How to use tow mirrors?

Whether you are driving a car, SUV or pickup truck, having a wide field of vision is very important. The correct side mirror can effectively help you reduce blind spots. When you are towing a trailer, if you don’t have a side mirror or a towing mirror, you will not be able to effectively and quickly collect traffic information behind the vehicle, and your driving will become very dangerous.

If you often need a truck to tow a car or a boat, the original ordinary side mirror is insufficient to meet your needs. Your caravan is likely to block your rear view. To compensate for this defect, MOSTPLUS has specially designed towing mirrors for this type of vehicle to help drivers enhance their vision and reduce blind spots.

In order to give everyone a better understanding of towing mirrors, this guide will help you understand why towing mirrors are so important, how they work, how to use them effectively, how to adjust them, and the different types available.

Why Trailer Tow Mirrors Are Important?

As mentioned earlier, towing mirrors are designed to assist with the side view of pickup trucks. Standard side mirrors are often not enough when towing wide or long trailers. Towing mirrors can extend farther than standard side mirrors, so they can help you expand your field of vision and increase your driving safety.

Here are 4 main reasons why it is important to use towing mirrors:

• Enhanced visibility: Standard rearview mirrors usually cannot see the sides and rear of the trailer. Towing mirrors expand visibility around your vehicle, allowing you to see the entire length of the trailer and any obstacles that may be blocking your path.
• Improved safety: With better visibility, you can more effectively monitor traffic conditions around the trailer and reduce the risk of accidents caused by blind spots.
• Easier maneuvering: Towing mirrors can more clearly see the position of the trailer relative to your vehicle and surrounding obstacles, making it safer to make lane changes and turns, making it easier for you to maneuver in tight spaces and parking situations.
• Regulatory compliance: Some jurisdictions require the use of extended rearview mirrors when towing large trailers to ensure that the driver has adequate visibility.

How Tow Mirrors Work?

Towing mirrors can give our drivers a wider, clearer view of the trailer. Here's how it works:

• Extended reach: Towing mirrors are mounted on adjustable arms that extend farther from the side of the vehicle than standard rearview mirrors. When the towing mirror is extended, it can capture a large portion of the trailer and the road behind it.
• Adjustable angle: Many towing mirrors have adjustable angles, allowing you to simply fine-tune the position of the mirror for optimal visibility. There are both manual and power options, depending on the mirror type.
• Convex lens: Some towing mirrors have convex lenses or spotting mirrors that provide a wider view of the blind spot. These lenses curve outward to expand the field of view, helping you spot vehicles or objects that might otherwise be hidden.
• Integrated lighting: Premium towing mirrors may include integrated lights, such as turn signals or width lights, to improve visibility and safety in low-light conditions.

How to Use and Adjust Towing Mirrors?

It's not difficult to use a towing mirror. It works the same way as a side mirror. The only difference is that it's twice as large as the factory side mirror. The larger mirror allows you to see more clearly what's behind your vehicle. When we're towing a trailer, it means the overall length of our vehicle has increased. At this time, we need a larger mirror and need to extend our mirror far enough so that we can see the entire side of the trailer and the vehicle behind it.

Generally speaking, for every 10 feet of your vehicle's overall length, the diameter of your towing mirror needs to increase by at least 1 inch. For example, if your vehicle's overall length is 30 feet, you need a 3-inch towing mirror. It should be noted that when you park, be careful not to hit or scratch the rearview mirror. Just in case, you can buy a foldable towing mirror.

Now, let's take a look at how to use and adjust the towing mirror

• Cleaning the mirror: If you haven't cleaned your pickup truck in a while, your towing mirror is likely dirty and its visibility will be greatly reduced. Before you tow a car or boat, take the time to clean your mirror and keep it clean. Otherwise, you will increase the possibility of an accident when turning or changing lanes.
• Adjust the rearview mirror: Everything is ready. Let's start adjusting our towing mirrors. Before adjusting the rearview mirror, first adjust the position of the driver's seat. Make sure you are in the best driving angle and can see all the rearview mirrors. Adjust the height and fore-and-aft position of the seat so that your line of sight is directly in the rearview mirror and you can easily see the trailer and surrounding environment behind. Now, make the rearview mirror perpendicular to the vehicle and adjust the rearview mirror on one side first so that you can see the edge of the side of the vehicle, and you can also see the edge of the trailer and at least 200 feet behind.

Types of Towing Mirrors

There are many types of trailer mirrors, and we have divided them into two major categories based on the installation method. The first type can be installed and fixed directly on the existing rearview mirror, which we call portable towing mirrors. They can generally be clamped or sleeved on the mirror to help you provide additional vision. The second type requires you to completely replace the permanent tow mirrors and install a larger and wider mirror. We call this type of towing mirror. The installation of this type of mirror is usually more complicated. If you are replacing it for the first time, it is best to ask a professional to complete this task, otherwise, it may cause unnecessary damage to the trailer mirror during the installation process. Let's take a look at the more specific types of towing mirrors in the two major categories.

Portable towing mirrors

• Clip-on towing mirror: is fixed to the original side mirror of the vehicle with a clip, which increases the field of view. It is usually suitable for various models, easy to install, and suitable for temporary towing needs. But it may cause vibration when driving at high speeds
• Band-on towing mirror: This is fixed to the original vehicle mirror with an elastic strap. This type of mirror is relatively strong and has a wide range of applications. It is suitable for a variety of vehicles and is more stable than the clip-on mirror
• Suction cup towing mirror: is installed on the side mirror of the vehicle with a strong suction cup. It can be used in different positions of the vehicle and the field of view can be adjusted flexibly. The suction cup may loosen in hot or humid environments.
• Customized towing mirror: This is designed for a specific model and can be seamlessly connected with the original vehicle rearview mirror after installation. This mirror is usually more stable and beautiful.

Permanent tow mirrors

• Manual Towing Mirrors: These mirrors are physically adjustable. They are a simple, durable option with no electrical components. Manual towing mirrors are often found on older or base truck models and are usually less expensive
• Powered Towing Mirrors: Powered towing mirrors can be adjusted with a button inside the cab, making them very convenient. Some also incorporate heating, turn signals, and puddle lights for added safety. They are more expensive due to the electrical components.
• Retractable Towing Mirrors: Retractable or telescoping mirrors can be pulled out to provide better visibility when towing and retracted when not in use. They are available in both manual and powered versions.

Conclusion

When towing or hauling heavy objects, standard side mirrors often do not provide adequate vision, while towing mirrors can effectively help drivers operate the vehicle more safely by expanding the field of vision and reducing blind spots. Whether it is a portable towing mirror or a permanently installed towing mirror, they can improve the driving experience and reduce the risk of accidents according to different needs. Buy trailer towing mirrors at MOSTPLUS to protect your towing trip.