We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.
We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.
When you’re driving around town in your car or truck, you usually have three mirrors to help you see what’s behind you: a rearview mirror inside the car and two side-view mirrors on either side of the vehicle. Normally, that’s all you need. When you’re towing a trailer, though, everything changes.
Trailers are almost always wider than their towing vehicles, which means the trailer will block both side-view mirrors. Also, since the trailer is directly behind you, it will often completely block the rearview mirror. This leaves you totally blind behind you and on both sides all the way up to the front seat. It’s a dangerous situation — unless you get yourself a set of custom towing mirrors.
These specialized mirrors extend farther from the side of your vehicle to provide a view along the sides of the trailer and behind it. The mirrors need to be custom-fitted to your existing mirrors, meet legal standards, and easily attach to your vehicles. There are multiple options, variations, and factors to consider. Read through this buying guide to analyze the merits of various custom towing mirrors and find a set that’s right for you.
Step one is to determine what size custom towing mirror you need in order to be safe and legal. While each state has different laws and regulations, all of them agree on certain basics that are dictated by the width of the trailer you’re towing and it’s length.
Some of the custom towing mirrors are temporary. In other words, they can be put on and taken off without any tools in a matter of minutes. Other mirrors, however, are designed to be permanent replacements for your existing side mirrors.
Are you going to be towing a trailer because you’re moving or hauling short-term? In that case, temporary custom towing mirrors will suit your needs. But if you’re hooking up a travel trailer to tour the country, you’ll probably want something a little more permanent.
Universal-fit mirrors are designed with adjustable straps and clips to fit a wide assortment of existing side mirrors on most models of cars, trucks, or SUVs. When you see them, it is obvious they are temporary and not part of the original design of the vehicle. They are the cheaper option when it comes to towing mirrors. Unfortunately, due to how they connect to your existing mirrors, universal-fit custom mirrors may be subject to vibrations that can hinder visibility.
Factory-fit mirrors are still temporary, but they are designed to look like they’re part of the vehicle’s original design. These mirrors will only attach to a small number of similar vehicles depending on the make, model, and year. The fit will be snug and less subject to vibration, giving you a much better view. These mirrors are pricier than the universal fit-options, and you’ll have to do a little bit of extra research to ensure that the ones you want will fit your vehicle.
The standard material for custom towing mirrors is a hard shell of polypropylene plastic with glass mirrors.
For the most part, black and gray are your only choices.
Once mounted, the mirrors must be adjusted. You need to adjust the mirrors while the trailer you’re going to be pulling is connected to the towing hitch. If you can do this in a vacant parking lot where you can drive around and test your field of vision, so much the better.
The looser the fit of the towing mirrors, the more they will tend to vibrate, making it difficult to see objects in them. Mitigate this effect by tightening the connectors on the mirrors as much as possible. If they are snap-on mirrors that can’t be adjusted, test them as soon as you get them to ensure that they fit properly, and you have the best vision possible.
Blind spot mirror: Ampper 2" Convex HD Glass Blind Spot Mirror
This is a pack of two stick-on convex blind spot mirrors. The back peels off so you can press it firmly to a clean mirror and it will stick, giving you extra viewing area when you’re towing a large trailer. The mirror has a gimbal behind it, so it can swivel and tilt to give you exactly the right view.
Side mirror rain visor: CarNeed 2 Pcs Smoked Black Mirror Rain Visor
Keep the rain off your mirror for unobstructed viewing with these rain visors for your towing mirrors. While you’re at it, why not get a set for your regular side mirrors as well as one for your towing mirrors?
Glass cleaner: Safelite Glass Cleaner
Keep your regular side mirrors and your towing mirrors streak-free with this professional-grade cleaner from Safelite. It dissolves grease, dirt, and road spray to give you crystal clear mirrors.
Glass-cleaning cloth: Auto Care Microfiber Glass Cleaning Cloths
Clean mirrors keep you safe, and this eight-pack of 12 x 12-inch microfiber cleaning cloths will give you streak-free and scratch-free results every time.
Inexpensive: From $20 to $30 is the low price range for custom towing mirrors. These will be the “universal fit” mirrors designed to fit on any side mirror. Since the straps and clips have to be adjustable, there will be some vibration and consequent distortion in the mirror’s viewing area.
Mid-range: From $30 to $60 is the medium price range for custom towing mirrors. Products in this price bracket will be hardshell snap-on covers designed with an OEM appearance in mind to make them look like part of your vehicle.
Expensive: Above $60 is the high-end zone for custom towing mirrors. These will be complete replacements for your existing mirrors, and you will have to remove the mirrors currently on your vehicle to install these in their place.
Q. How often should my custom towing mirrors be cleaned?
A. A good rule of thumb is to clean your mirrors every time you stop for gas or once a day, whichever comes first.
Q. Do temporary mirrors have turn signals on them?
A. No, but some of the permanent ones do.
Q. What should I do if I can’t find factory-fit towing mirrors for my vehicle?
A. Use the universal-fit mirrors instead. Even if the fit isn’t perfect, your vehicle will be much safer to drive than if you try to risk pulling a trailer without towing mirrors.
BestReviews wants to be better. Please take our 3-minute survey,
and give us feedback about your visit today.