Towing mirror recommendations

ZacnEllie3 · Member

Towing mirror recommendations

rgren2 · Guru

Clearview. There are copies on the market that are cheaper.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Clearview, if they make them for your car.

Long Weekend · Guru

Clearview for towing.

When not actually towing they are also the best mirrors for driving in city traffic or the open road.

Murray

Rodsvan · Veteran Member

If you're replacing the original mirrors, both Clearview an MSA now make compact (although still larger than normal car mirrors) extendable models in addition to the large 'elephant-ear' types. Some friends have the more compact Clearview ones and are very happy with them & don't have to fold them in when entering their garage. If you're thinking of the mirrors which are just put on for towing, I'd suggest something with two arms for better stability such as these https://www.roadtechmarine.com.au/towing-mirror-dual-angle/p/RVG002?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxdGsscGQhwMVTeMWBR1JWg09EAQYAyABEgKbyfD_BwE You do have to push these on tightly, but mine haven't started to slip off and haven't caused the mirror to fold back when passing trucks.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I never leave home without my Clearview Mirrors fitted. Have been doing this for 10 years now. Never failed me. Even not towing they are the bees knees. Between them and my full-time camera on back of Aluminium Tent and reverse camera on back of the Collie I have so much vision, I don't need a vision.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Radar · Guru

ZacnEllie3 wrote:
Hi there. I am wanting to replace my towing mirrors and am wondering if someone would be kind enough to give a recommendation for the best type/brand to purchase. The market is full of options but I would appreciate some expert guidance based on anyones plus or minus experiences. Thanks

Would you like to share with us what make and model car you have.

I have tried a few different towing mirrors on our dual cab Nissan Navara and after switching to a set of MSA large mirrors was extremely disappointed and now living in the shed along with a few other must haves when caravaning.

Yes, the big mirrors are good when you are towing but and there is some down sides.

They are a plain in the butt in narrow shopping centers.

Large frame of the mirrors add to blind spots.

Next to useless trying to park next to the curb, great for seeing what's on the footpath.

They certainly did not help me to reverse better.

I did find a left side blind spot which put the wind up me on 2 occasions. Not good.

I did try a set of clip on designer mirrors, they were good and then I noticed that the Nissan mirror was being forced up ono the air steam. Fearing we were going to loose the mirror I sold them on.

Gone back to my El cheapo 12 year old $54 a pair clip ons. Easy on and off, they are legal,.

We are high kilometers travellers each year and use our car daily. The last 2 months 8800ks from Brisbane, Alice Springs and back to Brisbane with the caravan with no regrets.

Magnarc · Guru

Clearview mirrors for me. For parking in tight places and avoiding damage just press a switch and they fold in.(this feature may depend on the make of vehicle)

The smaller mirrors under the large ones will enable you to see the kerb and also give a good view when parking in a C park site.

I love them!!

blackstump · Veteran Member

Next gen Clearview for me. On my bt50, they only changed overall width by 30mm, they have flat glass and a second smaller convex spotter mirror which i prefer where the MSA have a single convex mirror. If you only want the temporary type, then the Milenco grand aero 4 are good, and you can get them in either flat or convex mirror, I used these before the Next gen Clearview became available.

Dick0 · Guru

Clearview if you have money to burn.

San Hima if you want to save money.

Just as good in my view. Have had them on previous and current vehicles.

Towing Mirrors).jpg

-- Edited by Dick0 on Saturday 6th of July 2024 12:32:33 PM

Greg 1 · Guru

I could not fit the Clearview type to the Ranger due to garage limitations so bought a set of Millenco Grand Aero mirrors. Of all the removable type of mirror these are really good. I have used them now for about 8 years over all types of road and they have been excellent. Quick and easy to mount and dismount and are stable under most conditions. Are they as good as a Clearview? Probably not but they are a fraction of the price at around $160 for the pair and you can take them off quickly and easily when not required.

Cupie · Guru

Greg 1 wrote:
I could not fit the Clearview type to the Ranger due to garage limitations so bought a set of Millenco Grand Aero mirrors. Of all the removable type of mirror these are really good. I have used them now for about 8 years over all types of road and they have been excellent. Quick and easy to mount and dismount and are stable under most conditions. Are they as good as a Clearview? Probably not but they are a fraction of the price at around $160 for the pair and you can take them off quickly and easily when not required.

Agree WRT the Millenco. A great choice if you don't want to, or can't go the Clearview path.

Are We Lost · Guru

I also recommend the Milenco Grand Aero. While the permanently mounted styles such as Clearview would no doubt be better for seeing what is behind, I find the Milencos obscure enough frontal view already. In fact Milencos are recommended to be mounted on top of the vehicle mirror. I mount them on the underside because they are less in the way of vision.

Having a big pair of ears permanently obscuring part of my forward vision is not something I would want.

watsea · Guru

Similar to arewelost, I use Milenco Grand Aero, though I would rather have a set of Clearview Next Gen. However, for me, I cannot justify the $1,400+ cost when I already have the Milenco set.

In the retracted position, the Clearview Next Gen just would sit out further by a few centimetres more the original side mirrors, unlike the earlier Clearview elephant ear version. Next Gen has flat glass for the main mirror and smaller curved mirror below.

My Milenco had been ok, except I have been still getting fold back of the driver's side mirror when very strong side wind and large truck passing the opposite direction. The tennis ball trick against the mirror does not work for me. The Milenco are just over one-tenth of the cost of Next Gen.

However, hopefully I have improved the fold back issue by using an extra arm from an old set of attachable mirrors. The arm has a magnetic foot with a flexible pad that can be mounted on the outside of the driver's door. Arm at 45deg and a bracket fixing to the Milenco arm. I could only fit satisfactorily with the Milenco arm attached to the underside of the exterior mirror. Hoping the Milenco tightening screws remain tight in upside-down position. No trial yet but the system looks and feels sturdy enough. See pic.

-- Edited by watsea on Sunday 7th of July 2024 05:41:06 PM

67HR · Senior Member

I use and love Milenco grand aeros. We go away about 4 times a year so they're not an issue to take on and off. Also I can still fold them with the Jeep mirrors at the press of a button. I've never had one fold in on me whilst on the road..

-- Edited by 67HR on Sunday 7th of July 2024 04:59:03 PM

Greg 1 · Guru

Never experienced fold back with my Millenco mirrors.

watsea · Guru

I reckon that some fold back or not can depend on how much resistance is given by the particular vehicles side mirror to turning on its pivot.

Are We Lost · Guru

Never had a fold back on my Grand Aeros either. Surely that would only happen if it was not tight enough. If one of the mounts was loose enough to slip, surely it would only be moments before the whole thing fell off.

watsea · Guru

Good for you Steve for not folding back.

Mine fold back regularly when high wind from the right side and a passing truck. That is why I took measures to stop the fold back.

I am meaning the pivot hinge of the side mirror. My mirrors are not in danger of falling off either.

-- Edited by watsea on Monday 8th of July 2024 12:00:41 AM

Are We Lost · Guru

Ah, that makes sense. So it is the original mirror that folds back, with the Milenco attached. No doubt a vehicle design feature so they fold more easily than most if bumped.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Monday 8th of July 2024 10:04:41 AM

Possum3 · Guru

We've been using Milenco for over 12 years, changed over to match new vehicles 3 times. can't fault them, set them once put a small white dot on their position they take 30 seconds to put on and take off again.

ZacnEllie3 · Member

Thanks everyone for your appreciated replies. I was looking at the Milenco option also so I think Ill go that way. I dont really want to fork out $1400 for a set of Clearview, as good as they seem to be but thanks for your many comments, I appreciate your feedback.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Well done, Jack, many times, many, people come on here and ask a question never to be seen again. You got great info to your question and even though you have gone to the 'Clearview' opposition biggrin you have made your choice. Happy travels, not only will you now see where you are going, you will also see where you have been.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

blackstump · Veteran Member

Just to keep things real, it's worth noting that the $1400 price spoken about is the very upper end of the scale, for vehicles with electric fold and sensors for lane assist etc etc. for a "normal" set of next gens for a 2019 bt50 with electric mirror adjustment was $850 fitted so not quite $1400.

watsea · Guru

Everywhere I looked during June, I could not get a set of Next Gen for my vehicle for less than $1,400+.
Next Gen, black, indicators, electric adjust and power fold (to make sure that I can fit through my garage door). Heated like my OEM mirrors is extra again. If anyone can tell me where I can get a pair for less than $1,000, please me know. I would be very interested.

I thought that I had scored a pair for $999, but they were not Next Gen. They were the older elephant ear style wrongly advertised. I checked the contents as I went to collect.

BarneyBDB · Senior Member

And around $300 for the San Hima's

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Sorry to reopen this post but my son has recently bought a new Ford Trend in Canberra & is picking up what seems to be an excellent second hand Jayco Eagle (camper) this weekend. He knows that he'll need mirrors.

I suggested that he had a look at the el-cheapo Dometic ones from BCF ($70). They feature a strap that goes around the back of the car's mirror housing & clips onto the top & bottom edges of the housing (www.bcf.com.au/p/dometic-smf102-towing-mirrors-pair/628917.html). The reason - I had (on advice) bought a set of Milencos & regretted that purchase. Perhaps I should have bought the ones with the smaller mirrors rather than the larger Aero4 ones.
The reasons - I had constant vibration problems & the inner section of the original mirror housing has split on both sides - where the clamps go. Having had ORA mirrors on my old MQ Patrol, I thought they were better, although much dearer & they didn't stress the plastic housing. They had the strap that went around the front of the mirrors & hooked back above & below the mirrors.

As my son suggested he'll probably go for the Milenco mirrors, I checked with a friend who has the same car & my mirrors fit ok BUT ..... . I'm willing to send my ones to him but I don't want him to break his OE mirrors.

Radar, what brand are your el-cheapo ones, do you remember?

So far I'm happy with my MSA mirrors.

Radar · Guru

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Sorry to reopen this post but my son has recently bought a new Ford Trend in Canberra & is picking up what seems to be an excellent second hand Jayco Eagle (camper) this weekend. He knows that he'll need mirrors.

I suggested that he had a look at the el-cheapo Dometic ones from BCF ($70). They feature a strap that goes around the back of the car's mirror housing & clips onto the top & bottom edges of the housing (www.bcf.com.au/p/dometic-smf102-towing-mirrors-pair/628917.html). The reason - I had (on advice) bought a set of Milencos & regretted that purchase. Perhaps I should have bought the ones with the smaller mirrors rather than the larger Aero4 ones.
The reasons - I had constant vibration problems & the inner section of the original mirror housing has split on both sides - where the clamps go. Having had ORA mirrors on my old MQ Patrol, I thought they were better, although much dearer & they didn't stress the plastic housing. They had the strap that went around the front of the mirrors & hooked back above & below the mirrors.

As my son suggested he'll probably go for the Milenco mirrors, I checked with a friend who has the same car & my mirrors fit ok BUT ..... . I'm willing to send my ones to him but I don't want him to break his OE mirrors.

Radar, what brand are your el-cheapo ones, do you remember?

So far I'm happy with my MSA mirrors.

About $54 out of Re

pco back about 2012.

My Milencos were doing much the some, sold them on pretty smartly.

Now to get rid of the expensive big mirrors.

I actually like my El cheapos.

TONKAT · Newbie

I found MSA to be great