Spotlight on… Towing mirrors

Sammy Faircloth offers some useful tips for choosing and fitting the right towing mirrors for your outift

CAR DESIGNS DEVELOP on a yearly basis and this means that towing mirrors have to keep up with the changes. So what should you consider when purchasing a new pair of towing mirrors?

Know the law

The law covering mirrors for drivers towing a caravan is complicated. The Department for Transport states: ‘You must have an adequate view of the road behind you.’ It goes on to say that if your caravan is wider than the rear of the tow car, towing mirrors must be fitted. Most caravans are wider than the tow vehicle and 8ft-wide (2.45m) tourers have become more popular of late. As a rule, it is a requirement that anyone towing a caravan must be able to see 4m on either side of it at a distance of 20m behind the driver. Also, Regulation 33(4) (c) states that mirrors should not project more than 20cm beyond the overall width of the van. All of these regulations are put in place to reduce the risk of accidents, so why would anyone take the risk? And did you know? You could be fined up to £1000 and get three penalty points for towing without proper towing mirrors.

EU directives

Before buying towing mirrors, check they comply with current EU directives. Since January

The law covering mirrors for drivers towing a caravan is complicated, but basically, you need an adequate view of the road behind you

2010, the law has changed and it now states that all towing mirrors must display the ‘e-mark’, indicating that they comply with European Directive 2003/97 or 2005/27. The key information that you will need to decipher, which can usually be found on the casing of the towing mirror, is as follows: n A lower case ‘e’, which shows that the mirror meets European standards, or a capital ‘E’, which indicates compliance with international standards UNECE 46.01 or 46.02. n The number following the ‘e’ identifies where the mirror was tested; in this case, the number 11 represents the UK. n The approval number should be 03, representing compliance with the 2010 regulations.

Styles and fitting

Clamp mirrors Probably the most popular choice of towing mirror is the clamp-style, because they offer superb stability and are very easy to attach. When fitting a clamp-style mirror for the first time, it is advisable to fit the clamps first, in order to maximise the distance to suit the particular make of car (1). The more spread out the clamps, the less vibration there will be while in transit. Once they are securely in place, attach the arm of the mirror and tighten the screws (2). Milenco offers two lengths of arm, depending on the size of tow car and width of caravan. The longer is recommended for towing an 8ft-wide van.

The mirrors can be clamped onto the bottom of the car mirror, or the top – there is no right or wrong (3). Once the clamps are on the arm, they can remain in place on the arm, ready for the next outing. There are various styles of mirrors, from teardrop, such as the Milenco Aero 3 (4), to large ones like the Milenco Grand Aero, which offers a superb view of the top and bottom of the caravan (5). Strap mirrors (6) are still a popular choice with some caravanners, and are also quick and easy to fit. First, adjust the mirror arms to fit the vehicle mirror housing (7). Adjust the straps to fit securely around the housing (8). Then simply clasp the strap clip onto the hook (9). Suction mirrors Designed to suction to the car mirror, these can be adjusted using the car’s own electrically powered mirror. They do block out visibility on the vehicle’s mirror and are not as steady as some of the more conventional brands. Personally, I would be a little concerned they might fall off. Electric mirrors Reich offers this rather clever clip-on mirror (10), which can be adjusted from inside the vehicle, using an infrared remote control. This is ideal for the solo traveller. The downside is that this mirror is sold singly, not in pairs, and is quite costly at about £200. Towing mirrors must remain steady when you are driving

Adjusting your mirrors is so much easier when you employ the assistance of a travelling companion

along and any mirror that is fitted on the driver’s side must be capable of being adjusted by the driver while sitting in the driving seat. Ask travelling companions to double-check that the towing mirrors are secure. The last thing you want is to lose one of your mirrors on the journey. Adjusting mirrors is much easier when employing the assistance of a second person, particularly the nearside mirror (the passenger side mirror on British right-hand-drive cars) – the driver can take up their driving position, while the other person helps to move the mirrors into place (11). I often enlist the help of one of my children to stand by the rear of the caravan, acting as an extra visual aid (12). Convex or flat? Convex mirrors provide a wideangle image. Unfortunately, they can also distort the view by making following vehicles look much closer than the reflected image suggests. For that reason, it is often recommended that an offside extension mirror is better fitted with flat glass instead. Flat mirrors offer a smaller field of view than your car mirrors, but have proven to be popular in the UK (13). Final thoughts Towing mirrors are a necessary piece of equipment, so stay within the law and invest in something to suit your needs. If you are not sure what to go for, visit a national show to see what is on the market (14). PC

ABOVE Look for the e-mark, which indicates compliance with the European standard, on the tow mirror casing RIGHT Evolving car designs might necessitate new towing mirrors

1 Fit the clamps first, to establish the maximum separation on the car mirror for stability 2 Insert the arm of the mirror in the clamps and screw in place 3 Clamp mirrors can be positioned on the top or bottom of the tow car mirrors 4 Milenco Aero 3 mirrors offer improved airflow around the car, for stability at speed 5 The Milenco Grand Aero provides superb views of the top and bottom of the caravan 6 These MGI Steady XL strap mirrors are quick and easy to fit 7 Adjust the extension arms to fit the vehicle mirror housing 8 Adjust the straps to fit securely around the housing 9 Finally, fit the strap clip onto the hook to fix the mirror in place

10 Reich electric mirrors can be operated from the driver’s seat, using a remote control, but they do come at a price 11 Ask for assistance from someone when you adjust the mirrors, particularly the nearside one. It is so much easier with two 12 Children can come in handy when lining up mirrors 13 The top mirror is convex and the bottom is flat 14 Visit national shows to see what’s available