I use my tow mirrors all the time when towing. Keep in mind, my 5er is 38' long so its nice to be able to see around it. I'm actually surprised that the HD trucks don't come with tow mirrors as standard equipment.
R.K.
R.K.
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Towing mirrors or not???
I tow my boat a lot and I have the normal mirrors. I'd like to maybe do the towing mirrors that extend out but I'm kind of wondering if they're really that worth it. Do you see a tire go flat or you can see the side of the tire better or it's just for backing up? I don't really feel like I need any more visibility for backing up. If I wanted more visibility backing up but I just add a camera on the guide-ons. The biggest issue I'm worried about is a flat tire and I'm wondering if you can easily see the tires to see if one is flat or the rubber has wobble. but I think I can mitigate that with a tire pressure system that would alert me a tire is flat. Although I'm not sure how waterproof the outside tire sensors are.
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So can you see the tires well? I just worry about loosing both tires on a side and having an accident. I want to be able to see a flat easily though in my mirrors. Is it possible to see your rear tire on your trailer?
My boat is pretty wide. I think it is 84" or so, maybe 86 - it's over the wheel well. The trailer is 30 ft long.
Here is the long story why I worry about blown tires - after loosing 6 tires in the past few years:
I replaced all my old tires after a couple blew. I felt the vibration on one tire blow out that lead to the second axel tire blowing d/t weight and an old cracked tire. Another tire blew a year later and I didn't feel the vibration and someone honked and let me know it was flat so I changed the that one and the last old tire. Then a really good friend needed my trailer for a boat he bought that was just like mine but a few ft longer. We think the boat he got was water logged bc the trailer was rated above the soecs we found on NADA plus engine weight, then rounded up the the nearest 1000lbs - well that's what we think bc the bearings broke, yeah crazy hu... then two tires blew and one blew on the other side. He redid all my bearings, but I felt bad telling him my tires were all new at that point. He works at an auction and has helped me out a lot w purchases besides paying his staff to redo my hubs and bearings he replaced my tires w old tires they had around. I felt bad for him, it was a crazy experience, even the police thought he still my trailer. Anyway, I have now gone through those 3 used tires he put on, but I put over 1000 miles on the trailer this summer. I feel like I personally have been lucky in the past 3 years and have changed 6 tires on the road, at least I am back to all new tires. I'm thinking mirrors would be helpful to see especially if the back tire is flat.
My boat is pretty wide. I think it is 84" or so, maybe 86 - it's over the wheel well. The trailer is 30 ft long.
Here is the long story why I worry about blown tires - after loosing 6 tires in the past few years:
I replaced all my old tires after a couple blew. I felt the vibration on one tire blow out that lead to the second axel tire blowing d/t weight and an old cracked tire. Another tire blew a year later and I didn't feel the vibration and someone honked and let me know it was flat so I changed the that one and the last old tire. Then a really good friend needed my trailer for a boat he bought that was just like mine but a few ft longer. We think the boat he got was water logged bc the trailer was rated above the soecs we found on NADA plus engine weight, then rounded up the the nearest 1000lbs - well that's what we think bc the bearings broke, yeah crazy hu... then two tires blew and one blew on the other side. He redid all my bearings, but I felt bad telling him my tires were all new at that point. He works at an auction and has helped me out a lot w purchases besides paying his staff to redo my hubs and bearings he replaced my tires w old tires they had around. I felt bad for him, it was a crazy experience, even the police thought he still my trailer. Anyway, I have now gone through those 3 used tires he put on, but I put over 1000 miles on the trailer this summer. I feel like I personally have been lucky in the past 3 years and have changed 6 tires on the road, at least I am back to all new tires. I'm thinking mirrors would be helpful to see especially if the back tire is flat.
Sent from my phone using TapatalkI use my tow mirrors all the time when towing. Keep in mind, my 5er is 38' long so its nice to be able to see around it. I'm actually surprised that the HD trucks don't come with tow mirrors as standard equipment.
R.K.
Mine don't extend out, but the mirror rotates up to the tow position, like this:
![]()
Had no idea that the 2014 trucks didn't have that. Or maybe it's a trim level thing?
Anyway, I've found that in the tow position, it does make it a bit easier to see trailer tires, especially if you can turn your truck/trailer a bit, instead of the trailer being straight behind you. I think having them in the tow position makes it easier to see in all cases- towing or not. I go back and forth between having them deployed all the time or only when towing. Looks like they're pretty expensive, but they're nice to have.
One source, Ram lookalike
Not Ram, but similar
G
Had no idea that the 2014 trucks didn't have that. Or maybe it's a trim level thing?
Anyway, I've found that in the tow position, it does make it a bit easier to see trailer tires, especially if you can turn your truck/trailer a bit, instead of the trailer being straight behind you. I think having them in the tow position makes it easier to see in all cases- towing or not. I go back and forth between having them deployed all the time or only when towing. Looks like they're pretty expensive, but they're nice to have.
One source, Ram lookalike
Not Ram, but similar
G
I run mine flipped up all the time on my 3500. My 5er is 41 ft long. They do make it easy to watch the tires and then the smaller section of the mirror helps me keep track of the blind spots on the truck
Towing mirrors were standard equipment on 3500's, optional on 2500's for 2017 model year. Not sure about other year's. Should be standard on every HD in my opinion.
I’m amazed they make 2500/3500 without tow mirrors. Seems pointless.
My 2016 2500 Laramie LB came with 5th wheel prep package, but no tow mirrors or bed lights.
Yes. Get towing mirrors. And you have to run them flipped out. It’s a thing.
You would think they would bundle tow mirrors with the factory 5th wheel prep, but they can probably make more money making you order both. I drive for a living and I am looking at trucks on the road all day and it's fairly rare for me to notice a Ram truck without tow mirrors, even the 1500's. In my opinion you can't have too much mirror!My 2016 2500 Laramie LB came with 5th wheel prep package, but no tow mirrors or bed lights.
I agree, a friend of mine fell in love with my truck when he saw it and ran out and bought a nearly identical one, except his is a sb with tow mirrors.You would think they would bundle tow mirrors with the factory 5th wheel prep, but they can probably make more money making you order both. I drive for a living and I am looking at trucks on the road all day and it's fairly rare for me to notice a Ram truck without tow mirrors, even the 1500's. In my opinion you can't have too much mirror!My 2016 2500 Laramie LB came with 5th wheel prep package, but no tow mirrors or bed lights.
I tow all the time with my reg mirrors, he hasn’t towed anything bigger than a cell phone.
I told him it’s “Dodge Law” that if he doesn’t tow anything after owning the truck for a year he has to trade his tow mirrors to someone with regular mirrors.
My boat isn't very wide, but i flip the mirrors up for the exact reason you are wondering about. Down in normal position i cant see my passenger side tire. Up, i can.
On the 2500's, tow mirrors have always been an option since 2013 at least.Towing mirrors were standard equipment on 3500's, optional on 2500's for 2017 model year. Not sure about other year's. Should be standard on every HD in my opinion.
R.K.
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