Reflections on towing mirrors
Chris Hogan, 21st September 2015, Caravan
Towing mirrors would be essential for caravanners even if they weren't a legal requirement. We take a look at the ins and outs of the regulations and the different types of towing mirrors.
Image shows Milenco's Aero 3 - just launched and reaching shops now
We're expecting all but the newest caravanners to know that towing mirrors are a legal requirement, and we'd really expect even new recruits to know, as they should have been made aware by the dealer. But a short, unscientific poll on the roads by the Insure My World offices (we're on the edge of the Cotswolds, so we see quite a few caravans) showed a surprising number of drivers without them.
It seemed to be outfits towed by large 4x4's that were the main culprits - there were very few saloon or hatchback owners without towing mirrors. Drivers seem to think that if they can see the sides of their caravan then they don't need mirrors.
In the light of this we thought it would be worthwhile going over the legalities.
Legal requirements
The law regarding towing mirrors changed in 2010. You still have to be able to see 20 metres behind and four metres either side of your caravan, that's not changed, but cars registered in 2010 or later must have markings to conform they comply with EEC regulation 2003/97 or the UNECE Regulation 46.02 (outside the EU). Cars registered before 2010 can use mirrors that conform to 46.01 and you'll also see 46.03 and 46.04, which are updates largely to cater for video cameras - more on that later.
It would seem that many 4x4 drivers think their vehicles are wide enough anyway. But if you consider the average caravan has a width of 2.3m and a Discovery, for example, is 10cms less than that from mirror-tip to mirror-tip, it would be physically impossible to comply without extensions.
Are they worth the money?
The price of a correctly made and fitted pair of towing mirrors is very cost effective. If you are stopped by the police (and it does happen) you can gain three points and be fined up to £1000 for any of the following:
- Not having towing mirrors fitted at all
- Having mirrors that are too small or not far out enough
- Having mirrors that don't have the right E-mark
We have to say we'd be very surprised if any UK traffic police will be aware enough to pick up on that last one but that's not to say you should try and get away with it!
Different fittings
Car manufacturers haven't exactly made it easier to choose and fit towing mirrors in recent years. Mirrors used to be round or rectangular but now they're all sorts of shapes and the covers are much larger, providing room for positioning motors, heater elements and often indicators too.
This all makes it harder for accessory manufacturers to make universal towing extensions that will fit securely with minimum vibration. If you can find mirrors that are specifically made for your make and model of car, those are likely to provide the best fit and clarity of vision, but they will be more expensive than universal ones.
Universal extensions generally have one of three fitting types - straps that go around the mirror, suction caps that secure to the glass, or top-mounted clamps.
- Straps - these are most likely to fit a wider variety of cars and you can probably re-use them if you change cars. But they are ungainly and obscure a fair bit of the ordinary mirror. they're also time-consuming to fit and many users report a lot of vibration.
- Clamps - these grip the top of the mirror cover and support a rod that holds the second mirror. They will fit all mirrors except those with an extreme curve on the top edge. On most of them you can slide the rod in and out so they'll suit a range of car and caravan widths.
A good tip to reduce vibration is to have the two mounts set as far apart as possible. If the top of the mirror is too curved for this, you can trying swapping left and right over and mounting them on the bottom of the mirror instead.
- Suction - similar to satnav mounts these attach to the standard mirror glass although that means the standard mirror becomes virtually useless. They get very good reviews for low vibration (which means a clearer view) and being quick to fit or remove, although you must make sure they are attached properly to avoid them coming off at high speed.
Convex or flat?
Most mirror types come with either flat or convex glass, the latter giving a wider view at the expense of some distortion – this can seem a bit odd until you get used to it. There doesn't seem to be any real advantage either way, it's purely a personal preference.
A final tip on mirrors
A new problem has been added to the towing mirror world - powerfold mirrors. If you got mirrors that fold electrically but are switch-operated then you're ok as long as you remember not to fold them
But increasingly cars are being designed to fold the mirrors automatically when you park. Unless you can disable that function, you'll have to find extensions that won't break or scratch your paintwork when they fold in or remember to remove them before they start folding!
What about cameras?
This article has all been about mirrors but we're going to finish by mentioning video cameras, which have become more accessible in the last few years. Prices have been coming down recently and most medium to high priced camera systems have an option to link to another camera at the back.
The link can be by wire or radio and although wire will give a better quality image under a wider range of conditions, a wireless link will be much more practical for caravans. We'd suggest getting the most expensive system you can afford and pay close attention to the power output and distance claims of each model before purchasing.
BUT! Cameras aren't enough on their own
We could find no rearward camera system that conforms to UNECE Regulation 46.03 or 46.04. These later regulations define the capabilities of "devices for indirect vision" so that they apply to both mirrors and cameras and the reality is that we know of no system currently available that will pass those regulations, particularly at low light levels.
So if you are using a video camera on it's own to rely on rearward vision when towing a caravan then you're breaking the law, unless you are certain that the caravan is small enough not to interfere with rearward vision.
That doesn't mean you can't use a camera, but it's likely that you'll have to fit extension mirrors as well - on its own it's unlikely to be legal.
What's your experience been?
If you already have a rear view camera system you use with your caravan do please let us know how you've got on with it – particularly the quality if you've gone with a wireless system. How easy are they to use and what quality do you get?
Do please let us know if you have any stories, good or bad, relating to towing mirrors, which you can share for other caravanners to learn from. Just reply to the newsletter email to let us know - thank you!
