Towing Mirrors on 70 Series
Submitted: Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 10:01
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Member - Norm C (QLD)
We pick up the new caravan next week (replacing the CT) and I need to add towing mirrors to the new 70 Series cab chassis (with large aluminium canopy fitted).
I was thinking of just removing the current mirrors and drilling a new hole in the outside of the support bracket. I'd then remount the standard mirrors on their side using the original fixing bolt. This would move the mirrors out about 100mm and change them from horizontal t vertical.
It will cost nothing (apart from 20 mins of my time).
Have any 70 Series owners done this. How successful is it?
Norm C
Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 10:58
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 10:58
Norm,
I tried a piece of angle aluminium as an extension arm but it vibrated too much, even tho it was a piece of angle.
So I had some extension brackets made out of alloy. I'll try to get some photos (they aren't on the vehicle atm) and post them here.
I also bought a RH mirror and put it on the LHS because I hate those convex mirrors. I put a little convex one in the corner of it.
On the trip to and from the EO Gathering I noticed there was still a blind spot on the LHS abeam the rear wheels so I'm going to add the original mirror to the LHS in a vertical mount so the LHS will have both convex and normal mirrors mounted vertical and horizontal.
In carparks I just swing the whole thing flush with the door and nobody bangs into them walking past.
I'll get some piccies and post them in the next few days.
cheers
AnswerID:
325057
Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 11:39
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 11:39
Thanks GB. I'd like to see the pics.
I guess this means your towing mirrors are further out than they would be by just moving to a vertical position on the end of the bracket?
I'll have a camera on the back of the van as
well as the back of the canopy, so seeing behind the van should not be a problem. It is just seeing out the sides into other lanes that concerns me.
Norm C
FollowupID:
592173
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:11
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:11
Technically and legally your mirrors should be able to see right down the sides of your van.
EG
park in a straight line and get someone to hold a little marker right at the rear corner of the van. If you can see it on both sides you are legal. If you cant you need wider apart mirrors whether or not you have a rear view
camera.
Easy way to
check is
A Measure width of van.
B Measure distance between inside edge of mirrors accross the car.
If B is less that A you need wider mirrors
AnswerID:
325066
Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:22
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:22
I understand the principle Graham, but I think your formula might be wrong.
The insides of my standard mirrors are 1.8 m apart. My canopy is 1.9m wide. I can see the rear of it no problem.
FollowupID:
592195
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:39
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:39
You probably can as they would be designed so you can see down the edges of the tray and as they are about 150mm wide you would
I said THE VAN as usually a van is somewhere around 2.3 -2.4 metres wide and standard mirrors even on a Croozer arent wide enough.
A pair of Aussie Truck mirrors are a good investment.
The mod shown here is a good idea as
well
FollowupID:
592198
Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:59
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:59
Graham, I tried a pair of Aussie Truck Mirrors. They just wouldn't stay tight. Eventually they would loosen and almost fall off the door.
But the most annoying thing was that the glass was CONCAVE !!!
Try looking thru a concave mirror. It produced the opposite to a convex mirror. That is, everything was tall and skinny (except me when I look into them, unfortunately) and a very narrow field of vision.
They are still sitting in the shed if anyone wants them.
My current setup handles corrugations, which is what I was after. I will have to confront the issue tho, when we eventually use the LC200 for towing. I love the 70 but we need to move to an auto box if I want SWMBO to share some driving duties.
cheers
FollowupID:
592199
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 15:16
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 15:16
Well mine and all others I have seen have flat glass in them and the straps have never come loose on
mine.
You can buy new heads with flat glass fom Camec for about $36 each
FollowupID:
592200
Reply By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:14
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:14
Hi Norm....I have not changed the mirrors on my troopy but instead bought those additional mirrors that clip to the top of the door(where the window slides down) and have that ratchet "
seat belt " type of frabric belt and hook that clips under the door.
I find them adequate for my needs as I prefer not to drill holes in the exterior panels if I can help it.
They extend out horizontally enough to give good vision and like you, but I have three
camera's......one on the back of the van up high...I can see over most traffic except trucks and pull over to let them through if too many.
The other two ...one up high looking out back...handy for backing onto the van and one facing at roughly 45-60 degrees, across from the rear
camera on the rear left hand corner( off drivers side) also up high which is a beautifull when I am in town either in a shopping car
park or in a busy main street that has angled
parking..ie some of
Katherine NT
AnswerID:
325067
Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:19
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:19
A seiector switch in the overhead console next to the sceen to select up to 6 cameras
FollowupID:
592182
Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 13:45
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 13:45
Referring to my post above:
This is the bracket I had made. Alloy strap breaks when being bent so I had to have it welded, otherwise costs were minimal.
Image Could Not Be Found
In place. I haven't decided yet whether the convex mirror will be in the vertical or horizontal position but now the blind spot down low abeam the rear wheel is covered. This is the LHS of the vehicle. The RHS uses the same bracket but only one mirror in the horizontal position. I had to get a longer bolt for the horizontal mirror because it goes thru two thicknesses of metal.
Image Could Not Be Found
When in carparks I just push the assembly against the door so nobody bangs against while walking past.
Image Could Not Be Found
Hope this helps Norm (and anyone else who's got a 70 series).
AnswerID:
325083
Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:25
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:25
Looks like a good set up GB and must give good vision. You sure have wide mirrors though. I can see why you push them in when parked.
FollowupID:
592196
Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:35
Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 at 14:35
On a further look, I think my proposal should work.
If I move the mirrors as I proposed, the inside edge will move out about 200mm. So the distance between the mirrors will increase by 400mm.
My van is a 386mm wider than the canopy, so I'm figuring it should be OK.
I'll see if I hear from someone who has actually done this. But failing that, I think it is worth a go. If I'm not happy, I can change to something else (Gone Bush's set up for example). The only downside will be a hole in the end of each of the mirror brackets. If I paint it black, I doubt it will be very noticable.
Norm C
AnswerID:
325088
Reply By: Dunedigger - Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:11
Monday, Sep 15, 2008 at 19:11
My tray is 15cm wider than standard ( off a patrol ) I just bolted on a piece of flat and extended the mirrors so I could see right down the side. Yes there is a bit of vibration but the mirrors are still usable.
A piece of angle would reduce the vibration
Dunedigger
AnswerID:
325446