Towing - mirrors?

[69Rustang]

What are you doing for side view mirrors when towing a travel trailer or a enclosed car trailer? With the stock side mirrors, you are effectively blind unless I am missing something.

 

[Langer]

Many have bought the trail ridge tow mirrors. What year is your truck?

 

[Bigfishfin]

Always being concerned about putting on, taking off mirrors and the chance of clipping them on another vehicle, etc. seemed like a lot of hassle to me. So, when I got my TT, I looked at rear cams and I chose a Tadi Bros. rear view cam system. Now, I use the factory mirrors along with one rear view cam mounted high on the trailer and powered with the center running light and a lower cam at the license plate level (the monitor has accommodation for up to four cams).. I just turn on the running lights on the truck and am good to go. As to the monitor, I mounted it onto a piece of poplar, painted flat black and it sets pretty on the center recess on my 2015 and is easily removed. If the cam system should fail, I can still adequately maneuver the truck to enter roadways etc. and have a fairly good sight distance for lane change, etc.

 

[adamsdaddy]

Don’t get this one Fit System 3891 Deluxe Universal... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AJH1HK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
the Expy mirrors are too tall. Fits nicely on a friend’s Silverado tho.

 

[CharlesP]

I second the rear view camera mounted on the TT. I didn’t buy the Tadi, instead I got the Furion and mounted it on our Winnebago Mini in the center above the center marker light which is also used for powering it. Monitor suctions to the glass and you can leave it on going down the road for continuous rear view.

 

[John Kohler]

I tried several types of towing mirrors until I found the Dometic Milenco Grand Aero3. They easily clamp on, vibrate little, and can be adjusted to extend as much or little as you need.

 

[Goofy173]

Always being concerned about putting on, taking off mirrors and the chance of clipping them on another vehicle, etc.

I appreciate it That you are concerned with clipping others' mirrors. A guy in a pickup, no trailer, factory tow mirrors all the way out smacked and busted my driver's mirror on my 78 Blazer. We were downtown in a city with cramped lanes. After he hit me he took off running red lights to get away. This was in 1980 before dashcams, phones, etc. I didn't get the plates because of the shock as my window was open, parts flying in my face, and him taking off so quick.

But if it were me, I'd go with cameras. I think I'd mount them on the trailer too. There are wireless ones you could use to simplify it.

In 1995, I put a rear backup/trailer X10 camera with pan and tilt high and in the center on my motorhome. I just had to get power to it. Then I had a 5" color monitor I had purchased at a ham fest, I mounted on my dash. The X10 pan and tilt module had a remote so I could selected 16 positions, so I could use it for changing lanes, backing up, checking the trailer, and looking at the hitch. The whole thing cost me like $200.

That wouldn't work for a large sided trailer but I'd design something that'd work with cameras either on the side of the trailer or the back corner, or 2 on the side and one on the top back.

 

[Bigfishfin]

But if it were me, I'd go with cameras. I think I'd mount them on the trailer too. There are wireless ones you could use to simplify it.

That wouldn't work for a large sided trailer but I'd design something that'd work with cameras either on the side of the trailer or the back corner, or 2 on the side and one on the top back.

Mine are wireless...BTW, don't know about other generations of Expy's, but my plain 'ol 2015 XLT has a superb back up cam...I usually can back my trailer to the hitch perfectly 50-75% of the time on the first try, always on the second look. The close up feature lets me see the "eyes on a spider" so to speak...Kudos to Ford!...

 

[BCE Custom]

I put these on my ‘17 Expy EL Plat. Direct fit. Signals, blind spot, entry light, power mirror all work perfectly. No power fold though. They extend out like the ones on the Excursion. Works great with boat and 24ft travel trailer. My inly complaint is the pass side primary mirror could be a little more convex. The field of view is a little narrower than stock.
Trail Ridge Tow Mirror Power Heated Memory Signal Puddle Pair Set for Expedition https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077JD4DRT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_quxQFbFQG7T9Z?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[adamsdaddy]

I tried several types of towing mirrors until I found the Dometic Milenco Grand Aero3. They easily clamp on, vibrate little, and can be adjusted to extend as much or little as you need.

@John Kohler What year and model is your Expedition?

 

[ssmock]

Don’t get this one Fit System 3891 Deluxe Universal... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AJH1HK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
the Expy mirrors are too tall. Fits nicely on a friend’s Silverado tho.

I have these on my 2014 expy limited and have had no problems with them. Seem to work well and I can still power fold the mirrors. I did clip a rubber tall pylon in a construction area but that was my fault. No damage with the rubber straps and the clip on mirrors stay tight.

 

[Deleted Account]

I tow a 25' travel trailer and the lack of visibility made me crazy. I had a backup camera but that wasn't much help going down the highway - i wouldn't see the big trucks passing me until they were on me. The backup was good but no blind side visibility when backing into a tight campsite or into storage. I finally bought a Haloview system with four cameras - left, right, backup, and rear view. It's wireless so easy install. The side cameras replaced the marker lights and included the lights as well as a camera. The backup and rear view are powered off the marker lights on the back of the trailer. The 7" monitor is on a removable mount in the tray on the dash. For me this has been a godsend. Setup once and great visibility ongoing. I remove the monitor when not towing.

There are a number of companies selling camera systems.

 

[OGBobbyJohnson]

Anyone know if a 17 EL with the bigger screen can take an additional camera input and display as needed for a hardwire on the trailer?

 

[Jst ROM]

To: OP & others,

I have a 08 Expy I trail a 21' foot boat on a tandem trailer, been using the Fit System 3891 Deluxe Universal Clip-on Trailer Towing Mirror for 5 years. It's probably one of the best clip-on mirror on the market with no fail. They give a good 6" inch extension from edge to edge, some may not think it's not long enough but, with convex mirrors you'll see a lot of real estate, extension arms can shift up and down as the convex mirror can also move all around too. The straps are 2 parts lower hard plastic, top rubber, ratchet system very simple to use theirs no forcing pretty much effortless to use.

I live out of Houston and it takes me an hour to get to Galveston, TX these have never came off while driving they don't rattle nor scratch your exterior mirror caps. I don't trail dance very well but backing up to a boat launch or into my narrow driveway these mirrors let me see everything. Purchased these 5 years ago for $20ea., on Amazon they cost $40+ each now, if you fine them cheaper buy them.

Don't buy the **** 11950 Universal Clip-On Towing Mirror their garbage it's only a rubber strap. After a while with continues stretching it won't keep firm on your mirrors, they'll rattle and eventually fall off.

Whatever you decide, good luck.