extending mirrors

harry Butler · Member

extending mirrors

rgren2 · Guru

Go the Clearview, you wont regret it, there are copies out there that are cheaper.

yobarr · Guru

harry Butler wrote:
hello everyone, could someone give me some guidance on mirrors . are clear view worth it or will the cheaper extending mirrors suffice.
thank you
HB

Go Clearview.Nothing compares....do it once,do it well.Cheers

erad · Guru

There is no doubt that Clearview mirrors are really good. BUT (there is always a but) what do you want to do with them? If you are towing a large vehicle all the time, yes - they are the best. But if you only tow a caravan once a year or similar, then do you really need these mirrors? I bought a set of mirrors from ALDI for $40. They clip onto the door mirror body and are readily removable when not required. Have you ever walked past a vehicle with Clearview mirrors in a supermarket carpark? They stick out hugely, look ugly and if you try to park you vehicle in a tight garage, could be a real nuisance. They do no readily come off when not required. They certainly are the best, but do you need the ultimate? There are plenty of cheaper alternatives around which, whilst not as good, as nearly so and may suit your needs. The ALDI mirrors I have don't vibrate very much, but they are probably a bit smaller than I would really like. But hey - $40 for a pair!

outlaw40 · Guru

I am going to buck the trend and say you need to decide how much towing you are doing , if you are on the road full time then definitely go the clearviews . if not then they are an absolute pain in the ass . buy a set of milenco and spend the difference on fuel .

Whenarewethere · Guru

If your mirrors are heated, have blind spot monitoring, puddle illumination, chromatic dimming, reverse parking dipping, auto folding, individual driver settings & surround cameras, you may need to think carefully.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Clearview are worth every cent and I tell you that for free. Even when not towing the view from where you have been is second to none.

I love my Clearview mirrors and would never leave home without them.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there. (with clearview's, you will)

SouthernComfort · Guru

Milenco Grand Aero 3 are my pick, they're very popular in the mid range. Easy on & off, infinitely adjustable, excellent quality, bigger mirror surface than most clip ons, around $110. If you don't tow continuously you shouldn't really need permanent replacements for your car mirrors. As others have said, consider carefully based on your needs and frequency of towing.

iana · Guru

As per SouthernComfort, and others, I have Milenco, but wish I had Clearview. But I am on the road fulltime, so Milenco for low km traveling and Clearview for serious stuff. Milenco cheap, do the job, but can vibrate, this vibration can wear out the vehicle mirrors hinge etc. To replace your vehicles mirrors is going to cost the same as the Clearview mirrors. Then when you take them off they are a bloody nuisance, as to where you store them. Forget to put them on, stop with caravan put them on etc, and the reverse, forgot to take them off. All these problems disappear with Clearviews.

harry Butler · Member

thanks mate, clearview it is

Craig1 · Guru

Stop, have a look at M S A extendable mirrors, a new take on the Clearview idea, without the huge bulk, but not cheap either, as they are an almost permanent replacement. Plenty of their dealers now have their own utes fitted , so you can check out

Long Weekend · Guru

As Dougwe says, the Clear Views are great for just driving around in traffic when you get to your destination.

When parking is tight I simply fold back the mirrors against the doors so that people can get past easily. Yes, they do fold back, although nobody has yet mentioned that yet! (On mine the bottom small mirrors go out of alignment, easily pushed back to where they should be.)

Murray

Gundog · Guru

Clearview and the knock off copies are big ugly and create a massive blind spot on your right front quarter. A better option are camera's

Radar · Guru

harry Butler wrote:
hello everyone, could someone give me some guidance on mirrors . are clear view worth it or will the cheaper extending mirrors suffice.
thank you
HB

No, for personal reasons think clearview are over size, a lot of money for something that is used about 20% time when towing and would get in the road when 4wheel exploring.

I successfully use sub $60 pair of mirrors for 8 years, when they fail I may spend a bit more and buy a pair of Milenco which would work for me.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi everyone,
There is another brand on the market - MSA. I'd suggest they are "competing" with Clearview but they are even more expensive for my vehicle, approaching $900!!

So I'm playing around with the Milenco mirrors - trying to prevent the vibration, currently am adding arms off my original ORA Rossa mirrors that I could use on my GQ Nissan but wouldn't work on the curved surfaces of the GU. And the Aussie Truck mirrors that I used on the GU would damage the window rubbers on the D-max!

Hopefully I'll have a win soon!

SouthernComfort · Guru

There's been a few surprising comments about Milenco's vibrating. Why is it that don't mine vibrate? At least not enough to be noticeable, let alone a problem. They certainly won't wear out my car mirrors as someone suggested!

I imagine vibration may occur if you're driving a hard riding truck or ute but they are fine with a more comfortable suspension.

So Harry, before you are completely sold on clearviews, consider what are you driving and how often are you towing. You will pay very dearly for clearviews.

Whenarewethere · Guru

A nodal point. Could be as simple as adding a bit of weight in the correct spot on the mirror to null it.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi Tony,
I've seen reports on the Milenco set not vibrating - that's why I bought them. But since buying them, I've joined several others who seem to have the same problem.

My normal mirrors don't vibrate - it seems to be made worse by the longish unsupported mirror arm. And I had the problem before Isuzu converted my car from one of relative comfort to a less comfortable one with the rear spring safety recall. Hopefully my Milenco/ORA solution will work.

Has anyone tried the MSA mirrors?

SouthernComfort · Guru

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Hi Tony,
I've seen reports on the Milenco set not vibrating - that's why I bought them. But since buying them, I've joined several others who seem to have the same problem.

My normal mirrors don't vibrate - it seems to be made worse by the longish unsupported mirror arm. And I had the problem before Isuzu converted my car from one of relative comfort to a less comfortable one with the rear spring safety recall. Hopefully my Milenco/ORA solution will work.

Has anyone tried the MSA mirrors?

Hi Warren, I think it all comes down to the car. I have my mirrors pretty much at full extension on the arms with no problems. Having said all that, I rely much more on the camera, if extended mirrors were not a legal requirement I wouldn't bother with them at all.

Craig1 · Guru

Warren,
fitted MS A and then covid struck, so havent towed with them yet. Have tried them in all positions on a very ordinary bitumen road and seem good. Closed they are no wider than original mirrors, Landcruiser 2017 gxl. I am in no way knocking Clearview but they are too wide for my comfort zone when closed.

HunnyBunny · Senior Member

It would also depend a lot on what you are driving. I drive a F250 with

extended, wider tray for my slide on camper. The Clearview mirrors are great for me, I wouldn't be without them.

FMC · Veteran Member

Clear view mirrors are the best, traveled across Australia most probably 20000 kms .and never have they folded in when a road train or semi passed, yes they are large but they have the advantage of the smaller bottom mirror which I keep lower down so that you can check the van tires etc. whilst travelling.

My old 100 series does have electric mirrors so adjusting is easy.

My partner due to surgery does not have the arm strength to keep adjusting clip on mirrors so the clear view are excellent.

Kaid · Guru

We have Power Fold Clearview Mirrors.
Absolutely worth the extra bucks

oldbloke · Guru

SouthernComfort wrote:
Milenco Grand Aero 3 are my pick, they're very popular in the mid range. Easy on & off, infinitely adjustable, excellent quality, bigger mirror surface than most clip ons, around $110. If you don't tow continuously you shouldn't really need permanent replacements for your car mirrors. As others have said, consider carefully based on your needs and frequency of towing.

^^^^^

KJB · Guru

I made my own "extenders.." for the Land Cruiser 79 Tray.

They use existing bolt holes and are easy and quick to extend or pull in. Mirror Extension System. (1).JPG Mirror Extension System..JPG

yobarr · Guru

KJB wrote:
I made my own "extenders.." for the Land Cruiser 79 Tray.
They use existing bolt holes and are easy and quick to extend or pull in.

What a brilliant idea! Whilst they don't have the "spotter" mirror of the Clearviews,for the occassional user,this is a great solution.Cheers

HandyWalter · Senior Member

As they do not fold in and lower when car is put in reverse, are not heated and do not have blind spot monitoring, they are not suitable for my car. Even saying that if I want truck like mirrors, I would just buy the truck!! People who travel with a van attached +90% of the time might have a valid reason, but for me they are just plain ugly when attached to any vehicle and especially my car.

Whenarewethere · Guru

These mirrors are just waiting to be automated. Install a pair of 200mm linear motors!

https://www.motiondynamics.com.au/200mm-strokes/

KJB · Guru

I generally like things to stay simple and economical - more about "guts" than "glitz". I like your idea though.

A bit "off topic" - 1 .jpg I have just finished converting my "Slide on" camper to 2 x Remote Linear Actuators (600 mm) to lift the roof, the original Ford Falcon jacks that I built it with 30 years ago have worn out...!

-- Edited by KJB on Saturday 4th of July 2020 09:38:37 AM

travelyounger · Guru

Try typing in San hima towing mirrors in Google they are exact copies of clearveiw and up to or more than half the price for certain makes of vehicles