RV FEATURE
Clearview mirrors are permanently attached to the tow vehicle( pic: Marty Ledwich).
MIRRORS WHEN UNHITCHED
You’ ve unhitched your van but decide to leave your tow mirrors in place for that quick drive to the shops. What’ s the harm? In fact, to drive with tow mirrors attached but without a van hitched up is a big no-no. Doing so will very likely breach‘ over-dimensional’ laws, which are taken from the ADRs. Around Australia, nothing is allowed to protrude more than 150mm from the side of a vehicle. For the purposes of this rule, a caravan / vehicle combination can be thought of as‘ one’ vehicle, hence why tow mirrors may protrude more than 150mm from the side of the tow vehicle when hitched up. Drivers who leave their mirrors attached after unhitching face a $ 238 penalty in Victoria and a similar amount around Australia.
“ AS LONG AS I CAN SEE HIS MIRROR, I KNOW THE DRIVER CAN SEE ME.”
EXPERT TIP
We spoke to John Eggenhuizen of Tow-Ed for his tips on setting up tow mirrors …“ Towing mirrors are required in almost all cases when you tow a caravan,” he said.“ I firmly believe that you need as much visibility behind you as you do ahead and without a good mirror setup you are flying blind.“ A good set of mirrors will enhance your ability to manage traffic. When you install your mirrors, set them up wide enough so that when you stand at the back corner of the van and look along the side of the van, the very inside edge of the extension mirror should be inline with the side of the van. Anything less and you are compromising your vision.”
REAR-VIEW CAMERAS
A rear-view camera is a terrific addition to a touring setup but under no circumstances are they a substitute for tow mirrors( if required). Mirrors are mandatory. Cameras are not.“ A rear-view camera is a fantastic driver’ s aid, and everyone should have them, but at the end of the day, they only give you that vision from the rear – they don’ t give the all-important side view,” Sergeant Graeme Shenton said.“ A camera will show you any drivers behind, and that’ s fantastic, but if one of those drivers decides to overtake, they’ ll suddenly be in your blind spot.”
12 gorv. com. au