Towing Mirrors

[Teresa_374417168]

Hello, new to this forum and to caravanning. Just went away for the first time this weekend, everything went really well except my husband initially thought we wouldn't need towing mirrors as we have an Audi Q7 and thought it would be wide enough!! 10 minutes into the journey and he said "I think we should get towing mirrors".

My question does anyone know what mirrors would suit an Audi Q7 the best?

Was looking at the suck it mirrors for easieness! Does anyone have experience of these?

Thanks again.

Teresa

 

[Mel]

Can't say if they'd fit your car, but we have got the milenco aero. Excellent. They clamp on the edge of the mirror. Used to have the cheap sort with straps around the back of the mirror. Useless.

mel

 

[Chris_374451961]

Hi Teresa,Had the suck it and see towing mirrors for a while now and to be honest they are great mirrors easy to put on, ie just sticks to the normal mirrors of the car with means you can adjust the mirrors from inside the car using the electric mirrors as usual,once on there is no need 2 even open the window which is great in the winter for keeping the warmth in.Ive traveled up and down the country and they havent came off yet.All in all great towing mirrors.

 

[stu658]

teresa, go to the towsure web site and look at the mirrors. i have the aero ones on my land rover and they are great, easy to fit and a good view behind you. it is law to have a mirror fitted if the vehicle you are towing is wider than the towing vehicle if i am not mistaken.

 

[Guest]

We use a strap on version mirror on both our Q7's. The mirror is supported on the top and lower edge of the car mirror, with the straps tight they are fine. We've used them for many years and find they offer a secure and flexible mounting with the even load spread. They've taken a hit a few times and the worse that has happned is that the car mirror folded back and the glass was dislodged one time. The veiw is also good and steady providing the strap positioning is well thought out and they are pulled tight.

I've never considered clamping a mirror to one edge of mirror body a smart move and I've also seen the damage caused by a Milenco mirror that has come off and know of the damage costs to the cars.

There is no flexibility in the clamp on mirror, if the mirror is clipped by a vehicle coming the other way something has to give. Check out the cost of a new Audi or any car mirror housing and then decide what you want to clamp to it. Where as staps hold the mirror on the clamps either damage the car mirror or they come off and the mirror and arm hit the side of the car and possibly the caravan.

The strap on mirror allows full use of the cars mirror and you can then use them to angle down and see the caravan in tricky positions. The suck it and see mirrors can move the mirror they are attached to some users find.

 

[stu658]

Euro, i used to use strap on mirrors before i bought the aero ones, i was vever totally happy with them because i find them a pain to fit and they vibrate all the time giving a blurry picture. i have been using the aero ones for a couple of years since they were launched and find them very good. i don't have a problem with clamping them to the mirror body i think it is a great idea and very quick and easy to fit i can also use my switch to adjust the door mirrors if need be. i would not want to cause any damage to my car either and i am quite sure an audi mirror is no more expensive than a land rover one!! if someone or something were to hit any mirror at speed it will more than likely be damaged no matter which type of mirror is fitted. just of course my opinion.

 

[Guest]

We've never had a problem with vibration if the strap on mirror is fitted correctly. ie, straps tight and all bracket feet seated.

We've had mirrors swiped and the rubber type straps absorb some of the impact and the door mirrors have folded in without the whole mirror flying off.

Fellow caravanner's experience of the Milenco clamp on mirror is that the top of the mirror housing have been damaged when the mirror broke away at a cost of over

 

[Mikey1]

On the suck and see mirrors my friend got one hit at 30 mph by a van coming the other way,it got knocked off and as the retaining wire stopped it falling to the floor it put several big dents in the door of his car until he could stop.

 

[Guest]

Lots of designs look great until the unexpected happens Mikey.

Some mirrors pop of their fitting base quite easily.

 

[Geoff_374452082]

Don't use the suction type - they are expensive and rubbish. They block the view fron the origional fit car mirrors which I find useful despite the extensions and vibrate so much to make them pretty useless. They are also small and give a very limited view. I now use "Street Wise" mirrors which at

 

[Nidge1]

Hi Teresa

I would inquire if Audi do a towing mirror specific to the Q7. We tow with a BMW X5 and bought the mirrors from the main dealer.

The mirrors are rock solid and are a perfect tailer made fit to the existing mirrors.

They cost a small mortgage as any BMW extras do and I presume Audi would be the same. However I consider them well worth it and would not be without them.

Nidge

 

[Jim_374334401]

Hi Theresa, I have towed for 20 years across uk and Europe. I have had many different types of mirroand currently use the suck it and see. I have found them very easy to attach with their light weight putting little or no strain on the wing mirror glass.I would suggest you opt for flat glass on the offside and the convex on the nearside to give a wider field of view. I particularly like the way you can adjust them using my existing electric mirror controls especially mid journey. last summer I travelled over 3000 miles without a hitch through Europe to Italy and back.

On the down side they are a little on the small side giving less view than a larger alternative. I have to say pound for pound they are the best mirrors I have used.

the choice is yours!!

 

[Chris_374413356]

Hi Teresa

I use the the mirrors with the 2 rubber bands that hold it place over existing mirrors, no problem at all, but I stick pvc electrical tape over the existing mirror edges where the new mirrors comes in contact, just for protection.

Also ensure your new mirrors have the new EU "E" stamp of approval otherwise you may find your new mirrors are illegal.

 

[Chris_374413356]

Hi Teresa

I use the the mirrors with the 2 rubber bands that hold it place over existing mirrors, no problem at all, but I stick pvc electrical tape over the existing mirror edges where the new mirrors comes in contact, just for protection.

Also ensure your new mirrors have the new EU "E" stamp of approval otherwise you may find your new mirrors are illegal.

 

[Toro]

We use a strap on version mirror on both our Q7's. The mirror is supported on the top and lower edge of the car mirror, with the straps tight they are fine. We've used them for many years and find they offer a secure and flexible mounting with the even load spread. They've taken a hit a few times and the worse that has happned is that the car mirror folded back and the glass was dislodged one time. The veiw is also good and steady providing the strap positioning is well thought out and they are pulled tight.

I've never considered clamping a mirror to one edge of mirror body a smart move and I've also seen the damage caused by a Milenco mirror that has come off and know of the damage costs to the cars.

There is no flexibility in the clamp on mirror, if the mirror is clipped by a vehicle coming the other way something has to give. Check out the cost of a new Audi or any car mirror housing and then decide what you want to clamp to it. Where as staps hold the mirror on the clamps either damage the car mirror or they come off and the mirror and arm hit the side of the car and possibly the caravan.

The strap on mirror allows full use of the cars mirror and you can then use them to angle down and see the caravan in tricky positions. The suck it and see mirrors can move the mirror they are attached to some users find.

Totally agree with you on this. 100%. Used this type of mirror for past 24 years. Properly fitted they do not vibrate. Still using the original set along with their straps, but I have lost count on the number of different cars they have been on. Around 8 I reckon

 

[Teresa_374417168]

Thanks everyone for your advice, all very useful but still confused to which ones to get so think I will go to our local caravan dealer and get from there, at least we will be able to take them back if they dont fit.

Thanks again, Teresa.

 

[evo1]

Don't use the suction type - they are expensive and rubbish. They block the view fron the origional fit car mirrors which I find useful despite the extensions and vibrate so much to make them pretty useless. They are also small and give a very limited view. I now use "Street Wise" mirrors which at

 

[NigelHutson]

I might be too late for you, but we used the Milenco Aero/Grand Aero on Audi Q7's at the 2007 and 2008 Towcar Awards. Excellent.

 

[Reg]

Anything but the suction mirrors.

Too small.......vibrate all over the place.....don't stick out far enough.......and make your existing mirror unusable......UGH!!

Nasty things!

 

[Mark_374456290]

teresa, go to the towsure web site and look at the mirrors. i have the aero ones on my land rover and they are great, easy to fit and a good view behind you. it is law to have a mirror fitted if the vehicle you are towing is wider than the towing vehicle if i am not mistaken.

It is now law to have both mirrors fitted at all times whilst towing