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Topic: Where's that towed in the mirror? (Read 1051 times) previous topic - next topic

Where's that towed in the mirror?

Most of our toweds are not as wide as our coaches and visually get lost back there.  Has anybody come up with a side mirror combination/setup that lets you see the towed behind the rig as you are driving down the road?

Chris

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #1 –
I use our rear camera and it works quite well!
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #2 –
Leave your backup camera on. You would have to have 6 foot mirror arms to make it work.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #3 –
I have tow mirrors on my Yukon, I can extend them and see the edge of the mirrors from the driver's seat.

Alternately, I wait until going around a curve and can sometimes see the toad is the curve is tight enough.

There have been a few times I wondered if it was still back there.
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #4 –
Thanks for the quick replies!  Nice to hear how people work with it.

I had read somewhere that leaving a backup camera on was not recommended because they weren't designed for it.  I was surprised to read this because, well, it doesn't make sense.  Has anyone else come across this idea?

Chris

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #5 –
I left mine on any time I drove the coach even when not towing. About 16 years on the '81, 3 years on the Monaco and it always on, on the current coach. Haven't had a problem yet. I think it might have been about the old CRT tubes getting burned in, not a problem with current monitors.
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: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #6 –
I leave my back up camera on any time I'm driving the coach, five years and counting.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #7 –
The crt is still in my 97. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #8 –
I work in the audio video field.  Leaving the camera on is fine.  No problem.
Mark Duckworth
2003 U320 4220
Build 6199, Motorcade 17971

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #9 –
I use my rear camera all the time.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #10 –
I leave my backup camera on whenever we are moving. Not only do I monitor the towed with it, but use it to determine when I have completed a pass. That way I know when to safely reenter the lane.

Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #11 –
I would suspect the concern about leaving the backup camera on all the time came from the old CRT monitors, which did eventually suffer from burn-in.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #12 –
I would run the camera were we to tow. Remember the story about a Coach with a toad, think it was up in Montana, where the toad blew a tire and sparks from the rim set fire to the roadside forest. People would pull by and point and gesture, but they never got the signals until too late. National Forest folk were not happy and charged them for putting out the fires!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #13 –
Thanks for the replies! 

The "don't leave the camera on all the time" thing didn't make sense to me with today's technology.  I appreciate both the professional and collective experience.

BTW, we have tire pressure sensors on the towed linked to a monitoring device in the coach.

Chris

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #14 –
LOVE my gorgeous color back up camera, no it's not original, & frankly never really realized it was for actual backing up, (!!!) ....just love to see that toad back there....great peace of mind & always on....hardly ever think to use it backing up though, just mirrors (which I still have a hard time trusting for maneuvering into a spot!) + the old fashioned "get in and out of the coach & eyeball stuff" since I travel solo... 8)

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #15 –
Quote
Not only do I monitor the towed with it, but use it to determine when I have completed a pass

That's what we do too. I put two lines on the monitor, one at 3' for backing up to something like a pole or wall and one at the point at which the toad is beyond a car just passed.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #16 –
I always have my rear view monitor on. I want to know the toad is still there and I use it to help determine when I can pull back over the left lane.
2000, U320 36' with Cummins 450, Toad - 2016 Ford CMax Energi
Previous MHs; 1970 Winnebago, 1973 FMC 2900R, much later a heavily modified 1975 FMC 2900R.

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #17 –
Quote from: KenKetch –
I always have my rear view monitor on. I want to know the toad is still there and I use it to help determine when I can pull back over the left lane.

After I get the leveling system correct,the AquaHot to stop leaking diesel,figure out where I'm losing coolant, and why did it get hot on a small hill....and why does it seem that it hasn't the gitty-up it used to have..... then mebbe I can take a deep breath and address the rear camera ... If it ain't one thing it's three or four....but DW says she will trust this coach to go see a dark spot in the sky later this month. At least I have a gas oven for the biskits........
'02 40' U320t  4010WTFS Build 6036 1 slide
Motorcade # 17841
SKP 151920
Retired truck driver
 5 million miler
Still have itchy feet for travel

Re: Where's that towed in the mirror?

Reply #18 –
Quote from: saddlesore –
After I get the leveling system correct,the AquaHot to stop leaking diesel,figure out where I'm losing coolant, and why did it get hot on a small hill....and why does it seem that it hasn't the gitty-up it used to have..... then mebbe I can take a deep breath and address the rear camera ... If it ain't one thing it's three or four....but DW says she will trust this coach to go see a dark spot in the sky later this month. At least I have a gas oven for the biskits........
You should be able to make a profit on your reservations to pay for some of the problems.
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