Forum Discussion

Stepnwolf's avatar
Stepnwolf
Explorer
Oct 19, 2020

How wide do mirrors need to be for a TT?

Hello, newbie here.

I am about to buy a trailer 750 miles away so I need to get my ducks in a row before leaving. I am looking at an Arctic Fox 22G which is a 8.5' wide trailer excluding the awning. I am driving a Sequoia and the stock mirrors are 94" to the outside edge. I bought, but haven't installed the CIPA mirror extensions which add about another 10" to the width. That puts the outside edge of the mirror barely wider than the trailer. Will these add-on mirrors be adequate?

My previous experience pulling a TT was a 1963 16' Shasta being pulled with a 66 Chevy wagon with the extended mirrors mounted with long springs to the top and bottom of the door.

My cousin with the same vehicle is pulling a Snow River but it is 8' wide. He swapped his RH mirror for an extended mirror. Not sure how much of a difference that half foot of width makes.

I just don't want to be leaving the purchase point with inadequate mirrors before the 750-mile return home.

Thanks!
  • mdcamping's avatar
    mdcamping
    Explorer
    Oct 31, 2020
    CharlesinGA wrote:
    mdcamping wrote:

    Mike


    Is that a HORSE I see standing behind the truck??? Does it ride in the back seat??? LOL Charles


    No horseplay! :B :B LOL

    Assateague state park, MD The horses own the Island, we were just guest. :C

    Mike
  • mdcamping's avatar
    mdcamping
    Explorer
    Oct 31, 2020
    Stepnwolf wrote:
    mdcamping wrote:


    Late to the thread, I have been using the McKesh Mirrors for 13 yrs. once they are set up, they come off super easy and fast, no adjusting again. My tt is 8' wide and I see square down the sides of my trailer while towing. Lots of extension left on the mirrows if I were to need to use it. I have never noticed any vibration while towing.



    https://hensleymfg.com/products/mckesh-mirrors

    Mike


    Those are similar to what my Dad used on his trailer back in the 60s. Similar mirrors have been blamed for paint damage where they attach to the door.

    Thanks


    With mine, the only thing I have noticed is a slight shadow from the straps when removed, when I take the truck through the car wash, 99% improvement, would not notice anything unless I look for it.

    Every few yrs I treat the truck to a detailing. no shadows, no nothing, everything looks factory new.

    Mike
  • Stepnwolf's avatar
    Stepnwolf
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2020
    aftermath wrote:
    Stepenwolf,

    Go back to the link I sent. There is a picture showing an extension of 3.75 inches on these mirrors. I never really measured mine.


    You are right....what appears like the exact same mirror I linked to says they extend 3" vs. 3.75". I have found so many mistakes in ads I don't know what to believe until it is in my hands.
  • Stepnwolf's avatar
    Stepnwolf
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2020
    ZINGERLITE wrote:
    Am i the only one who hates the big rectangle tow mirrors? i guess if you live with them every day you'd get used to them but man are they obnoxious driving around town. they take up the whole window. you could run cars over in parking lots on accident lol. I've had various jobs over the years where ive had to drive a shop truck for an errand and i hate them. I've also hauled pontoons for a living in the past. Im no novice. I tow a 20' trailer with stock 06 Silverado mirrors and haven't had any issues where i thought i needed a bigger mirror. just my .02 cents!


    I think the extendable mirrors are the way to go. They are pushed in for regular use, pulled out when towing.

    I am guessing your trailers were 8' wide or less as I cannot see down the side of the trailer with standard Sequoia/Tundra mirrors.
  • aftermath's avatar
    aftermath
    Explorer III
    Oct 30, 2020
    ZINGERLITE wrote:
    Am i the only one who hates the big rectangle tow mirrors? i guess if you live with them every day you'd get used to them but man are they obnoxious driving around town. they take up the whole window. you could run cars over in parking lots on accident lol. I've had various jobs over the years where ive had to drive a shop truck for an errand and i hate them. I've also hauled pontoons for a living in the past. Im no novice. I tow a 20' trailer with stock 06 Silverado mirrors and haven't had any issues where i thought i needed a bigger mirror. just my .02 cents!


    I agree. I think it comes down to how much you use your truck for towing. Driving around town you do have to be careful but like all things, you get used to it. While towing I don't want to tow without the mirrors. Toyota trucks always come without the towing mirrors. They don't even show up as an "option". If you want them you have to pay extra for them to be installed. The trailer towing option has all that you would expect, except for towing mirrors! I find this crazy.

    I respect your 2 cents worth, or your $.02 value. You have sold yourself very short in offering only .02 cents worth. As a math teacher it drives me wild when I see signs offering something for .89¢ off! Really? That is less than a penny. Years ago, a local drive in was advertising small shakes for .99¢. I told my students to go through the drive through, order a shake and give them a penny and tell them to "keep the change".
  • aftermath's avatar
    aftermath
    Explorer III
    Oct 30, 2020
    Stepenwolf,

    Go back to the link I sent. There is a picture showing an extension of 3.75 inches on these mirrors. I never really measured mine.
  • ZINGERLITE's avatar
    ZINGERLITE
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2020
    Am i the only one who hates the big rectangle tow mirrors? i guess if you live with them every day you'd get used to them but man are they obnoxious driving around town. they take up the whole window. you could run cars over in parking lots on accident lol. I've had various jobs over the years where ive had to drive a shop truck for an errand and i hate them. I've also hauled pontoons for a living in the past. Im no novice. I tow a 20' trailer with stock 06 Silverado mirrors and haven't had any issues where i thought i needed a bigger mirror. just my .02 cents!
  • CharlesinGA's avatar
    CharlesinGA
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2020
    mdcamping wrote:

    Mike


    Is that a HORSE I see standing behind the truck??? Does it ride in the back seat??? LOL

    I have an '03 RAM 2500 that came to me with standard mirrors (and I think the original owner had been hauling gooseneck hay trailers with it, but that is another story) In any case, I replaced the mirrors with the MOPAR extended flip out mirrors that were optional for the truck, When flipped out, I can still back in the side door to my shop (exactly 10 ft opening) but only have about 3 inches or less on each side when I do. I hate flipping the mirrors back and forth as this is a Tradesman model with manual mirrors, no switches here to tweak them.

    Charles
  • Stepnwolf's avatar
    Stepnwolf
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2020
    mdcamping wrote:


    Late to the thread, I have been using the McKesh Mirrors for 13 yrs. once they are set up, they come off super easy and fast, no adjusting again. My tt is 8' wide and I see square down the sides of my trailer while towing. Lots of extension left on the mirrows if I were to need to use it. I have never noticed any vibration while towing.



    https://hensleymfg.com/products/mckesh-mirrors

    Mike


    Those are similar to what my Dad used on his trailer back in the 60s. Similar mirrors have been blamed for paint damage where they attach to the door.

    Thanks
  • mdcamping's avatar
    mdcamping
    Explorer
    Oct 29, 2020


    Late to the thread, I have been using the McKesh Mirrors for 13 yrs. once they are set up, they come off super easy and fast, no adjusting again. My tt is 8' wide and I see square down the sides of my trailer while towing. Lots of extension left on the mirrows if I were to need to use it. I have never noticed any vibration while towing.



    https://hensleymfg.com/products/mckesh-mirrors

    Mike

About RV Newbies

4,026 PostsLatest Activity: Jun 15, 2017