BUGA Community
Technical => Exteriors and Interiors => Topic started by: ShaneJ on January 21, 2013, 09:03:21 AM
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Hi guys. I need to get some mirrors for my van but after a week of looking around I cant really decide. I need them to be large and practicable as eventually the van will be using for towing a 4.6M boat.
The options so far are your usual ford style swing away mirror:
(http://www.buga.com.au/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=44554&g2_serialNumber=2)
Or the swing away bracket with a large tripod head fitted:
(http://www.buga.com.au/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=44546&g2_serialNumber=2)
Or go all out and fit the tripod with the large head:
(http://www.buga.com.au/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=44551&g2_serialNumber=2)
With the tripod the head can swing in for normal use and then swing out for when towing.
What do you guys and girls think?
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Shane, think you have answered your own question, No 2, No 1 look good but not pratical for your use, and due to the angle of the Bedford door No 1 needs to be changed a little as standard ajustment for viewing is not that great.
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what ever way you go just remember that if you are going to swing the cargo door around too where it contacts the passengers door will you need a closer fitting mirror there as per standard
Good luck with the search, ;D I looked around and went back to standard mirrors with a reversing camera 8)
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Could always head back to the old west coast mirrors, I thnk you guys call them.
http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/82821/Aussie_Truck_Mirrors.aspx (http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/82821/Aussie_Truck_Mirrors.aspx)
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I have looked at the jr west coast mirrors but I'm not sure about drilling holes into the upper door frame.
Can you get replacement arm/brackets like standard on the bedford? I can find them anywhere. If I could get new ones I would probably be happy with mirrors like these ones:
(http://www.britaxae.com.au/images//Mirrors/Images/1412647.jpg)
(http://www.britaxae.com.au/images/Mirrors/Images/1412647-LA.jpg)
They should be large enough.
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I found these arms:
(http://www.britaxae.com.au/images//Mirrors/Images/7200-058.jpg)
(http://www.britaxae.com.au/images/Mirrors/Images/7200-058-LA.jpg)
Could possibly use with a mirror like this:
(http://www.britaxae.com.au/images//Mirrors/Images/7181-301.jpg)
(http://www.britaxae.com.au/images/Mirrors/Images/7181-301-LA.jpg)
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the standards just bounce around too much ::) ::)
tripod style wouldnt suit me, reckon i'd have trouble in narrow car spots around here :o :o
and i've a CFL, so think i need a decent size mirror, so...
I'll be whacking on West coasties when I get a chance! 8)
not the juniors tho, the squarer type, similar to the top pair on the exploreoz page there
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I think I have decided to go the chev van mirrors. The mirror head is 9 and 3/4 x 7" which is a pretty good size. They look pretty sexy also. And... the mirror head can be replaced with this:
(http://www.truck-lite.com/wcsstore/tl/catalog/images/grap/mir/new/97661-hr.jpg)
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I am using the West coast Mini Truck mirrors. Having said that. The beddie has not left the garage for a road test. Still other work to be done before then.
I like the look of the mirrors however i think that it would need blind spot mirrors to be attached as the curve of the mirror can be a bit deceiving.
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Here you go shane, why not a set of F350 Super duty mirrors, when you want to tow your boat, you hit a switch and the mirrors extend to suit, when your finished they retract back to a normal mirror.
george
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Nice idea George :) I already have a pair of manually adjusting clearview mirrors to suit a patrol. I have looked at fitting them to the front corner of the window area but I'm not so sure about covering the glass. Every time the glass got dirty I'd be wanting to remove the mirror t o clean behind it.
I did think about having the glass cut and modifying the door with a new window groove at the front but I think this would be too much work.
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Ok, i see what your worried about, WHAT IF, you take the shape of the area that mounts to the door normally, and you bend up some 3 or 4mm steel to the shape so it is like a C shape, weld or screw it to to the door, then mount the mirror to the new C bit. This would then allow you to get your hand between the mirror and the glass, what this does is kicks out the mirror away from your window. You would kick it out to suit the size of your hand, so you can get in behind without removing the mirror. The metal mount would not take much, then just run the wiring ( if powered ) through a grommet in the metal part of the door.
george
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George, those mirrors are awesome:) Nice idea too:)
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I understand what you're saying George. I'll look into it.
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ahhh we went for the big truck mirrors with the blind spot circular on the bottom...perfect for vans as we had to mount on the front guards due to the sliding doors...if we put on doors we could use mirrors if we drive with them open ..which i do quite often when its hot...1974 style aircon ...nice ;D
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Thats a simple solution Wendy. Can you see the passenger mirror ok from the drivers seat? Do the mirrors vibrate/shake at all when your driving?
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hey Shane...yeah can see both mirrors fine....no vibration at all from them.
bedfords dont shake, rattle or roll ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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There's been plenty of rocking over the years tho!! ;) ;) ;)