The 10 Best Towing Mirrors
Safely towing a trailer or camper isn’t as simple as hooking it up to your vehicle and going on your way. If you regularly have a trailer attached to your vehicle, there’s a good chance you’ll need to invest into a set of towing mirrors. In fact, some state laws mandate the use of trailer or towing mirrors on your vehicle to make sure you can safely see your surroundings while driving.
Generally, factory mirrors have blind spots and those become worse when you’re towing a trailer or camper. Standard side mirrors likely don’t offer an adequate view, so a good rule is to make sure you can see the entire length of your trailer and the traffic behind it when you’re towing. For example, some states such as Georgia and Illinois require mirrors that give a view of at least 200 feet to the rear if you have a trailer attached.
To learn more about towing or trailer mirrors, refer to our table of contents.
Table of contents
1. Editor's Pick: Auto Dynasty
Auto Dynasty is another company with a comprehensive, affordable lineup of mirrors ranging from powered with heated glass to manual telescopic options. The company also has fordable mirrors with integrated turn signals, and offers certain applications with just a single mirror instead of selling as a pair. These mirrors feature reinforcement brackets to prevent vibration during driving.
It’s worth noting that certain mirrors with integrated turn signals may require a reflash in order for the turn signals to work.
You can find Auto Dynasty mirrors for several different vehicles including Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Ram, Ford F-Series, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon, Toyota Tacoma, and more.
Pros | Price, wide lineup of applications and fitments, manual, power, telescopic, heated, turn signals |
Cons | Turn signal mirrors may require a reflash |
Bottom Line | Editor's Pick for Best Towing Mirrors |
2. CIPA
Along with offering a universal clip-on towing mirror, CIPA has a wide assortment of vehicle-specific towing mirrors. Some models are available in manual, power, and heated power, along with being extendable so they’re the ideal replacement no matter how frequently you’re towing. The company also offers mirrors that fit over the existing factory side mirrors, extending towing vision without having to use any tools. This is a great option if you want an add-on type mirror that doesn’t ruin the aesthetics of your vehicle like some of the clip-on mirrors do.
CIPA has products for various makes and models, including Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Ram, Ford F-Series, Ford Expedition, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon, and Jeep Cherokee.
Pros | Wide variety of applications, extendable, heated, manual, and power, clip-on options |
Cons | Top-of-the-line mirrors get pricey |
3. Fit System
Fit System doesn’t offer as many applications as CIPA, but it does have one of the most popular universal clip-on mirrors on Amazon. The company also has snap-on mirrors that work with your factory mirrors, extending your view without needing any tools. For some applications, Fit System offers manual and power towing mirrors, as well as extendable units that are heated and have built-in turn signals. These do get expensive however, similar to CIPA’s top-of-the-line mirrors.
Applications from Fit System include Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford Excursion, Ford F-Series, and GMC Sierra.
Pros | Popular clip-on mirrors, applications for snap-on mirrors, manual, power, extendable, heated, and turn signal mirrors |
Cons | Limited applications, top-of-the-line mirrors get expensive |
4. DEDC
More affordable mirror options come from DEDC, which specializes in vehicle-specific applications. The company also sells mirrors separately, so it’s an ideal choice if you’re looking for just a driver side or passenger side mirror. Some of its more premium options are power and heated mirrors with integrated turn signals, offered at a lower price than some of DEDC’s competitors. If DEDC has a towing mirror for your specific vehicle, they’re a great option at a cheaper price.
Applications from DEDC include Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford F-Series, GMC Sierra, and Toyota Tundra.
Pros | Mirrors sold separately, manual, power, heated, turn signals, affordable |
Cons | Limited applications |
5. ECCPP
ECCPP has a wide range of mirrors available for a variety of vehicles at an affordable price. Its lineup consists of manual, power, heated, turn signal-equipped, and extendable mirrors, some of which can even fold. It’s worth noting, however, that the more affordable price comes with some compromises, with users complaining about possible clarity issues with the mirrors’ glass, as well as vibration issues on certain fitments. In addition, some of the mirrors that have blinker and puddle lights may require a reflash from the dealership, depending on the vehicle.
Make sure to do proper research to see if any users ran into a certain issue before purchasing one of ECCPP’s mirrors. Most buyers are satisfied with their purchase, but some vehicle applications appear to have issues.
Some of the vehicles ECCPP offers mirrors for include Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Ram, Ford F-Series, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon, and more.
Pros | Price, wide assortment of applications and fitments |
Cons | Blinker and puddle lights may require a reflash from the dealer, some users complain of clarity and vibration issues |
6. SCITOO
SCITOO’s lineup of mirrors is similar to ECCPP’s offerings, with a wide range of applications and mirror types. Pricing is more affordable than some of the competitors in the market, making it an attractive option if you’re shopping on a budget. Some users on certain applications do complain about vibration and mirror distortion issues, while others say fitment is poor for their specific vehicle. Again, take a look at user reviews before making a purchase to ensure your specific vehicle doesn’t have any issues with the replacement mirrors.
Many of the mirrors SCITOO offers are power and heated with signal lights. There are more affordable manual extending options as well for certain trucks, like the Toyota Tundra.
Some of the vehicles SCITOO’s towing mirrors cover include Chevrolet Blazer, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford F-Series, Ford Ranger, GMC Jimmy, GMC Sierra, Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Tundra, and more.
Pros | Wide range of applications and fitments, price, manual, power, extendable, heated, turn signals |
Cons | Mirror distortion and vibration issues on certain applications |
7. APS
A smaller company with less offerings, APS mirrors are ideal if you’re looking for an affordable option, so long as they have a product for your vehicle. Some of its mirrors are heated and telescoping, while others are power adjustable with LED turn signals. This company has some of the cheapest offerings available on Amazon, but these aren’t perfect products. Some users complain about limited adjustability on the power mirrors, while others mention vibration and distortion issues.
If you do limited towing and want to purchase a set of replacement mirrors without having to spend a lot of money, APS’s products may be sufficient for your needs. Again, check user reviews for your specific application before adding them to your cart and checking out.
Some of the applications from APS include Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, and GMC Sierra.
Pros | Affordable, heated, telescoping, LED turn signals |
Cons | Limited applications and variety |
8. Trail Ridge
More premium offerings are available from Trail Ridge, which offers mostly power and heated mirrors for various makes and models. Some applications do offer integrated turn signals, as well as manual mirrors. Trail Ridge’s mirrors aren’t cheap, but they are some of the highest-rated offerings on Amazon with little complaints about mirror distortion or vibration issues. They also come with a lifetime warranty, which isn’t very common in the segment.
Applications from Trail Ridge include Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford Expedition, Ford F-Series, GMC Sierra, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tacoma, and Toyota Tundra.
Pros | High-quality mirrors, power, heated, turn signals, manual, lifetime warranty |
Cons | Expensive |
9. AUTOANDART
Another company that offers single mirrors is AUTOANDART. The lineup of affordable products include telescopic, power, manual, heated, and turn signal-equipped options with fitments for various makes and models. These mirrors are designed to match your vehicle’s original mirror and come with a one-year warranty.
Unfortunately some of the company’s products aren’t vehicle specific for year, make, and model, so make sure to contact the vendor before making a purchase. The mirrors are instead listed as fitting a broad application, such as Dodge pickup truck. They do however, specify the part number for the mirrors you’re replacing, so if you can get that information you can choose the right mirror for your specific vehicle.
Some users do complain about vibration issues with the glass, but that may be a result of the product not being an exact fit.
Pros | Price, telescopic, power, manual, heated, turn signals, various makes and models |
Cons | Specific fitment isn't easy to find, possible glass vibration issues |
10. Spec-D Tuning
Spec-D Tuning’s lineup of mirrors are very affordable, with manual and power folding options available, along with heated and integrated signal lights. These mirrors offer great performance for the price, although some users do note there is some minor vibration on certain applications. Similar to APS, you can take a closer look at Spec-D Tuning’s mirrors if you only tow from time to time and want a cheaper set of towing mirrors.
Available applications include Chevrolet C10, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford F-Series, GMC Sierra, Nissan NV Cargo, Toyota Tacoma, and Toyota Tundra.
Pros | Price, manual, power, heated, signal lights |
Cons | Vibration issues, limited applications |
What are Towing Mirrors?
Towing mirrors are designed to give you a better view of what’s behind your vehicle if you have a trailer or another accessory hitched. Typically, towing mirrors extend further outward than a standard side mirror, increasing your rearward vision to help provide a safer towing experience. There are several types of towing mirrors available in today’s market, from manual mirrors to power mirrors, as well as telescopic mirrors that you can manually extend when you’re towing. You can also look at universal clip-on mirrors, which are normally inexpensive and work with every vehicle.
Why do I need Towing Mirrors?
As we mentioned before, factory side mirrors on your vehicles likely have blind spots, making it difficult to see what’s behind and to the side of your vehicle. Those blind spots are further accentuated when you’re towing a trailer, so a set of towing mirrors are a necessity. More importantly, however, most states have laws that require certain visibility or the use of towing or trailer mirrors when you’re attaching something to your vehicle.
These mirrors not only make it safer for you and the cargo you have on your trailer, but also the drivers sharing the road around you. In other words, towing mirrors aren’t necessarily optional depending on the state you live in. And if you want the safest towing experience possible, invest into a set of towing mirrors for your vehicle.
What to Look for When Shopping for Towing Mirrors
Before you start shopping for towing mirrors, you will want to see what your specific state’s laws require. A good resource for this is available at AAA’s website, which lists what’s mandated by state. Most states in the U.S. will require visibility of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle, regardless of how big your trailer is.
You do, however, want to take into consideration the size of your trailer when shopping for towing mirrors. What you’re planning to hitch and how large it is will help determine the type of towing mirror you need to purchase.
You will also want to determine how often you will be towing a trailer or similar accessory with your vehicle. If you’re only planning to tow periodically, you may not want to replace your entire mirror assembly. Instead, look for a more temporary solution like universal clip-on mirrors.
There are a few options when shopping for towing mirrors: manual, power, telescopic (extendable), and universal clip-on mirrors.
Like their name suggests, manual towing mirrors do not offer any sort of power adjustment and are simple OE replacements. You unbolt your factory side mirror and install the new towing mirror in its place. These mirrors require manual adjustment and are typically more affordable than power mirrors.
Power mirrors add the ability to use your power mirror switch to adjust the mirror. These mirrors will be a bit more expensive than manual mirrors and will be trickier to install since you will have to route either some wires or a plug back to your factory switch.
Telescopic or extendable mirrors are a popular choice among vehicle owners, since it allows them to adjust the mirrors when necessary. These mirrors can extend to offer a better view when you’re towing, or go back to a standard position when you have nothing hitched. Telescopic mirrors are also available in manual or power forms, which means you can either extend them on your own, or simply push a button for a better view.
Lastly, universal clip-on mirrors are the ideal option if you’re only towing every now and then. These are a relatively inexpensive option and can be added to your vehicle’s factory side mirrors with little effort. Just keep in mind they don’t look the greatest when it comes to blending in with the styling of your vehicle, and they may vibrate excessively depending on how well they clip on.
Other features you may see when shopping for towing mirrors are units that are heated or have incorporated turn signals. These options are entirely up to you on whether you need those added benefits.
If you’re purchasing replacement mirrors made specifically for your vehicle, it’s a good idea to make sure they feature some sort of reinforcement bracket to minimize vibration.
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Photo credit: Cass Tippit / Shutterstock.com
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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