Long term feedback on mirror upgrades (3 to 4 bolt)

yippee · 05-14-2020, 03:46 PM

I have a 1994 E150 with the 3 bolt mirrors. I was planning to upgrade to the newer 4 bolt telescoping mirrors and have read many of threads on the swap. I was just wanting to see if anyone who had done this swap was still around and could comment on how the swap has held up long term. I just wanted to make sure the swap was holding up well to time before i started converting mine.

Thank you.

Offroading_is_Fun · 05-14-2020, 05:07 PM

Having swapped (3 bolt to 4 bolt conversion, manual to power) mine out as of last summer, perfectly fine. I've yet to come up with anything to nitpick, other than getting the holes in the right place was a real B. I waaaaay overpaid for mine ($200, Ebay, I've seen them MUCH cheaper and in MUCH better shape locally on craigslist, if I had been more willing to be patient.). The arms still need to be repainted from sun damage, rock chips, and who-knows what, but the arms don't appear to rust which is nice.

The idea that I can fold them in and pop them back out to exactly the same spot... really nice. With the old mirrors, many times I'd go out to the van and find one mirror folded in, presumably from where someone had walked into it, and it was always painful to get it back to that "exactly right" spot... (I guess watching where you're going is overrated.... "That parked E-250 came outta nowhere! I swear!").

Also really nice to be able to angle them down when unsure of how close to the curb I am... Course it's no big deal to park on the curb with these things...
Erik

carringb · 05-14-2020, 07:53 PM

I did the conversion a long time ago. Must have been 2006 or so. Anyways after 10 years the mirrors started hanging up, and eventually the adjusters seized. They were aftermarket. But worse is the glass always vibrated, and my workaround was to stuff a couple earplugs along the edge of the glass. Then I upgraded to the OEM version, and they are much, much better.

killacks · 05-14-2020, 11:18 PM

I've got non-OEM tow versions on mine. Nothing beats power adjustment. My passenger side glass vibrates, though, which is annoying. I"ve been using the earplug hack, since I read about it from carringb in another thread. OEM mirrors are on my list.

When towing, the mirrors seem well suited to the task. The rest of the time, I can't seem to get them adjusted to my liking. I think the tall and narrow shape, combined with being a couple inches away from the side of the vehicle has something to do that.
I have a hard time finding the sweet spot between covering my blind spot and seeing traffic in nearby lanes at a reasonable distance. Just my two cents

JWA · 05-15-2020, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killacks

I have a hard time finding the sweet spot between covering my blind spot and seeing traffic in nearby lanes at a reasonable distance. Just my two cents

That's common with the typical Ford dual element mirrors, whether its the smaller versions or the extendable tow mirrors---just can't get the view dialed in.

I'm seriously thinking of adding rear view cameras that feed a split view monitor sitting somewhere near the driver's seat. There are a few things left to work out (mostly in my mind), one being how/where to mount the cameras to my existing mirrors.

There are numerous sites selling these systems, a larger one being RearViewSafety: https://www.rearviewsafety.com/safet...a-systems.html

Another large seller is Tadi Brothers: https://www.tadibrothers.com/categor...camera-systems I'm fairly sure each have much the same stuff for sale, Tadi Bros being quite a bit more costly. RVS has a no fault return policy, I don't get that's too possible with the Tadi operation.

Anyway hope some of that ^^^ helps.

arctictraveller · 05-15-2020, 11:22 AM

I switched to the tow mirrors a few years back, and at first I didn't like the view in the blindspot mirror compared to the original ones, but within a few weeks I was able to come to terms with them and now feel they are fine, perhaps even a little better than the originals. Mounting was no problem, and using a step drill is the easy way to add the additional hole.........

BrianW · 05-15-2020, 12:04 PM

My new 2011 SMB E250 has the extendable tow mirrors and I kinda hate them so far compared with the regular “single mirror” power mirrors (with stick on convex blind spot mirrors) that were on my 1998. There is a huge blind spot on the right side that I haven’t figured out how to alleviate. Plus they add 5-6” to the overall width of the van, just enough to be annoying. I’m seriously thinking of switching out for the “lower end” power mirrors, but giving myself some more time to get used to them before deciding. I’ve been driving vans for 35+ years and am very good with mirrors, but these just bug me. Driving home from picking it up I came VERY close to sideswiping a car in my blind spot. I can’t recall ever having that close of a call driving a van.

carringb · 05-15-2020, 12:19 PM

I have no blind spot with these. Key is adjusting the lower mirror so the body of the van is barely visible at the inboard edge. And the top edge should be lined up just above the horizon. Setup this way, a car will be visible in the small mirror until it's next to the front doors. If you have a blindspot, the small mirrors are probably adjusted too far inboard.

I also keep the large mirrors pointing straight back, so the side of the van is only visible if I lean my head a little. Basically, point them to lane markings still appear parallel in the mirror. At first I'd try to keep the body barely visible, but they really don't work as well this way, being so far out even when retracted.

shenrie · 05-15-2020, 02:15 PM

ive been using some non-powered non-oem tow mirrors from ebay for 5-6 years now. the mirrors vibrate when i have bass going, but other than that they dont vibrate, which is surprising considering the diesel motor.

they are tougher than i would have thought. they have been slammed against the doors numerous times by branches out on tight wooded forest roads. each time i heard it slam against the door i assumed it would have broke, but they are holding up good with the abuse.

i also use a large broadway rear view mirror in addition to the tow mirrors. i can see out both rear door and both barn door windows at a quick glance.

i still struggle with getting the tow mirrors in the perfect position, but i after reading what carringb suggested im going to give that a try. i align the larger mirror as he suggested already, but going to try the little mirror trick and see if it works for me.

my van is an 03 and i definitely like the tow mirrors better than what came on it stock.

REDOVAL · 05-15-2020, 02:33 PM

I did mine about 5 years ago and was certain I was going to have problems with them in the offroad conditions we like to do (baja style quick moving with lots of brush/tree contact). I hated the lack of visibility as noted by others but my zeal for customizing everything got the better of me. They have been flawless and made FAR better with the addition of the C-Betr bolt in convex mirrors.

https://www.hitchinrods.com/index.ph...egory=20667035

Scott