Are tow mirrors really worth it?
05-12-2016, 09:01 PM
#12
Senior Member
Are tow mirrors really worth it?
So just like the title says, Is it really worth paying extra to change to tow mirrors? OR do the stock ones with the puddle mirrors typically suffice? I am just not sure if I can justify spending $550 to get everything on the tow mirrors like my stock ones already have. I never tow any really long trailers with my F150 either, just short ones. Granted I do tow a lot, but the stock ones seem to work just fine in most cases. Do most people do it just for looks? Are the tow mirrors really worth the money? I have only had my truck for a month so far and I have only had to tow twice, but next month I will start towing a couple times a week.
For me they aren't worth it because I only tow with my F150 a couple times a year and I don't like the looks of them on an F150.
FWIW, I have an 01 F250 w/towing mirrors.
05-12-2016, 09:49 PM
#14
Senior Member
I hate the looks of them, otherwise I'd have them on my truck. Most of my towing is done with my open deck car hauler though so I get by with the non tow mirrors. Just wish Ford would have put the convex mirror on the passenger side too.
05-12-2016, 10:16 PM
#15
I'll never own an f150 without towing mirrors. Bought mine from a forum member, an sold my stockers. I literally have $50 in them.
Even without towing, the blind spot elimination is awesome, as is being able to see lines in parking lot if backing into a spot.
Even without towing, the blind spot elimination is awesome, as is being able to see lines in parking lot if backing into a spot.
05-13-2016, 02:28 PM
#16
Tow Mirrors
I have a set of factory tow mirrors I took off my 2009 Lariat F150. They do everything but auto fold. They are in perfect condition but the top half is color matched for my truck. I sold my travel trailer and didn't need them but after putting on smaller mirrors I miss them. I'll let the pair go for $100.00 plus shipping as they are taking up space in my garage. Send me a PM and I can e-mail pic's. Thanks, Frank
Mirrors are SOLD
Mirrors are SOLD
Last edited by frank dominsky; 05-15-2016 at 06:50 PM. Reason: Sold
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HSBII (05-16-2016)
05-13-2016, 02:47 PM
#17
PM sent....
I have a set of factory tow mirrors I took off my 2009 Lariat F150. They do everything but auto fold. They are in perfect condition but the top half is color matched for my truck. I sold my travel trailer and didn't need them but after putting on smaller mirrors I miss them. I'll let the pair go for $100.00 plus shipping as they are taking up space in my garage. Send me a PM and I can e-mail pic's. Thanks, Frank
05-13-2016, 02:55 PM
#18
Junior Member
I tow a 20' boat and a 17' ATV trailer a few times a month. My truck came standard with the tow mirrors and I hate them personally. For me they present a huge blind spot and it drives me crazy. I never had any issues with my last 150, seeing my trailers without the tow mirrors. That's just me though, lot of guys swear by them as you can see.
05-15-2016, 11:18 AM
#19
Master Gunner
I had the same impression of the aesthetics of towing mirrors as strokin7.3; they look way oversized and I purposely avoided purchasing any F-150's that came with them.
Until I got my current '11, which I only splurged for because it came with the 6.2 even though it also had tow mirrors. I planned to eventually swap them for standard sized mirrors.
I've become neutral now to their aesthetics, but overwhelmingly enamored at the increased rear view visibility they offer, that I'm probably not going to change them; in fact, I'm now considering retrofitting the newer 2013+ power folding, power telescoping versions even though I don't do any regular towing. I have to get through a garage parking gate twice a day and the tow mirrors force me farther away from the gate access machines, ATMs, and drive-throughs, and I'm always worried about banging them on structures.
They're ideally suited for wide or very long trailers. And yogis1097 does have a valid point in that their size does pose a blind spot forward of them. For your situation, it doesn't appear that they would be helpful specifically for your limited towing, however, the increased rear visibility provided for all driving situations may (in exchange for some forward blind-spots). Perhaps they've saved me a couple times from accidentally switching lanes into parallel traffic, though, with standard sized mirrors, I probably would have them adjusted to point lower into my blind spots, like I've done with all my previous F-150's, lifted and stock height, which has kept me out of accidents before. Still, it's comforting to have a much higher degree of rear-view visibility for my truck.
Assuming you've got good driving skills and experience behind your F-150, I personally think you can do without them like I had before, so it really comes down to if spending $550 for this increased visibility is worth it for you, assuming you don't mind how they look.
Until I got my current '11, which I only splurged for because it came with the 6.2 even though it also had tow mirrors. I planned to eventually swap them for standard sized mirrors.
I've become neutral now to their aesthetics, but overwhelmingly enamored at the increased rear view visibility they offer, that I'm probably not going to change them; in fact, I'm now considering retrofitting the newer 2013+ power folding, power telescoping versions even though I don't do any regular towing. I have to get through a garage parking gate twice a day and the tow mirrors force me farther away from the gate access machines, ATMs, and drive-throughs, and I'm always worried about banging them on structures.
They're ideally suited for wide or very long trailers. And yogis1097 does have a valid point in that their size does pose a blind spot forward of them. For your situation, it doesn't appear that they would be helpful specifically for your limited towing, however, the increased rear visibility provided for all driving situations may (in exchange for some forward blind-spots). Perhaps they've saved me a couple times from accidentally switching lanes into parallel traffic, though, with standard sized mirrors, I probably would have them adjusted to point lower into my blind spots, like I've done with all my previous F-150's, lifted and stock height, which has kept me out of accidents before. Still, it's comforting to have a much higher degree of rear-view visibility for my truck.
Assuming you've got good driving skills and experience behind your F-150, I personally think you can do without them like I had before, so it really comes down to if spending $550 for this increased visibility is worth it for you, assuming you don't mind how they look.
Last edited by Augster; 05-15-2016 at 11:21 AM.
05-15-2016, 04:26 PM
#20
Senior Member
I tow a 20' boat and a 17' ATV trailer a few times a month. My truck came standard with the tow mirrors and I hate them personally. For me they present a huge blind spot and it drives me crazy. I never had any issues with my last 150, seeing my trailers without the tow mirrors. That's just me though, lot of guys swear by them as you can see.
your not alone. I personally hate the look of them on a 1/2 ton, no matter ford/chev/dodge. step up to the 3/44 tons an larger, they don't look so bad.
As for use, I have hauled just about every height and width of trailer, open and enclosed in all the years working construction and hauling tires around on the road to customers shops. Never needed tow mirrors, a couple trucks had them and I didn't find any big advantage. I can see just fine with regular mirrors.