RE: McKesh Mirrors: Revisited (Long)

Wayfarer · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

Made a trip down to Houston today to pick up my Rockwood Roo after some warranty adjustments. Hooked up Roo and installed my brand new McKesh Mirrors for their maiden voyage on the return trip up I-45.

Now guys, I m not down on McKesh mirrors, but somethings gotta change before I ll be really happy. Here s my review:

View wise, you can t beat them. Gave me an excellent view of both sides and even what was behind me about 100 or so, even closer unless they were tucked in directly behind me and on my back bumper. Felt much more comfortable using the large mirrors and am well pleased with them.

As I suspected, the convex mirror on the right did nothing for me, or the one on the left for that matter. The small stick-ons which have been on the truck mirrors for almost two years now do just fine and are a heck of a lot cheaper! If I had it to do over I would save the $25.00 for the convex s.

What really turned me off was the noise. In my earlier post I didn t hear anyone mention the roar, vibration, whatever, such as we experienced. The mirrors did not vibrate (as in shaking), fit on good, and I had them tightened down tight. Even stopped several times to check them and clamp them down as tight as I could by hand. Straps were very taut. There was no give whatsoever in the whole setup. But nothing I did changed the noise - and I m talking a roar, as in a very loud " hum" from the left side and from the right the noise was like the vibration which you hear when some young cat in a low slung Nissan with those little wimpy wheels pulls up by you at the stop light with his speakers set at max volume and the bass really pumped up - I mean I thought my windows might shatter! I know this sounds weird, almost unbelievable, but at speeds between 40 and 60 the roar and vibration was so loud it drowned out the radio! (Yes, the windows were closed, AC on, etc., and no, this never happened before.)

Have you ever heard your wife say, " If I don t get something to eat I m going to be sick." Well, mine said words to the effect that that noise was giving her a headache and suggested a place I could put those state of the art McKesh mirrors. I took the next exit and took them off (put them in the back seat, tho) and we drove the rest of the way listening to Rush Limbaugh, at least I did. DW sat on the other side mumbling something about great mirrors, money down drains, etc., etc.

Anyone else experienced this; i.e., the mirror noise, not the DW noise? If so, how did you stop it?

Maybe something about the body shape of the F150?

Your thoughts please.

YellowXterra · Jul 17, 2003, 09:20 PM

WayfarerHave never heard of that. Mine make no sound what so ever?

Ab Diver · Jul 17, 2003, 09:27 PM

Wayfarer

QuoteAnyone else experienced this; i.e., the mirror noise, not the DW noise? If so, how did you stop it?

Dang, you just HAD to put a restriction on my answer, didn t you? And I was all set for a REAL zinger. [

]

Chuck, I got no clue about that noise. Maybe you have them set too wide? I mean, if you can see stuff as close as 100 feet behind the trailer, try moving the mirrors in a bit. Might cut down on the noise. I ve not had that problem at all, and I would have mentioned it if I had.

As for the convex mirrors, it must be a vehicle comparison thing once again. I find them to be a godsend on my crew-cab. But to be fair, I ve never had the stick-on convex mirrors you mentioned, so maybe therein lies my satisfaction vs. your disatisfaction. Hope you don t think I/we/anybody here was trying to get you to spend money on an overpriced *gimmick*.

If we was closer, I d buy them off you just to give to my brother for his Chevy. (Hey, how close are you to Birol? I hear he s gunna be in the market for some mirrors! [

] )

tlhdoc · Jul 17, 2003, 09:34 PM

WayfarerThe only time we have had noise is when it is very windy, and never to the extreme you are talking about. I would contact the manufacture and ask about the noise.

Wayfarer · Jul 17, 2003, 10:08 PM

WayfarerAppreciate the comeback, and, no I m not fussing at you guys for suggesting the convex mirrors - sorry if I sounded that way - it s just that they didn t do all that much for me...at least anything that the little stick-ons were not already doing. But those noises, the roaring & vibration, I just can t figure out. Since posting this thread I went out to my garage/shop, went over the parts list and instructions again and can t find anything missing or assembled wrong. It s gotta be something to do with the wind. Maybe I ll try moving the mirrors in a bit, then maybe repositioning on the door - nearer the front/rear of the door. I know from what you guys reported in my earlier post that these mirrors have worked well, but just have to figure out why they re not working for me. Hey, I ll go back and check the McKesh/Hensley website and check the way they re mounted on that fancy blue Chevy pickup and see if I discover anything wrong with my setup. Then tomorrow I ll call them. Then....

Hmmmmmmm.

Chuck
aka [font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

MtnCamper · Jul 17, 2003, 10:25 PM

WayfarerChuck, Aren t these held on with nylon straps that you pull tight? I bet the straps are vibrating putting out a harmonic tone. Maybe a small strip of inner tube under the strap?

Or something to deaden the strap and not harm the finish on your TV?

Wayfarer · Jul 17, 2003, 10:35 PM

WayfarerHmmmmmmm. Could be, although on one of my many stops on today s trip the strap was really tight against the door...or was it? Something to check. [8D]

Thanks!

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

MtnCamper · Jul 17, 2003, 10:38 PM

Wayfarer

QuoteORIGINAL: Wayfarer

Hmmmmmmm. Could be, although on one of my many stops on today s trip the strap was really tight against the door...or was it? Something to check. [8D]

Thanks!

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

Really, Really tight will still sing in the wind. Ever rode a motorcycle?

Wayfarer · Jul 17, 2003, 10:59 PM

WayfarerMotorcycle? Not in many, many years! But I can imagine...!

BTW: Last motorcycle I rode was a WWII era Harley, an old US Army model, which was left behind in Tripoli, Libya, probably when Patton pulled out. Don t know who really " owned" it, if anyone did, but it was there at our unit for anyone who wanted to to ride wherever they wanted to. No license, title - just there - two-tone OD paint and rust. I was stationed in Tripoli in 1953-54 (Air/Sea Rescue) when we had a USAF base there. I think Quadafi was a barracks boy on the base - probably why he hated Americans so much!

BTW2: Dave - Birol is in Canada and I m about 125 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico! We probably won t be getting together. Good thought, tho....

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

MtnCamper · Jul 17, 2003, 11:05 PM

WayfarerYup, you can get all kinds of noise of a tie down strap, ask a truck driver, they will humm and buzz, and vibrate all over.

Wayfarer · Jul 18, 2003, 02:47 PM

WayfarerOkay, problem solved! Thanks to Gary and a little confirmation from Hensley Mfg. I ve got the noise figured out. Called Hensley and they confirmed what Gary said, that on some model trucks, where the door is really curved, which the F150 is, the straps catch the wind and start a " hum" which can get really loud. Suggested I try twisting the straps (bottom part) a couple of times so they would not present such a flat surface, and/or get one of those " sheepskin" pads they sell in Walmart, etc., to put around the shoulder strap of safety belts to keep from chaffing. Tried twisting the bottom and that cut down a lot of the noise, especially the vibration noise. Next, I put the sheepskin sleeves over the straps between the upper arm and the brace and this cut out the noise completely. Great! Then I drove up and down the highway at speeds of 30 to 70, tried several configurations, but could not improve on the sheepskin over the top part of the strap and twisting the bottom a couple of times. Doesn t look all that great with the strap twisted on the bottom part, like I put them on in a hurry and didn t get it right, but what the heck - it works! - and I m happy.

Thanks for listening and for all the input and suggestions. Is this a great forum, or what? [

]

See y all down the road....

[font=" Script MT Bold" ]Wayfarer[/font][/size]

(Now I ve got to get the electrical problem with the Utah solved and get it sold!!)

mike4947 · Jul 18, 2003, 04:19 PM

WayfarerOne thing I ve done with straps that sing is put a piece of duct tape on them stiffens them up a little so they quiet down.
Glad mine are the old style that are all metal with a turnbuckle to tighten them.

tlhdoc · Jul 18, 2003, 05:12 PM

WayfarerGlad you found an answer to the problem.

MtnCamper · Jul 18, 2003, 10:01 PM

WayfarerGlad I could help.

News: