Wing mirror arms, can you change the size of the arm

[Billylou]

Apologies, I did add this to an older thread but I’m not sure the title was appropriate for my question.

I‘m sure the width of a van determines the size of the wing mirror arms supporting the wing mirrors. However does anyone know what the min/max vehicle width is before it’s necessary to go up or down in size? The reason I’m asking is because my incoming van, pictured below, looks like it could have short arms rather than the long or mediums.

For info an Adria Compact has a width of 2.12m and has short arms whereas a Dethleffs Globebus T1 has a width of 2.2m and has what looks like medium/long arms.

Additionally does anyone know if the arms below are long or medium?

Many thanks

 

[The Artilleryman]

Pre C19 you could get the parts from after market sellers, but that dried up with C19, haven't looked since, but should do as I need a medium arm for the O/S as the 1/4 light frame obscures part of my view.

 

[Jake Royd]

I've considered this question as well.
I have a coach built with long armed mirrors.
I reckon I could still see past the rear body with medium arms.
However I have not taken the plunge.
My long arm mirrors seem very wide at times
I did some research to find out what the arm length etc of the 3 version is , reproduced below

 

[Billylou]

I've considered this question as well.
I have a coach built with long armed mirrors.
I reckon I could still see past the rear body with medium arms.
However I have not taken the plunge.
My long arm mirrors seem very wide at times
I did some research to find out what the arm length etc of the 3 version is , reproduced below

View attachment 720522

Having previously driven a Fiat PVC, 2.05m, I had plenty of vision with short arms. So much so I’m sure I would still enjoy adequate vision with a 2.2m compact.

 

[Jake Royd]

Having posted above I don't think changing just the arms would work.
You have to be able to buy them separately.
Also changing an arm does not look easy.
Changing the complete mirror is not too hard , I've done this on a few Ducato minibuses.

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[donkey]

If mirrors are less than 2meters from the ground, they should not extend beyond 800mm from outside of vehicle.

Geoff

 

[Billylou]

Having posted above I don't think changing just the arms would work.
You have to be able to buy them separately.
Also changing an arm does not look easy.
Changing the complete mirror is not too hard , I've done this on a few Ducato minibuses.

To be honest I’d probably get someone else to do it.

 

[Peter and Julie]

How about this?

Milenco Aero Blind-spot Towing Mirror

Wide angle blind spot mirror using Milenco's unique Aero clamping system.

www.towsure.com

I had to get one to attach to a Class 2 wagon as the driving examiner couldn't see down the side of the lorry when on a test.

 

[L' Hobo]

Normally, from what I have seen, the shorter arm version is fitted to the PVC's where the body does not extend. When fitted to Coachbuilt with wider bodies, the longer arms are employed.
Interchangeable arms is a no,no as far as I'm concerned. Fitting the complete mirror is reasonably easy and the way to go.

 

[Sasbo]

I removed the long arm mirrors from my Chausson 530 and replaced with the short arm (van) mirrors. No issues with vision in the short arm mirrors and a fairly easy job, hardest part was removing the door top window switch panel.

Got the short arm mirrors from ebay

Pardon our interruption...

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[Billylou]

Normally, from what I have seen, the shorter arm version is fitted to the PVC's where the body does not extend. When fitted to Coachbuilt with wider bodies, the longer arms are employed.
Interchangeable arms is a no,no as far as I'm concerned. Fitting the complete mirror is reasonably easy and the way to go.

Agreed although that’s not the case for the Adria compact coachbuilt as mentioned in post 1. That’s why I’m asking if there is a minimum width before you have to go up to medium/large arms.

 

[Billylou]

I removed the long arm mirrors from my Chausson 530 and replaced with the short arm (van) mirrors. No issues with vision in the short arm mirrors and a fairly easy job, hardest part was removing the door top window switch panel.

Got the short arm mirrors from ebay

Pardon our interruption...

What is the width of your motorhome?

 

[Old Gibber]

Its probably illegal to replace mirrors with shorter arm ones, and you will probably invalidate your insurance too. You should not only be able to see alongside the van, but you must also be able to see the rear corner of each side of the van without shifting position.

 

[Billylou]

Its probably illegal to replace mirrors with shorter arm ones, and you will probably invalidate your insurance too. You should not only be able to see alongside the van, but you must also be able to see the rear corner of each side of the van without shifting position.

Thanks. Out of interest are you 100% sure it’s illegal or is that an educated assumption. It’s certainly something I’d be interested in knowing for sure.

 

[Old Gibber]

Thanks. Out of interest are you 100% sure it’s illegal or is that an educated assumption. It’s certainly something I’d be interested in knowing for sure.

100% sure its illegal. Comes up on caravan forums frequently.

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[Billylou]

100% sure its illegal. Comes up on caravan forums frequently.

I think I need to understand what the min/max dimensions are before making a decision.

 

[Nanniemate]

Having previously driven a Fiat PVC, 2.05m, I had plenty of vision with short arms. So much so I’m sure I would still enjoy adequate vision with a 2.2m compact.

Adequate is not sufficient and it may be classed as modification on your insurance

 

[Billylou]

Adequate is not sufficient and it may be classed as modification on your insurance

There must be a dimension, I.e 2.15m whereby medium arms are fitted. I have no idea where I’ll find that information.

 

[Nanniemate]

There must be a dimension, I.e 2.15m whereby medium arms are fitted. I have no idea where I’ll find that information.

You'd have to read the desgin construction details on your van and a similar van with the exact same dimensions withe different arms I would have thought try dvla or vosa. Construction and design regs it may be under

 

[The Artilleryman]

You cannot equate caravan regulations with MH's as they are 2 different things.
Caravans are further back from the door mirror hence the blind spot if trying to use car door mirror only.
A class will be same width all along the side, same as bus & coach and I can assure you my O/S mirror was very close to the window.

Now we have a Bailey MH with a body width of 2.4m, cab 2.28m (I think), problem is, the front window channel (1/4 light to main window) obscures part of the mirror, a shorter arm would give me full view of the mirror.

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[jumar]

Our Renault Hymer had medium/long arms from new..one broke... couldn't get a replacement type the same ..so I bought a new pair of short arms complete mirrors....Big mistake.. couldn't see what's needed...drove a bit with caravan towing extenders...then by chance I found in Germany a pair of Medium arm mirrors...now I can see all that's gone before me...learning as I go....

 

[Billylou]

Our Renault Hymer had medium/long arms from new..one broke... couldn't get a replacement type the same ..so I bought a new pair of short arms complete mirrors....Big mistake.. couldn't see what's needed...drove a bit with caravan towing extenders...then by chance I found in Germany a pair of Medium arm mirrors...now I can see all that's gone before me...learning as I go....

What is the width of your van?

 

[Aireworth]

Does the length of the van not have some influence on the width of the mirrors required? I haven't looked carefully, but I get the impression that longer narrow vans have wider mirrors than shorter narrow vans.

 

[jumar]

What is the width of your van?

I should, but I don't know...sorry...

 

[Billylou]

Thanks jumar

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[Billylou]

Does the length of the van not have some influence on the width of the mirrors required? I haven't looked carefully, but I get the impression that longer narrow vans have wider mirrors than shorter narrow vans.

All three lengths of Fiat Ducato PVC‘s have short arms. All Adria Compact coach built (2.13m wide v PVC 2.05m wide) have short arms regardless of length.

 

[Aireworth]

Ok, thanks. So maybe not a factor.

 

[Nanniemate]

It depends in the shape if it is long and sleek a short armed mirror will see the length of the van if the cab then has a sticky out bit where the living area is then the arm has to be long enough to see past the bump the bigger the bump the more arm length is needed A lines and pvc's no bump lots of coach builds have a bumps or a wider vertical step behind the driver

 

[Billylou]

It depends in the shape if it is long and sleek a short armed mirror will see the length of the van if the cab then has a sticky out bit where the living area is then the arm has to be long enough to see past the bump the bigger the bump the more arm length is needed A lines and pvc's no bump lots of coach builds have a bumps or a wider vertical step behind the driver

So as you can see there isn’t much of a bump, approximately 7.5cm each side. This goes back to my original question about is there a specific size of hab area whereby the mirror arm size must increase. Could be Dethleffs only buy chassis with medium/long arms as it’s more efficient. From the picture below you’d “assume” short arms would work. Sorry to prattle on.

 

[Nanniemate]

Longer arms cost more, so I would think that manufacturers put the correct le gth for the vehicle . All vehicles must meet the design and construction regs to ensure they are safe.

Just had a thought why do you want to change them ? Another point clipping mirrors is common place so would mean you loose that protection when the gap is miss judged.
If a short mirror is clipped the side of your is also ..probably

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