Thread: Towing Mirror Alternatives

Originally Posted by strudeltoowoomba

Hi Watpub,

I have put a small cut in the rubber between the glass and the metal door skin to poke the plastic guide through. This way it keeps it off the glass and so long as the top support arm is straight does not touch or impede the window. I always give the door skin a quick wash before putting on the magnetic pad that way it should never scratch.

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve,

Aren't you worried about water getting in when the mirror's not there?

Regards, Ron

You got me doubting my original logic, so I pulled a door skin off a used D3 that we have wholesaled and the electrics etc are well protected. Any water that did get through and bear in mind the slit is only 25mm would run down and out the drain holes in the bottom of the door.

Some water will always get between the window glass and the rubber in high speed driving or using a pressure cleaner etc. so I can't see a major problem.

Cheers

Steve

I too am going down the rear view camera questions with the van.
D3 has gone the ORA mirrors with the magnetic pad and it is the best option I have seen to date

Now for the rear view camera.
Have chosen a twin rear camera (rear view and one that looks down at rear bar for tight reversing positions.

My question is has anyone used a RAM mount or similar to mount the monitor off the side of the consol.

US website shows single flexible arm 18" which allows the monitor to be positioned in a range of locations

Hi Guys and Ron,

Sorry I haven't replied earlier but work has had my attention of late.

Ron I don't have my new van yet. I hope to take delivery in early September from Campbellfield.

Over the years I have had several different towing mirrors from the ORA type, to those that strap on as an extension to the vehicle's side mirror, to my latest version which requires bolting to the bullbar and a concertina type extension to the mirrors. The ones that fit to the car's mirrors are crap as they fold in without warning every time a truck passes coming the other way. The latest pair that bolt to the bullbar work really well although they are a pain in the bum to fit and remove if you have to do it often. Now that I have the D4 I don't have a bullbar therefore back to the towing mirror drawing board. Whilst manning the Australian Caravan Club stand at the last Sydney Caravan Supershow I took a strawpoll from experienced caravanners about what is the best type of towing mirror. Almost all agreed that the best towing mirrors are the Aussie Truck Mirrors (ATM) brand. I am told that ATM mirrors are no longer produced but that a particular RV parts and accessories company sell exact copies or have taken ATM over. These type of mirrors fit via a webbing strap clipped to the window sill and to the base of the car door. The webbing is tightened and the fit is very good I'm told. Some people suggest using contact plastic between the door and the tightener to prevent rubbing. I was warned against using magnetic pads as grit or sand can get between the pad and the door causing scratches and wear marks to the door. I haven't personally used these mirrors yet as I haven't taken my existing van out since I got the D4 last Friday. I hope I will have some time this weekend to play around with fitting the mirrors.

Ron, I agree with your comments about the yobbos who tailgate you when you are towing. What idiot would gain any creds doing this kind of thing? As I said in a previous post I will talk to my service manager at the LR dealer about screen fitting options. I am in a dilemma about in-car screen placement for the van images. I got surround cameras as an option for precisely the same reason as you, for the 'tow assist' and 'tow hitch assist' functions. I need to do some more research as to in-car screen placement.

A well known caravan magazine has a forum, of which I am a member, that answers these types and any other caravan related questions. I can pm you the details of the RV accessory company and the caravan forum if you wish.

Good luck with the mirrors and camera issues. I'd really like to know how you get on and what you decide as this would certainly influence my thinking.

Cheers

George

Originally Posted by Watpub

.... .... ....

I've trained SWMBO how to use appropriate hand signals during those odd (and hopefully rare) backing occasions.

... ... ... ...

I'm not sure that system is infallible.

I was assured once by someone who owned and enormous coach converted o a motorhome that he used that system.

He gave it up and bought a couple of little handheld radios after an incident in a caravan park.

He told me (with a perfectly straight face) that he was trying to follow his wife's hand signals, but was having increasing difficulty as her hand waving became more and more erratic and energetic.

Eventually, he stopped and asked her what on earth her last hand signals were supposed to mean. She replied that they weren't hand signals. She was being attacked by a magpie.

Even the radios had their faults. Apparently passing truckies were not averse to offering less than helpful comical comments on his and his wife's efforts to manoeuvre the motorhome into caravan sites.

Hi vnx205,

One of the greatest sporting events in life is to get to a caravan park early, set up, get out the most comfortable chair you can find and grab a coldie. Then you can sit there for literally hours as the other campers come in and try and back and manouvre their vans with spousal/partner assistance. I even once saw a couple of guys who were travelling together (I'm not sure if they were in a relationship) come to a verbal stoush over caravan backing and parking.

As far as the missus and me goes we've decide life is too short for heated arguments - just the occasional (and loud) sigh, or profanity seems to suffice.

Hi George,

No need to apologise for delays and work committments - I fully understand that problem.

At the moment, I'm leaning towards the ORA that clips on to the window sill and has the magnetic pad on the door. You are right about the mirror-attached ones - the one I had on the Cruiser blew shut everytime I passed a decent truck. I eventually got an extension arm on a magnetic pad to keep it in position. I did originally have apprehension about scratching the paint but as Strudeltoowoomba says below as long as you wash it underneath first it generally doesn't present a problem. I waxed the Cruiser regularly also which I think probably helped avoid damage. The other thing I like about the ORAs is that they can be quickly removed - great when you are staying longer at a site.

By the way, the cheapest I've seen any ORAs is actually on the ORA web site - so if you go down this path have a look at their prices before going to a caravan dealer.

I've also heard rave reviews about the ATM. My reservations are two-fold. Firstly I suspect that there are metal clips both top and bottom and that these would eventually damage paint or rubbers as they are tightened. Secondly, I'm sure there would be vibration caused by wind on the webbing strap that runs down the door and that this too would cause some damage to the paint.

It's funny really isn't it? I remember when fourbies were rough and tough do-anything type of vehicles. Now we're all precious about the paint work!

I'd appreciate it if you would pm me the ATM stuff. I'd like to have a good look.

And, hope the car's going well.

Regards, Ron

i think these 2 blokes were at busselton when i was there for a few days last week , top entertainment hahah
as for mirrors the pair i have now were from kmart on special $7, they clip onto the range mirrors and dont move when a truck passes i have had them for 3 years now

Originally Posted by richard4u2

i think these 2 blokes were at busselton when i was there for a few days last week , top entertainment hahah
as for mirrors the pair i have now were from kmart on special $7, they clip onto the range mirrors and dont move when a truck passes i have had them for 3 years now

One of them wasn't called Graham by any chance - I know they were heading West? ...but that's another story.

What? $7 mirrors on a new D4, I wouldn't be seen... Only kidding. I think I know the ones you mean. My concern with these (apart from my snobbery) is that if they are the ones I'm thinking of they are a bit small and flimsy. I'm really looking, if I have to use mirrors, to find ones as big as the standard mirrors to get a full height view down the side of the van. Nevertheless I'll take an excursion to Kmart on the weekend and have a sticky.

The problem also with the Disco 4 is that the side mirrors fold in when the car is locked. I suspect some damage may result if you've got extended mirrors on them that are somehow braced against the bodywork - I am assuming that some bracing will be needed. I found on my previous Cruiser that even a moderate passing of wind from one's proverbial was enough to push the mirrors inwards.

The other problem I find too is that the plastic brackets used to clip the extended mirrors onto the normal mirrors eventually caused a lot of damage to the paintwork/chrome on the mirrors - I'm becoming a bit of a sooky lala with the new D4.

Regards, Ron