There’s no shortage of 4X4 products looking for a buyer. You can buy knick-knacks and doo-dads for every square inch of your rig, camper, heck even your camp chair. They all make the same promises too. You’ll have more fun, go further, and live a better life, all you need to do is punch in your credit card details, safe in the knowledge that the new LED antenna whip you just bought is the solution to all life’s problems.
But some products aren’t solutions looking for problems. Some products are solutions born out of frustrations of things not working how they should. I suppose that’s a roundabout way of saying Mike realised his mirrors sucked at towing and decided he better do something about it. What he did, turned out to be a bloody good idea.
The Clearview Legacy
The genesis of Clearview traces back to the early 2000s, sparked by the personal frustrations of Mike Cowan, a seasoned towing veteran. Mike’s journey with towing mirrors began with a stark contrast between the capable mirrors of his Ford F-350 and the inadequate options available for his Toyota LandCruiser 80 Series. “It was frustration, really,” Mike shares. “The Ford had really good mirrors, and then I switched to the Toyota, hooked up my caravan, and all I could see was caravan. It wasn’t enough.”
Determined to bridge this gap, Mike imported a set of mirrors from a Chevrolet Silverado and adapted them to fit his Toyota. The improvement was immediate and transformative, drawing attention from everyone in the caravan park. When a bloke handed him a blank check to get a set made up for him Mike thought he might have the beginnings of a business here, something that would grow into Clearview Accessories. Launched in 2006 as a family-operated venture by Mike and his son-in-law, Jay Praag, Clearview’s first product line, the “Original Towing Mirrors,” was a ground-breaking success.
Legalities and Safety
It’s all well and good that Mike and Jay pieced together a product that’d make their lives easier, but is it a necessity, or a luxury? Well, that’s a little bit of a grey area. Y’see, there’s no specific law or requirement that someone has tow mirrors fitted, even when towing. But there is a rather complicated calculation about the visibility to the side and out the back when you’re driving, regardless of whether or not you’re towing. The exact wording is.
“The field of vision must be such that the driver can see at least a 4 m wide, flat, horizontal portion of the road, which is bounded by a plane parallel to the median longitudinal vertical plane and passing through the outermost point of the vehicle on the driver’s side of the vehicle and extends from 20 m behind the driver’s ocular points to the horizon.
In addition, the road must be visible to the driver over a width of 1 m, which is bounded by a plane parallel to the median longitudinal vertical plane and passing through the outermost point of the vehicle starting from a point 4 m behind the vertical plane passing through the driver’s ocular points.”
That sounds mighty complicated, but it breaks down pretty simple. 20m back from your eyes you need to be able to see at least a width of 4m starting from the side of the vehicle (having the van counts as the vehicle, so you need to be able to see the back corner of the van + 4m). You also need to be able to see a 1m strip along the length of the vehicle (including the van or camper) starting from 4m back.
Sussing out the diagram below makes it pretty clear with mirrors in the stock position you’re just not going to be able to achieve that. Technically, those clip-on-the-mirror types will achieve this result, but with far less visibility and a less robust product off-road or on corrugations.
There are over-dimensional laws as well that state that no part of the vehicle should protrude more than 150mm from its widest part unless towing, with a set of Clearviews you can just bump them in when you un-hitch, the clip-on type will need to be uninstalled and reinstalled every time you drop the ‘van to head into town.
The Evolution of Clearview Mirrors
While the original offering, now known as the Original Towing Mirror, was a huge success, 4X4s come in all shapes and sizes so over the last few years Clearview have turned their attention to offering that same practicality but in various spec levels and form factors to suit people’s needs.
Everyone should be familiar with the Original Towing Mirror by now and it still offers the most affordable way into a quality set of towing mirrors. Available in a black or chrome finish, there are simple options available like heating, power fold, electric adjustment and included indicators. They start from $785 but the options do add cost. Bumped out, these will give you full visibility with even the biggest van, and bumped back in will keep you legal when you’re unhitched.
From here Clearview has introduced the Next-Gen Towing Mirrors. These kick off from $835 with no options. They’re effectively a new and improved version of the Original with a sleeker design and more options available. These can be spec’d up with the same options as the Originals as well as blind spot monitoring, memory positions for different drivers (or towing situations), outside ambient air temperature sensors, and 360-degree cameras. They’re available in black, chrome, or an unpainted smooth finish ready for colour coding.
Finally, the Compact Towing Mirror aims to be a halfway step for people towing smaller campers, with rear canopies, or just looking for a little better visibility. They run a single mirror Vs the dual mirror of the full-size offerings but apart from that are just a size-scaled Next-Gen complete with all the options and kick off from a slightly smaller $785.
Behind the Scenes of Innovation
Mike reckons a large part of their success is working with the manufacturers directly to ensure the mirrors work as good if not better than stock “Through our ongoing collaborations with vehicle manufacturers, we ensure our mirrors integrate seamlessly with modern vehicle technologies.” This integration is crucial as today’s vehicles come equipped with complex systems where incorrect accessories could trigger fault codes or impair functionality. Clearview’s dedication to compatibility means that essential features like driver assist functions are maintained, merging advanced visibility with existing vehicle tech.
Co-founder, Jay Praag, highlights the practical impact of their products: “Clearview Towing Mirrors provide an unmatched level of visibility and safety. Engineered to replace standard side mirrors, they offer a broader view and significantly reduce blind spots.” These mirrors are not only more robust but come with features like 360-degree camera integration, Power Fold, and Memory functions, retracting when not in use to conform to legal standards.
Towing Mirror Checklist
Selecting the right towing mirrors is crucial for both legal compliance and safe towing. Here’s a brief guide to help you make the best choice before you embark on your next adventure:
- Compatibility: First and foremost, ensure the mirrors are specifically designed to fit your vehicle’s make and model. This guarantees that they attach securely and function as intended.
- Visibility: Look for mirrors that offer a wide-angle view. This is essential to cover both the sides of your ‘van or camper and the road behind, minimising blind spots and enhancing safety.
- Compliance: It’s vital to choose mirrors that meet or exceed Australian legal requirements for towing. This not only avoids penalties but also ensures that the mirrors provide sufficient visibility.
- Ease of Use: Consider mirrors with user-friendly features such as electric adjustment and power folding. These can greatly simplify the process of aligning your mirrors and making quick adjustments while on the move.
- Durability: Given the challenging conditions of the Australian outback, choose mirrors robust enough to withstand dust, vibration, and impacts. Durability ensures your mirrors remain functional and safe throughout their use.
- Spare Parts: Before purchasing, check if the manufacturer offers spare parts. Mirrors can suffer damage, especially in rough off-road conditions. Being able to purchase spare parts can extend the life of your mirrors and prove cost-effective in the long run.
Keeping these points in mind will help you select towing mirrors that are not just compliant and convenient, but also durable and perfectly matched to your towing needs.
Conclusion
Money’s not unlimited so sometimes it’s hard to know when you’re buying a sound product that’s worth the investment, or buying more trinkets. When building a well-rounded 4X4, the focus should not just be on the accessories that promise more but on those that deliver essential functionality. While it might seem economical to cut corners on something as mundane as mirrors, investing in high-quality towing mirrors like those from Clearview is foundational for any 4X4 that’ll be towing. Not only do they ensure compliance with safety standards, but they also enhance the overall driving and towing experience. Remember, as you deck out your rig, some upgrades are not just enhancements but necessities. Clearview mirrors, born from the frustration of inadequate visibility, turned out to be not just a good idea but an integral component of a capable and reliable 4X4 setup.
