Towing Mirrors

[riverrat373]

I have a 2008 Ranger 4x4 XLT and have not been able to find any decent clip-on mirrors for towing an RV. Any suggestions?

 

[adsm08]

Bigger truck?

 

[Captain Ledd]

Can't find anything for an '08. However, they do list mirrors for a 2003 and older Ranger. Now I'm not sure on the specifics of swapping to an older style mirrior, but the body's didn't change much, I doubt it'd be more than a new hole or two.

http://www.etrailer.com/tm-2003_Ford_Ranger.htm

I have a set of the custom fit ones (I'm pretty sure the same brand, but I'd have to check) for my '97. I love them.

 

[riverrat373]

Can't find anything for an '08. However, they do list mirrors for a 2003 and older Ranger. Now I'm not sure on the specifics of swapping to an older style mirrior, but the body's didn't change much, I doubt it'd be more than a new hole or two.

http://www.etrailer.com/tm-2003_Ford_Ranger.htm

I have a set of the custom fit ones (I'm pretty sure the same brand, but I'd have to check) for my '97. I love them.

The problem is I have electric mirrors so a swap might prove difficult!

 

[02RangerXLT]

What the hell are you pulling with a Ranger that you need towing mirrors for? Farking 10 ton tag trailer?

 

[Captain Ledd]

The problem is I have electric mirrors so a swap might prove difficult!

Still shouldn't be that hard. The connector might not line up, but you can just splice the wires together. It's just a switch and motors, and I imagine only 5 wires, 4 power wires for up/down/left/right and a ground. More if it's heated, those should definitely be larger wires. The ground should be black (normally), and sometimes a little bigger than the other wires. Wire nut the wires together to test them (yes, braided wire can still use wire nuts). Once the switch makes the mirror move in all the right directions, solder or crimp the wires together more permanently (don't use the wire nuts), electrical tape the piss out of them (I sometimes smear silicone gasket maker over the connections), and install.

Mind you some good probing first with a volt meter first would help insure not accidentally frying something.

What the hell are you pulling with a Ranger that you need towing mirrors for? Farking 10 ton tag trailer?

Just because you're not pulling a 30' gooseneck doesn't mean you're not entitled to more vision around your vehicle.

 

[Tractorman]

What the hell does weight have to do with visibility?

The Ranger is a narrow truck to begin with. So even a standard sized trailer is harder to see behind when compared to a full size truck.

 

[riverrat373]

What the hell does weight have to do with visibility?

The Ranger is a narrow truck to begin with. So even a standard sized trailer is harder to see behind when compared to a full size truck.

Exactly! I plan on towing a 17' ultra-lite travel trailer and I want to be able to see behind me! I don't want to cobble some mirrors onto the body unless they can look like a factory job. Some of the full size Ford trucks have mirror extensions that snap on to the factory mirrors but I have not been able to find any for the Ranger.

 

[Will]

I had some strap on mirrors for a while but they would blow my mirror heads out of adjustment. I stopped worrying about what was behind me and left them off. Practically speaking, a Ranger pulling a travel trailer isn't doing much that requires lane changes. I would just weave a little to see past the trailer when needed. It's probably cheaper and easier to wire a back-up camera to the end of the trailer than to mess with mirrors.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

What the hell are you pulling with a Ranger that you need towing mirrors for? Farking 10 ton tag trailer?

24 foot travel trailer is kinda hard to see around behind a RBV. I had a set of longview slip on towing mirrors I used on our Sport Trac when we pulled with it. Helped a bit, but it still wasn't great for backing. Just hung out the window most of the time to see what was going on.