Towing mirrors

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 08:49
ThreadID: 140856 Views:9480 Replies:8 FollowUps:34
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Towing mirrors , not legal when not towing?

Withoutahitch

I notice shit loads of people driving around with those clearview type mirrors extended when not towing. But don’t see the other add on mirrors left on hardly ever!
Does this mean the flash Clearview type mostly don’t work that good? I thought the whole point was to be able to suck them back in when not needed.
I’m looking at options for my BT50.
Cheers
Shane
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Reply By: Kazza055 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 09:24

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 09:24
I have the Clearview mirrors on my D-Max and they are the best thing since sliced bread but I don't recall seeing ship loads of people driving around with them extended. Probably seen more people leaving their brackets fitted which leaves the end of the mirror bracket extended out past the normal mirrors.

I paid about $800 for my Clearview mirrors back in 2014 and they have had lots of use over the past six years. Doing it now there are much cheaper options for the same type of mirrors on eBay for less that half the price of what I paid.

If parking in shopping centres I generally fold them in to allow others to get past the car.

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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 12:33

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 12:33
G’day Kazza,
Might be just this part of the country (eyre peninsula)that drivers leave the mirrors out, but I’m sure they’re not all locals.
So you’d take the chance on the cheaper options?
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 16:18

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 16:18
--------------------------------------------- snipping --------------------------------------------------
So you’d take the chance on the cheaper options?
--------------------------------------------- snipping --------------------------------------------------

They look exactly the same as the Clearview but for half the price.

As suggested by others, have a look at the MSA mirrors but then you are back up to the Clearview price.

Personally, I don't give a rats to what others think of them, they do a very good job.
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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 19:51

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 19:51
Kazza , you’ve got clearview’s?
So what about the cheapies , are you saying they do a good job?
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 20:33

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 20:33
Shane, if you have a close look, they appear to be the same mirror.

When I got mine, Clearview was the only option
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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 20:37

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 20:37
The manufacturer’s , Chinese and other’s are good at copying, but quality?
Which ones are good?
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 21:02

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 21:02
Shane, mine are Clearview and nearly 7 years old, the chrome on both mirrors is pitted and look like crap.

If I was to buy them again I would go for the black.

I would think that they all come out of China.
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Follow Up By: Member - Howard P (WA) - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 09:49

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 09:49
Just removed my Clearview mirrors - and the sign inside the mirror "Made in China" may as well buy the cheaper versions if you need extendable mirrors.
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 10:33

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 10:33
Eggzackory.
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Follow Up By: Member - John - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 18:37

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 18:37
I bought the cheaper version and am about to rip them off and return them to the seller. I have had them about 6 months and can not stop the vibration. Have tightened every thing I can and still they vibrate. I even packed foam behind the glass to try and stop the vibration, nothing worked. I am going to buy the Clearview brand. Fingers crossed they don't vibrate.........

Just an observation on the post about driving around with them extended but no van, even when in the closed position they sit way further out than the factory/normal mirror, maybe what is being observed?
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 18:54

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 18:54
John, my Clearviews have been on since 2014 and never ever seen any sign of vibrations, maybe that is why they charge more ;=))
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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 20:30

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 20:30
Well , there you go maybe it’s worth spending the extra money.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 12:50

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 12:50
I had the clearviews on my GU and loved them. Only took them off cause I stopped towing the van with it. Been sitting in the shed since then ....
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Reply By: Member - mechpete - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 13:00

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 13:00
Even when the clearview mirrors are retracted
they stick out far thats why I don,t like em
mechpete
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Reply By: Member - Suitcase (QLD) - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 13:04

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 13:04
Have you looked at the new ones from MSA?
Suitcase
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Reply By: pmk03 - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 13:08

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 13:08
Just waiting on delivery of a set of MSA mirrors for our DMax .
Look good & retract back to original position when not in use.
Unfortunately there's been a high demand for them & no stock available, been waiting nearly 8 weeks but should see them this week.
Around the same price as Clearviews.
Cheers Paul
PMK3AUSTRALIA
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Reply By: Batt's - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 19:49

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 19:49
I would say complete opposite about people removing towing mirrors I've seen over the yrs around the country most are to lazy or to ignorant.
Also see quite a lot of people coming and going to the van park down the road from me with mirrors attached not towing. Also illegal to leave hitch in.
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Follow Up By: Member - Outback Gazz - Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 20:00

Thursday, Dec 10, 2020 at 20:00
My issue with towing mirrors is that not many people know how to use them !!


Cheers
Gazz
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Follow Up By: OzzieCruiser - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 11:44

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 11:44
Doh - you look in them and see the reflection of the road behind you - easy peasy.
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Follow Up By: Member - Warren H - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 13:32

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 13:32
Re towbar tongue and 'ball', AFAIK it's only illegal if the assembly protrudes beyond the vehicle body. If you have a rear mounted spare this is unlikely to be the case. I leave mine in because it's a convenient step when accessing the roof rack.
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Follow Up By: Member - reggy 2 (VIC) - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 20:04

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 20:04
Hi it also acts as a bump stop when people parallel park .
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 16:30

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 16:30
.
And as a shin stop when walking between cars to cross the street!
Cheers
Allan

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Follow Up By: Member - Wildmax - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 22:38

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 22:38
And handy as a defence against people reversing into you in the supermarket carpark.....I've got a bullbar and side rails, but the tow hitch is a nice weapon at the rear :-)
Wildmax
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Follow Up By: Blown4by - Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 03:28

Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 03:28
It is not illegal to leave the hitch in its receiver with no trailer attached, provided, the hitch does not constitute a 'Dangerous Projection'. In WA the projection must not exceed 350mm.
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Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 09:39

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 09:39
Have a look at the new Clearview mirrors, much more streamlined, don’t stick out as far when retracted, all the same options as the old style.

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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 10:32

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 10:32
I think if I was going to pay around the $800 mark, I would be having a very close look at the MSA mirrors
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 16:51

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 16:51
Do MSA make the new style of mirrors?
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Follow Up By: Member - Mark C (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 20, 2020 at 17:17

Sunday, Dec 20, 2020 at 17:17
I have just Purchased and fitted the new MSA to my Ford Everest and could not be happier. $795 with no Indicator but black and delivered in 3 days to my door. 2 hrs to fit and great. Tried to get the new Clearview but out of stock until March 2021. Also clearview $1395 as opposed to the $795 I paid.
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Sunday, Dec 20, 2020 at 17:36

Sunday, Dec 20, 2020 at 17:36
"Also clearview $1395 as opposed to the $795 I paid."

I think the Clearview at $1395 are the auto fold, the normal ones are around $800 so are your MSA auto fold?
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Follow Up By: Member - Mark C (QLD) - Monday, Dec 21, 2020 at 10:03

Monday, Dec 21, 2020 at 10:03
No not folding just black electric. clearview similar are $845 + postage. Sorry for the error.
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Reply By: DiggZ - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 13:10

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 13:10
I’ve had Ocam mirrors on my dmax for a few years now. Work as they supposed to, no issues at all with them and very good price.
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Follow Up By: Pepper - Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 21:28

Friday, Dec 11, 2020 at 21:28
I have a bt50 and find the view along the side of my caravan (20ft internal ) is not significantly different with the clearviews extended or retracted..do your own calculations and see..

But they are a pain to leave extented when parking anywhere .
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Reply By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 17:00

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 17:00
Unless the law has changed recently, tis illegal to have a protusion beyond 150mm from the body of the vehicle. Caravan attached becomes the body of the vehicle. Once the caravan/trailer is unhitched most of the "Clearview" type mirrors are technically illegal.
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 17:11

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 17:11
150mm that would make a lot of factory fitted car mirrors illegal. Are you sure that doesn't mean when your carring gear say in a ute tray etc.
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Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 17:19

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 17:19
Michael P, did you read that on facebook?

Can I suggest you have a read here - Clearview Mirrors Are Legal in All Australian States And Territories.

I doubt they would be able to sell them if they were illegal. If you drive around with them extended and no van attached, well you are a dill.
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Follow Up By: Member - shane r1 - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 19:27

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 19:27
There’s a lot of stuff that’s available to buy that’s possibly not legal to use .
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Follow Up By: Joe G2 - Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 20:24

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020 at 20:24
It is 150mm on either side beyond how the vehicle was made by the manufacturer, this includes the factory fitted mirrors.
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Dec 13, 2020 at 00:04

Sunday, Dec 13, 2020 at 00:04
"Unless the law has changed recently, tis illegal to have a protusion beyond 150mm from the body of the vehicle."

Wrong! the following is from Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 14/02 –Rear Vision Mirrors) 2006:

"4.2. At least one such mirror shall be affixed to each side of the vehicle and
may project 150 mm beyond the point of ‘Overall Width’ of the vehicle
or the ‘Overall Width’ of any trailer it may be drawing- "

and for those with folding mirrors

"4.3. The mirrors may project 230 mm on each side beyond the point of
‘Overall Width’ of the vehicle provided that the mirror is capable of
collapsing to 150 mm. "

In other words, don't look at how far they project from the side of the door. Open the front door windows and measure the overall width of the mirrors. Compare that with the overall width measurement given in the specifications in the vehicle handbook. I am sure that in every case the Clearview mirrors will comply with the bits that I copied from ADR-14.



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Follow Up By: Blown4by - Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 03:59

Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 03:59
Load overhang & protrusions are two different things. To say: "Caravan attached becomes the body of the vehicle." is incorrect. The Caravan is its own separately licensed vehicle & provided it does not exceed 2.5m in width it is legal.
In WA, overhang of the load, without a permit, is allowed provided the load does not exceed 150mm to the sides, 1.2m at the front & 1.2m at the rear, & subject to, the vehicle rear overhang not being exceeded i.e. 60% of the wheelbase or 3.7m, whichever is the lesser. Additionally, the load overhang must be delineated by day with brightly coloured material (rag) no less than 300mm square & by night using red lamps.
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 08:20

Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 08:20
Sorry Michael,

“Technically” they aren’t illegal if retracted. That is the whole point of these types of replacement mirrors. They are designed to be legal both when retracted when not towing, and when extended when you are towing. If you do not retract them when not towing, then you can be fined.

Macca.
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 13:30

Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 13:30
Quote - 'To say: "Caravan attached becomes the body of the vehicle." is incorrect.'

You have me confused, who said that?
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Follow Up By: Blown4by - Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 14:01

Friday, Dec 18, 2020 at 14:01
Peter D: Michael P (QLD) did. See AnswerID: 634432

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