Thread: Towing Mirror Alternatives

I can't beleieve this happened to me again! Why is it I craft a reply and then I lose it when the system logs me off Not happy!!! This time I'll save it before posting.

Hi Ron,

This issue , to me and other caravanners, is important. Everyone who has towed a van knows that the most stressful time between normally sane, sober and peaceful partners often after many years of peaceful cohabitation is during caravan reversing manoeuvres! It has lead to marriage breakdown.

My D4 HSE finally arrived and I too have been wrestling with the same problem about van cameras. However I am puzzled by your question. I don't understand the connection between towing mirrors and van reversing cameras. A van rear camera does not replace towing mirrors.

In my case my D4 will be used primarily as a van tug with an occasional off-road foray. I ordered the surround camera system as I wanted the 'tow assist' and 'tow hitch assist' functions. My new van on order from Roma will have a rear camera hard-wired with a video lead to the drawbar where it will connect to the rear of the D4.

During pre-delivery my dealer removed the 'European' white plug and replaced it with the video lead (to connect to the van's camera) and an anderson plug to provide power to the van's batteries whilst on the move. The video lead remains unconnected under the dash at the moment.

My dealer and I have had discussions concerning where the van's camera images could be displayed. Our original thought would be to have the van's images displayed on the D4 screen. My dealer (and research with LR) say the van's images cannot be integrated into the existing surround camera system. So we thought we could set up a separate screen for the van. My dealer is concerned as to the placement of this screen. He is going to see of the van's images can be displayed separately on the D4 screen. This would require me to switch between images. I have thought about this and I think it would be much better to have a separate screen so that the D4 can use 'tow assist' and I can have the van's camera images displayed at the same time.

I would be grateful for anyone's views. Is my thinking flawed? I am seeing my dealer in the next couple of days and I will post results of my research.

Cheers

George

Hi Watpub, what do you think of the D4 compared to the Landcruiser?
Cheers, Craig

Advanced Ice sell a unit that allows an additional video interface with the D4 system. See 2010 Land Rover 4 Video Interface for info.


As for mirrors I use, an "ORA" brand that fits below the standard mirror and then onto the door via a magnetic pad. Have a look at Photos of Ora Products - Towing Mirrors and Accessories: Enzo Magnetic Door Mounted Mirror for a photo.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Steve

Originally Posted by GeorgeK

My D4 HSE finally arrived and I too have been wrestling with the same problem about van cameras. However I am puzzled by your question. I don't understand the connection between towing mirrors and van reversing cameras. A van rear camera does not replace towing mirrors.

Hi George,

Great to see (hear?) you've got your van and a permagrin!

I had towing mirrors on my Landcruiser but they badly marked the wing mirrors over the years and I was hoping to avoid the same with the D4. I'm not a big fan of those mirrors that hook into the bonnet, so wing mirror extensions are my favourite - if I have to go down that path.

My van's 6 inches less in width than a standard van so I can still see down the sides with normal car mirrors (although it is better with towing mirrors). However, I was hoping to dispense with towing mirrors completely by using a rear view camera (as opposed to a reversing camera) that is permanently on when I'm using the van. I assume that I couldn't hook into the existing D4 screen so I'm leaning towards one of those 5" screens that has a suction cap connection to the window (like the GPS systems you can get).

I want to see what the traffic behind me is doing. I understand the marital hassles associated with van backing, but I've trained SWMBO how to use appropriate hand signals during those odd (and hopefully rare) backing occasions.

So are you saying that rear view cameras are not a replacement for mirrors? And if so, what sort of mirrors are you using - are they attached to the wing mirrors?

Regards, Ron

Originally Posted by Disco4SE

Hi Watpub, what do you think of the D4 compared to the Landcruiser?
Cheers, Craig

Hi Craig,

Chalk and cheese! The responsiveness of twin turbos leaves the Cruiser for dead - it suffered badly from lag especially in later years.

Although I must admit I haven't yet fully squeezed the throttle to see how much rubber she'll burn!

Regards, Ron

Originally Posted by strudeltoowoomba

Advanced Ice sell a unit that allows an additional video interface with the D4 system. See 2010 Land Rover 4 Video Interface for info.


As for mirrors I use, an "ORA" brand that fits below the standard mirror and then onto the door via a magnetic pad. Have a look at Photos of Ora Products - Towing Mirrors and Accessories: Enzo Magnetic Door Mounted Mirror for a photo.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Steve

Thanks Steve,

The AdvancedIce unit looks good. The ORA's going to be the way to go if I have to have mirrors - I was a bit concerned that the sleeve down the window might impede the window movement or eventually scratch the window - do you find this to be the case?

Regards, Ron

Originally Posted by Watpub

Hi Craig,

Chalk and cheese! The responsiveness of twin turbos leaves the Cruiser for dead - it suffered badly from lag especially in later years.

Although I must admit I haven't yet fully squeezed the throttle to see how much rubber she'll burn!

Regards, Ron

Wait until it lossens up............say about 10K or so. I have done over 18K now and it really gets going. You notice a big improvement in the torque after these Klm's

i have been fiddling with cameras with the caravan and when driving they have been okay but i think the towing mirrors do just as good a job, with reversing they are good BUT you cant see the edge of your van to see where it is going , i have had a look at the reversing camera set up in the toyota prius where it gives you an outline of the car so you know where you are going . is there any reversing camera set ups like that on the market