Mirror, signal, manoeuvre: A beginners' guide to towing mirrors
Extra-wide towing mirrors are essential for many larger models
Wednesday, 07, Sep 2011 03:26
by Chris Jefferies
When you're looking to safely set up your caravan for its first trip away, one of the most important things to sort out is your field of vision.
Although many caravanners neglect to use them, towing mirrors are cheap and easy to fit, and much more importantly, they are a legal necessity.
Every motorist towing a caravan that is wider than their car needs to fit towing mirrors, and pretty much the only cars that don't fall into this category are supercars such as the Bentley GT Continental.
For the rest of us who can't afford such a flashy ride, the law specifies that you need to be able to see clearly in an area that is four metres wide from the side of your caravan at a distance 20 metres behind the driver.
This is quite a large area (see diagram below), which can be partly obscured by the corners of your caravan if you rely on normal car mirrors, even those on a 4x4.
Without towing mirrors, it is quite easy to miss a cyclist or a motorcyclist, and you are also much less likely to spot a car moving out from behind to overtake.
As well as running the risk of causing a nasty accident, towing without mirrors can result in police prosecution in the form of three points on your license and a fine of up to £1,000.
Fortunately, there is plenty of choice when it comes to towing mirrors and they are among the most affordable caravan accessories, with a some available for less than £10 each.
Spoilt for choice
When it comes to choosing your towing mirrors, Milenco are the market leaders in the UK and indeed most of Europe, with a whole host of industry awards to commend their wind-tunnel tested range.
Many of the Milenco mirrors sit at the pricier end of the range, with the Aero Mirror costing upwards of £18 each, but the advantages of this model include a rust and dirt-resistant, stainless steel and brass screw system, so they're very unlikely to fall off in transit.
You can also choose the option of convex glass, for an even wider field of vision, and all Milenco products are E-marked, meaning they comply with all the relevant EU regulations.
Cheaper options include Towsure, who offer a clip-on mirror for around £9 each, while Halfords also provides towing mirrors at a similar price that come with adjustable rubber straps.
Milenco also offer a basic option called the Safety Mirror for just £6, although it's important to note that not all the mirrors on the market will be wide enough for your caravan, so careful measurement is essential.
It's also important to check that your mirrors aren't too wide, as the law has something to say here as well. The mirrors must not protrude by more than 25cm (or 20cm on cars made sold before 26th January 2007), when compared with the width of your caravan.
Beware cheap imitations
Nigel Milbank, managing director of Milenco, warns that buyers should be careful when selecting their mirrors: "There are a ridiculous number of illegal mirrors being sold in high street shops.
"Bear in mind they need to stand up to strong winds and not fold up when something large passes you in the other direction," he added.
Whilst picking out the ideal set of towing mirrors can take careful consideration, the total cost is nothing compared with an accident or a fine, so this is an area that it's really not worth cutting corners on.