Let's Talk About Different RVs Let's Cook Something Good To Eat Recreation and Fun Things To Do Think About Safety First What Do I Need To Go Camping? Buying Your RV Where Are the East Central Ms Campgrounds? Where Are The East Central Ms State Parks? What Kind of Camping Can I Do? Stuff I Need To Know About Camping What To Know To Tow Safely Do Animals Really Go Camping? Let's Just Talk About Camping How To Build Your Passion
Trailer Towing Mirrors, Driving, Backing Up and Safety-All of These Go Together
Trailer towing mirrors come in many different sizes, shapes and lengths. You can get some extensions for the factory installed mirrors on your vehicle.
Your travel trailer dealer will have the ones you will need. If they are not in stock, they can order them for you. The extensions are easy to put on and take off.
Find the correct size, slip them over the existing mirrors and tighten them down.
These are secured around the casing and will not fall off or blow off (if installed correctly). Always check the tension as part of the normal hitching check you do whenever you make a stop.
Another option is the expandable trailer towing mirrors. These can be pulled out for towing and pushed in for normal driving. They come standard on some models.
If you want the expandable mirrors, check with your vehicle dealer to see if they are available for the model truck you have. An auto body shop or camper dealer can install them for you.
The trailer towing mirrors serve several purposes. You need them for driving, backing up the rv camper and checking the road clearances. If you can't see the traffic behind your travel trailer, your mirrors are not extended enough.
If the traffic behind you cannot see your mirrors, they are blind to you. It is a safety feature you don't want to overlook. Another purpose is backing up your camper. You need to be able to see all the way to the back of the camper.
The view you have should cover several feet on either side of the travel trailer. The road clearance while towing is determined by your view of the road on either side of the camper. These are important to monitor for a safe trip whether around the corner or around the state.
There are different types of towing mirrors. Some are designed specifically for your type of vehicle and some are universal, which means they adapt to any vehicle mirror.
If at all possible, purchase a towing mirror made for your vehicle. They have the best fit and will stay on more securely. Wind pressure on the mirrors can cause them to fly off if not secured.
The universal towing mirrors work very well, but they do loosen up as you travel. You need to check them when you stop for a fill up on gas or rest stop.
Check the straps to make sure they are tight. Either one you choose will need to be extended to see the full length of the camper and the road on both sides of the camper.
A good trailer towing mirror will last for many years. Keep them out of the sun when not in use. Storing them in a box will keep them from getting a broken glass or the body cracked when shuffling things around in your storage bin.