Towing mirrors are an essential item for safely – and legally – towing and travelling with your van, but what are the best caravan towing mirrors in Australia? There are so many choices available today compared to when we first travelled around Australia back in 2006 with our little camper trailer!
What are the best options for caravan towing mirrors in Australia?
There are 3 main styles of caravan towing mirrors in Australia:
Clip on towing mirrors
Door mounted towing mirrors
Extendable towing mirrors
Here’s our pick of the best caravan towing mirrors in Australia to suit all size budgets and set-ups for travelling.
Clip On Caravan Towing Mirrors
Drive Easy Fit Mirrors
These Drive Easy Fit mirrors are the ones we are currently using with our set-up on the new Prado. I find that these mirrors are more suitable for short trips and weekends away, and won’t break the budget! We have been surprised with how good these mirrors are, considering they are the cheapest out of all the ones listed in this article.
PROS:
Price – they are cheap and perfect for those on a budget
Easy to install and remove – they are quick and simple to install, and then just the mirrors can be removed and the strap left on the car.
Easy to adjust – the arm simply slides in and out to suit the width of your tow vehicle.
CONS:
Aero-dynamics – we have had the occasional passing truck blow these mirrors back in against the car.
Easy to stealor lose – because they simply clip/strap on, the mirrors can be stolen, and you’ll need to check them for tightness regularly.
These universal clip-on towing mirrors are quick and easy to fit and suitable for most vehicles, with a large, flat glass surface that is aerodynamic and durable in design. These also come with a handy storage bag and straps for added security.
PROS
Price – very affordable!
Easy to install – they are simple to install and easy to clip onto your existing car mirrors.
Universal fitting – suitable for all vehicles.
Aero-dynamic – less likely to blow back into on themselves while travelling.
CONS
Easy to steal or lose – you’ll need to check that the clips are tight on a regular basis so that they don’t become loose and fall off. This also means they are easy to steal, so you may want to remove and store them somewhere safe if security is a problem.
The Milenco Aero 4 mirrors aren’t ones we have personally used, however I have noticed them on other vehicles during our travels, and found plenty of great reviews about them while researching caravan towing mirrors in Australia.
PROS
Price – while a bit more expensive than the clip-on mirrors we are currently using, these are still very affordable!
Easy to install – they are simple to install and easy to clip onto your existing car mirrors.
Ease of use – once installed, these are super easy to adjust – simply slide the arm in or out as needed.
Aero-dynamic – the shape and design of these mirrors makes them a lot more aero-dynamic than other mirrors, so you won’t have them blowing back in on themselves while travelling.
CONS
Easy to steal or lose – you’ll need to check that the screws are tight on a regular basis so that they don’t become loose and fall off. This also means they are easy to steal, so you may want to remove and store them somewhere safe if security is a problem.
The Reich Handy XL Towing Mirror is easy to install, and won’t obstruct the view of your existing car mirrors. Features a vibration-free, adjustable mirror head and adjustable, quick release straps.
PROS
Easy to install – they are simple to install and easy to clip onto your existing car mirrors, and the jointed arms allow for installation on large size mirrors.
Ease of use – once installed, these are super easy to adjust – simply tighten the knob to adjust.
CONS
Price – a bit more expensive than other clip-on brands.
Easy to steal or lose – you’ll need to check that the knob on the back is tight on a regular basis so that they don’t become loose. This also means they are easy to steal, so you may want to remove and store them somewhere safe if security is a problem.
Adventure towing mirrors are an affordable option for permanent, extendable towing mirrors. These are the mirrors we used on our old Prado and after 2 years of use, we couldn’t fault them.
PROS
Price – while more expensive than clip-on mirrors, they are a quality, budget-friendly option for permanent, extendable towing mirrors.
Permanent – install once, and they stay on!
Ease of use – once installed, these are super easy to use and adjust, with no more switching between mirrors. Simply pull out when towing and push back in when not.
CONS
Width – these are wider than a normal mirror, even when fully retracted. I had to manually fold in the driver-side mirror every time I wanted to drive in or out of our garage.
Vehicle specific – if you sell or change vehicles regularly, you’ll need to buy new mirrors.
MSA towing mirrors are installed in place of your factory mirrors. While they are more expensive than other products listed here, they are a long-term investment when it comes to durability, and perfect for long-term travel. MSA towing mirrors feature a large, single mirror that rotates on a solid extension slide. When not towing, the mirrors can be returned to the normal non-towing position to fit within your vehicle’s dimensions. The mirrors can be adjusted at the touch of a button, have indictators for increased visibility/safety, and come with a lifetime guarantee. They are vehicles specific though, so you will need to consider the time that you plan to own your car before investing in a set.
PROS
Durability – they are a more heavy duty product than others
Reduced vibration – due to the solid extension slide
Pivot design – allows for easy adjustments and increased vision
Fit – extendable and retracts to within your car’s normal dimensions when not towing
Ease of use – mirrors are permanently fitted to the vehicle and adjusted at the touch of a button
Lifetime guarantee – for peace of mind
CONS
Price – they are pricey than many other extendable mirrors
Vehicle specific – if you change or upgrade your vehicle on a regular basis, you will require new towing mirrors
Tuff Terrain mirrors are a an affordable, permanent extendable towing mirror compared to others available. These mirrors replace your car’s current side mirrors, are electrically adjusted, and include integrated smoke lens indicators.
PROS
Durability – they are a heavy duty mirror with minimal vibration
Price – these are a more affordable permanent towing mirror
Ease of use – mirrors are permanently fitted to the vehicle and adjusted at the touch of a button
3 year warranty – for peace of mind
Where To Purchase
CONS
Vehicle specific – if you change or upgrade your vehicle on a regular basis, you will require new towing mirrors
Clearview mirrors are an adjustable, permanent towing mirror that replace your existing car mirrors, which makes them perfect for full-time travel. While expensive, they have a reputation for being the best towing mirrors in Australia. These mirrors were top of our list to purchase with the new car, however after using the Drive Easy Fit mirrors – that cost just a fraction of the price – I couldn’t justify the expense of the Clearview mirrors, so they remain on my wish-list for now.
PROS
Permanent – once you install them, they stay there. No switching between clip-on mirrors, and they can’t be stolen easily
Ease of use – once installed, these are super easy to use and adjust, with no more switching between mirrors
Quality – these mirrors are vehicle-specific, and customisabile options include electric or maunal operation, indicators and finishes
CONS
Price – they are expensive!
Width – even when fully retracted, they are still slightly wider than a normal mirror, so you may have to fold them in when in crowded car parks or tight spaces to prevent knocks and bumps from pedestrians, walls, and other vehicles.
These Drive Heavy Duty Door Mount mirrors feature an adjustable ratchet mechanism and wide mounting plates to reduce vibration and provide stability, and fit both driver and passenger doors.
PROS
Durable – a premium, heavy duty mirror.
Ease of use – once installed, these are super easy to use and adjust.
Stable – the mounting plates provide more stability and reduce mirror vibration.
CONS
Not permanent – must be reattached and removed for each trip.
