2002 Upgrade on Side View Mirrors - Experience ?

[Darkstar]

I found a good replacement for mine on Rock Auto. Oddly the power mirror option was cheaper than the manual, so I used the powered one and just didn't connect the wires to anything.

[porschedpm]

Last month I had a run-in with a wild turkey which sheared off my passenger mirror. (RIP wild turkey). I thought it was a good opportunity to upgrade both mirrors to some OEM style, aftermarket tow mirrors available thru Amazon. First, and as noted previously, the bolt pattern was different, and would have required some drilling/retrofitting. But the deal breaker for me was that the tow mirrors would have stuck out an additional 4" wider than the stock. Since I only tow anything once or twice or year, I figured the 8" narrower profile of the van was more important than having the tow mirrors. For the few times I do tow a trailer, I'm OK using strap-on mirrors. So I returned the tow mirrors and got an aftermarket stock mirror instead which installed easily. Hardest part was retrofitting the new to old electric mirror adjustment wires.

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by porschedpm

Last month I had a run-in with a wild turkey which sheared off my passenger mirror. (RIP wild turkey). I thought it was a good opportunity to upgrade both mirrors to some OEM style, aftermarket tow mirrors available thru Amazon. First, and as noted previously, the bolt pattern was different, and would have required some drilling/retrofitting. But the deal breaker for me was that the tow mirrors would have stuck out an additional 4" wider than the stock. Since I only tow anything once or twice or year, I figured the 8" narrower profile of the van was more important than having the tow mirrors. For the few times I do tow a trailer, I'm OK using strap-on mirrors. So I returned the tow mirrors and got an aftermarket stock mirror instead which installed easily. Hardest part was retrofitting the new to old electric mirror adjustment wires.

That’s funny: last summer in the NY Adirondacks I was doing a paddle trip with an outfitter. We met at the put in, and the young driver in the E350 pulling the trailer had a shocked look on his face when he showed up, and I noticed the driver side mirror was missing. He also hit a wild turkey.

[BroncoHauler]

Wild Turkey and driving clearly don't mix.

Herb