towing mirror

[Random13]

Hi All,

I am going to soon tow my bike, I am using the single bike trailers, would I need to have an extended mirror ?

DVLA website says this

"Towing mirrors
You must have an adequate view of the road behind you. If your caravan or trailer is wider than the rear of the towing vehicle, you may need to fit suitable towing mirrors.

If you tow without proper towing mirrors you can be:"

I am not sure what they mean by adequate , can any one clarify please?

[Ali in Austria]

You won't need one. They are required for trailers such as caravans and box trailers where the width and bulk obscure the view from the normal mirrors.
____________________
A Petrol Head in The Alps
https://www.youtube.com/user/PensionHausMaria
https://facebook.com/pension.haus.maria

[squishio]

as above, mirrors are only required if what you're towing is blocking the view behind.
I tow my bikes on a single bike trailer too and I can barely see the trailer let alone if obscuring my view
____________________
Current - Hornet 600, Transalp 650, X140 Pit, GPZ400R
Past - SY125, GT250, GT650, CX400, CBF600, Bandit 600, SL1000, GT250

[anthony_r6]

Adequate View = You can actually see behind you, without a ridiculous blind spot where your bike is going to be.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[Ali in Austria]

A single bike trailer isn't going to cause a blind spot. After all, driving a Box Van or even a fully laden car doesn't afford much of a view directly behind you.

The regulation refers to when the trailer being towed is nearly as wide or wider than the existing mirrors and obstructs the view from them.
____________________
A Petrol Head in The Alps
https://www.youtube.com/user/PensionHausMaria
https://facebook.com/pension.haus.maria

[Random13]

thanks, I may occasionally tow my car. it is as wide as my saloon car so I guess I will need it then ?

If so is there as specific on I should b looking at or this one would do the job

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261160100272&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

[Random13]

thanks, I may occasionally tow my car. it is as wide as my saloon car so I guess I will need it then ?

If so is there as specific on I should b looking at or this one would do the job

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261160100272&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

[Random13]

thanks, I may occasionally tow my car. it is as wide as my saloon car so I guess I will need it then ?

If so is there as specific on I should b looking at or this one would do the job

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261160100272&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

[Ali in Austria]

Certainly some Forum issues at the moment. Double and Triple posts, I keep getting error messages when posting but the post subsequently appears.

Provided they will fit your car mirrors they will be fine. You will see with the photo in those that it doesn't provide a view directly behind the towed trailer, none will, but they do improve the visibility of what is available. There will always be someone who drives/rides in your blind spot hence the sign on the back of some trucks "If you can't see me, I can't see you".
____________________
A Petrol Head in The Alps
https://www.youtube.com/user/PensionHausMaria
https://facebook.com/pension.haus.maria

[G]

If your car is the same width, I don't see why you would need extra mirrors - your view isn't going to be impeded particularly - when it is, you'll be turning and an extended mirror won't help much.

But, it sounds like you really want to buy a mirror, so probably can't hurt .

Do you have a car trailer and a licence that lets you tow a car?
It's likely it'll be illegal on either count if not.

And yes, I mentioned the error messages etc to Korn straight after the update yesterday, but he's been mysteriously absent.

[Random13]

yes do have b+e

[G]

And a trailer?

Otherwise, if the car is under 750kg, it's a "grey area"; if it's over and you don't have something to actuate the brakes you can only do it to tow the car to "a place of safety" when it's broken down etc.

[J4mes]

Info on the laws regarding towing mirrors here:

https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/moreformembers/insurance/caravan-insurance/touring/caravan-mirrors-and-the-law/

[i.p.phrealy]

[Tamsin]

For the record, when I purchased my bike I dragged it from London to Brighton on a single bike trailer and there really was zilch need for a towing mirror - if anything it would have been more of a hinderance than a help.

A bike on a trailer will fit well within the area that your wing mirrors wont cover

Adequate vision behind you is simply that, no further defining required. If you cant see anything behind you in the mirrors then you need to get extended, or towing, mirrors. If you can see a sensible amount then you needn't bother.

[Tamsin]