Caravan towing mirror
If you are going to tow a caravan it’s very likely that you need additional caravan towing mirrors. Also,
with a caravan behind your car, you want to have a full view of the situation
around you. But, which caravan mirror is suitable for your car, and is it in
fact mandatory to use caravan towing mirrors?
Towing mirror law A frequently asked question we receive is if caravan towing mirrors are
mandatory. Caravan towing mirrors are not mandatory in all situations. There is
a legal requirement for you to have mirrors that allow you to see an area
specified as such: 4 metres wide from the side of your caravan at a distance 20
metres behind the driver. A caravan is significantly wider than a car - even
larger than a 4x4 - and you simply can't comply with the law unless you use
towing mirrors. With extra-wide caravans it may even be necessary to use
mirrors with extended arms.
With
caravan mirrors, it is mandatory to have both a left and right mirror. In the
past only a left-wing mirror was sufficient. However, right-hand wing mirrors
are mandatory nowadays if you cannot see the road surface at 20 meters behind
you. This is always the case with a caravan or trailer.
The
requirements for standard wing mirrors also apply to caravan towing mirrors.
Just to be clear, they need to be adjustable, may not stick out too far and
naturally, they need to stay in place under normal circumstances. The use of no
or incorrect caravan mirrors can result in a heavy fine and dangerous
situations.
Best caravan towing mirror But what are the best caravan towing mirrors? Door or side panel-mounted towing
mirrors or adhesive mirrors are mostly used. Both types of mirrors are very
easy to assemble. The traditional bonnet mounted or side panel-mounted mirrors,
and door-mounted towing mirrors are also still being used. We explain the
difference between these towing mirror types here:
Side panel towing mirrors are mounted by the use of
a tripod on the bonnet and under the mudguard. An advantage of this type of
towing mirror is that you experience less trouble with vibrations because they
are quite steady. Another advantage is that you do not have to turn your head
to get a quick proper glance on what’s going on at your rear. However, a
disadvantage is that they can leave scratches on your car paint while mounting.
They are mounted directly onto the car varnish of your bonnet and side panels.
Another disadvantage is that they cannot be adjusted from inside the car, so
they need to be properly set before you take off.
Door mounted towing mirrors are basically the
successor to the bonnet or side panel towing mirrors. This mirror is, as the
name suggests, mounted onto the door and is based on the rubber of the window.
An advantage of the door-mounted towing mirror is that it is adjustable
straight from your car. You need to turn your head slightly, however, to be able
to have a look in the mirrors.
Mirror mounted towing mirrors are the most commonly used
caravan towing mirrors. You can easily mount this type of mirror on the car
side mirror with some screw, clips, straps or other means of assembly type. An
advantage of this type of mirror is that these too are easily adjustable from
your car. You also do not have to worry about your car paint. However, a
disadvantage is that these mirrors are somewhat less robust. As a consequence, they suffer more from vibrations from the road.
Mirror
mounted towing mirrors can be mounted on your car by for example screws and
clips, but also as adhesive mirrors. We dare to say that this type of towing
mirror is most commonly used. There is basically one difference between the
mirror mounted towing mirror and the adhesive towing mirror, and that is that
the adhesive towing mirror is stuck on your car mirror by means of a suction
cup instead of a couple of screws, straps or clips. A disadvantage of this type
of towing mirror is that the suction cup sits on the mirror glass of your side
mirror. This makes the side mirror of your car less usable.
Finally,
before we forget. Towing mirrors, and more precise the shape of the mirror
glass may be either flat or sphered. Sphered mirrors have the advantage that vibrations
are less noticeable and that the field of vision is extended in comparison to
flat towing mirrors. A disadvantage, however, is that it is more difficult to
estimate the speed or distance of other road users than it is with flat towing
mirrors. In combination with the flat side mirrors of your car, it´s unlikely
that this will form any problems though. In the end, it is difficult to say
which caravan mirror is best for you, considering that it depends on what you
like best. We hope that you have a clear understanding of which types are
available so that you can make an informed decision.
Buying caravan towing mirrors Buying
caravan towing mirrors is easy and quick at Winparts. We offer a wide range of
towing mirrors with sphered or flat mirror glass. You can buy a caravan towing
mirror for as little as £ 10.63. Of course, you will also find other spare car
parts and products for your caravan such as caravan covers , coupling locks and electrics .
