Trailering Mirrors

[gpmckerracher]

I tow a 31 ft trailer with a GMC HD2500 and am using clip-on mirror extensions (from Walmart). Even after towing for over 8000 miles, I'm still nervous making lane changes as I just can't see traffic very well behind me. I'm thinking if I purchased new mirrors that would extend out further, my rear sighting would be better. I've read that McKesh and Grand Aero are a good choice. All comments appreciated.

Thanks,

Gregg (Ontario, Canada)

[Vermilye]

I tried a couple of different extension mirrors and like the Grand Aero best.

[dave macrae]

what year is your truck? I Have the gm factory manual extendable mirrors off of a 2007 sierra classic ( 2000-2007 ) and I really like them, like you I have tried the clip on style with little success. You do have to re-program both the door modules and the bcm if you swap mirrors.

[cpaharley2008]

I did not know Escape made a 31' trailer?

[dave macrae]

Maybee its a 17 and 15 ft hooked together, oops that would be 32 ft >

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Dmac

Maybee its a 17 and 15 ft hooked together, oops that would be 32 ft >

Hi: Dmac... Maybee it's the other Escape model by KZ Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[keager]

I have the McKesh mirors and really like them. They are large enough to give good visibility and are very stable (no blurry vibrations). Once you get them adjusted to your liking, they come off easily and return to the exact same place when you put them back on. They are somewhat "spendy", but, worth it to me.

Bill

[TurboFlex]

I've just purchased a set of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors. I've used various strap on types and fender mounted mirrors for the last 30 yrs and have not found any that I really liked. Just put the trailer to bed for the winter (winterized and took out all food items and cleaned it up just before our first snow fall here in Calgary) so won't be towing it till the spring to see how well the new mirrors will work, but they will be better than the strap ons I've used for the last few years.

I did put the Grand Aero mirrors on and took the Flex down the hwy and went up to 140 kph and had no vibration or movement in the mirrors. As I don't pull the trailer over 100 kph, they should work well. With the strap on mirrors, they would move any time a large truck would go by in the other direction no matter how tight the straps were adjusted. These mirrors are fairly expensive ($150.00 + at Woody's RV in Calgary). They say that they sell a lot of them and have not complaints (other than price) about the mirrors. Milenco link posted below

http://www.milenco.com/products/mirr...-towing-mirror

TurboFlex

[LBaranyai]

Originally Posted by TurboFlex

I've just purchased a set of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors. I've used various strap on types and fender mounted mirrors for the last 30 yrs and have not found any that I really liked. Just put the trailer to bed for the winter (winterized and took out all food items and cleaned it up just before our first snow fall here in Calgary) so won't be towing it till the spring to see how well the new mirrors will work, but they will be better than the strap ons I've used for the last few years.

I did put the Grand Aero mirrors on and took the Flex down the hwy and went up to 140 kph and had no vibration or movement in the mirrors. As I don't pull the trailer over 100 kph, they should work well. With the strap on mirrors, they would move any time a large truck would go by in the other direction no matter how tight the straps were adjusted. These mirrors are fairly expensive ($150.00 + at Woody's RV in Calgary). They say that they sell a lot of them and have not complaints (other than price) about the mirrors. Milenco link posted below

Milenco Grand Aero Towing Mirror | Milenco Limited | Caravan Products | Caravan Security | UK

TurboFlex

The aero mirrors are now available on the costco.ca website under rv accessories - at a much better price too! We bought the Grand Aero's for our Tacoma 2 years ago when we got our Escape and they work great!

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by LBaranyai

The aero mirrors are now available on the costco.ca website under rv accessories - at a much better price too! We bought the Grand Aero's for our Tacoma 2 years ago when we got our Escape and they work great!

Got mine at Costco several weeks ago. Shipping was free and they got here within about 3 days of purchase.

[azjack]

I just put the AERO 2 mirrors on my Jeep Grand Cherokee. When I was towing the 19 I almost needed the extra mirrors, now when I pick up the 21 I will need them. I cut 4" off the rod so they will sit just out side the originals and I can still extend them another 3 or 4" if needed. I only drove a few miles at 50mph or less, but I think they will work well and and not damage my paint. I've already threw the original packing away, they better work. I bought them through Amazon, $92.00 total.
Jack of Tucson

[Vermilye]

I've been using them for a couple of years on my RAV4 & 17', and found them the best of all I've tried.

[Dave Walter]

After using the Grand Aero mirrors from Costco for past couple months, I find they are very easy to attach or remove, takes about 1min per side. Sometimes I worry that they may be too easy for someone to steal, so if I am in spot for more than a day or two, I may remove them. They do vibrate a bit on the highway, but not enough to seriously impede your rear view. They have greatly improved the field of vision when I tow with my FJ. For me they were a worthwhile purchase.

[cpaharley2008]

Towing mirrors, something I'll have to look into, no pun intended...

[gbaglo]

I used the Tow-N-See mirrors until replacing them with Aero.
Tow-N-See uses a suction cup to attach to factory mirror. Advantage of the Aero is that they attach to the mirror housing, so they don't block any of the factory mirror. So, I can adjust each independent of the other to cover a larger field of view.
There is some vibration and if anybody figures out how to reduce that, please post.

[Jim Bennett]

I too have a bit of vibration with my Aero mirrors at high speed, but not enough that I can't see with them. When my wife holds the the mirror housing with her hand, it eliminates it, so the issue seems to be with that, and not the mirror. Seeing they are made mostly of plastic, I doubt much can be done.

[gharper]

I purchased the Aero mirrors for our Highlander and 19 but haven't used them yet. Towed a couple of times without and seem to do OK; however, I do think they will improve rear visibility. I used to be good backing up my boat which was a little longer but narrower but the trailer blocks my rear view more and I think the mirrors will help with backing up.

[gbaglo]

It's not just backing. Law requires that you be able to see a certain distance behind the trailer. ( I don't remember the specifics, but, I can see some with the RAV mirrors, but I can see much further with the Aero ).
If you need to pull into the left lane to pass, you need to ensure nobody is coming up on you fast, and you need to see when you can safely return to the right lane.

[medora66]

Grand Aero. YES. Don't waste money on anything else that is bound to join our used collection at the landfill.

[Catchlight]

I've been waiting for someone to post that they installed such-and-such brand mirrors a few years ago, and have never looked back.

Seriously, thanks for the good discussion. I'll get the Milenco Grand Aeros from Costco.