Position of Driver's mirror

Topic: Position of Driver's mirror (Read 921 times) previous topic - next topic

Position of Driver's mirror

June 17, 2014, 06:53:43 pm

If our mirror is placed out in front of the coach, I miss seeing about 30% of the mirror. If I get a longer arm (18 inch) and swing the mirror back along the driver's window, I lose that or more vision in the mirror. It needs a 22 inch arm to make it work positioned back by the window. The 18 inch arm helps me greatly if I put the mirror forward, back out front. That picks up a little vibration, not a visual problem but it is noticeable.

Do you think that having that long 18 inch arm mirror forward is going to create some structural problem? Hanging out front that way, versus the normal arm length out front, may put too much pressure on the mount to the coach? The mounts as I understand are into 3/4 inch plywood.

Ideas?

Mike

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #1 – June 17, 2014, 06:57:29 pm

I have mine almost all the way back, just forward enough so I can see it all through the side window. Having the mirror closer to your eyes gives you a wider field of view, which is a plus in my book.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #2 – June 17, 2014, 07:25:21 pm

I place the mirror out front to make it easier to shift line of sight from right to left rear views. I also place the Garmin against the driver's window at the same level as the mirror. This also allows for easier shifting of the eyes to view all three items with minimal head turning.

There is one downside, when making left turns the drivers mirror creates a blind spot. But that's a small compromise.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #3 – June 17, 2014, 08:36:10 pm

Peter, I like your method, I have been using it with my 14 inch arm mirror set out front, but I can only see about 65% of the mirror. Tom, I like the view in yours, sat in some coaches with a mirror that would pull far enough back. I decided to get a longer arm so I could pull the mirror back as Tom's.

My problem/question is this.....I cannot pull the arm back Tom as far as yours. Even with the new longer 18 inches arm it does not pull backward sufficient to see more than about 60% of the mirror (i.e. along side the coach by the driver window). The only way I can see all of the mirror is with the 18 inch arm and it out front. The original 14 inch arm positioned out front allowed only 65% mirror viewing.

SO....I can only see all of the mirror if I have it out front with the replacement 18 inch arm or if I were to go with a 22 inch arm I could pull the mirror sufficiently back to see it all.

Do you think the out front position with the 18 inch arm will put too much torque on the base and injure the attachment of the base to the fiberglass/plywood? Some technicians think yes, some no.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #4 – June 17, 2014, 08:51:04 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – June 17, 2014, 06:57:29 pm

I have mine almost all the way back, just forward enough so I can see it all through the side window. Having the mirror closer to your eyes gives you a wider field of view, which is a plus in my book.

I agree. Also many a times I could not have completed the turn in a tight space without hitting the mirror. Those few inches became critical especially when towing and I can't back up..

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #5 – June 17, 2014, 10:09:30 pm

I like mine back by the side window. Can see more that way.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #6 – June 18, 2014, 11:55:15 pm

Back by the side window! Eliminates potential left side blind spot.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #7 – June 19, 2014, 11:02:24 am

Being full time I have tried both. I find I prefer the mirror on the side, that blind spot it creates when out front was a real pain in tight turns. I also have the top hat mirror on both, really helps give a wide view but I have to keep my drivers mirror out a little further so I can then use my window awnings.

Everything we do will have an effect on something, so find what you like best.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #8 – June 19, 2014, 04:14:39 pm

Again, it is not a matter of preference but the inability to move it back by the side window. Unless I buy a 22 inch arm, it cannot reach back there.

SO.....I still had my question of, will it be okay out front from a weight being out front, impacting perhaps the base where attached to the coach.

That led me yesterday to go talk to Alton at FOT. He knows about all one needs to know I think about FTs, and he said he sees them run both ways, out front and pulled back to the side. It should not harm the base where attached to the coach. Maybe later I can get FOT to put on the 22 inch arm so I can pull it back, but for the moment time does not allow that change so I feel from a structure stand point, out front is good. As a matter of fact though the 18 inch arm I am trying now, being out front, is much better visibility than the 14 inch arm that was on it.

Thanks all, Mike

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #9 – June 19, 2014, 06:32:37 pm

When we changed our mirror from out front to the side, we swapped for a longer arm and also had to change our base because we needed to move our base closer to the corner. New base had a different radius and was needed to allow the mirror head to get close to the driver's side window. I don't think the base issue was on later coaches than ours, so Mike's 2001 may be ok.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #10 – June 19, 2014, 07:37:58 pm

Barry, you have thought what I have been seeing and no idea how to fix.

My base is too much around to the front of the coach. Many that I see with the arm facing backwards have the base more to the corner, even a half inch seems to make a big difference.

I did not think of being able to change bases, and neither did Alton at FOT. I do not want to drill more holes in the 3/4 inch plywood and thought I would just have to live with the base position. But raise an interesting option, I will ask Alton tomorrow. Thanks for the idea!

(Since Peter, I believe, used the mirror out front, that encouraged me this would be ok if no alternative to move it. Alton said too some prefer it. Even if I have to stay out front, that 18 inch arm is way better over the 14 or 15 that was on it.)

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #11 – June 19, 2014, 09:52:28 pm

I had to go look at our coach. Hmmm

Drivers seems to be an 18"(? Not measured)and the pivot point is roughly at the corner of the body.

I run it back by the window. Bigger picture

Passenger is a shorter arm. 14"? And the pivot point is several inches farther towards the center of the coach.

I run it forward and out enough to see past the awnings arms.

Never noticed the different length arms and the mounting positions. Thanks for bringing this up.

Was this std on what years? The bases are different? May have to cut a template to see.

More good info here again.

Bob

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #12 – June 19, 2014, 10:33:24 pm

Years ago, we purchased the new longer arm and different base from the mirror manufacturer Ramco. Then we had Foretravel relocate the mirror base and patch holes, but because they took it down the hill and did not confer with me and did not fit it with the new arm, the new location did not allow the mirror to move real close and the mirror head was in the way of the window awning arm. Later Xtreme moved the base about an inch more and everything fits fine without hitting the awning arm.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #13 – June 19, 2014, 11:40:51 pm

Bob, I wish I did not have to know so much.....it is kinda like the research I did a couple of years ago on coach skin temperatures and seeing if it correlated with crazing.....undertaken by necessity and not so much curiosity.

Alton at FOT explained that the driver side arm should be 18 inches and the passenger 15 (14) inches. Either way the longer is about 3 or so longer. I had looked a coaches the past few days on two dealer lots. I would say 80+% of FTs run with the driver mirror pulled back. SOBs seem to have a higher number out front.

Barry, you give me hope. I will see James or FOT fiberglass shop when we get back. Frankly it concerns me of trying to patch holes in 3/4 inch plywood and not move the base plate very far toward the outboard, but that is clearly what is needed.....unless there is a different base design with the pivot point further out from the coach. I think the mirror pulled back would be best driving for me. And yet as I have written, with the 18 inch arm out front, I can see the entire mirrors. Why important?

These two years I have been trying to drive by watching the drivers side and the passenger side to see the pavement stripes. As soon as I sat in a coach this week where I could see the pavement center stripe in the mirror, I learned I was working too hard.....just see center and stay near; the passenger side will take care of itself.

Apologies to all to be so long winded......maybe it will help another person though.

mike

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #14 – June 20, 2014, 12:06:59 am

Where are you guys taking the measurements? Is it center of pivot to center of pivot, Or just a total arm length. The driver side on ours is located closer to the corner and the arm is about 16 inches to the pivot. The passenger side doesn't have as much elevation and is shorter, Perhaps 14 or even less. It's funny, I never noticed it before... I just assumed they were both the same. On ours, the mirror on the driver side was quite close to the front edge of the side window... and that's pretty much where I have left it. Is on my list to experiment with the various positions, just hasn't risen to the top as yet... the current positions work fairly well, so I haven't felt compelled to experiment yet. Interesting tidbits...
Don

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #15 – June 20, 2014, 02:09:21 am

Well hi there Don and Tys.....this is small ball to you guys!

When I talk of 18 inches, I am talking total length, not pivot to pivot. On the shorter, passengers, seems very common to be shorter, about 15 inch total. Somehow our coach had the shorter on both sides, no idea why. But changing to the longer did not let me make it far enough around the corner, lose about 40% of the mirror obstructed by the corner of the coach.

And yes, you may not have noticed, but the longer arm has a greater upward slant.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #16 – June 20, 2014, 02:23:58 am

Quote from: Michael & Jackie – June 20, 2014, 02:09:21 am

And yes, you may not have noticed, but the longer arm has a greater upward slant.

Another overlooked detail.

Bob

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #17 – June 20, 2014, 09:21:11 pm

I've been following this discussion with interest. When you got to talking about different length mirror arms, I had to run out and look at/measure mine. Apparently this length disparity only pertains to the later model coaches? On mine (GV) the arms are same length. O well, still a interesting thread!

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #18 – June 21, 2014, 12:33:59 am

Back at you Michael! Thanks for the reply. In that case, I guess I would call the drivers side arm 18" and the passenger side 15". The driver's side comes nearly even with the front of the driver's side window frame and is close but misses the window awning arm altogether. There is about an inch between the body and the edge of the mirror as it is currently. I feel that my vision along the driver's side is quite good, but I think adding a top hat for both sides might be in the future... I guess I need to see a a coach that has that option to see if it would be much of a benefit. Always looking for ways to improve vision... one reason I went to the trouble I did for our HD back up cam and monitor.
Don

Quote from: Michael & Jackie – June 20, 2014, 02:09:21 am

Well hi there Don and Tys.....this is small ball to you guys!

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #19 – June 21, 2014, 12:52:13 am

When we painted, mirror & mounts were removed, so we decided to upgrade to new mirrors with 3 mirror surfaces inside each mirror head, with all heated & motorized to tweak them for max coverage. The top hat is a good safety addition. Ramco sells them and they are customer installable, especially if not heated or motorized.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #20 – June 21, 2014, 08:21:55 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – June 21, 2014, 12:52:13 am

The top hat is a good safety addition. Ramco sells them and they are customer installable, especially if not heated or motorized.

We ordered the top hat's shortly after we bought the coach. It definitely helps with that blind spot just behind the coach door on the curb side. I have watched small cars vanish into that space. Get them from Ramco like Barry said. About a third the cost of FOT's price. Just make certain you spend some time adjusting them for best visibility.

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #21 – June 21, 2014, 11:32:01 am

I have a simple question. The bottom convex mirror on my coach (bottom hat?) will move left/right but not adjust up/down with the motors on both sides. I can't move it by hand either.

The main flat mirror move in all 4 directions.

My guess is that I have bad motors, but it seems odd that left and right both failed in the up/down adjustment. Somebody has them set really low and I need to adjust them as I have a huge blind spot. I'd like to just force it by hand, and one day fix the motors....will this break anything?

Re: Position of Driver's mirror

Reply #22 – June 21, 2014, 11:46:48 am

When we bought our coach, the convex mirror on the passenger side wouldn't move up and down at all but it didn't have any problem going left and right. One day just for the hell of it, I grabbed it by hand forced it move up and down... carefully with both hands so as not to pop the mirror off its mount. To my delight, when I went back in the coach and tried it again, It now worked in all directions and does to this day. Just my experience...
Don

Quote from: krush – June 21, 2014, 11:32:01 am

I have a simple question. The bottom convex mirror on my coach (bottom hat?) will move left/right but not adjust up/down with the motors on both sides. I can't move it by hand either.

The main flat mirror move in all 4 directions.

My guess is that I have bad motors, but it seems odd that left and right both failed in the up/down adjustment. Somebody has them set really low and I need to adjust them as I have a huge blind spot. I'd like to just force it by hand, and one day fix the motors....will this break anything?

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