Putting this up for those just starting out and/or setting up. I have been towing a large van now for a while, I have both a rear view camera (view from the back of van), and the clip on mirrors. When I finish reversing, I realize, I have not referred to the camera monitor once. I use the mirrors, as I need the side of the van as a reference.
So what I am saying is, if you have thoughts about investing your hard earned cash on a camera system, you may be disappointed. I recommend spending that money on the large extendable, permanently mounted mirrors, what ever brand. I have the removable ones, and apart from vibrating, they drive me nuts having to remove and store them.
A point to consider here, is they are expensive, but so is a replacement OEM mirror assembly. I had both mirrors ruined by removable mirrors way back in time, and was lucky to pick up a couple second hand, however, if you mirrors on a modern car get wrecked, the cost of the Elephant ears will be insignificant.
I find the view from the monitor to see traffic approaching from the rear un helpful as they appear too far back, when in fact they are quite close. A drop of rain on the lens obliterates the picture, and depending on the time of day, the sun too much or lack of upsets the picture.
So stop dreaming and just get the mirrors, I wish I had.
I have the clearveiw pull out mirrors towing a 20 ft van and cant see cars or trucks behind me and use the rear camera on the van so i dont think it is a waste of money to put on a van also you can see behind the van when your passenger is busy talking ha ha
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John
2017 dmax lovells upgrade full CSM trade aluminium canopy,3.5 m quintrex tinny and rear boat loader mangrove jack aluminium trailer
I use both our Clearview towing mirrors and the camera when reversing, lots of sites have posts or trees at the back of the van which you can't see in the towing mirrors, and I think the reversing camera is well worth having. Though the real benefit of the camera to me is that we have a dual camera with an always on rear view, find it a great aid and after having it for several years wouldn't ever consider towing a van without one now. If your camera is showing the wrong size for vehicles behind then the problem is you have the wrong camera lens angle, and our monitor copes well with sun and medium amounts of rain.
Hi
I would not be without a reversing camera being a solo traveler they really are helpful and possible lifesaving when reversing and children are running around everywhere I for one would hate to be responsible for running over one while reversing like how many stories do we hear about children getting run over in driveways
ect
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IF IT ISN'T BROKE - DON'T FIX IT
Terry B. In a old ford transit van and not slamming the door
doesn't matter how good your mirrors are if you have some birdbrain in a small car sitting on your tail you wont see them in the mirrors, mirrors by law and camera so you can sleep at night and have one less worry when towing
cheers
blaze
The more viewing options, the better in my book. Mirrors are an obvious given, but I wouldn't be without the camera. I like to see what's behind me, it becomes the substitute for your internal rear vision mirror. For seeing what's right on your tail it provides a much more expansive view than the mirrors alone. Mine doesn't suffer any quirky distance distortion.
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
I have two cameras on our van, wide angle 120 degree for reversing and narrow 15 degree for road work. Safety Dave can sell you a monitor switchable for 4 inputs, my third input is the reversing camera on the tug. The 15 degree camera gives a monitor image very similar to what you see in the cabin rear view view mirror without the van hitched. Because the monitor image is similar to the vehicle mirror this is invaluable in traffic for showing up tailgaters. The long range view it affords saves a lot of neck craning to try and see in those clamp on outside mirrors what's way behind. The bureaucrats have not caught up with technology yet so cameras cannot be used in lieu of mirrors despite their continually improving performance. The only problem I have had with the system is on really wet roads the lenses get covered in drops so the image deteriorates steadily until the drop gets big enough to slide off, then you can 'see' again. This usually coincides with the wing mirror getting so water spattered that they also are effectively useless. Don't waste money treating them with one of those chemical products that are meant to shed water. I did and the result was that the drops that did adhere were a fraction of the size of those previous but so much more numerous that the mirrors were just as useless.
I am just saying that if you have $700 to spend, in my opinion its better to go for good side mirrors than a rear view camera. If you have plenty of cash, go for the lot. The dual lens camera came out after I had brought my unit.
I have the clearveiw pull out mirrors towing a 20 ft van and cant see cars or trucks behind me and use the rear camera on the van so i dont think it is a waste of money to put on a van also you can see behind the van when your passenger is busy talking ha ha
That does not surprise me. My Milenco mirrors extend further out than clearviews and I cant see cars behind me either. Seems to me the clearviews look great but may not comply.
I have the Milenco mirrors, I have the oval shaped ones, and have them set vertically. The LH one I have angled so that I can see the tires in relation to the edge of the road. The other I can also see the rh tires, but its set more for a rear view. This set up I find quite good, my main mirrors handle the rear views adequately.
However they do vibrate, and I would assume that sooner or later the whole mirror assembly will become worn. But visually the vibration doesn't worry me, but the wife finds them annoying.
When I have to take them off, finding a spot to store them becomes a pain.
