Mirrors

[Mike Up]

I had the Cipa universal mirrors. They weren't great but stable. You had to keep adjusting them because they walk down the mirrors. They worked OK on my Nissan Titan.

With the Nissan Pathfinder, they don't work. The original Cipa universal mirrors has a clip system, you could change to the large of small clips. Neither opened wide enough to allow the Pathfinder's mirror lip to fit. So $70 in the drain.
 
Now I went to the strap on mirrors mentioned but mine are for SUV mirrors and not the metal thin truck mirrors.
 
These absolutely suck big time, but they don't harm the paint finish of the mirrors. The straps have to be tight so that the wind doesn't move the mirrors. However the straps are cracking already on the "2nd" pair. The first pair had one of the plastic hooks crack. So these have to be replaced every year or 2. Really bad quality.
 
The McKesh do harm your paint as I've read several complaints about the damage they do. Also if your vehicle gets the mirror clipped, they don't give and you'll have a very nice dent or completely damaged door to repair.
 
I think the fender mirrors are the best, but they do have to be tightened on the paint finish of the fender. However they usually have a rubber boot that doesn't do as much harm. My dad used these for years for our camper and horse trailer towing with the '76 Chevy Stationwagon. He's a car buff and has 5 show cars so I know for a fact if the fender mirrors did damage, he'd not use them.
 
Cipa has a new improved universal mirror that uses a hook instead of a clip. I'm going to try to get those hooks for my universal mirrors since I have them still. If not, I'll probably buy a new pair of universal mirrors. I like the fact that they can't harm your paint and if they get clipped, at most you'll have your cars mirror damaged and not body fenders or door panels.
 
They also have a mirror that is a suction cup and sticks to your vehicle's mirror. This seems great but then I realized I use the vehicles mirror for passing and such, and use the trailer mirrors to see if I have vehicles behind me. I use both and this suction mirror would obviously block view of the vehicles mirror.
 
Have a good one.

[austinado16]

Maybe the bottom line is.......do you really need trailering mirrors to tow a PUP?  Maybe I'm just spoiled because I'm driving something that's built for towing?

[harleywolf]

Mike, thanks for the informative reply.

At a rally this weekend I looked at the McKesh mirrors on of our members TV. He loves them and they seem to install fairly simple. I didn

[Mike Up]

The Strap on mirrors that I didn't like are also made by Cipa but they are not good for wide trailers. I can barely see down the sides of my PUP because the straps can not be installed on the edge of the mirror because the mirror back is a sloping bubble shape. At the edge, the straps just pull off. I can see down the sides good enough to see something behind me and to the sides but with anything wider than a 7'2" PUP, they wouldn't work with my trucks mirrors.
 
As for not needing mirrors at all, it all depends on your vehicle and camper. When I had the Rockwood and the Nissan Titan, I could see if someone was behind me, except if they were tailgating. The Rockwood's AC was to the side and the truck sat tall so I could see over the camper. The mirrors helped to see those idiots who were tailgating the camper that I couldn't see with the truck mirrors.
 
With the Pathfinder and the Starcraft, it's a different story. I can't see anything because the camper has it's AC centered in the roof and the SUV doesn't sit as tall as the Titan. I can't see over the camper good enough. I can see over it but to see cars behind it, they have to be a good distance behind the camper. I can't see closer cars. With the Pathfinder, I need tow mirrors.
 
I'll likely go to the new Cipa Universal Mirrors with the hooks if I can't get the hook accessories for my older Universal mirrors. For me, it comes down to Cipa Universal Mirrors, Cipa Fender Mirrors, or Tow-n-See mirrors (judging by the pictures, they don't seem to block as much of the view as I thought so they may work).
 
I won't be buying anymore Cipa Strap on mirrors because the clips broke on the first set I had only for a year, and the second set in it's first year has the rubber straps cracking badly and will soon rip. These mirrors are nothing but JUNK. But when you don't have anything that will fit or 'not' damage your paint, you'll use.
 
Good luck and have a good one.

[LimeJeeeep]

hey guys ,just a follow up ..i purchased some inexepensive mirrors at camping world  item #25855...they shake ,but not much...

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/25855/skunum=25855:src=SRQB

they will surfice for now...BTW we are a hybrid owners now 04 travelstar 19ck

[Mike Up]

After reading some reviews on the Tow-n-See mirror, I may just buy these. Every review is very positive on them. The convex mirrors seem to be the ones to buy. Camping World has some good reviews on the flat and convex mirrors. There are some other reviews also as here's one. Here's some other good reviews.
 
 
Have a good one.

[Mike Up]

hey guys ,just a follow up ..i purchased some inexepensive mirrors at camping world item #25855...they shake ,but not much...
 
http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm/Outdoor-and-RV-Accessories/25855/skunum=25855:src=SRQB
 
they will surfice for now...BTW we are a hybrid owners now 04 travelstar 19ck

Those are the Cipa Strap on mirrors that I said were junk. I'm happy if they work for you. On my mirrors, they don't work the greatest and they fall apart. They shake a lot as you said, but I could still tell if there were cars around, blurry cars at that.
 
BTW, if I would ever go to a hybrid, it would be the 19CK as I think this is the best Hybrid out there. I just love the plan, weight, short length and all the living and sleeping area.
 
Have a good one.

[zamboni]

Also if your vehicle gets the mirror clipped, they don't give and you'll have a very nice dent or completely damaged door to repair.

He just keeps the surfaces clean. I didn

[Gwenzilla]

If, while towing, I got close enough to clip my McKesh mirrors bad enough to hit the frame into something, then that something would ALSO cream my camper...

Glen, you discovered an unpublished added feature.  They serve as warning devices when you're about to cream your trailer.

[tlhdoc]

I have the McKesh mirrors and have used them on 4 TVs.  They work well.  I didn't have to buy new mirrors because I purchased a new TV.  I have not had any problems with the paint on the door, but I do clean the doors and the pad that touches the door before installing the mirrors.  I also purchased the convex mirrors that attach to the McKesh mirrors.

[SpeakEasy]

I'm going to go a little off-topic and I am not trying to hijack the tread, but if you are not towing, or if you can use your rear-view mirror, you should NOT be able to see your own vehicle or your trailer in your side mirrors.  Let me explain.

Like most people, for years I adjusted my side mirrors so I could just barely see my car in the mirror.  Then, when I was on the highway, I was always careful to turn my head and check my "blind spot" before changing lanes.  Then I read an article in a AAA publication that described what I did, and said it was very common, but completely wrong and dangerous.

There are three main problems with that method:

• There is still a blind spot.  Unless you turn your head so far that your forehead touches the side window, there is an area you are not seeing by turning your head.
• When travelling forward, your head should not be pointing backward, it should be pointing forward.  If something happens during that "glance over the shoulder" you loose significant reaction time, up to 1/2 second (about 45 feet or several car lengths at 60 MPH).
  
• There is a natural tendency, when you turn your head, to also turn the steering wheel.  Most of us have learned to compensate, but we had to learn to do so; it is not natural.  In addition, if you are trying to change lanes on a curve, even a gradual one, you probably still have issues with managing the steering.
  
  What AAA said to do is to lean halfway to the window on the driver's side, then adjust to barely see your vehicle.  Lean the same amount to the passenger side.  They said it might take a few tries to figure out exactly how much to lean.  When properly adjusted, the driver's side mirror will seem to be pointed off into some unexplainable space, and the passenger side will be more-or-less centered on the lane to your right.
  
  Then just watch what you can see in the mirrors.
  
  I was very surprised.  There is NO blind spot.  A car passing (on either side) is always clearly visible.  I see a headlight appear in the side mirror the moment it disappears from the rearview.  As the car passes me, even a small car stays in the mirror until the front of the car is right beside me.  There simply is no blind spot, and I no longer need to take my eyes off of the road ahead to do the swivel-headed check before changing lanes.  
  
  One of the other benefits is that nighttime headlight glare from the side mirrors is reduced.  The mirror doesn't reflect a passing vehicle's headlights at you until they are at a point where the headlights are normally pointed past you, not at you.  This doesn't work for badly aimed headlights, but it does help with most vehicles on the road today.
  
  Obviously, it does not work if you can not see over your trailer; in that case, you still need at least one mirror that can see behind the trailer.
  
  Austin

Being somewhat of an experimenter and a die-hard trier-of-whatever-is-new-and-different, I immediately went out and re-adjusted my mirrors when I first read this. That was around a week ago, so I've had a good week to really try this out. At first it was very disorienting. When I would look into the mirror I couldn't see what I was used to seeing, and I had to fight the impulse to re-adjust back to normal. Then I began to observe what Austin described. No blind spot. Vehicles are always in view as they pass you. I began to like this!

Then, after a couple of days, I began to see some drawbacks. I'm used to using my side mirrors for backing up. They are no longer helpful for that. I suppose I could re-train myself for that if the benefits are as good as it seems. (You can't see the sides of your vehicle unless you lean way out to the left or to the right.)

Then something happened that made me decide to put the mirrors back to normal. This happened a couple of days ago, after I had become accustomed to the new technique. By "new technique" I mean not turning around to check my blindspot. (After nearly 40 years of driving, old habits are pretty entrenched.) Anyway, back to the problem. I began to shift lanes after checking the mirrors and seeing no problems. Then - whoosh - someone blows by me on the left! WTF!!!??? Well, this guy was simply going so fast that he was through my reflected line of vision too fast. Since I hadn't seen him in the mirror (too far back), I had no idea he was there. With the mirrors aligned this way they do not show the left lane of traffic all the way back. They only show a limited range. To truly eliminate the blind spot you need to first check your center rearview mirror, then your newly-aimed side mirror, then your peripheral vision. To go through that sequence quickly enough to see the super-speeder is just not practical.

I'm back to the traditional mirror alignment and turning to check the blind spots. I believe it is safer.

-Speak

[AustinBoston]

To truly eliminate the blind spot you need to first check your center rearview mirror, then your newly-aimed side mirror, then your peripheral vision. To go through that sequence quickly enough to see the super-speeder is just not practical.

I've been doing this for 5 years, not one week.  I had this happen at first, because I was used to using only the side mirror.  In the sequence you describe, it actually IS vary practical; a pasing driver is moving INTO the view as you check.  I've done it thousands of times.  You just forgot to check that rear view, because that part of the sequence is still new.  I can make the check in under 1/2 second.

I would urge you to try it again.

Austin

[harleywolf]

Yea I tried it. Actually my mirrors are still adjusted as described but I can

[Mike Up]

I've tried both previously, not from reading a book but trying to eliminate the blind spot. What I do is adjust the mirrors ever so slightly where you can't see the edge of the vehicle on either mirrors, but a very small lean enables you to see.
 
If the mirrors are out of range where you can't see the edge of the vehicle, that's very bad when driving a truck that backs up and squeezes through small spaces. You need to see where your truck's sides are in relation to the obstacles your trying to avoid scraping. Also when backing up, I use the mirrors to see where the edges of the drive are as to keep my rig straight and in place.
 
I think that article is in error, because the blind spot can simply be removed by adding convex stick on mirrors, on to your main mirror. That's why trucks usually have a convex mirror in relation to their normal mirror or a small separately adjustable mirror in addition.
 
I am of the same thought as others, in saying that you create another blind spot that your unaccustomed to looking for. While it is small, I've had some slip in and surprise me in a very bad fashion. Also some people tailgate, where if the mirrors are further out, won't let you see them. The method I spoke of, that I use, seems to be the best of both worlds. When I pass, I do know where my blind spot is and don't need to turn my head completely. Just a little bit of a turn to look into the blind spot lets me pass safely.
 
After completely relying on my side view mirrors while driving class 7 rigs pulling construction equipment, you get a little complacent when driving a commuter car and tend not to move to look into that blind spot. You still need to, to pass safely IMO.
 
Have a good one.

[Mike Up]

I did buy the Tow-N-See Convex mirrors. They are on order so I'm expecting them soon. I have a broken ankle right now so camping is out of the question but once I have them, and use them, I'll comment on their usefulness. I've read so many excellent reviews on them and only 1 negative review where the mirror was probably so dirty, the suction cup wouldn't stick.
 
Hopefully these things are as good as most are saying. The convex mirror is really the one to use as the flat mirror is small and only offers a limited view. The convex mirror is reviewed as being excellent, giving a full view everywhere.
 
Have a good one.