What happened to my mirror, Why, and what's the fix?

golfknut wrote:

I wish I could just buy an arm.
From what I see I have to buy the arm and the mirror as a package.......anywhere from $230 to $427.

This is correct.

If you need a new mirror, you can buy just the head.

If you need a new arm, the new arm comes with a new head.

You can try eBay or a junkyard and possibly find a new arm. Most box trucks (Penske, UHaul, etc.) also use the same Velvac arm and head.

golfknut wrote:

mocoondo wrote:
BUT, the head you have photographed is actually the wrong head for the right side position. That mirror in your photograph is a LEFT side mirror. Left side and right side mirrors are different based upon how they mount to the arm.

The photo in my post is a bit of an optical illusion. The mirrors are mounted correctly. There is an equal amount of mirror on each side of the mounting point. The mounting point on the mirror bottom is at the center of the mirror. The mirrors are labeled "universal side".

These mirrors are actually replacements due to yellowing of the originals. The originals were labeled left and right, even though they are identical to these replacement mirrors with the mounting point at the center of the mirror bottom also.

Wow you learn something new everyday. :B
I just had to go out and look at my older and new motorhomes, with Velvac mirrors. All these years I thought there was a left and a right. I guess it was an optical illusion or whatever. Both the old and new have the mounts in the center.

golfknut wrote:

The photo in my post is a bit of an optical illusion. The mirrors are mounted correctly.

I promise you, that's the wrong mirror for the right side position. If you flip them around, you'll likely see parts of the highway that you've never seen before. :) I work with these things every day and I can spot an incorrect mirror from three states over.

mocoondo wrote:
BUT, the head you have photographed is actually the wrong head for the right side position. That mirror in your photograph is a LEFT side mirror. Left side and right side mirrors are different based upon how they mount to the arm.

The photo in my post is a bit of an optical illusion. The mirrors are mounted correctly. There is an equal amount of mirror on each side of the mounting point. The mounting point on the mirror bottom is at the center of the mirror. The mirrors are labeled "universal side".

These mirrors are actually replacements due to yellowing of the originals. The originals were labeled left and right, even though they are identical to these replacement mirrors with the mounting point at the center of the mirror bottom also.

golfknut wrote:

mocoondo wrote:
It looks like you are buying a new arm.

I wish I could just buy an arm.
From what I see I have to buy the arm and the mirror as a package.......anywhere from $230 to $427.

I'd suggest getting in touch with Velvac, they might help you out. I heard they helped people in the past, who had problems with the paint on their mirrors.

mocoondo wrote:
It looks like you are buying a new arm.

I wish I could just buy an arm.
From what I see I have to buy the arm and the mirror as a package.......anywhere from $230 to $427.

Thanks BoBBo for the PDF I will keep it in my files.:)

Here is the Exploding Velvac Mirror file for everyone to download.

(Also edited above message to insert this link.)

Mocoondo wrote:


The head is easily swapped from the damaged arm to the new one....BUT, the head you have photographed is actually the wrong head for the right side position. That mirror in your photograph is a LEFT side mirror. Left side and right side mirrors are different based upon how they mount to the arm.

Nice catch on the wrong head mirror on the right side. ;) You can see in his picture that the left side mirror is a right side mirror. I wonder if they did that to make the overall width of the MH and mirrors a little less than if they had the mirrors mounted the "normal/right" way ?

Velvac mirrors get corrosion up in there and metal fatigue causes failures just like what you have photographed.

It looks like you are buying a new arm.

The head is easily swapped from the damaged arm to the new one....BUT, the head you have photographed is actually the wrong head for the right side position. That mirror in your photograph is a LEFT side mirror. Left side and right side mirrors are different based upon how they mount to the arm.

This photo shows a right side Velvac arm with the correct right side mirror. Note where the mirror mounts to the arm. The mirror mounts inboard and sticks out. Your mirror is mounted outboard and sticks in.