Tow mirrors needed?

[twodogs603]

I just ordered a 8.5 x 14 cargo trailer. It just dawned on me that my current mirrors may not be sufficient. I have a 2014 Express Quad cab. Can anyone advise if my stock mirrors will give me the visibility I need around the trailer or will I need to get a set of tow mirrors?

 

[Jimmy68]

Measure with a tape. But most likely you need them.

 

[PippinAin'tEasy]

At 8.5' wide I would dare say you want to start shopping for some. If you don't tow far and/or often there are plenty of options out there that won't break the bank.

"Oh, sweet debt. Thy name is Truck."

 

[14hemiexpress]

The only thing you have going for you is that the trailer is only 14ft long. I would be on the look for some tow mirrors but it might not be to bad.

 

[Searay245se]

Better to have and not need then to need and not have.

 

[txcobowhunter]

Are the wheel wells of your trailer external, or internal. If they are external, your box will only be around 7' wide which might be okay with the standard mirrors. This is the first truck I have ever had tow mirrors on. I've pulled lots of smaller box trailers with my old truck and I never had any problems seeing around them. Like said above, if you can find some great they are nice to have. I wouldn't rush out and pay a bunch for them until you can pull the trailer a little ways to see if they are a must have. .02

 

[drittal]

My father for years made due with aftermarket tow mirrors that attached to his regular mirrors. For some unknown reason his 98 3500 DRW only had regular mirrors. He towed a triple axle Alpha Gold like that.

 

[Jerry1984]

I'd personally wait and see if you need them. I don't always fold mine out when towing my 22 foot travel trailer. Depends if I'm double towing or not.

 

[bcbouy]

you can get aftermarket strap on tow mirrors,but they vibrate like hell at highway speeds but they are really reasonably priced.had them on my last truck and they lasted several years.

 

[dhay13]

i had a 14x7 i pulled with my 2007 Ram. regular mirrors were doable but i could only see along the side of the trailer but couldn't really see the back corner so it had a severe blind spot behind me. if a car was within about 2 car lengths or so i couldn't see it. i put tow mirrors on and it was quite a difference. with yours being 8' i would think you will definitely need them

 

[audio1der]

I used clip-on tow mirrors for 2 years. They were quality, but they still shook and just didn't give the extended view of the side of the trailer/tires I was looking for. A member here posted about a set of stick-on convex mirrors like the ones pictured. They tilt separate from your stock mirror. They give me a better, more stable view than the clip-ons.
When I'm not towing, I tilt them down and they make great blind-spot mirrors.
$5 at Wal-Mart.

 

[twodogs603]

Thanks all. I'm thinking I better bite the bullet and get them. If I was picking up the trailer locally I could try it first without them, but I have to go down to Georgia to pick up the trailer and tow it back to Virginia. So I'm thinking better safe then sorry. Looks like about $350 for a pair of OEM tow mirrors.

 

[DannyMK2]

i towed a 7.5'x14' dump trailer with standard mirrors. no issues being able to see or backing up. i cant see an extra foot making it that much harder. the convex mirror on the tow mirrors make the biggest difference , imo. ive flipped out the tow mirrors on my dually once. i dont have any trailers long enough where i would need to. i would slap a stick on convex mirror before i dropped $350 on tow mirrors, but thats just me.

 

[dhay13]

i have the convex stick ons on my current truck and it makes it hard to see the rest of the mirror. i would try taping about a 2" circle to your mirrors to see how much of your regular mirror is blocked. i may take mine off cause of that issue. the convex are nice for trailering but for me they are harder to use for everyday driving and take up too much space on my stock mirrors

 

[Ramit355]

The Tow mirrors that come on the Rams with tow package are excellent!! just fold out and go complete with blind spot. You can get them for under 300.00 if you look around for them. I bought them to replace ram folds I had on a Ram back in 2002 on a Ram they were 200.00 at the time new from Ram.

 

[twodogs603]

The Tow mirrors that come on the Rams with tow package are excellent!! just fold out and go complete with blind spot. You can get them for under 300.00 if you look around for them. I bought them to replace ram folds I had on a Ram back in 2002 on a Ram they were 200.00 at the time new from Ram.

Do the tow mirrors have manual fold or are they fixed? I'm referring to folding them in so they don't get smacked, not folding into the tow position.

 

[Sportznut]

My 2014 tow mirrors can be folded inward manually.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Ramit355]

Do the tow mirrors have manual fold or are they fixed? I'm referring to folding them in so they don't get smacked, not folding into the tow position.

The Tow mirrors fold in and out manually. They are excellent! They do not "power Fold" in and out close to the truck for car wash or drive threw etc. But they do have electric adjust for view of standard mirrors.

 

[cptwing]

The Tow mirrors fold in and out manually. They are excellent! They do not "power Fold" in and out close to the truck for car wash or drive threw etc. But they do have electric adjust for view of standard mirrors.

Mine do not power-fold but I am fairly certain you can get them in power fold as well. Apparently if your truck did not come with power fold it can be difficult to add them and have them fully OEM operational. A few members on here have added their own aftermarket switches so they could upgrade to OEM power fold side mirrors. 1A auto also offers power fold aftermarket tow mirrors that look just like OEM and come with a kit for wiring up the power fold.

If you do not currently have puddle lights and turn signal indicators, and change your mirrors out to tow mirrors that have these getting those to work can be a PITA as well.

1A auto is a preferred vendor on here and Tony can answer many if not all of your questions.
Search Results for mirrors - 1A Auto

*** I just wish he would carry powerfold tow mirrors with blind spot cameras built in, maybe someday?***
GL

 

[Ramit355]

Mine do not power-fold but I am fairly certain you can get them in power fold as well. Apparently if your truck did not come with power fold it can be difficult to add them and have them fully OEM operational. A few members on here have added their own aftermarket switches so they could upgrade to OEM power fold side mirrors. 1A auto also offers power fold aftermarket tow mirrors that look just like OEM and come with a kit for wiring up the power fold.

If you do not currently have puddle lights and turn signal indicators, and change your mirrors out to tow mirrors that have these getting those to work can be a PITA as well.

1A auto is a preferred vendor on here and Tony can answer many if not all of your questions.
Search Results for mirrors - 1A Auto

*** I just wish he would carry powerfold tow mirrors with blind spot cameras built in, maybe someday?***
GL

Cpt. you make an excellent point about the wiring if you do not use the Ram tow mirrors. The Tow Mirrors do have puddle lights and all power adjust except for the "Blindspot mirror section" the Tow mirrors all wire right up using the factory current wiring from the 2012 to the 2015 on the Ram 1500 and 2500 Trucks that have Power adjust mirrors . The power folds is what Ram calls the NON TOW mirrors because the Tow Mirrors do not power fold Vertically/Horizontally you must do that manually. Horizontal position is for normal use. Vertical position tow mode extended out from the Truck. You must also manually fold the mirrors in/out for "stowing them Close to the truck. keep in mind some Trim levels do not have Power folds at all depending on the trim level of truck.The Tow mirrors are great!!! Never had an issue with in last 4 trucks for the 1500 and 2500 Rams. Hope that helps as confusing as it is. LOL. the 12 thru 15 models regardless of trim do not have "Powerfold Tow mirrors" were not available due to the vertical/ horizontal positioning of the Tow mirrors. I would have ordered if available. The 2016 may be available I have not checked it.