Towing mirrors

Submitted: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 17:26
ThreadID: 4785 Views:5655 Replies:6 FollowUps:8
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Hi all,
we are about to take delivery of our van.I have been researching towing mirrors and havn't been able to come up with a definitave answer.We have a 100 series cruiser which is fairly wide,so the one on the shorts list was the ORA strap on ones.I heard they were more stable tan the cheaper strap on ones..Anyone got any personal experience with the ORA or any other ideas..
Thanks
Regards Greg G
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Reply By: herkman - Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 20:27

Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 20:27
We have used the ORA and are happy with them. You may ned to buy extension arms, or have them made, in our case we did not.

Whilst some people mount the bracket upside down, this is not really a good idea.

We found that in the ML270, if we were already batling a head wind, then when be passed by trucks coming the other way, then the mirror would fold back onto the drivers window. Did not happen if there was no wind or it was a tailwind.

If we had mounted the mirror upside down, the the mirror body would hit the paint work instead of the drivers door glass.

We found that a strip of duct tape, changed daily, strapping the front of the mirror, to the mirror hinge would stop in folding back.

The guy who made the suggestion, indicated to change it daily, before the heat set the glue, so that it did not damage the finish.

Regards

Col Tigwell
AnswerID: 19396

Reply By: raybates - Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 21:19

Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 21:19
Hi Greg,
I tow an eight ft wide caravan with an 80 series Landcruiser and have not found any of the commercially made towing mirrors and good so I decided to make my own.
For each morror I used one piece of 20mm rhs and one piece of 25mm rhs. With a little bit of work the 20mm will slide in and out of the 25mm quite easy. You may have to lap these in a bit. You will now have a piece of telescopic rhs.
Welded on the 25mm rhs are two muffler type clamps. These are used to clamp it to my bull bar. I have also installed a thumb screw to lock the 20mm rhs.
On the end of the 20rhs is a convex mirror. By using a convex mirror most of the viabration created is elimenated and they don't need constant adjustment.
When not towing the mirror and 20mmrhs is pushed into the 25mm to bring the mirrors back into gauge.
When I have finsished towing my van. i.e. after I get home I just unbolt the whole mirror assembly.
Gee I wished that I had patented the idea
AnswerID: 19405

Follow Up By: Geoff-2 - Sunday, May 11, 2003 at 20:54

Sunday, May 11, 2003 at 20:54
Raybates
What size convex mirrors do you use i have only been able to find 5.5 inch x 4 inch and i thought these might be a bit small?.
Geoff-2
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FollowupID: 12494

Reply By: Member - Motley - Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 22:57

Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 22:57
Greg,

I tow a 20ft van behind a LC 100 Series. I purchased Aussie Truck Mirrors. They have a strap which hooks between the window jamb and the bottom of the door. When tensioned, it provides a vibration free platform for the mirror. You can then adjust the width.

The most important benefits for me were lack of vibration and easy adjustment.




Motley
AnswerID: 19409

Follow Up By: Cam - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 13:21

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 13:21
Motley, what are they worth ??
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FollowupID: 12221

Follow Up By: Member - Motley - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 16:54

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 16:54
Cam,

I bought mine at ADP in Kilsyth in Vic for $110 each. I've seen them for $125. They were on sale at the Caravan Show in Melbourne for $80! (how good did I feel???).

It's worth shopping round, but $100-110 is probably what you're going to pay, unless you are going to a Caravan Show soonMotley
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FollowupID: 12233

Follow Up By: Flesh - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 18:54

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 18:54
Try Camec in Brisbane or Perth. I paid $206.00 pair and have found them very good. Towing a 2.4 mtr. van with 80LC. The only thing that worries me about them is the way that they are fitted to the vehicle. The top bracket that holds the mirror and adjusting and tensioning mechanism hooks into the door behind the window glass. If one were to hit something with the mirror I reckon that it will cause some damage to the door.

I have the original box that they came in. Will scan some pics from it and post on my web space. Give me and hour or so to build a web page. Time: 6:54 08/05/03

Click here for pics
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FollowupID: 12241

Follow Up By: Flesh - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 19:36

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 19:36
The page is up (a bit rough but I did in a hurry) but the link above is broken. I don't know what happened to it, it was ok when I tested it. Some how some special characters have been written to the hyperlink. Dave will have to fix it.

Here is the URL for the mirrors, you will have to copy and paste to your address bar.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/mervh/mirrors.htm
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FollowupID: 12244

Follow Up By: Willie - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 21:32

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 21:32
Re Aussie Truck Mirrors. I have been thinking about trying these mirrors on my 2000 Jackaroo for towing an 8ft wide Jackaroo, but I have been concerned that the top hook may make the electric windows hard to operate and overload the electric motor. Can anyone offer any advice or experience on this point.
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FollowupID: 12247

Follow Up By: Member - Motley - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 22:27

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 22:27
Willie,

My vehicle has electric windows and so far.no problems.Motley
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FollowupID: 12255

Reply By: Willie - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 21:33

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 21:33
Sorry, that should read an 8ft wide Jayco!
AnswerID: 19452

Reply By: Willie - Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 21:46

Thursday, May 08, 2003 at 21:46
Sorry again - my previous correction related to my follow-up to Motley's reply. I hit the wrong button!
AnswerID: 19453

Follow Up By: raybates - Monday, May 12, 2003 at 09:00

Monday, May 12, 2003 at 09:00
Goeff 2

Hi Geoff,
the size of the mirrors would be 200mm and I believe that I purchased them from Ropco
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FollowupID: 12531

Reply By: Geoff-2 - Monday, May 12, 2003 at 20:13

Monday, May 12, 2003 at 20:13
Raybates
thank heaps 200mm sounds good i have been going to make a set of mirrors like yours for a while now ,I saw same on a victorian vehicle at Forster( east coast nsw) c/van park recently and was impressed so will check out Repco tomorrow.
Geoff-2
AnswerID: 19797

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