Shortening our MIrrors? Any help out there?

[WVBonBonQueen]

We have a 2014 Forest River class C Sunsetter motorhome, that we would like to shorten the mirrors at least 4 inches, has anyone ever shortened theirs and how did they do it?
We can't see the towed vehicle with the ones on it, so would really like to have them shorter, so they don't hit into mailboxes, Electric poles that are so close to the road.
Any info or links would really be appreciated by us, as I would really like to start driving too, along with hubby, to help him enjoy the trips we g on, as much as I do right now.

[wbwood]

have to remember that your RV is at least 8' wide behind you and above you. Its not like driving a dually...it's a little wider than that.

[Bordercollie]

I caught the neighbors large pickup truck mirror with my right side RV mirror and paid for replacement. Driving a MH on narrow 2-lane city streets can be tough on mirrors that stick out a lot. Some drivers take their half of the street, out of the middle. Take it slow and careful!

[WVBonBonQueen]

JoeRT04 wrote:
There's some excellent advice in this thread.

I have a Sunseeker with those same seemingly wide mirrors.

I wouldn't touch those mirrors. Only adjust the mirrors with the remote control. Do not swing in or out the arms of the mirrors. They extend out a certain length out from each side for a good reason -for the visibility down the sides of the MH. It takes time to get over the fear of driving a bigger rig. When I started driving the Sunseeker, an experienced MH driver taught me to "steer the wheel to put the gas pedal in the middle of the lane." At first, it didn't feel right but as did this more and more, it became second nature.

Try this: Park in a regular parking space at a Walmart far away from other vehicles. Make sure you're in the middle of the parking space between the lines. Is the gas pedal in the middle? Get out and walk around the MH and make sure you're in the middle of the parking space. Get familiar with what is "middle of your MH." Practice makes perfect.

Now that is some good advice for a newbie MH driver. Thanks for that tip.

[JoeRT04]

There's some excellent advice in this thread.

I have a Sunseeker with those same seemingly wide mirrors.

I wouldn't touch those mirrors. Only adjust the mirrors with the remote control. Do not swing in or out the arms of the mirrors. They extend out a certain length out from each side for a good reason -for the visibility down the sides of the MH. It takes time to get over the fear of driving a bigger rig. When I started driving the Sunseeker, an experienced MH driver taught me to "steer the wheel to put the gas pedal in the middle of the lane." At first, it didn't feel right but as did this more and more, it became second nature.

Try this: Park in a regular parking space at a Walmart far away from other vehicles. Make sure you're in the middle of the parking space between the lines. Is the gas pedal in the middle? Get out and walk around the MH and make sure you're in the middle of the parking space. Get familiar with what is "middle of your MH." Practice makes perfect.

[WVBonBonQueen]

ronfisherman wrote:
While touring Arches NP today I noticed a motorhome with mirrors that seem to stick out a longways. Never noticed it before until viewing this thread.
Take a look at this set of mirrors.

Looks exactly like ours.
I now look at the mirrors differently, after posting this thread, as I can see the mirrors really don't stick out past the side of the body of the camper itself.
You have opened my eyes and shown me that the mirrors are exactly how they should be, for such a wide vehicle.

[j-d]

Anybody know if that Sunseeker is a "wide body" at 101-102"? I think Velvac sells versions of this mirror for 96" and 102" body widths...

[rvten]

Same I have. They are adjustable. Swing arm back will make them closer to the MH. Not a great deal of adjustment.

[Sam_Spade]

Looks about like mine.

[ronfisherman]

While touring Arches NP today I noticed a motorhome with mirrors that seem to stick out a longways. Never noticed it before until viewing this thread.
Take a look at this set of mirrors.

[Pops]

I wouldn't mess with the mirrors, unless they stick way out farther than the side of the RV, little bit is fine. I would a whole lot rather my mirrors be hitting something and warning me, instead of the side of my RV.

[4x4van]

This is scary, IMO. The fact that you are hitting things alongside of the road tells me that you shouldn't be on that road with your rig. Sorry, but that's just reality; not all roads can accommodate all vehicles.

[WVBonBonQueen]

rvten wrote:
OK after looking up a photo of your class C. You have same mirrors I have.
You can adjust the swing out on the arm by loosening the screw close to the cab. Maybe swinging it in a little will help. Than you have to readjust the mirror head the same way. My mirrors are straight out to the side. These mirrors do not stick out that far from the body of the MH.

We just looked at the mirrors today a little bit harder and decided to try to adjust them to not swing out so far, to help with the wide load effect of them. I do thank you for this help and we hope to be on the road again soon.

[tatest]

What chassis?

Ford has telescoping towing mirrors for the E-series van that can be used to replace the mirrors usually installed on C motorhomes. Chevrolet may have something similar for the Express. I do not know whether these towing mirros extend far enough to see alongside the 8 1/2 foot wide body of a C, to be useful for lane changes or backing, but they do extend far enough to see alongside an 8-foot wide trailer towed behind the van.

You could alternatively install towing mirrors further forward on the van body, at that location they do not need to extend quite as far out to be useful, but you will find everything appearing much smaller in a wider field of view.

I deal with narrow clearance problems by swinging my mirrors in, have had to do it a few times on truss bridges with less than 10 ft width clearance, or to get through construction zones. This works only if you have someone in the right seat to take care of that side.

[rvten]

OK after looking up a photo of your class C. You have same mirrors I have.
You can adjust the swing out on the arm by loosening the screw close to the cab. Maybe swinging it in a little will help. Than you have to readjust the mirror head the same way. My mirrors are straight out to the side. These mirrors do not stick out that far from the body of the MH.