear of the caravan to give a view to the left, right and directly behind the van will be 'appended' to towing mirror rules.]
ADR-14 allows the use of cameras providing they cover the same field of vision as required from mirrors.The diagram below for the required coverage is from that ADR.
ADR-14 incorporates the European standard for mirrors, that's the reason for a LHD vehicle being shown.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
