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Topic: Driver Mirror Position (Read 1899 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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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? :))

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.

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.

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.