Newbie: Mirrors/cameras for truck/trailer?

[jcubeta]

My family and I are about to purchase our very first travel trailer - the 2017 Highland Ridge Ultra Lite UT2802BH. The overall exterior length of this trailer is 31' 9".

We have an F150 Lariat with standard mirrors, and it has the max towing package with integrated trailer brake and trailer backup system.

I know they make mirror extensions, and they also make wireless camera systems to mount on the back of the trailer. Does anyone recommend either of these? Or any recommended accessories aside from these that would help with backing up the trailer?

Thank you in advance!
James

[SoundGuy]

hohenwald48 wrote:
Whatever. :R I've noticed your propensity to argue with just about everybody so I'm going to drop out of responding to your comments on this subject. However, I am impressed with your ability to determine the quality of the view in my rear view mirrors.

To the OP I apologize for these last few slightly off topic posts with soundguy. You asked for opinions and I stand by my comments on the first page of this thread.

As you say - whatever. :R I too stand by my comments. :B

[Flatfoot-Rogue]

I got a pair of aftermarket tow mirrors from 1a auto for my 150. At the time they were only about $150. They have heat, signals and electric adjust just like factory. The only downside is that they are bigger than factory mirrors even when pushed in. Makes parking at the mall fun. Have to limbo under them when getting out sometimes.

[hohenwald48]

SoundGuy wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:
The point is, I never said I could see just fine on the right side with a stock mirror.

SoundGuy wrote:
Correction - the "point" is one needs towing mirrors on BOTH sides that extend well out from the tow vehicle in order to provide an adequate view down BOTH sides of the trailer. 😉

hohenwald48 wrote:
I disagree. As I stated (and some apparently mis-read) I can see just fine on the driver's side and only need an extended mirror on the right side. Been doing that for years with no issues at all. Your vehicle/trailer combination may be different. I can't say about your combination. Just like you probably don't know about my combination.

Think about it - "combination" has nothing to do with it, your tow vehicle is centred in front of your much wider trailer so your ability to see down either side of the trailer (or more correctly your inability to see 😉 ) is exactly the same. Anyone towing a full width 8' (or worse still an 8.5') trailer will not enjoy an unobstructed view along either side of the trailer without the benefit of using fully extendable towing mirrors on both sides of the tow vehicle, irrespective of whether you think you now do using just one tow mirror on the TV's right side ... even you can't bend the laws of physics. :R

Whatever. :R I've noticed your propensity to argue with just about everybody so I'm going to drop out of responding to your comments on this subject. However, I am impressed with your ability to determine the quality of the view in my rear view mirrors.

To the OP I apologize for these last few slightly off topic posts with soundguy. You asked for opinions and I stand by my comments on the first page of this thread.

[bpounds]

jcubeta wrote:
We have an F150 Lariat with standard mirrors, and it has the max towing package with integrated trailer brake and trailer backup system.

If your truck has that package, I can't believe it did not also come with the tow mirrors. Which are as good as it gets.

But assuming it did not, you can get a set for much less than dealer price. For example: Aftermarket Tow Mirrors

You might give up some of the fancy options that the small mirrors have, but for safety you should use extendable tow mirrors.

[SoundGuy]

hohenwald48 wrote:
The point is, I never said I could see just fine on the right side with a stock mirror.

SoundGuy wrote:
Correction - the "point" is one needs towing mirrors on BOTH sides that extend well out from the tow vehicle in order to provide an adequate view down BOTH sides of the trailer. 😉

hohenwald48 wrote:
I disagree. As I stated (and some apparently mis-read) I can see just fine on the driver's side and only need an extended mirror on the right side. Been doing that for years with no issues at all. Your vehicle/trailer combination may be different. I can't say about your combination. Just like you probably don't know about my combination.

Think about it - "combination" has nothing to do with it, your tow vehicle is centred in front of your much wider trailer so your ability to see down either side of the trailer (or more correctly your inability to see 😉 ) is exactly the same. Anyone towing a full width 8' (or worse still an 8.5') trailer will not enjoy an unobstructed view along either side of the trailer without the benefit of using fully extendable towing mirrors on both sides of the tow vehicle, irrespective of whether you think you now do using just one tow mirror on the TV's right side ... even you can't bend the laws of physics. :R

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, I towed my trailer with my Lincoln Navigator for ten years with CIPA slip on mirrors. This was my only choice. Better, but not good. My F-150 has the huge tow mirrors and this is the only way to go. I now have a Garmin RV 760 GPS with wireless backup camera and it works great.

[hohenwald48]

SoundGuy wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:
The point is, I never said I could see just fine on the right side with a stock mirror.

Correction - the "point" is one needs towing mirrors on BOTH sides that extend well out from the tow vehicle in order to provide an adequate view down BOTH sides of the trailer. 😉

I disagree. As I stated (and some apparently mis-read) I can see just fine on the driver's side and only need an extended mirror on the right side. Been doing that for years with no issues at all. Your vehicle/trailer combination may be different. I can't say about your combination. Just like you probably don't know about my combination.

[SoundGuy]

hohenwald48 wrote:
The point is, I never said I could see just fine on the right side with a stock mirror.

Correction - the "point" is one needs towing mirrors on BOTH sides that extend well out from the tow vehicle in order to provide an adequate view down BOTH sides of the trailer. 😉

[hohenwald48]

SoundGuy wrote:

Camper G wrote:
To the poster who said they can see just fine with the stock right mirror, REALLY? What are you towing? I don't see how you can see down the side of your trailer with stock mirrors, they don't extend far enough.

hohenwald48 wrote:
I don't think anybody said they "can see fine with the stock right mirror". You might want to re-read my post before you respond with an attitude.

What you did say - "I'm sure the factory tow mirrors are the best. However, on my Armada, I don't need anything other than the regular mirror on the driver side ..." so as I see it Camper G is merely questioning this statement. You're towing a full width trailer so I agree with him, I don't see (pun intended :W ) how you can see down the right side of your trailer with just a stock Armada mirror. If anything, it's more important to have total visibility on that side than even the driver's side so as to avoid those nasty surprises when some idiot decides to pass on your right side where you're not expecting him rather than your left where you are. :M

The point is, I never said I could see just fine on the right side with a stock mirror. Don't folks understand the difference between the "right" side and the "driver's side"?

[RvNewbieFl]

I bought these for my truck on amazon... Im new to rving and only towed it for the first time just the other day....in full disclosure..... but they didn't budge a bit, and worked great for me...
I'm also looking at back up camera's... I'm looking at wireless but I have heard stories about them not working.... I'm actually taking it out for my shake down trip on Wednesday... this trip I will be using the yell... if i start to hit anything method but am definitely looking into a wireless backup camera...

[SoundGuy]

Camper G wrote:
To the poster who said they can see just fine with the stock right mirror, REALLY? What are you towing? I don't see how you can see down the side of your trailer with stock mirrors, they don't extend far enough.

hohenwald48 wrote:
I don't think anybody said they "can see fine with the stock right mirror". You might want to re-read my post before you respond with an attitude.

What you did say - "I'm sure the factory tow mirrors are the best. However, on my Armada, I don't need anything other than the regular mirror on the driver side ..." so as I see it Camper G is merely questioning this statement. You're towing a full width trailer so I agree with him, I don't see (pun intended :W ) how you can see down the right side of your trailer with just a stock Armada mirror. If anything, it's more important to have total visibility on that side than even the driver's side so as to avoid those nasty surprises when some idiot decides to pass on your right side where you're not expecting him rather than your left where you are. :M

[hohenwald48]

Camper G wrote:

To the poster who said they can see just fine with the stock right mirror, REALLY? What are you towing? I don't see how you can see down the side of your trailer with stock mirrors, they don't extend far enough.

I don't think anybody said they "can see fine with the stock right mirror". You might want to re-read my post before you respond with an attitude.

[Camper_G]

jcubeta wrote:
Thank you to everyone who's replied so far. I did some research into the Ford OEM mirrors and, to reproduce all the functionality that my current mirrors have, I am looking at $1400 in parts alone!

After doing a little trolling on the F-150 Forum site, I opted to order a set of the "K-Source Snap & Zap" attachable mirrors. Many F-150 owners like them and they're less than a $60 investment. I figured they were worth trying before I plunk down $1400+.

This is one of the biggest reasons i traded up to my 17 ram 2500hd, with OEM trailer tow mirrors from my 15, 1500 Silverado. Yes, i wanted 3/4 ton, but the Chevy dealer wanted $1200 to install the oem trailer tow mirrors on my truck! No way i was doing that and still have a half ton truck. (Didn't want to spend the money to upgrade from the crappy P rated tires either, but that's a different story) its not just the mirrors, it required a new harness and reprogramming the bcm.

What a joke! I had the Longview slip on mirrors, and despite the good reviews, they were terrible. I couldn't see hardly anything out of the right mirror, and i could see down the side of my trailer with the left, but not great.

The slip mirrors have such a small mirror on them, it does not help much.

I didn't trust the aftermarket copy of the trailer tow mirrors, especially with the huge pita to take the door panel apart to put them on in the first place.

To the poster who said they can see just fine with the stock right mirror, REALLY? What are you towing? I don't see how you can see down the side of your trailer with stock mirrors, they don't extend far enough.

To the op, give this some thought. You will not be happy with any of the slip on tow mirrors once you have a vehicle that has the oem factory trailer tow mirrors on it.

Maybe that's my problem, before i had a 99 super duty, i never had a truck with oem trailer tow mirrors. So i didn't know any better.

The slip on one's are better than nothing and when i had my 00 expedition, i had no other options. But if you can get the oem trailer tow mirrors and you like your truck and you camp a lot, I'd spend the money and do it.

Just my .02

[jrrichar]

$1400 seems very high. I just ordered and received OEM Ford original tow mirrors for $470 from Amazon for my 2011 F150. I will be able to install tomorrow. 2nd party OEM mirrors can be bought for under $300.

My tow mirrors are manually extendable/foldable and have power/heated mirrors, puddle lights, and signal indicators. I have tried slip on aftermarket mirrors and I think they are worth as much as you pay for them...not much.