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My Towing Mirrors

Discussion in 'Towing' started by 05silverTaco, Dec 28, 2008.

  1. Dec 28, 2008 at 3:46 PM
    #1
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    131
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    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    Well guys I finished my towing mirrors so I decided to combine everything in this forum as most people intrested ((editted) will be towing.) in towing will be on this forum.
    So here goes.
    I went from this.

    Camperpics001_12b893484714e40465e2dc1ceb15f37e720aca68.jpg

    ChristmasTrip183_c85fa2100b6ca02fb2059226eb91d580c97feb0a.jpg


    To this.

    ChristmasTrip263-1_eee40447b675b5ecd180f701c375ec69abbc992f.jpg

    I first got this idea after looking at a lot of mirrors on different trucks and finding out Toyota does not have a decent tow mirror for our truck and niether does the aftermarket.

    Well I got some information on these mirrors from this site.

    http://www.elektro.com/~charlie/dodge/mirrors/

    So I read up more and measured and found the base atachment point of these mirrors to be smaller than ours.

    continued.
     
    rb52 and YODA04 like this.
  2. Dec 28, 2008 at 3:51 PM
    #2
    tdm156

    tdm156 Well-Known Member

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    San Antonio, TX
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    Not bad! Seem a bit out there but if your going through any of the mountains they probably come in handy. How big of a trailer is that and how does it pull? I might be in the market for something similar to that in the new year.
     
    NorcalAP2 likes this.
  3. Dec 28, 2008 at 3:53 PM
    #3
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Member:
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    Messages:
    131
    Gender:
    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    So I went ahead and ordered these mirrors.

    http://www.speedycarparts.com/sku/Dodge_Ram-1500_Kool-Vue_Mirror_1999_2001_DG49EL.html

    And started by taking apart the inside door panel and off with the mirrors after recieving the new dodge ones.

    Outside without mirror.

    mirrorpics012_984abc76615c61432d8d9eb2479fccbc8ba9703a.jpg

    Inside without mirror.

    mirrorpics011_f155c8ad6ae3146bb6301d80d2bfdfe54a0d36e8.jpg

    Thinking of a different switch I thought I came up with one that had heated switch incorporated also. But it would not work. More on that later.

    Well after Taking the mirrors off and comparing the new I found three mounting studs just like the toyota. I also found I could use the rear most stud on both new mirrors as my starting point and removing the other two, the top and front one from each mirror and replacing them with a shorter one then marking drilling points I could then mount the mirrors on the door frame.

    cont.
     
    Snowmonk likes this.
  4. Dec 28, 2008 at 4:06 PM
    #4
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Member:
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    Messages:
    131
    Gender:
    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    Here are pics of mirrors mounting points.

    mirrorpics008_1d932978d9098ae768ce8a6426c45f849bbe23a0.jpg

    And of having marked door frame.

    mirrorpics019_b8d144d17d36175ce980e3ff2ad1e3234e28f2da.jpg

    I drilled the door frame at my marks and then relieved some of the material from the inside door frame to allow my nuts to hold my mirrors on.

    mirrorpics038_44ba7a079d8ff1b8d02983531e78b64658c3d862.jpg

    Then I made up a 1/4" aluminum piece to this shape to fill the indentation and drilled that to match.

    ChristmasTrip248_66f6d6085b3f4725c26cedac812cf0a911664e52.jpg

    Then temporarily mounted to vehicle.

    mirrorpics022_bfe6ee9d2fffeee846bd9c894220015dd9bbee86.jpg

    Cut gasket material out of a generic splash guard of about 1/8" rubber to this shape to fill mismatch of dodge to Toyota door frame.

    ChristmasTrip247_f9aba2b7f5023506c51f5fcceaf2afe3d617ef7e.jpg


    I also replaced each stud on both new mirrors with a stud about 2" long that way the inside door panel and mirror covers will fit.
    cont.
     
  5. Dec 28, 2008 at 4:08 PM
    #5
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    131
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    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags

    tdm

    20 foot travel trailer about 4500 pounds empty and pulls great.
    Just got back from a camping trip up the road a piece with pulling from 800 foot to over 2000 ft high passes here.

    vince
     
  6. Dec 28, 2008 at 4:19 PM
    #6
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    Now after cutting the spacer drilling to match the new holes on the door and making the gasket here is what she looked like.

    mirrorpics046_84aa8e785d50b4833bd6d8f9644c4ed2af84eef6.jpg

    Wired the new mirrors up to the old Toyota mirror connector using info from above post on dodge mirrors. Just double check that they are using the same common wires as above mine had two different common wires from side to side.
    Then mounted and wired up a seperate switch for heater operation.

    ChristmasTrip259_ae2cde8f9a04f7b954c1d576488c06a8c289412f.jpg

    Ran a fused wire from the battery to switch and then to both door mirrors with one wire from the door mirror going back to ground just under each side kick panel. I used a long plastic tie wrap to feed the wires through the door along side the original door wiring.

    Here are some pics from the driver seat while towing.

    ChristmasTrip264_5f6110fbbac2bfd17224f96ea6d6edb1668fddb2.jpg

    ChristmasTrip265_eb8c7c845de2fd2be56d19ef5d7fd2788434cbe8.jpg

    cont.
     
    Hamer95USA likes this.
  7. Dec 28, 2008 at 4:38 PM
    #7
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
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    #10199
    Messages:
    131
    Gender:
    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    Now if I were going to do this again I woould do it different. I would make up the spacer in 3/8". Install on door with double back tape and drill the spacer for the stock mounting holes. By marking the toyota holes from the inside door frame area.
    Remove the uppermost and front stud from each mirror and use a shorter stud so as to mark the drilling of those two holes. I would put the spacer on the door with double back tape install mirror partialy with using the long stud through stock toyota hole and two shorter studs in place of the two previously removed studs.

    Now having drilled the stock locations from your first markings tap the front and top most hole to 6.0mmX1.0pitch and countersink from the outside of spacer. Then drill the two dodge mounting holes from your markings and countersink those holes from the backside of spacer. Install two machine thread srews into your tapped holes from the outside of the spacer in the forward and top most Stock hole position using locktite. Now mount spacer to mirror using machine thread screws with locktite in the top and forward dodge mounting position.

    What we just accomplished was making the dodge mirror have the mounting studs in the stock toyota location with the use of machine screws and the spacer.

    Now there is no need to drill your doors out like I did.

    cont.
     
    Hamer95USA and cali04intx like this.
  8. Dec 28, 2008 at 4:58 PM
    #8
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Member:
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    Messages:
    131
    Gender:
    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    I previously posted or started this topic here http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/20280-heated-power-towing-mirrors.html .

    And there are more and different pictures there.

    I am completely satisfied with this modification to my truck. The mirrors look stock from 5 feet away and further. They only look added on due to the gasket taking up the different shape between Toyota and Dodge door frames and only if you know what you are looking for.

    The mirrors are stable and worked great for towing. After setting up camp I refolded them to the retracted position and adjusted quickly so we could drive around with out the Mirrors sticking out like this.

    mirrorpics054_4d110e6878c868905ba3faf32f1961b5d02b2211.jpg

    If any of you would like to do this modification and have any questions feel free to ask.

    I would like to add one more bit of info on how my mirrors are working.

    I think the toyota wiring may be different than other factories when it goes from our mirror switch to the mirrors.
    My left mirror works just like the factory installed it with movement up down all around from the switch matching the up to up down to down and right and left to right and left.
    The right mirror is off. It goes up down right left o.k. it just doesn't correspond to the location on the mirror switch. The wiring from toyota to the right mirror looks to go through some kind of diode trio to keep the common wire grounding the motor when appling the mirror switch.
    My mirror goes up when I press the switch left, it goes right when I press the switch up, it goes down when I press the switch right, and it goes left when I press the switch down.
    As you can see it is 1/4 switch position off.
    Now since nobody else has done this mod and I am running point here I wanted to let you know if you do this mod your right mirror might take some getting used to adjusting it.
    I am planning on trying to rewire so as to work correctly just have not had time yet.

    cont.
     
  9. Dec 28, 2008 at 5:12 PM
    #9
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Member:
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    Messages:
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    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    As too my wish to use a different mirror switch with heated switch on mirror switch I haven't found one that would mount in our dash looking stock. I have come close. I spent $30.00 dollars on other switches that looked good but not close enough. Haven't given up but will do more research. Here are the two switches and then there is a picture from the sides of the switches showing the stock Toyota at the top of each set of pics. You can see that the mounting in the Toyota dash is wider and shaped special for the Toytota switch.

    2003 Acura TL switch which is not quite as wide

    ChristmasTrip233_7318744fab2e4c6e52b3a710ca87337620768ec8.jpg

    1992 Acura Legend switch wich is closer in size but not the right corner contours

    ChristmasTrip232_3f82edfeb89724bcff86793a2d7b2626ddf696d5.jpg

    Mounting hole not square special shape for toyota switch right lower corner build up could dremel.

    ChristmasTrip249_00ecee0a13a339642b90e7a802a1d6a089b8f5a3.jpg

    And showing how thick mounting of dash is again could dremel to thin for other switches.

    ChristmasTrip250_9903a4a5a9fbecdb66649e699e502d5a0f27e40e.jpg

    cont.
     
  10. Dec 28, 2008 at 5:19 PM
    #10
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Member:
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    Messages:
    131
    Gender:
    Male
    Grants Pass, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    This picture is of the three switches on their sides to show the different thickness mounting of the switches. Also one mounts with springs at top and bottom of switch to hold switch in dash.

    ChristmasTrip251_61702fc486a4245441d4208b0439eba70cc34735.jpg

    I hope that I blazed the trail for some of you to follow if you are unhappy with your stock mirrors.

    Any questions feel free to ask.


    vince
     
    Hamer95USA likes this.
  11. Dec 28, 2008 at 7:43 PM
    #11
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Grants Pass, Oregon
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    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    phantom,

    The mirrors fold down for normal driving and unfold into the up position when towing. The folding of the mirrors is done manually. The adjustment is power.


    vince
     
  12. Dec 29, 2008 at 3:16 AM
    #12
    wushaw

    wushaw Well-Known Member

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    Texas
    Vehicle:
    08 AC TRD 4x4 6sp
    That is a very good mod:)
     
  13. Dec 29, 2008 at 2:33 PM
    #13
    Kooltaco

    Kooltaco Well-Known Member

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    I may have the perfect switch for you.

    The defrost switch from a 2003 Toyota Highlander also controls the heated mirrors on these models and comes with a built in timer. The switch fits perfectly into the Tacoma dash and retails for around $50.00

    http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...6400&callout=6&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0

    I plan on adding Heated Mirrors sometime but I will need help wiring up the switch I have.
     
  14. Dec 29, 2008 at 4:18 PM
    #14
    canadiankid

    canadiankid Well-Known Member

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    Well done 05silvertaco it looks great. If we could just get someone with a CNC mill to mass produce some exact transfer blanks he or she could make a few $$. The nice thing is that the mirrors are cheap enough so if we spent a bit on a transition piece it would be no big deal. Great write-up thou and thanks for doing all the hard work on the prototype. As far as the wiring goes you should be able to figure it out with a volt meter and just trial and error for left right up and down. Good luck and looking forward to hearing more from you on this great mod.
     
  15. Jan 12, 2009 at 1:15 PM
    #15
    jrsmokestacks

    jrsmokestacks Well-Known Member

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    Stock work truck
    Did you look into chevy or fords tow mirrors? What about the tundra's tow mirror? Btw, those dodge mirrors are great, i've had them on my 04', 05', and 07' cummins trucks.
     
  16. Jan 13, 2009 at 1:24 PM
    #16
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Grants Pass, Oregon
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    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    jrsmokestacks,

    I looked at the 2002 chevy mirrors and you could get them to work the ford and the Tundra have to big a triangle base to mount to our doors.

    If you want to get a mirror to fit measure the triangle of the mirror mount on the outside of the door. Then if it is smaller than what we have you can make it fit more than likely.


    vince
     
    Hamer95USA likes this.
  17. Jan 27, 2009 at 6:25 AM
    #17
    rachunter

    rachunter Well-Known Member

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    Can you post some pics with the mirrors folded in? I would love to have some better mirrors for towing but they will also have to look good when not towing.
     
  18. Jan 27, 2009 at 6:53 AM
    #18
    05silverTaco

    05silverTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Grants Pass, Oregon
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    12 DCLB 4X4 TRD Sport
    Dodge Mirrors, Fog light switch, Always on Fog lights, Firestone Air Bags
    rachunter,

    Here are a few with them in.

    mirrorpics051_a75a39c87e41b40da7300df1440cbb1c8e901436.jpg


    mirrorpics032_d1165ecb4d50585c73335bde1223959d2bcf70c5.jpg

    mirrorpics052_81cf7d4e6c2482371079f61d8b6e6db87d7e9434.jpg


    vince
     
    HardTaco813 likes this.
  19. Feb 12, 2009 at 4:35 PM
    #19
    CtryBoyInMT

    CtryBoyInMT Lifetime Member

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  20. Feb 12, 2009 at 4:58 PM
    #20
    tacoholic

    tacoholic Well-Known Member

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    The second set you've mounted look much less....retarded.
    Telling you the truth since I don't want you to look like a dumbass but those wide ass ones you first mounted look like shit. The second set that were more dodgeish(?) look worlds nicer.
     

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