Bigger Mirrors

[andyg]

My 1982 1 ton (Chevillac) has mirrors like this truck has   http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/Ervin1.JPG   .  They do not stick out far enough for me to see the trailer that I am towing.  I know that I can add west coast or tripod mirrors but that would leave mounting holes for the original mirrors exposed.  Who has a idea on how to make my mirrors stick out farther that will still look good on my existing doors?

[Lt.Del]

companies make mirror extensions that can be added to your existing mirrors while towing.


http://www.autobarn.net/towingmirrors.html

You just have to search around and see if any fit those type of mirrors that you have.   I pull a 30' camper trailer and have those same mirrors and have no problems, there are blind spots, but with a little common sense, you can make them work fine. 

[andyg]

Thanks Sgt,  I just knew that someone would suggest an add-on mirror.  I'm looking for a more permanent solution.  Let me add a little more info.  The truck has a 7' X 9' flatbed with 12" sides that sit up quite high.  I tow about a 30' equipment trailer a lot.  The trailer dies not stick up as high as your camper.  It is easy to lose sight of the trailer completely through the rear window and the side mirrors.  It is pretty darn tough to back up when you can't see where the trailer is going!  Actually the mirror head is probably big enough it just needs to hang out farther from the side of the truck.  I can't figure out how the mirror head is attached to the horizontal tube going into it.  If I could get the mirror off with out breaking it I could make a longer tube thus extending the mirror.

[VileZambonie]

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=hp&q=truck+towing+mirrors&hl=en&cid=12465721138539287994&ei=3G9kTJfIDZvoyAW0k4zxAg&sa=title&ved=0CCoQ8wIwAzgA#p

[howlinwolf]

i used to have a set on my truck that looked stock, but they slid on the rail that holds them. hail destoryed them

[78 Chevyrado]

Dont know how good they are, but here ya go
http://www.autoanything.com/mirrors/65A2993A0A0.aspx

[VileZambonie]

Those are the same as the ones I posted

[andyg]

Thanks for the links.  This is what I have in mind.  Before I buy new mirriors I will take this idea and attempt to modify the ones which are already on the truck.  That extra 5"-6" will make a BIG difference when towing.

[andyg]

Here is a pic with the trailer that I most often pull.

[BigHemi353]

That thing on the trailer is awesome! what you making there?

[andyg]

That is "tow-mater"  A bit of a creation that we are building to tow my steam traction engines.  It has most of a 1936 1-1/2 ton Dodge front clip with a late 1940's Diamond T cab.  The DT cab was already on the '36 Dodge when I bought it.  The sheet metal is on a 1999 Ford F53 motorhome chassis.  This chassis was under a 35' motohome which was totaled in an accident but the chassis was not hurt in any way.  The truck is powered by a V-10 with a 4spd auto trans.  I have mounted a 12K hydraulic winch behind the cab and there is a fifth wheel on the bed now.  It should do a nice job of towing the smaller engine (about 8 tons) and should handle the larger engine OK (about 10.5 tons).  We are also building a folding-neck lowboy to go with it.

P.S. I built the bed on the 1 ton and it has a 472 Cadillac engine in it.
P.P.S. Dad is converting his 3rd intercity coach into a motorhome now this is why he bought the wercked motorhome to salvage the RV stuff.

We like to build things!

[andyg]

Has anyone ever had the head off of one of the "dumbo" mirrors?  I want to know what hold the head onto the arm

[Lt.Del]

The head slides right onto the base, there are two 10mm bolts that screw in to tighten the head from moving front and back.  There is a piece of plastic sleeve around the stem of the head to keep it tightened somewhat or to protect the vertical stem from too much damage when tightening it with the two bolts.   There is a T-15 star screw holding the round cover of the base in place to reach the two bolts to tighten up the mirror.

The base is held in place by three 10mm bolts.

after reading your post agian, are you trying to remove the mirror from the arm or stem?  I don't think you can.  The glass mirror is glued at 4 points to the head.  It will have to be moved to gain access to the arm. Of course, it will be difficult to remove the glass without breaking it.  And, it isn't designed to be removed because of the rivets seen on the head.  

when i get home, i'll take a pic of a recently broken mirror....i just went through this.  Went to the salvage yard and removed a mirror off a '80 pickup.  Paid $6 and put her on my 79.

[andyg]

That is correct.  I was thinking about removing the mirror from the mirror arm.  It may not be possible without breaking the mirror though?

[Lt.Del]

You can see where the 5 glue points are.  Because of the rivets on the front side of the head, I don't see any way to open her up without breaking the glass.

there seems to be a C clip and two bolts and a platic sleeve keeping it on the arm.

I guess you can try to get the mirror really hot, like in an oven then try to push some fishing line or something under the glass mirror in a way to cut the glue like a saw.  I dunno.  Then, what glue to use to put it back?