Towing Mirrors

Aussie Truck Mirrors , I have used a lot of brands and you can actually see behind with these, easy to fit and Brilliant to see backwards. Most carry them.

Cheap mirrors ae not good and good mirrors are not cheap.

Aussie truck mirrors are the best you can get. about $120.00 each

Pooley

Got to agree here! We GULPED at the price (nearly $130 each!), but decided that they did fit very easily, gave HUGE rear view ability. Now 8000 k down the track are absolutely chuffed with them. We can see a vehicle (car) which is less than 300metres behind our van and they require absolutely minimal re-adjustment whether on rough tracks, been buffeted by a road train wind or just taken off when not required and refitted for the next use.
B.T.W. We have NO commercial connections with the makers or suppliers - just very satisfied users.
Cheers - Mobi

Charlie,
I have to agree with Aussie truck mirrors being very good. Used them for 10,000km on our last jaunt and they were excellent. Best mirrors I've had. Easy to fit, easy to remove and refit without readjustments, providing you mark their fitting position some how. A bit of stuffing around in the initial set up and the mirrors can come loose on the aluminium extension arms. I had to adjust them twice in the 10,000km which is really not much of a prob.

Toolman

Aussie Truck mirrors are the go. Had mine in use for 40K with no problems.

GeeTee

Hi Bill,

I have a similar setup, but the switch is incorporated in the monitor. (mirror mounted)

Shift the selector into reverse and the monitor switches on automatically, on AV2.
Alternatively, you can turn on the monitor with the standby switch which defaults to AV1. This would be good if I bothered putting a second camera on the camper, but for now I just have mounted one camera on the back step of the Jack, under the rear wheel. By pressing the standby button, followed by the AV button (to switch it to AV2) I can have the rear view mirror monitor on all the time if I choose.

The safety aspect of it is fantastic. I can see directly behind the vehicle to within 1/2 a meter of the back of the vehicle and this is the main reason I installed it.
Also because of the position I have located the camera, I get a view of the trailer coupling, so I can reverse right back to the camper's hitch point.

If I had one negative comment to make, it would be that sunlight from the rear window makes viewing of the rear mirror mounted monitor rather difficult during the day, but this is easily overcome by moving the mirror assembly slightly, so that the angle is pointing towards the hood lining, thus eliminating reflection.

All in all, I am quite happy with the "accessory" but of course I'm still way short of your options.

Cheers,
Bill two.

Now! Just WHERE were you when we were looking for ours? :-)
I guess thats Adelaide Paramount Browns - Hmm! will keep them in mind as top of the list for other stuff! \
Been there lots for nuts & bolts and barrels and chains etc - never gave them a thought for mirrors!
Cheers - Mobi

For those saying that mirrors are oldschool and cameras the way to go, would it not be a requirement/regulation to have mirrors installed anyway ie. can clearly be seen by reflection the road behind the vehicle and any following or overtaking vehicle?

(BTW i like the idea of a camera myself :-))

Andrew

I have the mirrors that are standard on my Pajero which picks up a vehicle forward of the camera view but not much behind with the full 8 ft van.
On one of my breathalyser stops the police had a discussion, with me included, and decided that the camera met all the regulations. The law states that you must have adequate visibility and mirror position is a suggestion only. This does not mean that mirrors are the only option.
Usually the police will walk down the side of the van and if he can see the drivers face then that is OK. I had to explain that I had a camera and once they saw the view they agreed that it was better than mirrors.

It has just registered, maybe not having the mirrors is the reason I get stopped at all the breath checks because they always ask me how I see behind or something similar.
Hope that helps.

Neil

Actually the ADR 14/01 - Rear Vision Mirrors states in part:

14.2.1 An external mirror complying with the requirement of Clause 14.2.3
shall be fitted on the driver's side of the vehicle.

14.2.3.1.1 Field of View - A flat external mirror shall be installed that provides all
drivers (with eyes located by the `95th Percentile Eye Ellipses' tangent
contours) with a view of a level road surface extending to the horizon
from a line perpendicular to a plane tangential to the driver's side of the
vehicle at the widest point and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
vehicle, extending 2.4 metres out from the tangential plane 11 metres
behind the driver's eyes, with the `Seat' in the rearmost position. The line
of sight may be partially obscured by rear body or wheel guard contours.

From what i can see, there is no other provision for accomplishing this, as the ADR are quite specific in their requirements. Cameras do not meet the standards, though they are rather handy :-)

I would suspect that a variation ie cameras etc would technically require a compliance plate ;-) though i don't really know.

As long as you don't get pulled over and booked, then it must be fine ;-)

Andrew

I believe that the info quoted by Andrew is correct but typical af these things there is a bit about visability behind towed vehicles and impliments.
Lawyers write this stuff so that we have to employ lawyers to decypher it.
All the police that I have spoken with over this say it is OK but the vehicle does need an external mirror which they do come with.

All clear as mud.

I intend to keep using the camera only.
I will give RACWA a call and see what happens. They have a legal dept.

Neil

Or just record the officers name for next time :-)

Andrew

No need to Steven.

As long as you have received the input you were after, all is good.

C'ya.

Thanks for the info, however i am putting them onto an 80 series and a BA ford.