Selecting compatibility for towing mirrors
Towing Challenges and the Importance of Towing Mirrors
Hitting the open road with a caravan in tow can present quite a few difficulties for drivers. One of the most significant issues is having a limited view of the road behind and to the side due to the caravan blocking your view. That's why choosing tow mirrors is essential for ensuring safe and legal towing with most car-caravan combinations.
Do You Really Need Towing Mirrors?
It's unlikely that you can get away without using extension mirrors when towing. While there's no law requiring their specific use, you must be able to see at least four meters out from the caravan, 20 meters behind the driver. Unless you've got an extremely wide tow car and an incredibly narrow caravan, this just isn't possible without extension mirrors, making them a legal necessity in most cases.
Removable towing mirrors should be no more than 20-25 cm beyond the overall width of your car and caravan, depending on their design. So when you reach your camping location, make sure to remove them before driving without the caravan in tow to avoid any legal complications.
Why Are Towing Mirrors So Important?
The law around adequate vision while driving is in place to ensure our safety. Without tow mirrors, you can't see enough of the road behind you and to the side, creating a large blind spot that other road users may not become visible until they're already alongside your caravan. Extension mirrors help you to spot overtaking vehicles in plenty of time to make safe decisions about changing lanes.
Many caravanners believe towing mirrors to be unnecessary, but considering the benefits, the low cost, and the potential legal ramifications of not using them, it's hard to understand their skepticism.
Varieties of Towing Mirrors
Towing mirrors come in various types, each with its unique way of attaching to your tow car. Let's take a look at some options available:
- Clip-On (Snap) and Strap-On Tow Mirrors: These aftermarket mirrors attach over your existing side mirrors using clips, straps, or suction cups.
- Clamp-On Tow Mirrors: These mirrors use clamps to grip around the edges of the existing mirrors, offering a more secure hold than clip-on models.
- Fixed Extended Tow Mirrors: These larger mirrors replace the entire factory mirror assembly, providing a permanent, enhanced field of view.
- Power Tow Mirrors (Directional and Heated): Advanced mirrors that replace your factory mirror assembly with units equipped with power adjustment, heating, and integrated turn signals.
- Vehicle-Specific Electric Towing Mirrors: Custom-designed tow mirrors for specific vehicle models to provide an OEM-like fit and compatibility.
Choosing Your Towing Mirrors
When selecting your towing mirrors, consider the various types available, as they fit to your tow car differently. Some mirrors use suction cups to attach to the car's mirror, moving with it to fine-tune the field of vision provided, but these may partially obstruct the original mirror's view.
The most common type of extension mirror attaches using clamps to the car's mirror housing. Deployed correctly, these mirrors offer a secure fit and clear view with minimal vibration. However, fitting this type of mirror can be challenging on heavily cowled housings. Alternatively, you could opt for mirrors that adjust electrically via remote control, though this may be a pricey upgrade for only a little extra convenience.
One reviewer, Nigel Hutson, highly rated the Milenco Grand Aero Platinum towing mirrors, which provided a stable fit and minimal vibration in testing.
Convex or Flat Towing Mirrors?
Car tow drivers often debate the pros and cons of convex and flat mirrors. Both mirror types can be used safely and legally, though they have their advantages and disadvantages.
Convex mirrors have a curved surface, offering a wider field of vision, but potentially making another vehicle appear closer than it actually is. Flat mirrors provide a narrower field of view without distortion. It's a matter of preference, but many experts suggest choosing flat mirrors with a large surface area.
Installing Towing Mirrors
Instructions for fitting towing mirrors may vary depending on their type and manufacturing specifications. Make sure your car mirror housing is clean before starting the installation to prevent damage or loosening of the extension mirror.
With clamp-on Milenco mirrors, the manufacturer recommends fitting the clamps first, ensuring the wedge is fully inserted between the glass and housing, then tightening the screw for a snug fit. Only when the clamps are in place should the mirror arm be slid into position.
Adjust the towing mirrors so that the corner of the caravan is visible in the mirror's inside edge while sitting in your normal driving position. Ensure you can see the sides of the caravan to judge the position of other vehicles. Don't lean to one side to see clearly.
Problem-Solving
If the mirror won't fit or your modern car mirror housings are heavily sculpted for aerodynamics, consider fitting the mirror to the underside of the housing, or use model-specific towing mirrors from providers like EMUK, designed to match the mirror shape of specific vehicles.
The Bottom Line
For most car-caravan combinations, extension mirrors are crucial for safe and legal towing. Whenever possible, try before you buy to ensure compatibility, and always use them when towing. Now that your extension mirrors are sorted, it's time to pick the perfect caravan sat-nav! Check out our guide to the best caravan sat-navs for help in making your choice.
During your car travel and lifestyle adventures, the importance of towing mirrors comes into play as they expand your field of vision, ensuring you can safely perceive vehicles approaching from behind and the sides. In your exploration of tow mirrors' varieties, factor in car-specific models and mirror designs that best suit your driving needs, such as theMilenco Grand Aero Platinum towing mirrors which provide a stable and distortion-free view.
