2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Powervision or Cipa mirrors ?

[ceastmen]

I'm going to buy some extendable mirrors for my 2001. 5 CTD.

I would like to hear your opinions about extendable mirrors.

Price, warranty, quality, fit and finish and relacement parts.

Thanks in advance

Chuck E.

 

[DennyDay]

Powervision or CIPA? I've had both!

The power vision is an electric extend/retract system, and take a good bit of time to install. The bracket attachment is a little mickey mouse the way it works, but once done makes a nice install. Also the turnsigsnal feature on the new ones is nice. The CIPA has a large head/mirror, but is manually operated in and out. This is not a problem, however parts from CIPA can be a problem. Geno's had to intervene to get me a replacement motor assembly for one I busted. All they were interested in was selling me a complete replacement head.



They are both good units, Powervision has alot better customer service, but is harder to install, and I like the larger size of the CIPA, Size does make a difference!



Denny

 

[kiwi bird]

I've had heated Powervisions for a couple of years now and like them, the power extend feature is awesome and they offer clear vision even on washboard.



They are very well built, have worked perfectly and fit pretty well although one side seems to fit nicer than the other. I'd like to see an option of convex on the passenger side rather than flat as I had to add small convex mirrors to see my tires and traffic at the same time. I would prefer the tall rather than wide mirrors for this reason.



If I had to do it again I would consider the hybrid 3rd gen mirrors mounted on the 2nd gen mounts as a number of guys have done.

 

[litespeed]

How well do they handle vibration?



Do they shake at speed?



AJ

 

[RustyJC]

I'm quite happy with my PowerVisions.



Rusty

 

[DennyDay]

The newer CIPAs seem to have less vibration issues then Powervision. They did replace the mirrors when I complained to CIPA when they were new. They had put fins on the mirrors that acted like stabilizers. Took all the shake out of them. The powervision vibrated til the day I sold the truck.



Denny

 

[PC12Driver]

My CIPAs are one of my favorite mods to my truck. I really like the huge glass, and with a convex mirror added they are just about perfect. I've had a set on my truck for 3 years, and they're still as tight as when they were new. I also put a set on my Dad's truck shortly after mine, and they're still tight also (a little more buffet than mine at speed when extended, but he has a bug deflector and I don't).



I'm surprised at the poor customer service that Denny experienced. My Dad's set came with a scratch on the glass, and Geno's gave me CIPA's number to call to get a replacement. I had the replacement glass in two days, no charge. At the same time, I asked about a replacement glass for one of my mirrors that got hazed when the GF cleaned it with a paper towel. I offered to pay for it since it was my fault (kinda), and they sent that one out no-charge, too.



You can just about read your own licence plate in the spot mirror... :-laf

 

[JHudson]

I have had both on my 99. The CIPA were great for the mirror size, but I could never cure the vibration issue I had with them. I replaced with power vison mirrors and absolutely no vibration and the electric extend is a really nice feature. They have been on the truck now for 3 years with no problems at all. No vibration even fully extended... . I do miss the mirror size of the CIPA though.

 

[rrab1]

I have had my cipa mirrors for about a year now and have had no vibration problems at all and as for door fit, perfect. and about a 45 minute install, the wires for heat and movement just clip right back,imo go for the cipa Don

 

[bmoeller]

I have the CIPA mirrors. Haven't had any vibration issues, unless the road was really bad. Even then, it wasn't any worse than the OEM 6x9s. The only thing I wish I'd done, was to get the heated ones. A little extra wiring wouldn't have been that big of a deal.



IIRC, their new version has turn signals built in.

 

[litespeed]

That is good news!! I am considering the Cipa's myself. The stock mirrors are good folded up... ... . But when they are "flipped out", I have found them useless while pulling on the interstate over 55 MPH.



Sorry,



I'm not trying to hijack the thread... I was just curious... Thanks for the input from everyone.



AJ

 

[mangle]

Tried both, stayed with the CIPA. Purchased them direct from the manufacture in Canada in April 2001. What I really like is the adjustment and wide view:

1. When traveling down the highway I can look at my 5'ers wheels for smoke and other problems.

2. I adjust the right mirror down when parking by the crub.



I wish they had a built in turn flasher. Installation was easy...

 

[kiwi bird]

My PVs have no noticable vibration - towed my toybox from CA to OK at 80mph pretty much the entire way (my CHP buddy was in the passenger seat!!).

 

[rowilson]

A good friend of mine has Cipas on his 2500 and hates them. They are about a year old now. He tows quite a bit and as you notice these are designed like or for Ford trucks. The Ford has a drop in the door window frame on the front. The Dodges don't so you get half a mirror that you can't use because they are half below the door frame and you can't see it. He wishes he would have just bought the Dodge towing mirrors or lengthened the mirror arm.

 

[PC12Driver]

I wouldn't say half. More like a sliver of the inside lower corner, only when retracted. There's still significantly more glass visible than on the factory mirrors. And as you can tell by my above picture, they're completely visible when extended (which is kinda the point of these mirrors).

 

[Alphacowboy]

man, those mirrors are fugly! I must say, I do not like any of the aftermarket mirror setups that are out there, personally I like the OEM flip up tow mirrors. But I will say, i have thought about trying somthing like this pictured below. Dont really know how you could make them adapt to the dodge fender/door and still look ok, but that would be pretty sweet..... hopefully what ever comes on the new 4500/5500 models will be somthing like this, but will bolt right up to 3rd gen Rams, now that would be cool.



#ad

 

[bmoeller]

But I will say, i have thought about trying somthing like this pictured below.



#ad

Go to Mexico. Seen some Ram ads online. They have mirrors like that for the Ram. Wish we could get them here.



Before the CIPA mirrors, I was considering getting west coast mirrors, but had a hard time wanting to drill holes through good paint.

 

[Renoram]

I have had the CIPA's on for several years now & have had no vib problems. The field of view is much better than stock.



The one thing that I have a problem with is that I use the local car wash. I began noticing a small dent on both left & right mirrors on the door . Foward of the mirror on the left side & back of the mirror on the right side. I folded the mirror back & found that it is from the lower edge of the mirror. We have a new drive thru wash in town in which you stay in the vehicle while it goes thru. I found that if they do not fold back the mirrors back, the wash brushes slam the mirror forward against the door. If they fold the mirrors back before the wash (as I notice they do with all big mirror vehicles) , It pounds the mirror aganst the back side of the door. I have sizable dents now on my doors. I guess I'm going to have to hand wash from now on. Those of you that have the CIPA's & go thru the car wash, you might want to check your doors where the lower mirror corners or the mirror would make contact with the door.

 

[GCULP]

powervision all the way, the one thing I noticed when I purchased the Cipa's was the sweep angle of the passenger side was different and looked funny, I'm pretty anal about how things look when they're installed, the powervision is adjustable if you slide the sleeve back and loosen the nut at the hinge point. Also, the cipa's were lower and were hard to see the bottom edges of.

 

[CStansbury]

Schefenacker Mirrors?

So, aside from the Cipa and the Powervision, is anyone running the Schefenacker mirrors? They look pretty sweet and seem to have some nice features too. http://www.ttt-mirror.com/productoverview.html Crap, nevermind, looks like they are 3rd gen only right now though