After market tow mirrors?

[Jim Ross]

We have an '07 3500 with manual tow mirrors and would like to get a set of power mirrors put on it.

In Highways Magazine, there is an ad by a company called "Power Vision Mirrors", have any of you tried their mirrors? They list a set of mirrors with switch and wiring for trucks with factory manual mirrors.

I have looked at our truck and there are only 2 wires going into each door from the cab body. Will it be possible (within reason) to add power mirrors and switch kit to our truck?

 

[jelag]

I have several trucks, all with the 3500/5500 style of flip up mirror... . we use these trucks daily for work...

I've looked at, at least 4-5 different manufactures of product and none of them seem to be as strong or reliable as the stock units... we need an additional 3-4 inches on each side... . but could live with 2-3 inches...

We've found nothing that we think will hold up to the use but several drivers... each needing to change the mirrors...

My daily driver would get a set but even for the care I give that truck I don't think their worth it... .

On our old Fords we had a set of extensions that clipped over the factory mirror and placed a second adjustable (by hand) mirror out an additional 4" they were perfect and we had to replace some of the plastic connectors with some metal ones... but they lasted until we got rid of the trucks... .

I'll follow this thread if someone comes up with something... .

 

[Jim Ross]

We just want to add mirrors that we can adjust from the driver's seat... ... . it is a pain to have to roll down the windows to manually re-adjust the mirrors each time we switch drivers on a trip.
Maybe I need to go to the Dodge dealer and find out how much it would cost to add a pair of factory electric mirrors... ... ?

 

[Schrowang]

Jim,



Try e-bay for a set of electric/heated OEM mirrors. It might we worth it to open the door panel to see if the truck was wired for electric mirrors. Some of them are. There will be an unused quick disconnect there. However, if there are only two wires going to the door, I'll bet that one is for the locks and the other for the windows.

 

[deckie49]

i had power-vision on my old '97. used them for 10 years without any problems. they are very good mirrors.

 

[Jim Ross]

What I have found out, so far, is that one could only get electric mirrors if one ordered the package that has PW and PL... ... . now here is the rub: the door panel/arm rest is different if one has a truck with manual windows, therefore, the factory electric mirror switch will not fit on a non-PW/PL truck... . the window crank is in the way.
In trading several emails with Power-Vision, I have found that they have a very nice switch that will fit on my door panel, but they seem not to be willing to sell the switch as a separate item... ... so, I am trying to find a source or the manufacturer of their switch or a similar one. Their switch is approx. 2"x3". I have a jpg picture of it, but I don't know how to attach it to my message here.
I would really like to add electric mirrors (I don't need electric extendable, just electric tilt up/down/in/out), but I am stuck with manual mirrors unless I can find a switch.

 

[AH64ID]

Based on what I have seen on my truck they are wired for everything. 1 extensive wiring harness is cheaper than 6 smaller ones. So I agree, pop open the door and see what you have. All your probably missing is the fuse.

 

[Jim Ross]

I am not worried about the wiring, it may or may not be there, but making up a wiring harness would not be the end of the world.
Finding a SWITCH that fits is the problem that is stopping the project.

 

[AH64ID]

You should be able to get the OEM switch, I would be shocked if there were different doors between manual and power mirrors.

 

[Jim Ross]

I have compared the door panels and they ARE different... ... the window crank for manual windows is placed where the OEM armrest support would be for the OEM switch. The switch goes on top of the armrest just forward of the door grab handle. With manual windows, the crank is just forward of the door grab handle and the armrest above the window crank is too narrow for the OEM switch. Not only that, but the mechanics for the window crank inside the door panel would not allow for placement of the OEM switch and wiring.

 

[AH64ID]

Oh crap, I wasn't thinking about manual windows too.

There has to be some sort of aftermarket controller you could mount somewhere other than the door.

 

[Jim Ross]

Yeah, I know... ... . I might print out the picture I have of the Power-Vision switch (it is very nice looking) and go to Radio Shack or some other places and see if I can find something.

 

[AH64ID]

Good luck, let us know what you find.

 

[Jim Ross]

With a little help from a friend in TX, I found the switch.
It is made by Dorman, Item #901-319. It is oem for many different Fords.
I don't know the cost yet, but Dorman's site says I can buy it thru AutoZone or CarQuest locally.