Adjusting side view mirrors

Ductape wrote:
If towing a wide tow, it's essential to know the tires are in the travel lane and not on the shoulder or curb. Most TT and fivers are wider than TV track by a considerable amount.

I check my tires using my convex mirrors. I aim them low enough and outward so I can see the tires in the lower inner corner and the cars in the lanes. When I make a turn I can track the tires while turning. Keeps me off the curbs and out of the ditch.

If towing a wide tow, it's essential to know the tires are in the travel lane and not on the shoulder or curb. Most TT and fivers are wider than TV track by a considerable amount.

With many vehicles coming with convex mirrors and adding a 1.5" convex mirror costing less than $5 to an existing mirror I don't think it is the best way. Why not have a reference point if you already don't have any blind spots?

For quick looking one needs a frame of reference because without it you do not know exactly where something is at. You may know that it is in your blind spot but not exactly where.

IME, based on being a driver and a passenger, the best setup is to have the main mirror just barely show the vehicle with your head in its normal position and to have convex mirrors for blind spots. I have covex mirrors on all 3 of my vehicles (only 1 is OEM) and there are no blind spots for the adjasent lanes even when the tow mirrors are up and I am over 50' long. I can see a vehicle enter the space beside me on either side and before it leaves the mirror I can see it out my drivers or passengar window. The benefit to seeing the side (just an inch or two) of my vehicle is that it gives an instant refernece point. I don't have to move my head around or think about it, there is no unknown and my concentration is back on the road ahead.

Yes I have tried it and I know people that use it. I am not in the least bit impressed by the reccommendation. People that use the method, IME, do not really know what is going on in the lanes beside them and are often spending too much time moving their head around and looking out the side versus focusing on the road ahead.

While towing the ability to see the trailer, and it's tires on corners, is another added bonus.


YMMV.

Just wanted to post an update on this issue. I have been adjusting my mirrors like this for a little over two weeks. From the drivers seat I can't see the body of my vehicle in the mirrors at all...both mirrors are pointed out towards the lanes to either side of my vehicle.

Blind spots are 100% gone...when I am in DD mode I can clearly see behind me via the rear view mirror in the vehicle...if a car moves to overtake me as they leave the field of vision from the rear view mirror they seamlessly enter the side view mirrors.

Zero blind spots....zero surprises....

As far as towing is concerned...I do to a PUP but it's a pretty tall pup plus it has AC in the middle of the roof...the rear view mirror is pretty worthless while towing my pup just like when I was towing my TT.

I have the suction cup Tow-And-See tow mirrors that I gave a pretty bad review on before.

Well, now with the new adjustment technique these mirrors are working pretty well.

I can see all lanes around me and my trailer and have zero problems seeing. While it is true that I am not staring at the side of my camper the whole time while driving/towing anymore... I think this is a good thing... the question I ask myself is...should I be staring at the side of my camper while driving, or should I be staring at the lanes of traffic all around me while I'm towing?

I think the answer to that question is that I need to be looking at the traffic lanes and observing those vehicles around me...not so much the vehicle I am in and the vehicle I am pulling. I hitched them together and that big white wall in my rear view mirror confirms that it's still back there.

If you are curious about eliminating blind spots...try this technique...it takes about a week to get use to it...but it really does give you greater peace of mind and more information as the driver...in Daily driver mode or in tow vehicle mode.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

They can adjust them that way if they want, but I have always adjusted so that I can sight down the side of the truck. This works for me as I am often navigating both forward and backwards in tight environments. Both of my trucks have full size tow mirrors, that have a separate wide view convex mirror at the bottom, that is adjustable independent of the top portion glass. I have no blind spots on either side. I have that wide convex adjusted out far enough that I can literally still see the passing vehicle in that spot mirror as he is right along side me and I can see him in my peripheral vision.
I even use "stick on" wide view convex glasses on the edges of the mirrors on both my street motorcycles.
The best part of their little PSA there was they reminded people to look twice for motorcycles.

My center inside mirrors have always been blocked by a trailer or truck camper. They have only used see myself when I run a brush through my hair. My outside mirrors also just give me a hair view of the side panel so I do not miss bicycles or motorcycles in my view. My spot mirrors run down the side of trailer with tires in view for tight turns and parking.

dodge guy wrote:
I set my mirrors so I can see the very edge of the side of the car.

Why do you always need to see the sides of your own car? They don't change with respect to the driver's field of view.

The goal of the OP's listed method is to maximize viewing area using all 3 mirrors. You also want a continuous flow of the object as seen in the 3 mirrors as it passes perpendicular to the rear of your vehicle. Why would you need to see the same object in more than one mirror at a time?

How can you tell the relationship of the car in the mirror against your car?

You know based on what your new field of view is. If you are used to one method, the other just takes some experience and practice.

Nope! Mine are set properly! I can see everything just fine! I have never cut anyone off.

Properly is an opinion, one that difference from mine. Everything is false as your field of view is smaller than how mine are adjusted. The last statement is pure luck! :p

Blackdiamond wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Talk about setting people up for problems! First I've never set my mirrors that way. How can you tell the relationship of the car in the mirror against your car? You just can't verify where the car is exactly located. I set my mirrors so I can see the very edge of the side of the car. This gives me the perspective of my car and the car in the next lane! I always look in the mirror and give a quick glance to make sure no one is next to me. Either way you set the mirror you should always give a quick glance to make sure no one is next to you!

I've gotten into customers cars at work that have their mirrors set like the article suggests. I'm always wondering where the side of the car is! Can't be too safe to set them like that!

You are one of many who set their mirrors wrong and it is very dangerous, you don't need to see your car in the mirror that just gives you dangerous blind spots, you are in the car and it there is something that close to you, you will see it in your mirror if it is set correctly.

Nope! Mine are set properly! I can see everything just fine! I have never cut anyone off.

wnjj wrote:
How does this adjustment method work for backing into parking spaces? It seems like the rear corner of your car is kind of important when threading it between others. It's not all multi-lane blind spot driving.

Actually, it works just fine. I have been using this method (or one very similar) for several years and after a couple of days of adjusting to it, it's completely fine. I often back into parking spots at work and I always back my car into my garage and haven't hit anything yet.

Our van has mirrors that have a flat one on top and a convex one below. Due to the convex, the passenger side one is set up this way and it actually works perfect. The convex takes care of the blind spot. When I see the headlights of the vehicle behind me in the passenger outside flat mirror, I know I have room to move over. If they are in the convex but not the flat, they are too close.

The method I learned is similar as you just tilt your head and put your ear on your shoulder. Put your left ear on your left shoulder and adjust the left mirror so you just see the side of your car. Then repeat for the right side.

How does this adjustment method work for backing into parking spaces? It seems like the rear corner of your car is kind of important when threading it between others. It's not all multi-lane blind spot driving.