Tow Mirrors (THE LACK THERE OF)

[Bushman]

Spending a fair bit of time on the road for both work and play, I'm dumb founded at the amount of people who tow vans without the use of some form of towing mirrors especially on sedans with big vans, Now nearly all vans are wide that your average tow vehicle including most 4x4s (unless your driving F250, Dodge RAM or Chevy etc. that are humungous and have big mirrors anyway) the RMS ruling is if you are towing "ANY" trailer that is wider than the maximum width of the tow vehicle and obstructs the rear vison of the stand vehicle mirrors you must use an extension mirror, us must be able to see the rear corners of said trailer.
the practice of NOT using extension mirrors is not only bloody stupid, its dangerous to not only themselves but other road users
Now some think its OK because they have a camera, guess what its not, camera's generally don't cover the blind spots down the side of the van (unless you have side mounts camera's).

Now the other biggest problem is that people get away if it most of the time because it is such a grey area as far as the ruling goes our friends in blue generally don't bother booking anyone for it, unless of coarse you have an accident. Its not rocket science, its bloody common sense.

I know I cant see down the side of our van without tow mirrors, and I'd rather see that B-Double or Road-Train bearing down on me at 100km well before he gets beside me.

I make no apology for this post, if it offends... Tough!!!!!!!

Oh! end of rant and off my soap box now :rant:

 

[Tone]

Totally agree @Bushman

 

[Rockape]

Agree @Bushman. Such a simple safety feature!

 

[Bellbirdweb]

No arguments from me, completely agree.

Have a mate towing a Swan with a Prado and refuses to believe they are needed.

I can imagine towing without them.

 

[Dobbie]

Or me....it's ridiculous how many have tunnel vision in relation to safety...and lousy rear vision ....but would be the first to complain if they were pulled over for inadequate rear or side vision.

and it is defiantly inadequate.....and what happens if the camera, supposed to replace the towing mirrors, is not connected or turned on?

Have another rant @Bushman ....you might feel better getting it off your chest but someone, somewhere, somehow has got to take some sort of overall responsibility and control the idiots who put the rest of us in danger.

I'll join you on your soapbox!

 

[bigcol]

whole heartedly agree mate

and the argument that you have camera's is Null and Void, as the ADR's dont say anything about them
VSB1 and VSB17 (or is it 18) only say "viewing aides" - which some interpret to be cameras - but mean Mirrors
Nope, no way & no how
what you have to remember is that the ADR's and the VSB's are the basis for the Laws and regulations of each State and Territory
therefore only viewed as recommendations only
until the Law says you can have a camera instead of mirrors, then you HAVE to have mirrors

there is a thread with 10 pages on the "other site" with people trying to justify their reason for breaking the Law

if your going to Tow

GET PROPER TOWING MIRRORS

 

[bigcol]

besides, you just spent $20,000 - $100,000 on a Van, why scrimp on a set of decent mirrors for crying out loud

you wont be so happy you saved money when you side swipe someone on the Hwy, because you didnt see them

 

[Dobbie]

I fail to understand why some spend huge $$$ on a new caravan and new vehicle, put everything possible on it in case they might need it, then try to save $$$ by skimping on necessary safety items.

It just doesn't make sense.

and some of the stories (urban myths or whatever) about competitions to pinch toilet paper from wherever they can......

They must have blown all their super in one hit.

It's not only the recently affluent nomads but lots of others as well.

We were at a free camp that was full....and spent a few minutes estimating the total value of the 22 caravans and vehicles camped there...all for free. By the time we added the extras such as generators etc the figure was amazing. Well over $3million......and then there was us!

I think they should be able to afford a towing mirror!

 

[Drover]

I like to see all around me, have towing mirrors and a cam, would have a drone flying above for overhead if feasable.........my truck had mirrors covering all the black spots and I try to set my van up the same, and even then still find someone tucked in down the side, just hanging there, 22 ft of van and they want to stay alongside, idiots.
Have driven semi's that had in addition to mirrors they had cams fitted as well, turn on a blinker and the screen would come on with a picture of down the side of the trailer or the rear.
Usually find the one's who reckon they don't need mirrors don't have a clue anyway.

 

[Macca_75]

actually black and whites laws I believe around the need for towing mirrors and what they should provide.

http://rvdaily.com.au/issue010/?utm...tm_campaign=RV+Daily+Issue+010+-+Send+001#241

 

[DRW]

It buggers belief for me as well, I have a close mate that can't use mirrors when reversing, he has never been shown and I think this is a big part of the problem. Way too many non mechanical minded type people towing and have absolutley no friggin idea, no wonder there is talk of a towing licence. Re my mate, we have arranged for me to take hime to a quiet location and give him some tips

 

[Drover]

I have come across folks who just can't use the mirrors, their mind just doesn't seem to comprehend the picture they see, these fellas could drive very well just couldn't reverse unless they looked out the window or stood on the step of the Mack, something to do with the way the brains wired I suppose. One couldn't tie showlaces either.........................but no excuse for not having mirrors.

 

[Dobbie]

I've come across that silly old fart in the caravan park at Esperance.

He had no idea and kept telling me "left hand down" "right hand down" etc...all without an invitation to contribute.

He was completely wrong but consistently wrong (I'll give him that) but obviously felt better for the experience. I nearly decked him.

He was probably sitting and waiting for a new victim as he couldn't use his mirrors to get out ...or in.

 

[Tuppy]

Spending a fair bit of time on the road for both work and play, I'm dumb founded at the amount of people who tow vans without the use of some form of towing mirrors especially on sedans with big vans, Now nearly all vans are wide that your average tow vehicle including most 4x4s (unless your driving F250, Dodge RAM or Chevy etc. that are humungous and have big mirrors anyway) the RMS ruling is if you are towing "ANY" trailer that is wider than the maximum width of the tow vehicle and obstructs the rear vison of the stand vehicle mirrors you must use an extension mirror, us must be able to see the rear corners of said trailer.
the practice of NOT using extension mirrors is not only bloody stupid, its dangerous to not only themselves but other road users
Now some think its OK because they have a camera, guess what its not, camera's generally don't cover the blind spots down the side of the van (unless you have side mounts camera's).

Now the other biggest problem is that people get away if it most of the time because it is such a grey area as far as the ruling goes our friends in blue generally don't bother booking anyone for it, unless of coarse you have an accident. Its not rocket science, its bloody common sense.

I know I cant see down the side of our van without tow mirrors, and I'd rather see that B-Double or Road-Train bearing down on me at 100km well before he gets beside me.

I make no apology for this post, if it offends... Tough!!!!!!!

Oh! end of rant and off my soap box now :rant:

I have the big ClearView mirrors, but even when extended they don't really give me much of a look back behind me when travelling in a straight line. So we had a rear view camera installed on our new van when being built, and drive with it on all the time. Bloody magic...would nevervtow another van without one!

 

[Bushman]

I have the big ClearView mirrors, but even when extended they don't really give me much of a look back behind me when travelling in a straight line. So we had a rear view camera installed on our new van when being built, and drive with it on all the time. Bloody magic...would nevervtow another van without one!

Yep most don't show what is directly behind in a straight line, it's more about covering the sides ,we also have camera fitted to the van that can stay on while in transit though need to adjust the angle a bit more, can also swap between van and car camera, keep an eye on the drawbar/hitch

 

[Drover]

Now you know @Tuppy and others, why Truckies hate folks sitting right up their clacker, the cam makes a world of difference, especially if you have a 90 deg or less.

 

[KECL]

Agree a good set of mirror sis important, however the general comments I have received form work mates is most get crapped off because the mirrors they buy get folded-in when a decent truck passes so in the end they do not bother with the mirrors. . Would love a set of Clearviews but cannot afford the $1000 apprx costs. I have tried a few different types of mirrors, the set I have now are quite good, bought at Jayco in WA and these just screw on the existing car mirrors.

 

[Rockape]

Like many of you, I can't believe the amount of people who don't use towing mirrors. I have the ones that step onto the existing mirrors and they have been great so far. I also have a camera mounted on the back of the caravan. Mainly use the mirrors for driving and the camera to see what's directly behind me. I can't understand how people can see around them without mirrors. Rant over

 

[hamish22]

I'll go against the grain here.
I use towing mirrors for the legal side of things but are more comfortable using the car mirrors!
I may peek into one when I need to change lanes but that's about it!
I drive trucks and forklifts everyday and reckon it's just a force of habit that makes me use my car mirrors

Been towing for a long time and don't think I'll change!

 

[Dobbie]

As long as you use something other than prayer, ignorance or guesswork!

It's the idiots who don't use anything and think they're competent that cause the issues.