Why Tow Mirrors Matter for Safe Towing
When looking at towing mirrors there are two types available to the user. One is for temporary use and is an additional mirror, which somehow attaches to the standard mirror. Usually using straps or clamps or a combination of both. On the other hand, you have the more expensive and permanent option. This involves having to replace your standard mirrors with an aftermarket item.
I’ve tried both, and for me at least, there is one clear choice. It may not be the same for everyone, so let me try and explain why I prefer the replacement mirror and also when I wouldn’t bother with it.
Temporary Towing Mirrors – A Budget-Friendly Option
If you only tow a couple of times a year, then you should strongly consider saving some serious dollars and opting for a good set of attachment towing mirrors. But do some serious research on what mirrors work for your particular make and model of vehicle. I would recommend asking people who have first hand experience and of course the social media pages relating to your particular vehicle would be a great place to start. Most are quite easy to install and will be adequate to get the job done.
Why Tray-Back Utes Benefit Most from Replacement Mirrors
If you are a more frequent tower, I would highly recommend a set of replacement mirrors. These are, from my personal experience, far easier to use and adjust and are more reliable and durable. If like us, you have a tray back ute then I would definitely recommend replacement mirrors, even if you are an infrequent tower. From my experience, you can simply just see so much more than the standard mirrors. Most trays are wider than the standard tub and standard mirrors appear less able to accommodate for this extra width. I was so surprised to see how much I was missing when I first changed from the factory mirrors to the Clearview tow mirrors.
Keeping Your Factory Features
With a good quality replacement mirror, like the Clearviews that I have, you can still retain all the fancy factory features. In my case this was the indicators, electrical adjustment, heating, blind spot monitoring and power folding. This was the main reason I went with the Clearviews mirrors and I thought it was worth the extra cost to retain these factory features. And after years of use, I’m glad I went this way as I always use these features, except for the heating, which doesn’t get a lot of use up in Queensland. We did however use it a lot when we lived in Tasmania.
The Downside of Clip-On Mirrors
My experience with the attachment mirrors is less than satisfactory; however, this maybe isolated to the particular type that I had. I had problems with having to manually adjust them constantly. And I also had troubles with them folding in when passing oncoming trucks and large vehicles. To the point where I had to keep coming up with ways to try and stop this. I was so glad to have changed my mirrors with some good aftermarket mirrors that I recommend it to anyone who asks me about them.
Final Verdict – Fixed vs Temporary Tow Mirrors
After years of towing and testing both, I can confidently say that while clip-on mirrors have their place for occasional towers, fixed replacement mirrors like Clearviews are the ultimate choice for comfort, safety, and reliability on long hauls.
Words and Photos: The Adventuring Pals
