Towing mirrors

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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So you’d take the chance on the cheaper options?
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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.

Kazza , you’ve got clearview’s?
So what about the cheapies , are you saying they do a good job?

Shane, if you have a close look, they appear to be the same mirror.

When I got mine, Clearview was the only option

The manufacturer’s , Chinese and other’s are good at copying, but quality?
Which ones are good?

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.

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.

Eggzackory.

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?

John, my Clearviews have been on since 2014 and never ever seen any sign of vibrations, maybe that is why they charge more ;=))

Well , there you go maybe it’s worth spending the extra money.

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 ....

My issue with towing mirrors is that not many people know how to use them !!


Cheers
Gazz

Doh - you look in them and see the reflection of the road behind you - easy peasy.

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.

Hi it also acts as a bump stop when people parallel park .

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And as a shin stop when walking between cars to cross the street!

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 :-)

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.

I think if I was going to pay around the $800 mark, I would be having a very close look at the MSA mirrors

Do MSA make the new style of mirrors?

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.

"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?

No not folding just black electric. clearview similar are $845 + postage. Sorry for the error.

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 .

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.

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.

There’s a lot of stuff that’s available to buy that’s possibly not legal to use .

It is 150mm on either side beyond how the vehicle was made by the manufacturer, this includes the factory fitted mirrors.

"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.

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.

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.

Quote - 'To say: "Caravan attached becomes the body of the vehicle." is incorrect.'

You have me confused, who said that?

Peter D: Michael P (QLD) did. See AnswerID: 634432