Caravan towing mirrors
I've just seen a "Top Tips" video on YouTube which says that it's illegal to tow without towing mirrors. I'm happy with that as you need them to see what's behind you. However, the video then says it's illegal to leave the mirrors fitted if you're not towing.
I tend to leave the mirrors fitted after unhitching if, for example, I need to go somewhere when I reach a night stop as it's a pain to remove them just to refit them the next morning. Does anyone know the truth and can point me in the direction of any relevant legislation?
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There is an element of truth there.
It is not illegal to tow without extension mirrors but it is illegal to tow without having the required field of rearward vision and, in the vast majority of cases, that means fitting extension mirrors if you tow something the size of a caravan.
It is illegal to use a car on a public road if it has protrusions over a certain limit and this will include extension mirrors when solo. That is why (almost) everyone removes them. I can’t tell you the measurement or where to find the regs but an internet search will reveal all. Perhaps the Highway Code might be a place to start.
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I would think the 'proteudence' is based on the width of your outfit? So when towing the mirrors don't protrude as much as when solo.
But again I suppose the illegality of not having the required field of rearward vision 'trumps' anything else? The only way to have this vision is to fit towing mirrors?
Also I have never heard of anyone being stopped by the police for having towing mirrors while towing. This is from Milenco:
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We had a thread a little while ago where I posted the actual maximum dimensions allowed for the mirror to protrude beyond the width of the towing vehicle or load to achieve the legally required field of vision. Unfortunately, I can't remember what these numbers were!
There was also a nice diagram of that from another contributer. It's not only caravans, but any trailer (or load) that obscures the rear vision. Milenco now sell longer arms to accomodate the "Eight Foot" caravans.
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Graymee, it will depend on the type of mirrors you have but the Millenco aero type are very quick to remove / refit. If you line the attachments up with a mark on the car mirror and remove / refit them carefully, they seldom need readjusting. Doesn't take much longer than wiping the dew or rain off them.
We would probably have been going to a supermarket or fuel station. I don't think it particularly safe to leave them attached in areas where a lot of folk are about when you are manovering.
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Its may well be correct as one of the staff at our local dealer advised about it when I dropped our van off and he said he had been "talked at"by a motorcycle police patrol when he had not taken them off once when popping into a town when on an overnight stop
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Although I don't know what piece of legislation actually refers to it, but it is also my understanding that it is illegal to keep the mirrors on when the caravan is not hitched. I think it has something to do with overhanging loads (not only at the rear but at the side, too).
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C&U regs
Mirrors can protrude 20cm from the vehicle, if the vehicle becomes a combination then its 20cm from the widest part, that is 20cm from the caravan.
Therefore solo, mirrors if further out than 20cm must be removed.
This only applies to mirrors lower than 2 metres from the road surface!
Yours, the Geek
🤕
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But you are talking of towing a wide white box, not just using a solo car. If the trailer is narrower than the car, then the car is the widest point and you won’t need mirrors anyway.
Why not look it up for yourself? You might prove the rest of us wrong.😀
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Is there a Ladybird version?
🧸
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There are actually TWO different maximum amounts of protrusion allowed, depending on the age of first registration of the towing vehicle.
I do wonder about the level of observation of some people as they go about the world as I have on three occasions had someone strike a mirror on my Discovery when it was not fitted with any extension. In each case the person involved was riding a pedal cycle.
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It’s absolute common sense to remove towing mirrors when not towing. Ordinary door mounted mirrors can be enough of a menace in the control of some drivers. I used to ride a horse down country lanes, and regularly had my outside stirrup leg whacked by passing vehicles. Some folks have no good judgement of the total width of their outfit. It got so bad I used to carry a schooling whip in my right hand to force them out a little. On another occasion a driver pulled up sharp in front of my OH who was on horse. Driver had hit my OH leg and stirrup iron had damaged his car. He soon learnt you don’t argue with half a ton of frightened horse, and a very angry man.
Please take them off, it could be a child on a bicycle, or a parent pushing a buggy and child.
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We followed an 8’ wide Bailey being towed on the m/way the other day and, although he had extension mirrors, it was obvious they were inadequate for that size of van.
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Our Knaus Starclass is 8' wide and I have Milenco Grand Aeros with the Milenco extended arm. Whilst I have the nearside at full extension, with regard to the offside, it's a balancing act between being able to see adequately and not getting the mirror knocked off - despite having dayglo tape on it.
In two consecutive years in Devon (on 'A' roads - Devon style), white van man knocked off a towing mirror and whilst travelling solo a motorhome broke the offside car mirror lens - which for a mere bit of plastic, cost me £250 to replace! I now tend to be extra careful and have no hesitation in using the power-fold facility if circumstances dictate.
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It's a matter of safety. If people see a big white box being towed by a car they will be ready to move over. If they don't see a big white box they may not notice protruding black wing mirrors. I always take mine off.
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The towcar of the Bailey in question had very small extension mirrors fitted and it was obvious from following him that they were too small/short. If I couldn’t see his mirrors from behind, then he couldn't see me. I actually thought he had none until we were alongside.
It’s common sense to fold the mirrors when circumstances dictate, R&R. I even do it with our smallish car.
Having lost an extension mirror to white van man on the Mull of Kintyre and a Sprinter MH mirror to red van man on Orkney, both on A roads, I’m also wary.
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No offence, but i dont know why they make 8 ft wide caravans, i have difficulty with my 7.15 foot Coachman on some "A" roads and even worse on "B" roads particularly in Devon & Cornwall. I have been to some sites where the access is single track with very tight passing places, where, i am sure an 8 footer would not be able to pass. Not surprised you are loosing mirrors. Just returned from France and some idiot hitch hiker stuck his arm our as i was passing, my towing mirror smashed into his arm bounced off the side of the van and i assume ended up in a thousand pieces at the side of the road, I did not stop, it was a very deserted area so who know's what the consequences could have been.
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I do hope that was due to modern mirrors being deliberately made fragile. Many years ago when Land Rovers looked like Land Rovers my daily driver was a long wheelbase pick up, with proper wing mirrors about 6" by 4" and mounted on stout arms fixed to the wings.
One evening I was about to pass a drunk who was stumbling along the edge of the footway, so I gave a toot on the horn to which he replied with a flailing hand. His attempt at a "V-sign" was brough to a halt by his hand meeting up with the near-side mirror. No damage or displacement of the mirror (once the flesh was washed off) but the same cannot be said of the hand.
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actually the mirror in question was probably 20 years old, it was one of the old type elastic bands that strap round the rear of your driving mirror, i was more upset at the loss of a trusted mirror than i was about the state of the guys arm.
It was probably illegal because i believe they now have to have some kite mark that shows the glass meets a certain standard, still got and using my near side one.
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Rufs, I have a pair of those very mirrors surplus to requirements since the rubber bands are too short for the huge mirror casings on the Discovery 4.
It would be nice if we were able to figure out a way for them to go to a good home.
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