We are new owners of a 20 ft travel trailer. The TT is 8 ft wide. We tow with a Suburban 1500 with factory mirrors. We noticed on our first trip home with the TT, that we couldn't see anyone behind us. Even at night, it was hard to see the glow of some cars's headlights behind us. Would a tow mirror help? What about a rear view camera? I don't want to run a wire with plugs all the way back there. Are there wireless camera system where the camera is powered by a wire that hooks into the trailer's rear light or something, and the signal is send wirelessly to the monitor?

I use a Voyager wifi reverse camera, hooked it up to the running lights and use it like a rear view mirror.

:) Hi, tow mirrors are a must. I also recently added a back-up camera that is part of a package deal. I bought a Garmin RV 760 GPS with wireless back-up camera. I plug my camera into my Battery Tender connecter while towing.

Not only will tow mirrors help, they are required by law. You have to be able to see a person if they were standing at the rear corners of your trailer. If you can't with factory mirrors, you need tow mirrors. A rear camera will help but they don't replace mirrors. Unless the camera is an extremely wide angle you still would only see directly behind you and not beside near the corners.

I have a 2011 Silverado and I have a Shadow Cruiser 195WSB. I added trailer mirrors from Pep Boys, they have custom fit ones just for you. About $60.

Problem seeing who's behind me while towing a TT

36 Replies

KansasRV
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
I second using a Rear View Safety Lots of differentt options.
jamesu
Explorer
Nov 07, 2016
Towed with an F-150 for 15 years with clip-on mirrors. My present TV has factory mirrors. Through 3 TT's and 2 TV's have found that side mirrors give me full-length TT view all the way back on the driver's side, but not on passenger side. I guess that's normal.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2016
Terryallan wrote:
Lantley wrote:
justaboutretired wrote:
Really don't know why you worry who is directly behind you while traveling down the road. I am more worried about what is in front of me and can i stop in time if need be. I have factory mirrors with built in blind spot mirrors and I can see down both sides of the truck and trailer with no issues. Only time I worry what is directly behind me is when I am backing into a campsite. Then the DW gets out and uses facetime on the phone and shows me what is there.

Bill

I am in this camp there is no need to see what is directly behind you unless you are backing up. Get a good set of mirrors preferably factory tow mirrors vs. some sort of add on and be sure you can see down both sides.

As a famous driver once said. What is behind me, is NOT important. But I do care what is beside me, and my mirrors on my truck will let me see all I need to see. I have the fitted tow mirrors, but have noticed with this truck. I don't need them

OK, not towing, Have you ever had to lay hard on the brakes for something then glanced in the mirror and seen someone right on your bumper? knowing what is behind you is just as important as what is in front of you! that is why their has been a rear view mirror in cars since the 20`s (it was originally designed for racing so the cars would be faster without a spotter looking behind them).
EnzoColorado
Explorer II
Nov 06, 2016
Okay, ordered the clip on tow mirrors that's made for our Suburban. I'm researching all the camera options that's recommended, thank you!
burningman
Explorer II
Nov 06, 2016
Adding a camera is nice but you NEED real mirrors. If you can't see straight down both sides of your trailer, your mirrors are inadequate.
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Nov 06, 2016
coolmom42 wrote:
McKesh mirrors are excellent. Fast to put on and off.

Agree that you definitely need towing mirrors. I would never rely only on a camera, but that's just me.

Times 2 on McKesh, used them for years before I had a truck with real mirrors.
atwowheelguy
Explorer
Nov 06, 2016
I went with the K-Source clip on mirrors. I like them.

I didn't want the hassle of installing a wired camera. The rear door on the toy hauler prevents running a wire down the back of the camper. This one works for me. The picture is not super high resolution and is not brightly colored like the picture on the box, but it is steady. I bought a refurbished one. I am satisfied with it. I just need to turn on the running lights to get power to the camera.

I bought a refurbished one from this outfit:
http://www.rvcams.com/c/Wireless.html
3oaks
Explorer
Nov 06, 2016
No mirrors will allow you to see directly behind a trailer. Not even commercial truckers see directly behind their rigs. That is why they hate drivers who draft them in their blind spot.

With the right mirrors and properly adjusted, you should be able to see all the way back down along the full length of your trailer on both sides and then some.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Nov 06, 2016
Lantley wrote:
justaboutretired wrote:
Really don't know why you worry who is directly behind you while traveling down the road. I am more worried about what is in front of me and can i stop in time if need be. I have factory mirrors with built in blind spot mirrors and I can see down both sides of the truck and trailer with no issues. Only time I worry what is directly behind me is when I am backing into a campsite. Then the DW gets out and uses facetime on the phone and shows me what is there.

Bill

I am in this camp there is no need to see what is directly behind you unless you are backing up. Get a good set of mirrors preferably factory tow mirrors vs. some sort of add on and be sure you can see down both sides.

As a famous driver once said. What is behind me, is NOT important. But I do care what is beside me, and my mirrors on my truck will let me see all I need to see. I have the fitted tow mirrors, but have noticed with this truck. I don't need them
Lantley
Nomad
Nov 06, 2016
justaboutretired wrote:
Really don't know why you worry who is directly behind you while traveling down the road. I am more worried about what is in front of me and can i stop in time if need be. I have factory mirrors with built in blind spot mirrors and I can see down both sides of the truck and trailer with no issues. Only time I worry what is directly behind me is when I am backing into a campsite. Then the DW gets out and uses facetime on the phone and shows me what is there.

Bill

I am in this camp there is no need to see what is directly behind you unless you are backing up. Get a good set of mirrors preferably factory tow mirrors vs. some sort of add on and be sure you can see down both sides.

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Problem seeing who's behind me while towing a TT

36 Replies

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