How to see behind me?

Furrion wireless camera and monitor. Cost you about $400. You can go cheaper, but you won't have a good wireless experience. Time lag and signal breaking up. You can go wired for much cheaper, but then you will have to run wires from the back of the trailer to the front, and from the back of your tow vehicle to the monitor. Even with mirror extensions, you can peek around the back of your trailer on turns, but that's about it.

jpochard wrote:
New TT owner. I've had it out 3 times and learn something new each time for sure.

My biggest concern at the moment is actually seeing what is behind me while on the road. I'm good at using side mirrors, but the typical truck mirrors don't get behind the trailer. Do I need to get the mirror extensions? They seem so far "out there" width wise that they look like they would have their own zipcode. Is there a camera I can put, say in the back trailer window, that would allow me to view in the truck cab while I'm driving? I'm honestly not too concerned with seeing while backing up. I'm trying to be a considerate road neighbor and if there are cars behind me - pariticularly on state roads etc., I will pull off and let them go past. Thanks for any help!

1. Seeing what is behind me is NOT a primary concern with the exception of making turns and when passing other cars/trucks. If I am driving on a freeway and doing at least 55 mph, I don't worry about cars behind me.
2. buy some expensive permanent mirrors for your truck that can extend when you are towing. Do not use those cheap mirrors that strap onto your regular mirrors.
3. When driving on the freeway you can just move your steering wheel to the right and then left causing the rear of the trailer to move just enough for you to see behind your trailer for a few seconds.

If you can't see a big line of cars behind you, you need mirrors that go out further. A camera is OK but get the right mirrors first.

You are very much in the right if you pull over periodically if you are blocking traffic. Yes, even if you are doing 55.

What kind of truck do you have, and does it have the factory towing mirrors on it?

Also depends on what you mean by "see behind me". Even massive, extended towing mirrors don't allow you to see directly behind your trailer. You will learn to keep track of traffic around you, and as MarkTwain said you can move back and forth just a little bit to see if anyone is tailgating your trailer - just a little bit of movement, you don't want to start really wagging the trailer!

When you drive around not towing, get into the habit of using side mirrors on your truck or car. Learn what they show you, and what they don't.

A wired camera is easy and relatively cheap. The connection plug can be wired next to your 7 pin connector and break away cable so it is not forgotten when unhooking. That said I would not depend on any camera over a good set of mirrors.

If people are tailgating you they are at fault not you. If they are not right on your bumper you will see some portion of their vehicle or its shadow with good mirrors.

I can see any cars that are following at a safe distance behind me in the mirrors. Maybe not the whole car but I can see enough to know they are there.

I do like my camera view but it can get distracting to have a screen in the cab. I have to break myself from looking at the screen instead of my mirrors and the road ahead.

How to see behind me?

Your state has a mirrow regulation. I see too many folks pulling a rv trailer without towing mirrors. I know following them I can see down the side of their trailer and I see maybe the edge of their mirror and never see a face.


INDIANA
A motor vehicle that is constructed or loaded in a manner that obstructs the Driver’s rear view must be equipped with a mirror located in place where it is able to reflect the Driver’s view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet.

Check out your state requirements per AAA http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-mirrors/

Or better yet drop by your area state tropp hdqtrs. If the shift captain/dispatcher are as friendly as mine and don't know the answers (any question) they will a size and weights officer on duty who will know.

As required by law get some proper tow mirrors before another trip. With my Dodge truck tow mirrors or my chevy dually tow mirrors I can see any vehicle behind me when pulling my 5th wheel rv trailer.

jpochard wrote:
My biggest concern at the moment is actually seeing what is behind me while on the road.

The same response most of us would have probably had when we first started towing a full height travel trailer ... but an unnecessary response. You really don't need to see what's behind the trailer, only what may be coming up on either side to pass you, and for that you want towing mirrors that extend further out from your TV than do normal, non-towing mirrors.

I've towed for years with GM factory tow mirrors but when I recently replaced my Chevy Avalanche with a Chevy Silverado for towing I found those towing mirrors wouldn't fit my new truck. No question, factory towing mirrors are the best solution but they're also the most expensive solution so this time around I instead chose a set of CIPA slip on mirrors. I've towed two trips now, both several hundred miles, and found these mirrors to be quite acceptable - rock solid image and I can see whomever may be approaching from either side. Unfortunately you haven't told us what your TV is but if CIPA makes a set for it I'd suggest you consider a set. 3 pics start here.

As for using a camera to see behind the trailer my advice is to not bother. I did, and found the image to be so fisheye that perspective was lost - any vehicle that I thought was well behind me was actually much closer and would then suddenly appear right beside me. :E Bad solution - invest in towing mirrors instead, they work for all the rest of us so there's no reason they won't work well for you. ;)

My truck mirrors are factory type which when fully extended give me a blind spot behind the TT of about 1 or 1 1/2 car lengths.

I believe only a camera or one of those parabolic corner mirrors mounted on the back of the TT (not too practical) would help there.

Passing has never been a problem except for the curved mirror on the bottom edge of my truck mirrors which makes the vehicles appear farther back then they really are. Also I am usually the one being passed. :)

I have had to ride with the blinker on while slowing down to let a few cars clear before I could pull to the right side.

Good luck

When towing I'm not really concerned with what is directly behind me, only what is coming up along side me. I had mirror extensions, but found blind spot mirrors where more useful.

-Michael

I do try to keep track of traffic behind me via peeks on curves, seeing who might turn in behind me at intersections etc, and after dark there's always headlights. Freeways are not really an issue at all, but I like to travel more on US routes and a lot of 2-lane roads. Once I get more out west this fall, the traffic will also be less of an issue for the most part. Thanks for your thoughts.