DS mirror - front or side placement?

Topic: DS mirror - front or side placement? (Read 1190 times) previous topic - next topic

DS mirror - front or side placement?

January 25, 2013, 03:46:49 pm

Quote from: Fiddler – January 25, 2013, 12:16:51 pm

Just a suggestion which worked for me. A few years ago, I rotated the DS mirror from a side view to where I can see it through the left side of the windshield. Now, whenever the sun begins to melt my left ear, I pull the DS shade down to block. Took a little getting used to thenew mirror position but would never go back; works great. Infrequently may find a need to lean around the mirror head to a better view in certain turns usually navigating around parking lots, CG 's. etc., but overall it's well worth it to be able to shade the drivers seat window when heading North on a sunny afternoon.

This got me to thinking that I might prefer looking at the drivers side mirror through the windshield. Since I only have about 10k worth of seat time it would probably be an easy adjustment.

Pros & cons from those of you with much more driving experience?

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #1 – January 25, 2013, 04:41:00 pm

Mark,
When we bought our coach it was set up with the side placement. At times I had difficulty using the mirror when the window was open, due to looking through two pieces of glass and reflections. I changed to a front placement within a year and haven't looked back.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #2 – January 25, 2013, 04:47:54 pm

Howdy Mark,
Like Bob, our DS mirror was on the side, but I moved to the front about a year ago for the same reasons.. We're much happier with it up front..We also installed the "top hat" mirrors.
Good Luck, Dave A

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #3 – January 25, 2013, 04:54:13 pm

DS mirror up front best way to go. You can see either mirror w/o having to turn your head. Be careful with the blind spot when making left turns and around campgrounds with lots of trees on the left side of the road especially as you're taking a left leaning curve on the campground roadway.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #4 – January 25, 2013, 06:04:30 pm

Previous owner of our coach had moved the DS to the frt. Our previous SOB had the DS on the side. Within a few hundred miles we had adjusted to the mirror moved to the frt. Would never change it back. I had never noticed that done previously but it really works great.

Jerry

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #5 – January 25, 2013, 08:03:01 pm

Interesting. The majority of Foretravels I have seen have them to the side. I even asked about it at the factory and they said they always set them that way. Might have to give the windshield veiw a try to see if I like it.
Dean

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #6 – January 25, 2013, 08:48:39 pm

Having the drivers side mirror out front would not have a clear windshield to see it as the wiper does not go far enough to clear it. On the right side, the wiper only clears half of the mirror view.
My thoughts are for good viewing, not stylish.
It works for me.
Dave M

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #7 – January 25, 2013, 10:08:11 pm

Had both mirrors out front when I bought the coach and I would prefer them that way. However, shortly after I bought the coach, I ran into a sudden downpour on the New Jersey turnpike in heavy traffic when my lane merged left. The driver's windshield wiper doesn't clear the far left side at all so I could hardly see the mirror and certainly nothing in the mirror. Since then it has been next to the driver's side window. Perhaps the answer might be to keep the windshield coated with Rainex.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #8 – January 26, 2013, 05:38:29 am

Same as Bob. Beside the window. Easier to see less spray on it too.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #9 – January 26, 2013, 07:48:35 am

Quote from: Bob McGee – January 25, 2013, 10:08:11 pm

Perhaps the answer might be to keep the windshield coated with Rainex.

I keep my w/s heavily coated with Rain-X and hardly ever need the wipers. It is amazing stuff and helps keep the bugs from sticking so much.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #10 – January 26, 2013, 10:12:02 am

It might matter that the legal width is 102" for the wide body coaches. With the mirrors out front, you might still be legal. With mirrors out to the side you are likely over legal width. I was sitting in the warehouse one day and noticed the way Bill Chaplin's U300 mirrors were placed out front, and then looked at my U225 on the sides. I have not measured my overall width, but suspect that my coach with side mirrors is over 102".

As to where they work best, best is going to be better, till you meet another wide set of mirrors on a narrow roadway.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #11 – January 26, 2013, 10:34:18 am

All 18 wheelers are illegal IF the 102" was inforced. The truck and trailer are allowed 102" then add mirrors etc.
That rule would apply to a RV as I understand the law.
Chub

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #12 – January 26, 2013, 10:40:57 am

Hi Dave,
I don't think the mirrors would count in the overall width. If they did, all 102" wide coaches would be illegal with just a passenger side mirror. My 1997 U 320 passenger side mirror is almost seven inches from the side of the coach. It could me moved in about an inch before losing some rear vision.
Raymond

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #13 – January 26, 2013, 11:08:02 am

The 102 does not include safety devices of which a mirror qualifies.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #14 – January 26, 2013, 11:30:54 am

Quote from: Chub – January 26, 2013, 10:34:18 am

All 18 wheelers are illegal IF the 102" was inforced. The truck and trailer are allowed 102" then add mirrors etc.
That rule would apply to a RV as I understand the law.
Chub

You are correct.

102" is total width. If you take the awnings in the measurements you will more than likely exceed 102" no matter where your mirrors are.

Roland

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #15 – January 26, 2013, 02:19:12 pm

Legal length and width measurements do not include add-ons like mirrors, bumpers, ladders, and awnings. There are separate maximums for items that sitck out on the sides. As I recall, California allows more on the passenger side than the driver side. I believe the limit on the driver side is four inches, so required mirrors must be exempted.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #16 – January 26, 2013, 02:54:45 pm

Mirrors are considered safety equipment, awnings are not. I guess it would depend on what side of the bed the DOT official got up on that orning. A few years ago a Werner truck was stopped by DOT in Colorado. The driver was hauling carpets to CA. The carpets caused the sides of the trailer to bulge out making the trailer "wider" than the legal 120". Driver was cited and not allowed to continue until the condition was corrected. All the carpets were removed from the trailer, plywood added to stiffen the sides and the carpets reloaded. All because the DOT was turned down by his wife the night before. True story, knew the driver that was stopped.....well at least everything but the part about the DOT's wife.

Roland

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #17 – January 26, 2013, 06:01:37 pm

When we bought our coach the mirror was adjusted on the side. I put it to the front view position for a while but the range of view was not as good as along side. So I moved it back to the side and I like it better there.

Mark Z

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #18 – January 26, 2013, 06:25:01 pm

Some coaches may have a driver's side mirror with a shorter chrome arm. That might make setting the mirror forward not as visible or possibly distorted through the curved portion of the windshield. I was fortunate with the 16", longer arm.

Quote

When we bought our coach the mirror was adjusted on the side. I put it to the front view position for a while but the range of view was not as good as along side. So I moved it back to the side and I like it better there.

Quote

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Mark and Tanya

Jacksonville Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #19 – January 26, 2013, 06:29:05 pm

Our arm is plenty long enough. I just can not see as much from the front view.

Mark Z

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #20 – January 26, 2013, 06:49:36 pm

I have two reasons for keeping my DS mirror where FT originally placed it, to the side.

One is that the view through the corner of the windshield would be distorted due to the curvature of the glass.

The other is that the current location places it closer to me eyes. Moving it further away would narrow my field of view.

Tom

Just thought of a third reason, this way I can reach out to clean it.

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #21 – January 27, 2013, 11:58:02 am

Did they ever have the GV'S series with the drivers mirror way out front ? Looks like it would be a long way out from drivers eyes with very small field of vision ?
Still snooping, getting closer.

Chub

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #22 – January 27, 2013, 08:52:11 pm

Chub,
Most of the GV's are way out in front. I've never thought they needed to be bigger or closer. I've never heard of a GV owner who was unhappy with them. The mirrors are quite large to begin with. That said, the left mirror is not in the range of the wiper but the windshield is slanted and curved there so there is some good aerodymanic effects to clear the windshield of drops.
P.S. Foretravel Models over the Years Barry's listing with photos show quite a few with side mirrors, U225, U240's

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #23 – January 27, 2013, 08:57:38 pm

I wasn't aware that the mirrors could be moved from the sides to in front, or front to sides. I generally prefer the mirrors to be as far forward as possible, so now I know that I can put the mirrors where I want them, regardless of where the previous owner had them. I assume that it is just a matter of loosening a bolt, nut, or set screw?

Re: DS mirror - front or side placement?

Reply #24 – January 27, 2013, 09:03:29 pm

The early foretravels and the early model grandvillas all had the mirrors mounted on non moveable brackets beside the driver and passenger windows. When they first put the long arm mount on the grandvillas that put the mirrors way out front it took a bit of getting used to while moving the coaches in and out of the shop. I like the arrangement of the drivers side mirror beside the window rather than out front as I don't think there is quite a much of a blind spot.

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