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Topic: Driver Mirror Position (Read 634 times) previous topic - next topic

Driver Mirror Position

I've had my driver mirror forward for three years to eliminate a reflection problem that made pulling into my previous parking difficult. I often saw what was next to me in the mirror rather than what was behind me. I was parked very near to the roof of a house and it mattered a great deal what showed up in the mirror. Yesterday while driving to Nacogdoches for bags and shocks my convex mirror came loose and by the time I pulled over the flat mirror was also hanging by the heater wires. Lots of noise and complete loss of driver mirror function. With a little duct tape managed to get flat mirror attached temporarily and with an adjustment of mirror head could see again. Almost impossible to drive these coaches without driver's mirror.

Keith told me this morning that the driver's mirror should be back towards that window to keep it from vibrating too much. He's seen many failures from the forward position. Live and learn. I liked it in the forward position, but like having a mirror more.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #1 –
Defiantly a hot forum topic! Do you see semi truck and bus mirrors back at the side: no, they are always out front.
Then why move one back and one forward, do you think the mirror on the passenger side knows not to vibrate?
The forward mirror may be an issue with vibrations, but you can see both mirrors without moving your line of vision away from the road, a quick flick of your eye and you have checked both sides without taking your eyes off the road.
Got me it's the way it was on my trucks: out front.
I check my mirror mounts for movement when I remove the covers prior to departure.
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #2 –
Here on the west coast traveling north and south mostly having the mirror forward has the additional advantage of letting me drop the drivers shade when the suns heat is coming from the left. One arm farmers tan without the shade. The reflection issue has always bothered me when the mirror was back.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #3 –
Our GV mirrors have always been in the "forward" position. They haven't fallen apart in 200,000 miles and 30 years.

 
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #4 –
I keep both inboard after going through a few international borders. And it helps with seeing the bay doors if one opens. I use both a rear camera and a passenger side camera.
Works for me.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #5 –
I moved my mirror from aft to forward a year after I bought the coach.  The forward position has made an astronomical difference in visibility and ease of use.  When it is in the aft position you are always looking through 2 panes of glass (tinted), and with the toll booth window open...4 panes, and the mirror view is gonzo. 

Please explain how moving the mirror 3 feet aft improves aerodynamics (why do forward pitched passenger mirror parts not disintegrate then?) or improve viewing the bay doors...doesn't it make the sight angle to the ground view greater???  All it does on my coach is make me move eyes/head further to check the mirror...and I check it very, very often these days.  The distance that the mirror extends to the sides of the coach are identical.  I will never move it back.  That's just me.  Do what makes you happy.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #6 –
My Monaco had the mirror in the forward position, and this coach came with it in the rear
position and I've left it that way. Both ways have disadvantages and pluses. I don't think there
is a right way, just what each individual likes.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #7 –
I floor it and never dawdle when passing RV's that have pitched back driver mirrors....I'm in their blind spot for an eternity.  I know truckers know this too.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #8 –
Ever notice how the DW seems to always lean forward at the most inappropriate time when you need to see something in the passenger side mounted mirror? :))
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #9 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Ever notice how the DW seems to always lean forward at the most inappropriate time when you need to see something in the passenger side mounted mirror? :))
Omg I'm glad it's not just me.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #10 –
" I'm in their blind spot for an eternity "
Unless you are a smart car, a coach is larger than any blind spot , wether the mirror is forward or aft.

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #11 –
I like mine in forward position. Here's why...
I had the same surprise while underway one day, watching the curved mirror preparing for departure.
Just got pulled over in time to save it, taped both of the mirrors in place until I could address it later in a safer place.
After much repair, adjustment and "fixing", I settled on the forward position because I found it gave me a much better field of vision and no reflection problems. If there was a difference in vibration, it was beyond my ability to notice.
I later replaced both mirrors with larger versions, which increased my field of view even more, very happy with that. But I discovered that the reverse position was not possible with the larger mirror, so I'm lucky I got used to the forward position.
1998 U295 36'
Build# 5358

SMILE!....it makes people wonder what you have been doing.
 

Re: Driver Mirror Position

Reply #12 –
Moved mine from aft to forward and it's gonna stay there. No reflection issues, better field of vision, and can keep my eyes on the road. 
2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC