Are you running towing mirrors? I have a 01 Lund Pro-V 1900 being pulled by a 1500 Silverado. My trailer is around 8’6″ I believe which looks to be about a tire wider on each side of the truck. I just read you have to be able to see 200′ behind your trailer. I haven’t paced 200′ out to check yet but would you guys recommend towing mirrors?
I got tow mirrors on my ’15 F150 and I’m torn whether or not I like them. I love the big curved mirror for lane changes and merging, but they obstruct my view most of the time because they’re so big.
I hate my passenger side mirror because it is totally flat unlike most passenger side mirrors. I’m not sure why they did that but it makes backing up very difficult.
I don’t think I’d worry about the legality of it and I’m not sure how you’d check it anyway. I think they’re worried only if you’re using like a Prius to tow a trailer and can’t see behind you.
Are you talking about extenders?
I just read you have to be able to see 200′ behind your trailer.
Never heard that one before…. I have huge extendable mirrors on my one-ton Chev. I can’t see everything behind me. Seems you would need a back up camera on the back of your boat to see that well !
-J.
i think if you got a ticket for towing that rig without tow mirrors you should take it to court and count your winnings before you even get there.
Yeah I’m not too worried about getting an actual ticket for something like that. I just read it on a external website.I think I found the reference right here.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.70
Biggill, I really like the aspect of the curved lower section of the tow mirrors and being a little further out. I don’t really think I need actual extenders. Right now my driver side just has the small “blind spot” bubble but my passenger side does not, which I wish it did.
I guess my question is if you guys have tow mirrors do you like them or should I just stick to my regular mirrors? Do you have to fold them in all the time when parking? I don’t tow anything much bigger than my boat at the time. Thanks for the responses.
I fold mine in after I park in the garage, but I’ve never folded them in anywhere else. And that’s why I upgraded to the Lariat, for the power folding mirrors.
It took me about a month or two to get used to the instability of the mirrors. The smaller mirrors are definitely more stable, but I’m used to it now. Basically the bounce and shake more.
Are you looking to buy a truck or upgrade the mirrors? I don’t think that ford charged any more for the tow mirrors so if your worried about price on a new truck, it might be negligible or none.
Do I like them? Yes, but only slightly over the smaller mirrors. Like I said the biggest advantage has been the curved blind spot mirror. I’d be curious how the regular mirrors are on the new trucks.
I’d just be upgrading my mirrors I have now.
Personally I would not buy new mirrors. Maybe look for some add-on curved mirrors if anything.
My previous truck and my new truck have the extendable mirrors from the factory and I really like them. I also have a pro v and the trailer is 8’6″ wide but the boat is only about 95″ or 96″ wide so I can actually see around the boat ok without extending the mirrors as they are set out further than the small mirrors to start with. Now that I have had them for about 12 years I won’t get another truck without them.
I agree with big gill in that add on mirrors might be a good bet but I believe that GM trucks for the past several years so you might be able to find some used, aftermarket or other options for not a whole lot more than the add-ons with a little bit of research. Or you can even order the extendable tow mirrors new from GM of cost isn’t an issue as I don’t think they are cheap from GM.
I also have a ’15 F150 (XLT) with the tow mirrors. I ordered the truck and it was definitely an added cost. Might have been about $300 extra, maybe because of the spot lights in them.
Biggill, you have me wondering now. I was certain that the passenger mirror had the big fisheye mirror under the flat mirror. Now you have me second guessing. I’ll have to look after work in a few minutes.
Also, I haven’t noticed mine bouncing or vibrating much. It also has the max tow package.
To the OP’s question, I love having the bigger mirrors and am lost without them. Saturday I ran it through a car wash after folding in the mirrors and commented to my wife, who was with, that it was amazing how much I use them. I felt like I was driving blind in the parking lot of the car wash without them.
My last truck had some ad on mirrors that added a second mirror farther out from the factory mirror. I only used them one time and never put them on again. IMO, they were too small to be useful.
It all depends on the frequency you tow and the distance. I tow my 17.5′ boat 3-5 times per week in the Summer, but it is a round-trip total of about 4 miles each time.
If I had to go on any multiple lane highways or navigate a larger city in traffic, I’d definitely get them. Thankfully I have no interest in fishing anywhere where highway traffic or crowded cities are an issue.
Biggill, you have me wondering now. I was certain that the passenger mirror had the big fisheye mirror under the flat mirror. Now you have me second guessing. I’ll have to look after work in a few minutes.
It has the fish eye mirror same as the driver side. but the flat mirror is totally flat. I believe that most vehicles actually put a slight curve to this mirror to add range of view.
Being so far away from that mirror renders it almost useless because it really restricts your range of view. Unless of course the put a slight curve to it.
Now you’re going to hate me because you’re going to notice how much that mirror sucks.
definitely get the ones you can attach and remove.
whatever you do don’t be the guy with the tow mirrors out when your not pulling anything.
It has the fish eye mirror same as the driver side. but the flat mirror is totally flat. I believe that most vehicles actually put a slight curve to this mirror to add range of view.
Being so far away from that mirror renders it almost useless because it really restricts your range of view. Unless of course the put a slight curve to it.
Now you’re going to hate me because you’re going to notice how much that mirror sucks.
Nah, I still like it. 
Get the add on mirrors that strap on your side mirrors. You’ll like the added rear visibility when towing.
If you don’t get them, no big deal. You’ll be in the same position as now, and you won’t get pulled over or fined for it.
I just looked up the actual installation instructions for new mirrors and it looks like quite a bit more trouble than its worth. I don’t think I have the finesse required to unsnap the entire door panel without breaking something. I’d almost lean towards having someone who knows what they are doing to do it but that sounds expensive.
I’m not really sure how I feel about the add on mirrors. Do you have any specific ones in mind? I tow the boat multiple times a week and when I’m putting it back in storage is when I keep telling myself I need better mirrors. I pretty much 90 degree the boat back into a 9′ door and would like the added view of tow mirrors. I’m up on the fences at this point. Maybe I’ll call around and try to get some quotes for having someone install them. Does anyone have any recommendations of a shop that would install mirrors? Preferably in the metro area or near Red Wing.
You found a new reason to buy a new truck. 
Biggill,
I just got my new truck! Now I’m just working on getting everything the way I like it. It’s funny how many things I feel like I “need” for it. Same thing for the boat haha. Thanks for all the responses everyone.
I just got aftermarket tow mirrors for my f150 last year from amazon for $180 for the pair. Watched a you tube video on how to install and it was a breeze! About 3 months later I was trading in the truck, so I took them off and sold them to my little brother and installed them on his truck. I got a F350 that came with the tow mirrors.
They do take some getting used to, but once you do they are really nice! I will not own another truck without them. My little bro tows a 35′ camper and really liked them also. I would not hesitate to get the aftermarket ones. Little bro did have the strap on kind and absolutely hated them, I have never tried that style.
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