What is this thing for on my towing mirror? Nobody knows.

[Chabaz]

Ok, when I extend my towing mirrors, there is a little cut out behind the driver's side mirror.
Anyone know what it's for?

Only thing I've come up with is a spot to stash your keys when I go to the beach or river and don't want to lose them or get them wet.

But that can't be the actual reason it's there.

What do you all think?
Better yet, anybody know the real reason for this thing?

 

[Chabaz]

Got it, nobody has any clue, and there really isn't anyone on this forum.

Good to know

 

[Black-Wolf]

Can you take a better picture of this - say from different distances?

 

[danielmid]

Are they aftermarket towing mirrors or OEM? I don't have that spot on my 2015 factory tow mirrors.

 

[18CrewDually]

No one knows because they're non OEM Chinese knockoff tow mirror. Also they show to fit 98-02 2500/3500 trucks. I don't see any details on the listing of what that pocket is for.

 

[zrock]

i do not have that as well.. Must have been a compartment or something to hide your keys or something in like you said. Probably never caught on since someone could just come up to the door and open it if you had keyless entry

 

[Chabaz]

OEM mirrors don't have that?
Hmm Ive not seen a 3rd gen truck with towing mirrors not have that pocket.

Here is a screenshot of the factory service manual for my truck, and it's shown in there, but not referenced in any way.

 

[Phillip Franklin]

It’s for the auxiliary led backup lighting is so equipped.

 

[RamDiver]

That's a pretty cool feature when included with the tow mirrors.
Check out the pics in this post.

Tow Mirror Lights Question

So I picked up my 2022 Laramie last night. One of the options I added to the build were the tow mirrors (power folding, btw - I was happy). However, I noticed last night that when the headlights are on, the signal lights on the mirrors also turn on as part of the headlight system. They still...

www.ramforum.com

.

 

[18CrewDually]

It’s for the auxiliary led backup lighting is so equipped.

In 2006? LEDs? I don't think so.

 

[tron67j]

OEM mirrors don't have that?
Hmm Ive not seen a 3rd gen truck with towing mirrors not have that pocket.

Here is a screenshot of the factory service manual for my truck, and it's shown in there, but not referenced in any way.

I had a 2003 2500 with the tow mirrors bought new and kept for 16 years. Can tell you my OEM mirrors that came in the truck did not have that cut out.

 

[06 Dodge]

OEM mirrors don't have that?
Hmm Ive not seen a 3rd gen truck with towing mirrors not have that pocket.

Here is a screenshot of the factory service manual for my truck, and it's shown in there, but not referenced in any way.

My 2006 HD 2500 4x4 CTD with tow package did not have that pocket/cut out

 

[Smokeybear01]

My 2005 1 ton w/tow package & Laramie trim does NOT have that cut out.

 

[jr27236]

Not one of my 3rd gens with OEM tow mirrors had that. I would have to say it's only a engineering design for rigidity and strength for the arm. Never looked inside my oem but maybe they have metal frame inside? These are all cheap Chinesium plastic and need that design or they'd buckle possibly LOL

 

[jr27236]

OEM mirrors don't have that?
Hmm Ive not seen a 3rd gen truck with towing mirrors not have that pocket.

Here is a screenshot of the factory service manual for my truck, and it's shown in there, but not referenced in any way.

What country are you in? I have NEVER seen those pockets on mine or any other truck 3rd/4th or 5th. They are cheap aftermarket mirrors. It's just a manufacturing build design. PS if you can't wait for a reply or help leave the forum and use Google. Your the one who failed to give the most important piece of information (that they are not OEM) also your service manual most likely is NOT a Mopar service manual I'm betting.

 

[Chabaz]

Well excuse the F out of me Jr.
I'm in the USA, and as far as towing mirrors go, on almost 20 year old trucks, I would be willing to wager that there are more aftermarket mirrors out there than there are OEM at this point, especially considering they span over 8' wide when deployed and are usually the first thing to go in an impromptu tight quarters situation. As far as my service manual, I didn't check it out from the service department at my local stealership, however I seriously doubt in any version of service manual (save for a Haynes, where they disassemble a vehicle and document it themselves) aftermarket non OEM, serves no function, pointless aesthetic design choices of ANY part would be incorporated into such a document, if they cared at all about being taken seriously that is. Ever seen a service manual with aftermarket door edge guards in it, or curb feelers? What country are you in where you think jumping down someone's throat and insulting them is acceptable behavior? This is a forum, by definition, a place to engage in discussion and share ideas and thoughts. Your lack of any relevant thought, or anything worth contributing has been noted. So go read up on YOUR factory service manual, and back up your **** instead of just blindly staring ****.
As far as it goes, only evidence of their existence has been shown and proven.
Could have shown a pic of a mirror without it to demonstrate your superior intellect and still oem selection of parts. But ya didn't.

And yeah, my factory service manual, factory parts manual, parts drawing at the dealership, ALL show the mystery pocket, only on one mirror. And it's not referenced anywhere. So..

 

[GTyankee]

2nd Generation
Passenger Side Tow Mirrors For 98-01 Dodge Ram 1500 98-02 2500/3500 Power Heated

Business seller information​

Wenzhou Jonger Trading Co., Ltd
长洪 陈
Room 2209 Building 2
Daziranjiayuan Tangjiaqiao Road
325000 WENZHOU
China
Email: [email protected]
Value Added Tax Number:

• DE 319806411

• Business seller information​

  Wenzhou Jonger Trading Co., Ltd
  长洪 陈
  Room 2209 Building 2
  Daziranjiayuan Tangjiaqiao Road
  325000 WENZHOU
  China
  Email: [email protected]
  Value Added Tax Number:
  • DE 319806411

 

[ramsare4real]

I think they cut those holes so as to keep payload unchanged to avoid a cracked frame like that dude on the other thread.

 

[gtomike60]

It's for weight reduction...because "Race Truck"

 

[nlambert182]

Well excuse the F out of me Jr.
I'm in the USA, and as far as towing mirrors go, on almost 20 year old trucks, I would be willing to wager that there are more aftermarket mirrors out there than there are OEM at this point, especially considering they span over 8' wide when deployed and are usually the first thing to go in an impromptu tight quarters situation. As far as my service manual, I didn't check it out from the service department at my local stealership, however I seriously doubt in any version of service manual (save for a Haynes, where they disassemble a vehicle and document it themselves) aftermarket non OEM, serves no function, pointless aesthetic design choices of ANY part would be incorporated into such a document, if they cared at all about being taken seriously that is. Ever seen a service manual with aftermarket door edge guards in it, or curb feelers? What country are you in where you think jumping down someone's throat and insulting them is acceptable behavior? This is a forum, by definition, a place to engage in discussion and share ideas and thoughts. Your lack of any relevant thought, or anything worth contributing has been noted. So go read up on YOUR factory service manual, and back up your **** instead of just blindly staring ****.
As far as it goes, only evidence of their existence has been shown and proven.
Could have shown a pic of a mirror without it to demonstrate your superior intellect and still oem selection of parts. But ya didn't.

And yeah, my factory service manual, factory parts manual, parts drawing at the dealership, ALL show the mystery pocket, only on one mirror. And it's not referenced anywhere. So..

Brother, you are not long for this forum with these types of responses.

YOU asked the question, and people who own the same trucks and mirrors are telling you that it is not there. Instead of being confrontational, be a little humble. We know these trucks, you don't.

I've had the opportunity to drive 3-4 of the trucks with these same mirrors and can also vouch 100% that I have never seen it one single time.

If you can show any of us proof from a dealership factory parts diagram, your FACTORY owners manual, or any source that uses a MOPAR factory part number to return the mirror that you have, I'll eat crow right now. That is an aftermarket mirror.

But since you asked, the only picture in the OEM PARTS CATALOG is the below and a quick Google search for an OEM mirror would have provided you this:



If you want to be a contributing member here have a little patience and humility. Otherwise, fly on past.

What I find odd... is that your "factory" manual references an 8.3L engine. That IS a C-series Cummins engine, but it was NEVER installed in a Ram 2500/3500 truck. They were installed in medium duty trucks like Kenworths, Fords, Peterbilts, Volvos, etc... and in a lot of off-road industrial equipment and motorhomes. This in itself is suspicious.