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What are you guys towing?

Grumpaw

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Granted you can see everything up to the rear bumper of your trailer. Not along side if your trailer! If your mirrors do not extend out wide enough to be able to see the side of your trailer all the way to the rear bumper, you have a huge blind spot along side of your trailer that a motorcycle or small car could easily hide in. I assume your 28 foot trailer is at least 8 foot wide, the OEM mirrors are not wide enough to see past the front corner of that.
Agree !!!! With a camera, as good as it might be, once whatever vehicle pulls past the rear of the rig, it's out of view of the camera.
I can vouch for having small cars and cycles pull up besides me and without mirrors----good mirrors, wouldn't have seen them....especially on a 3 lane when I'm in the far right, and some small vehicle darts over from the far left. Good mirrors are a must have.
Camera has its place, but not something I would totally depend on.
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Stevedbvik1

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Granted you can see everything up to the rear bumper of your trailer. Not along side if your trailer! If your mirrors do not extend out wide enough to be able to see the side of your trailer all the way to the rear bumper, you have a huge blind spot along side of your trailer that a motorcycle or small car could easily hide in. I assume your 28 foot trailer is at least 8 foot wide, the OEM mirrors are not wide enough to see past the front corner of that.
First, If you feel you need mirrors then definitely get them. Second, I spent a lot of time checking my setup to see just exactly where my blind spots were. By taking it to a parking lot with our Escape and positioning it in different positions to see what I wasn’t “seeing “. I can see the Escape in my mirror before it clears the monitor. My blind spot is a wedge that runs from the front corner of the trailer to about 18” off the back corner of the trailer. So you are correct that I cannot see the side of the trailer or anything within that tiny wedge. Otherwise everything is either in my mirror, monitor or both. I feel safe with it and have been for three years now. If I didn’t then I would have towing mirrors. Obviously not for everybody but it works for me. I’m sorry to come across this way but it really grinds me when someone tells me what I can’t see with this setup, especially if they’ve never used it. Trailers in storage till the next trip but if I get time I’ll get some pictures from the drivers seat perspective to illustrate.
 

Grumpaw

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First, If you feel you need mirrors then definitely get them. Second, I spent a lot of time checking my setup to see just exactly where my blind spots were. By taking it to a parking lot with our Escape and positioning it in different positions to see what I wasn’t “seeing “. I can see the Escape in my mirror before it clears the monitor. My blind spot is a wedge that runs from the front corner of the trailer to about 18” off the back corner of the trailer. So you are correct that I cannot see the side of the trailer or anything within that tiny wedge. Otherwise everything is either in my mirror, monitor or both. I feel safe with it and have been for three years now. If I didn’t then I would have towing mirrors. Obviously not for everybody but it works for me. I’m sorry to come across this way but it really grinds me when someone tells me what I can’t see with this setup, especially if they’ve never used it. Trailers in storage till the next trip but if I get time I’ll get some pictures from the drivers seat perspective to illustrate.
Did not mean to downplay the camera or indicate what you can/cannot see.
I've had/used both, including a rearview and side camera's on a class a, along with rear view mirrors.
For me, I am just more comfortable with a good pair of mirrors, which I consider the Clearview's to be.
We all must use what we're comfortable with as we not only have to look out for our own rigs, but have to be considerate of solo vehicles. I am a "pay total attention" type of driver, and just find it easier to very frequently check right and left mirrors for anything that may be approaching from either side.
 

Stevedbvik1

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Did not mean to downplay the camera or indicate what you can/cannot see.
I've had/used both, including a rearview and side camera's on a class a, along with rear view mirrors.
For me, I am just more comfortable with a good pair of mirrors, which I consider the Clearview's to be.
We all must use what we're comfortable with as we not only have to look out for our own rigs, but have to be considerate of solo vehicles. I am a "pay total attention" type of driver, and just find it easier to very frequently check right and left mirrors for anything that may be approaching from either side.
No worries. I was responding to the “that a motorcycle or small car could easily hide in.” that I couldn’t see comment. I also drive slow and my head on a swivel.
 

fjwlobo

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I plan to get a three camera setup (rear and both front corners) for the trailer I want to get (Grand Design 16ML). I have the Clearview mirrors and with the cameras, should give me full coverage (I hope ?). I won't have someone to help guide me if I need to back up and I don't want to have any issues with visibility if I can help it.

Not the biggest trailer, but it should be big enough for me and my three shaggy lowriders (aka longhaired dachshunds). ?
 


bbeverag

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I didn't take a pic but I towed a trailer for the first time this past weekend. A 5x8 UHaul with around 1000lbs of furniture loaded into it, 240 mile round trip. I had no issues at all, and the only noteworthy mention is it seemed to take the truck a lot longer to apply more throttle when I was going uphill -- i.e. I would lose about 5mph before the downshift and reacceleration. Other than that I barely noticed it was behind me -- though it was under 2000 lbs. In a month or two I will be doing the same trip with a 6x12 dual axle UHaul with a fully loaded weight of 3000 lbs. I used this hitch which was recommended in another thread in the Tremor forum, it was more than I wanted to spend on a hitch but it was the perfect height.
 

Stevedbvik1

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I didn't take a pic but I towed a trailer for the first time this past weekend. A 5x8 UHaul with around 1000lbs of furniture loaded into it, 240 mile round trip. I had no issues at all, and the only noteworthy mention is it seemed to take the truck a lot longer to apply more throttle when I was going uphill -- i.e. I would lose about 5mph before the downshift and reacceleration. Other than that I barely noticed it was behind me -- though it was under 2000 lbs. In a month or two I will be doing the same trip with a 6x12 dual axle UHaul with a fully loaded weight of 3000 lbs. I used this hitch which was recommended in another thread in the Tremor forum, it was more than I wanted to spend on a hitch but it was the perfect height.
Were you using tow-haul mode?
 

bbeverag

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Were you using tow-haul mode?
I was, but at 70mph 10th gear is 10th gear. I understand the idea is it will hold a gear longer and possibly downshift at a higher RPM than normal but it still takes the computer some amount of time to decide to shift.
 

Grumpaw

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I was, but at 70mph 10th gear is 10th gear. I understand the idea is it will hold a gear longer and possibly downshift at a higher RPM than normal but it still takes the computer some amount of time to decide to shift.
In tow/haul mode, going upitty up, simply manually downshift to a lower gear, 5-6...your Ranger will get up n go.
 
 








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