Thanks, the SCA ones are OK but tend to get blasted. Cheap, but don't stick out very far.  I am starting to think that a rearview camera may be the go but the only one I tried years ago was so wide angle it was useless for anything other than parking.

-- Edited by Tinggu on Friday 29th of November 2019 10:59:04 PM

Same as Dazz49 +1

I found I had a decent old single mirror in the shed, so only needed one. Against all the best advice and being a scroungy and miserable old sod I bought one of these for $26 :

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Towing-Mirrors-Single-Universal-Multi-Fit-Strap-On-Towing-Caravan-4X4-Trailer/392144510554?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

It has a good set of screw down clamps at the top as well as the straps and I'm cofdent it will hang in nicely  Unfortunately it is convex so it is costing a further $33 at the glassworks to get flat glass cut to stick over. Ho hum!

Thanks folks for the conversataion and no hard feelings I hope if I ended up going my own way.

Cheers,

Pete

Tinggu wrote:

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I am starting to think that a rearview camera may be the go but the only one I tried years ago was so wide angle it was useless for anything other than parking.

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 Being new to caravanning three years ago, I bought extended mirrors and found them almost useless because of slipping and falling off. They were removed and I rely on the large OEM tug mirrors and the wide angle camera fitted to the rear of the caravan. Blind spots down the side of caravan are negligible and the view of the road behind is good so long as vehicles behind do not catch up too fast. The wide angle camera and monitor resolution is such that you only see clearly about 100 or so metres behind. I have thoughts of fitting a second narrow focus camera to get a better long range view. The monitor has two selectable channels so it only means running extra cables to connect a second camera. Has anyone done this before? If so, has it worked out ok?

Phillipn wrote:

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StewG wrote:

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Tinggu wrote:

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I am starting to think that a rearview camera may be the go but the only one I tried years ago was so wide angle it was useless for anything other than parking.

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 Being new to caravanning three years ago, I bought extended mirrors and found them almost useless because of slipping and falling off. They were removed and I rely on the large OEM tug mirrors and the wide angle camera fitted to the rear of the caravan. Blind spots down the side of caravan are negligible and the view of the road behind is good so long as vehicles behind do not catch up too fast. The wide angle camera and monitor resolution is such that you only see clearly about 100 or so metres behind. I have thoughts of fitting a second narrow focus camera to get a better long range view. The monitor has two selectable channels so it only means running extra cables to connect a second camera. Has anyone done this before? If so, has it worked out ok?

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 StewG, you must have mirrors that you can see down both sides of the van. I have a friend that had the same set up as you , he was pulled over by the police and fined. They told him you can have the best camera on the market but you must have vision  both sides of the van. So blind spots down the sides of the van are not allowed.

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 Exactly right.Your mirrors must give a clear view down both sides of the van,and for a distance of 4 metres from each side,at a distance of 20 metres from the mirrors.Picture may help,and there is a $233 fine involved for non-compliance.Cheers

As a later Post says don't go the Camera route. It's riddled with problems if you rely on a camera for rear view vision.Not legal and in lots of states you can be fined for having a camera screen operating full time. Can be classified as a distraction.

I would have Google around re Extension mirrors like the clearview ones. There are a few companies who do similar mirrors at half the price and depends on your tug if they are available for your vehicle.

 

As an aside the New Audi 'E'Tron all electric vehicle comes with wing mirror cameras instead of actual mirrors.  Be interesting to see if the rules about rear cameras are changed because of this.

I swear by Clearview. fantastic for seeing low back wheel of caravan, for reversing, and most particularly for not having the pain of constantly taking them on and off, adjusting every time. also, o course, there is the ease of pushing them in and out when the caravan is off or on. hey, worth every cent. since we have had them for a couple of years now we have noticed them more and more frequently. and, no, I am not an agent of clearview, just a very happy customer. safe and happy travels to all. shane.