When do i need towing mirrors

Blind spots are a major hazard with driving in general, and magnifying those zones when towing can be dangerous. In fact, blind spots are the top cause of towing-related accidents on the road [source: Smith]. That's why safe towing involves evaluating your visibility and, if necessary, installing side towing mirrors to ensure that you can see all traffic and obstacles around you.

Not only will towing mirrors help keep you, your cargo and people around you safe, they'll also keep you within the bounds of the law. States mandate their own towing mirror regulations, but the general rule of thumb is that the driver should be able to see the entire length of the trailer and beyond to the traffic behind it.

Depending on the size of the trailer, that may require towing mirrors. As with most car accessories, you have a lot of options to choose from if you need towing mirrors. Some towing packages come with mirrors, but if not, you can purchase them individually.

On the next page, we'll set our sights on different categories of towing mirrors and what towing tasks they're suited for. After you safely hitch your trailer to your vehicle, it's time to evaluate if you need side towing mirrors.

As mentioned before, if you cannot see the entire length of the trailer behind you, you should invest in towing mirrors. Many times, if your trailer is wider or taller than the vehicle hauling it, the trailer will block your line of sight and could be hazardous to operate.

Once you conclude that you need towing mirrors , there are a number of options to sift through, ranging from a couple dollars to a few hundred. The size of your trailer will determine the added mirror height and the length needed.

Then, think about how often you tow in order to decide whether a permanent or a portable towing mirror would better serve your needs. Portable mirrors are quick to install and attach to your vehicle in addition to your standard side mirrors. These are usually the best route for people who don't tow often since you can remove them when you aren't hauling.

If you perform regular towing jobs, permanent towing mirrors may be the more convenient alternative. Permanent towing mirrors replace your standard side mirrors and require more intensive installation.

In exchange for such bonus features, they generally cost more than portable ones. Tried on the "official F extension mirrors today and found I only gained a very small improvement over what I can see now. So, I didn't buy them, but now know where I can find them. I'll be taking on this trip to New York next week for a two week period and if all goes well, then I won't bother buying them.

Joined Jul 10, Posts 8. I have a Chevrolet that I tow with, I can tow short distance and dont worry with the extended mirrors, but if I am traveling a distance I feel more secure by putting them on due to I can see alot better who is coming up before they are there, I would us your better judgement on this one.

Well, so far so good. Almost 2, miles and certainly no fears with the standard mirrors. Now, that being said, I will buy the proper mirrors but certainly not here in Canada. I'll be down in Rochester, NY next March. Is there a good trailer supplies place there?

Joined Sep 4, Posts 1, Not mandatory that I know of, just good common sense. Joined Mar 16, Posts 1, Just a bit of trivia - you can NOT have extended mirrors on your vehicle in Yellowstone Park if your not towing. Joezeppy Well-known member.

I'll add that to the continually growing list of reasons why I will never return to the Northeast United States. You must log in or register to reply here. Latest posts. Worn rear bushings - 50 hours labor? Latest: cbeierl A moment ago. Winnebago Topics. Latest: steveblonde 20 minutes ago. The Shade Tree. Hey Jan and David talk about needing mirrors. We picked up our trailer about 3 week ago. We drove her home in almost a complete blizzard, with out mirrors.

I am not sure they would of helped much. We took your guys advice and purchased the Grande Areo. We are going out this weekend to check every thing out. Your email address will not be published. Do We Need Towing Mirrors? Here are the mirrors our dealer recommended, available at Amazon.

They stay on and keep on doing their job. The Mississippi River Bridge in our towing mirrors. The Last Shower…. Skyrealty April 11, Johnny December 27, Thanks Reply. JanSIrons December 31, Cheers — Jan Reply. Roy Dickover October 26, JanSIrons October 26, Jan Reply. Marcel October 26, JanSIrons October 27, The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".

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