Towing Mirrors - Objects are closer...er... object can't be seen!

[Sean Flanagan]

I have this shiny new '07 with the factory towing mirrors. Today, I amost side-swiped somebody because I absolutely could not see them out the right side window, mirror or the "blind spot" thing. It was good that I had somebody in the passenger seat next alerting me of my error or my shiny new truck would have been not so shiny and new anymore. It was dark, when he told me to watch out, I looked again and absolutely could not see the lights of the car just to the right and slightly trailing me.



I am learning that these fancy towing mirrors provide less visibility out the right side than the ones on my old '98 (unless I have my trailer). The reason is because the mirror is flat, and the blind spot mirror is at the wrong angle to be very effective. The blind spot mirror provides a nice view of the side of my truck and not a view of where I need. The blind spot thing should be pointing more down and out. I can adjust the mirror to get a better blind spot view, but then the main part of the mirror is looking way too far down and out.



Anyway... the point of my question is, can I get a replacement curved mirror glass for this mirror? You know, the "Objects are closer than they appear" kind. I seem to remember my friends 2001 had the curved glass on the right side towing mirror, but I could be dreaming.



If not, I might be forced to add some dopey looking add-on thing.



Thanks,



Sean

 

[LesStallings]

I wonder if they changed the design. My 04 mirrors are really nice. When I'm not towing, I adjust them to show the adjacent lanes on either side and use the inside mirror for directly behind me.



I find the fish-eye section to be the first place I look on the passengers side and it really tells the story of whats happening over there.



Towing my 8 foot wide gooseneck, the rotated out mirrors are truly great.

 

[Prairie Dog]

There was some talk about this awhile back, seems to me it was some new Gov. reg that caused the demise of the convex mirror. All of the third gens are this way.

 

[RodMorris]

I don't have the towing mirrors, but I wish my passenger side mirror was flat instead of convex. Sure, I can see things close, but I can't get any depth perception with it. I would rather it was flat and I would put a bullseye mirror on it like I did the driver's side. Why don't you try that?

 

[mwhals]

I don't have a problem with my 06' mirrors.

 

[CBrahs]

Drive your passenger side mirror down a bit. You will be able to see everything. The main portion of the mirror will be aimed a bit down and you can see the rest with the smaller mirror. I have to do that since my truck is lifted a total of 12 inches (suspension, body and tires combined). They work fine. Just need to work on aiming them a bit.

 

[twmcneilly]

Man, I've had my '06 for nearly a year, and I still miss my ole '98 mirrors; I've had too many close calls as well. The thing is, nearly every other vehicle I drive has the other style mirror so my truck is the odd-ball, and I can't get used to it. Right now I have the passenger side adjusted so the flat mirror does nothing and I relay solely on the convex one, which is too small to be reliable, especially in poor weather.

I've been wondering if the CIPA or some other style, that is not designed to rotate, would help mitigate the problem. I'm also investigating a rear view camera as an alternative. They can be wired into the Nav display if y you're brave enough to open up the box and get out the soldering iron.

 

[Sean Flanagan]

I just put in an aftermarket NAV radio, with a rear view camera. I bought a camera off of e-bay for $35 that is sort of part of a license plate frame. Anyway, It works OK. The problem is, it only comes on when my truck is in reverse, or if I fiddle with a few buttons on the radio. Not very convient for a quick lane change.



I was wondering how I can remove the piece of glass for the blind spot mirror and put a spacer on it's upper left corner. Does anybody know how to safely remove the mirror glass?



It's hell getting old, and blind.



Thanks,



Sean

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Sean,



My '06 has factory towing mirrors and I have the same problem as you. The passenger mirror just isn't right. No matter what I do, one or the other is always off. I replaced the stock mirrors on my '97 with CIPA mirrors, these mirrors are great. They came with blind spot mirrors that you put on where you need them.



Mike



PS-I'm young with great vision and can't see out of my passenger mirror, so I don't think you being old has anything to do with it. <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYJNUS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F1%255F21%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank">#ad
</a>

 

[TKeeler]

I just put in an aftermarket NAV radio, with a rear view camera. I bought a camera off of e-bay for $35 that is sort of part of a license plate frame. Anyway, It works OK. The problem is, it only comes on when my truck is in reverse, or if I fiddle with a few buttons on the radio. Not very convient for a quick lane change.



I was wondering how I can remove the piece of glass for the blind spot mirror and put a spacer on it's upper left corner. Does anybody know how to safely remove the mirror glass?



It's hell getting old, and blind.



Thanks,



Sean

To make the camera come on with your turn signals you could tie into the turn light wire(s) through a diode(s) to the same signal wire that connects to your back up lights. You would acutally need a diode on each signal wire to prevent a back feed to the other lights.

 

[Triton]

there's actually a recall on the very thing you're talking about... ... .

<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="2" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Make : DODGE</td> <td>Model : RAM 3500</td> <td>Year : 2007</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Manufacturer : DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 06V380000 </td> <td>Recall Date : OCT 03, 2006</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">Component: VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">Potential Number Of Units Affected : 309</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">Summary:
#ad
CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 111, "REAR VIEW MIRRORS". THE RIGHT OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR GLASS HAS A CURVED (CONVEX) MIRROR GLASS INSTALLED INSTEAD OF FLAT GLASS. CURVED GLASS CREATES A WIDER VIEW, BUT DISPLAYS IMAGES FURTHER AWAY THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE. </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">Consequence:
#ad
DRIVERS OF LARGE VEHICLES MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY JUDGING DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">Remedy:
#ad
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT OUTSIDE CONVEX MIRROR GLASS WITH A FLAT MIRROR GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403 </td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[Sean Flanagan]

That recall is exactly opposite of what I want. Maybe i can find a dealer that has some of the convex glass laying around or maybe somebody has a part number for the convex version?



Anybody know how to remove the mirror glass?



Thanks,



Sean

 

[TKeeler]

That recall is exactly opposite of what I want. Maybe i can find a dealer that has some of the convex glass laying around or maybe somebody has a part number for the convex version?



Anybody know how to remove the mirror glass?



Thanks,



Sean

I just ordered these mirrors on the truck I just ordered. #@$%! It sounds like the convex adjusts with the flat mirror (?) but they should have made them adjust independently? The recall which wasn't for many trucks sounds like it went from the convex back to the flat mirror. The Cipa extensions I add to the stock mirrors on the 98. 5 are both flat. . no convex at all.

 

[DBond]

It sounds like the 2007 may be different than my '05, but here is what I did.



I found that the OEM concave blind spot mirrors were never aimed where I wanted them, in both regular or tow position. The problem seemed to be that the angle they need to be relative to the main flat mirror changes when it is rotated 90 degrees, so it looks like Dodge tried to pick some middle ground that doesn't really work well in either case.



What I did was put some CIPA #49304 mirrors (Autozone etc) over the factory convex ones. These mirrors are about the same size as OEM convex mirror, AND rotates to adjust.

However there is variation within this same part number for how wide angle the mirror is. A narrow angle (which I found worked good) had J12, K12 sticker on the back. Wide angle had higher number such as J25, which I found that so wide I couldn't see any detail.

To mount I had to put on 2 layers of the 3M mounting foam, like a donut, as I was mounting it on the convex mirror.

 

[InfernoB]

At first I did not want the tow mirrors. I hated the tow mirrors on the Ford. After the first freeway drive, I was able to see everything. I found that the right mirror has to be out quite abit to see more of the lane next to me. Actually, both mirrors do. I find these mirrors are awesome. I don't know why the guy's are complaining about the "back up" alarm. Why not back up with the door closed, and use your mirrors... .

I've always bought spot mirrors and mounted them on the standard mirror. With this truck I did not need to. You will get used to them.

 

[nickleinonen]

I don't have a problem with my 06' mirrors.

mine work good too. . i don't like them when they are tilted up for towing though. . i keep them down always [even when towing pop's work trailer]