Clip on mirror

[RegandPat]

Hi All,
I have a clip on mirror fixed to the drivers side that I put on when towing but don't seem to use it much as I can see with my fixed mirrors on my 4x4.
Well I was persuaded to do a bit of off road last weekend and I left the clip on bracket fixed to my mirror, big mistake as I lost it, plus spent 2 days cleaning my truck.
Never again, but what I wont to know is do I have to by law have to have a clip on extended mirror, I think it extends far to much and I am going to nock it some time, that is when I get a new one.
Reg

 

[Lutz]

When car and caravan are standing in a straight line, you need to be able to see the rear corner of the caravan through the mirror. If the car is wide enough to be able to do that using the standard mirror, you don't need extended mirrors, but if you can't see the rear corner you do.

 

[RegandPat]

Thanks Lutz, I will hook up tomorrow and make sure but I bet Pat makes me get another set.

 

[John_374564913]

Interesting question if you check the caravan club website about mirrors then almost certainly when driving a 4x4 you wont be required to have extended mirrors by law.

However (real Life experience) shows it is better to have the additional mirrors especially when towing on the motorway as the driver becomes use to using both mirrors to check and even then with two mirrors you can have a blind spot which is rather scary when having checked both mirrors and cant see another car you look through your side window only to see another car.
personally I would not be without the second set of mirrors even though with just my car mirrors the view is very good but as I said getting into the habit of checking all four mirrors before making a manoeuvre in my opinion increases general awarness

Hope this helps

John

 

[NigelHutson]

Hi John,
Where is the information about 4X4's and mirrors on the Caravan Club website please?
I think you'll probably find that the law relating to mirrors applies to all vehicles, i.e. that you must have adequate view to the rear. That in real terms means that you can see along both sides of the caravan up to and including the rear corners. An easy way to check this is to have someone standing right on the rear corner. If you can see them and the side of the caravan you're probaly fine. If not you aren't.
As the advert says, "simples".
Nigel.

 

[John_374564913]

Nigel

I went to the caravan club site and in the search box typed in mirror's

It then brought up a page which gives a leaflet from the caravan club regarding the Law and towing mirrors

Hope this helps

 

[NigelHutson]

John,
Thanks for that. I have just read the item, and I think what it's suggesting is that if you have a large 4X4, with certain caravans you might not need additional mirrors. However, that won't be common. For instance, I have a Discovery 3 (possibly one of the larger 4X4's), and do need additional mirrors to see both sides of our Lunar Clubman properly. There are many people who think that they don't need them, but in reality they won't have the rear view legally required, i.e. being able to see the sides of the caravan to the rear corner and beyond.
Nigel.

 

[John_374564913]

Nigel

As I said although I can see very well with my standard mirrors I would not be without my towing mirrors and checking all four every time I make a manoeuvre

 

[RegandPat]

Hi All,
I have ordered 2 or a set just to be on the safe side when towing.
I can also see from my inside mirror but have to look throu the van.
I'll put Pat incharge of fixing them on but it dose make the truck look very wide.
They are only cheep clip on ones but as long as they do the job.
Thanks all Reg and Pat