Tow mirrors? Your opinion?

[Podcast]

Maybe a bit of a rant. I've found the "upgrade" for tow mirrors is not at all an upgrade. Yes, there are benefits when towing, kind of but the options canceled are not worth it. Now that the new standard mirrors have the blind spot mirror and blind spot monitoring with trailer support the tow mirror option is even less desirable. No power fold is a massive down grade especially since the mirrors protrude much farther than standard mirrors. For those of you purchasing new or used be aware that this option also cancels the 360 camera view which really sucks.

If your pulling a trailer everyday, probably a good option, beyond that it's not worth loosing all the other benefits.

Your thoughts and experiences with this is more than welcome.

 

[crash68]

If the trailer you tow is 8.5' wide, having towing mirrors is almost a must to see down the sides of the trailer effectively. You don't want to rely on trailer blind spot monitoring, that's just asking to hit something with the trailer.

 

[JoeCo]

Maybe a bit of a rant. I've found the "upgrade" for tow mirrors is not at all an upgrade. Yes, there are benefits when towing, kind of but the options canceled are not worth it. Now that the new standard mirrors have the blind spot mirror and blind spot monitoring with trailer support the tow mirror option is even less desirable. No power fold is a massive down grade especially since the mirrors protrude much farther than standard mirrors. For those of you purchasing new or used be aware that this option also cancels the 360 camera view which really sucks.

If your pulling a trailer everyday, probably a good option, beyond that it's not worth loosing all the other benefits.

Your thoughts and experiences with this is more than welcome.

If the trailer you tow is 8.5' wide, having towing mirrors is almost a must to see down the sides of the trailer effectively. You don't want to rely on trailer blind spot monitoring, that's just asking to hit something with the trailer.

And as of 2021 you don't lose those features with tow mirrors anymore. Got to do your homework before buying, the complaints you listed have been discussed many times over on these forums since the 5th gens came out almost 4 years ago. I'm not sure why it took until 2021 (on the 1500s at least, 2500/3500 tow mirrors got those features earlier) to have the tow mirrors WITH power fold/360 etc, but they have them now.

Personally, I've had the tow mirrors on 3/4 of my rams including my 21, and love them. Had the regular power folds on my 2013 and they were alright but I much prefer the tow mirrors, and I don't even tow.

 

[Podcast]

And as of 2021 you don't lose those features with tow mirrors anymore. Got to do your homework before buying, the complaints you listed have been discussed many times over on these forums since the 5th gens came out almost 4 years ago. I'm not sure why it took until 2021 (on the 1500s at least, 2500/3500 tow mirrors got those features earlier) to have the tow mirrors WITH power fold/360 etc, but they have them now.

Personally, I've had the tow mirrors on 3/4 of my rams including my 21, and love them. Had the regular power folds on my 2013 and they were alright but I much prefer the tow mirrors, and I don't even tow.

Ture enough. It's just crappy that it's considered an upgrade as it deletes these features and the original build sheet does not credit those items back to the buyer. The 360 camera system for example is a $2k setup, customers were not credited this on their builds.

 

[JoeCo]

Ture enough. It's just crappy that it's considered an upgrade as it deletes these features and the original build sheet does not credit those items back to the buyer. The 360 camera system for example is a $2k setup, customers were not credited this on their builds.

I hear ya, fully agree. I recall seeing the people who were buying them brand new back in 2018 and buying fully loaded longhorns or limiteds and finding out when they received them that the tow mirrors took those features away. I'm sure that doesn't really change anything with how you feel, but you certainly aren't alone. I really didn't understand Ram not making it happen considering the HDs had the capability with the same mirrors.

This also won't make you feel better, but ordering the last year or so has been a crapshoot for getting certain options as well. Like on Laramies during the 2021 model year and I believe part of the 2022, they removed Level 1/2 and replaced it with a/b. This took away several options many people wanted with level 1, like BSM and some other tech items that would be difficult/costly to add after the fact. And for removing a lot of desired options, ram credited $200. That was more due to parts shortages, but still left a lot of people surprised and unhappy once their vehicle arrived.

Looks like you have a Laramie, do you have the Level 1 option group? If so, then you did lose out with the tow mirrors. If not then I believe you wouldn't have gotten those functions anyway, but I may be wrong about that with all of the confusion the last few years with all of this.

 

[Podcast]

I hear ya, fully agree. I recall seeing the people who were buying them brand new back in 2018 and buying fully loaded longhorns or limiteds and finding out when they received them that the tow mirrors took those features away. I'm sure that doesn't really change anything with how you feel, but you certainly aren't alone. I really didn't understand Ram not making it happen considering the HDs had the capability with the same mirrors.

This also won't make you feel better, but ordering the last year or so has been a crapshoot for getting certain options as well. Like on Laramies during the 2021 model year and I believe part of the 2022, they removed Level 1/2 and replaced it with a/b. This took away several options many people wanted with level 1, like BSM and some other tech items that would be difficult/costly to add after the fact. And for removing a lot of desired options, ram credited $200. That was more due to parts shortages, but still left a lot of people surprised and unhappy once their vehicle arrived.

Looks like you have a Laramie, do you have the Level 1 option group? If so, then you did lose out with the tow mirrors. If not then I believe you wouldn't have gotten those functions anyway, but I may be wrong about that with all of the confusion the last few years with all of this.

I had a laramie level 1 with standard mirrors. I now have a Level 2. Another thing that is lost is the auto dimming mirror function which really sucks. I am aware that now when ordering new the Laramie level 1 will not come with BSM.

I would be curious to know if it is possible to add the power fold functioning tow mirrors and program them to my truck.

 

[JoeCo]

I had a laramie level 1 with standard mirrors. I now have a Level 2. Another thing that is lost is the auto dimming mirror function which really sucks. I am aware that now when ordering new the Laramie level 1 will not come with BSM.

I would be curious to know if it is possible to add the power fold functioning tow mirrors and program them to my truck.

Gotcha, well at least having level 2 on this one would have excluded those features anyway (I'm pretty certain, as level 2 in longhorn/limited don't come with those features either, only level 1) so you didn't lose out necessarily in you're particular situation by getting the tow mirrors since the standard mirrors wouldn't have had 360 or bsm with level 2. Someone correct me if I'm incorrect on that though.

As for adding them, yes I'm pretty sure that's possible. I think I've even seen kits available but might be kind of pricey, otherwise I'm sure swaps like that have happened and have been posted on one of the forums. I'm sure buying the parts and doing it on your own would require use of alfa obd or something similar to program/activate things like the 360, but that could possibly also be required with a kit.

 

[Podcast]

Gotcha, well at least having level 2 on this one would have excluded those features anyway (I'm pretty certain, as level 2 in longhorn/limited don't come with those features either, only level 1) so you didn't lose out necessarily in you're particular situation by getting the tow mirrors since the standard mirrors wouldn't have had 360 or bsm with level 2. Someone correct me if I'm incorrect on that though.

As for adding them, yes I'm pretty sure that's possible. I think I've even seen kits available but might be kind of pricey, otherwise I'm sure swaps like that have happened and have been posted on one of the forums. I'm sure buying the parts and doing it on your own would require use of alfa obd or something similar to program/activate things like the 360, but that could possibly also be required with a kit.

I can say that the tow mirrors deleted the camera on mine for sure. It states that on the original sticker.

 

[JoeCo]

I can say that the tow mirrors deleted the camera on mine for sure. It states that on the original sticker.

With level 2? That's odd, but maybe I'm confusing levels or it was just different for laramies. I looked at a few window stickers for 2019/2020 laramies with tow mirrors and didn't see any mention of deleting those features mentioned next to them, with level 1 or 2. I certainly believe you, as I remember seeing those on longhorn and limited window stickers for the 2019/2020 model years with tow mirrors and for what I remember, level 1.

 

[Podcast]

With level 2? That's odd, but maybe I'm confusing levels or it was just different for laramies. I looked at a few window stickers for 2019/2020 laramies with tow mirrors and didn't see any mention of deleting those features mentioned next to them, with level 1 or 2. I certainly believe you, as I remember seeing those on longhorn and limited window stickers for the 2019/2020 model years with tow mirrors and for what I remember, level 1.

Ya, on my sticker it came with the 360 surround under the advanced safety group but was deleted with the addition of the tow mirrors.

 

[JoeCo]

Ya, on my sticker it came with the 360 surround under the advanced safety group but was deleted with the addition of the tow mirrors.

Interesting, what year is it?

 

[Podcast]

Interesting, what year is it?

2019

 

[runamuck]

I tow with my laramie so I got the tow mirrors. I dont think they look as good on the truck as the GM ones do and I dont like the split screen. I would be happier with one large screen. they work fine tho and when flipped up, I can see better down the side of the travel trailer we pull but I dont always flip em up. even when not flipped up the truck barely fits thru the 9' door on my garage. I have maybe 2" on each side at most so have to be careful pulling in and out. the BSM is a great feature to have when towing. too bad some folks are not able to get that on new models.

 

[Jmiller569]

Any decent after market power mirrors with camera?

 

[BWL]

I just find I can see better with the tow mirrors and don't care about blind spot assist or 360 cameras, but I've been driving a pickup as my combined primary vehicle and work truck for decades without running into anybody. Just prefer less tech. Also, like them better with a trailer though I'd never run the Moose antlers while I wasn't towing. I'd also ditch the touch screen for buttons and knobs in a heartbeat. Nothing more annoying to me than having to take my eyes off the road to operate the controls that I used to be able to run by feel and I prefer a darker cabin driving at night. I seem to be a dying breed though.

 

[GTyankee]

Install the 9" Digital Rear Mirror inside the cab
along the bottom it has controls to manipulate a digital camera that you can place anywhere, in the 3rd brake light, on the roof, single or both sides or interior of a trailer

The best price for those digital cameras is by buying one for a Hyundai, it has the same part number as one from a Ram, Jaguar, or Bentley

The cable looks very similar to a tv cable


This is a RAM 3rd Brake light has 2 cameras, one is the Cargo Camera, the 2nd is a Digital Camera, it can be controlled from the Digital Mirror

You can also use that same camera type anywhere on the Ram or on the towed vehicle

2021 2022 DODGE RAM 1500 DT HIGH MOUNTED STOP 3RD BRAKE W/ CAMERA OEM

2021 2022 DODGE RAM 1500 DT HIGH MOUNTED STOP 3RD BRAKE W/ CAMERA OEM | eBay

2021 2022 DODGE RAM 1500 DT HIGH MOUNTED STOP 3RD BRAKE W/ CAMERA OEM.

www.ebay.com

things that i have been trying to research

Optional Camera System
9" Digital Rear Mirror
Wired Prep Camera Option