Side Mirror or Side Camera for Angled Left Turns

[KristinU]

So, I'm looking to know what solutions others have found for being able to see to make left turns with their class C at an angle without a passenger/co-pilot.

Here's an example near our house, orange arrows are the direction of travel, blue is oncoming traffic.



Not bad when you have a co-pilot to look out the angle to the right for oncoming traffic, but nearly blind with our floorplan when there is nobody else in the coach. Behind the passenger seat is the door with a frosted window, then our little window over the sink...which does allow for leaning and craning our necks to see what's coming but there must be a better way. We've stopped taking this route when either of us are driving by ourselves, but this kind of scenario can pop up other places of course.

So what do others do? I've been on the lookout for some sort of rounded mirror or something, but I just don't know where to start. Or would a side view camera be our solution? Would a side view even give that degree of view?

[KristinU]

Thanks everyone! I think we'll try the stopping further back thing and then add the new door window to 'The List' (we all have one right? And it grows substantially during the doldrums of winter.)

We live in New England, so our streets are wicked narrow anyway, so swinging out and angling differently would make the other side of the road impassable. But like I said, we pretty much avoid that intersection now anyway - it is the times where this scenario will occur when we're not expecting it that I want to be ready for.

[Jim_Shoe]

I checked my C's mirrors. Each side is 7" wide x 10" long. Each side has a 3" round wide angle mirror in the lower outside corner. I think it came that way.

[mgirardo]

I asked a professional truck driver how he would handle such an intersection and his response was very similar to cbshoestring's response. You need to approach the intersection so that you are as perpendicular to the road you are turning onto as possible.

It's a little easier to accomplish with a trailer or 5th wheel than a long motorhome, but it has always worked for me.

-Michael

[j-d]

I, too, try to square up with the corner so I can see out the passenger window. That merge from right to left where the front corner of the "house" blocks my over-the-shoulder view is more difficult.

[toedtoes]

I have an intersection like that. I found the easiest solution is to stop slightly further back from the corner than I normally would so I can look out the passenger side window and see oncoming traffic. It works really well, but it takes a few trips to get into the habit.

[DrewE]

Another option to consider might be to put one of the fresnel wide-angle lens stick on decal things on the kitchen window (or on the door window if you get the non-frosted window). It should work out pretty well during the day, less so at night.

I guess I'm a bit spoiled by my floorplan with the dinette and couch on opposite sides next to the cab, with nice big picture windows by each.

[IAMICHABOD]

KristinU wrote:

Ooh, I like that idea!

So, after reading the thread...how often do you actually open that little window? Not that that is the point here at all, I'm really just after a way to see out.

Actually quite often when it is warm, I put on the fans and suck in as much cool air as possible.

On another note,I saw the post from a trucker and as a retired one that maneuver will work but is dangerous, leaving a gap that some bone head might just get into and you would be at fault.

I wish that we had motorized mirrors on RVs like we had on our trucks,they would swivel around and you could see what was coming on such a road as you describe.

[Jay_Pat]

Don't go that way!
Just avoid the situation.
Pat

[cbshoestring]

Want a truckers perspective? I learned long ago that I can NOT see through the sleeper.
Solution...when approaching a turn similar to your example, move to the far left of your lane, then turn hard right just as you get to that point where you are going to stop. Instead of your vehicle being in line with your lane, it will be perpendicular to the road you are about to enter. You can look right out the passenger window.
The alternative is to try and set up on the right, with a hard to the left, allowing you to see traffic approaching through the mirror. The convex mirrors work best to see wider points, so if you do not have "spot" mirrors, I would get them.
Of course none of that is possible if you are one of those wacked out on ramps that expects the guy on the left to yield to the guy on the right. Hate those ramps, engineer who designed them should be flogged. Everyone knows the guy on the right can see the guy on the left (thus he should yield), and the lefty guy is blind. In this case......check out that other lane the best you can as you approach the yield point.....then punch it!!!!!

[OFDPOS]

LOL I think we all have a road like that near our house.
It is quite hard to see if your not expecting it, but when I know one like is coming up , I'll swing to left just a tad and then pull up more straight at the stop that way I have a better view...
The side camera's we had installed wouldn't of helped for that at all...

[KristinU]

IAMICHABOD wrote:
There are many mirrors that may work. I cant talk about them because I have not used one but I found that I also had the same blind spot because of that frosted window in the door with a small window just in front of it.

When I did This and replaced it the view was a whole lot better,most times I am alone so I wanted the most visibility I could get.

Ooh, I like that idea!

So, after reading the thread...how often do you actually open that little window? Not that that is the point here at all, I'm really just after a way to see out.

[IAMICHABOD]

There are many mirrors that may work. I cant talk about them because I have not used one but I found that I also had the same blind spot because of that frosted window in the door with a small window just in front of it.

When I did This and replaced it the view was a whole lot better,most times I am alone so I wanted the most visibility I could get.

[dan-nickie]

Our Side Cameras are very wide angle and would probably work for that diagram you show.

I know what you mean though as we have a similar situation near our house.
In our old Class C I would sometimes have to get out of the seat to look out the passenger window.