2017 GMC Sierra Remove Towing Mirrors?

Hexa Fox · November 22, 2019

Greetings Gentlemen,

Some of you might know I have been on the lookup for a new truck for quite some time. So I just found what I think is a nice used truck today. It is a 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 with a 5.3 EcoTec3. It has just under 15,000 miles on it and has power windows, cruise control, backup camera and that is all I really looked at so far. The dealer is asking $26,000 for it and said they have a little room to move. Anyway this is a little over my budget but one of the best deals I have come across in awhile.

However, it has one thing that I do not like, which is the large towing mirrors. I asked the dealer about it and he was extremely nice and too honest, he said that is the exact reason the last owner traded it. So I have driven them before on various jobs but never owned one and they do get on my nerves. I have not driven one in a long time and would like some feedback.

1.) Do any of you guys have towing mirrors on a daily driver you have gotten used to? This truck will be used to tow a dual axle trailer during the warmer months, so maybe if I can get used to it, it will come in handy? However, this truck will be my daily driver.

2.) Do they get "roughed up"?

3.) If I do not like them would it be a lot of trouble to replace them with regular mirrors? I saw some videos and looks like you have to take off part of the door panel. However, is it even possible? Like are the doors made a certain way to only hold a certain mirror or can I replace them with a reasonable amount of effort?

4.) I hope no one is getting annoyed yet but I still do not know how I feel about buying an EcoTec engine. I think I would feel more comfortable buying the 5.3 V8 EcoTec over the 4.3 V6 EcoTecs that I have been looking at previously. I heard I can put a Diablo Tuner or something in them to disable the computer from backing off cylinders and help with pedal lag etc.

Just looking for feedback in general. Also for those of you that have them can you tell me what kind of mileage you are personally getting? This is a regular cab by the way, which I have always driven.

T1Kaiju · November 22, 2019

I put tow mirrors on my avalanche, realized they werent for me, then put the original mirrors back on. Its a 2 hour job if you have never done it. You can get stock like mirrors online, and probably sell your tow mirrors for more than you pay. Just change them out if you dont plan to tow.

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Hexa Fox · November 22, 2019

3 minutes ago, Texas Daddy said:

I put tow mirrors on my avalanche, realized they werent for me, then put the original mirrors back on. Its a 2 hour job if you have never done it. You can get stock like mirrors online, and probably sell your tow mirrors for more than you pay. Just change them out if you dont plan to tow.

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Thanks for the information. It is nice to know if I do not feel comfortable with them I will not be stuck with them.

Flameout · November 22, 2019

As stated, it seems the tow mirrors are very easy to sell. Especially OEM mirrors. Power fold would be an added bonus. I've been looking for tow mirrors for myn2017.

As for the DiabloTune, yes, you can "turn off" the AFM. The tune for the 2017+ are a bit more expensive though (like $40?)

SirenRed16 · November 22, 2019

Thanks for the information. It is nice to know if I do not feel comfortable with them I will not be stuck with them.

A few things here...a lot of guys here have gone from regular mirrors to tow mirrors so you can definitely go from tow mirrors to regular mirrors. You can also get the mirrors that power fold and have the signal in the glass, it'll cost more with more work but doable.
I also have a regular cab with the 5.3 3.42 gears and my DIC is showing lifetime 42k miles 19mph

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Hexa Fox · November 22, 2019

18 minutes ago, SirenRed16 said:

A few things here...a lot of guys here have gone from regular mirrors to tow mirrors so you can definitely go from tow mirrors to regular mirrors. You can also get the mirrors that power fold and have the signal in the glass, it'll cost more with more work but doable.
I also have a regular cab with the 5.3 3.42 gears and my DIC is showing lifetime 42k miles 19mph

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Is it all plug and play? For instance, if I want to "upgrade" to mirrors that have the signal built in and power retract are all/most trucks already setup for it? I would love to have mirrors that auto retract after parking if compatible. Thanks for the information too, it sounds like I will be getting quite the upgrade as far as MPG goes. Right now I average between 12-14 MPG in a 4.8 V8.

Hexa Fox · November 22, 2019

24 minutes ago, Flameout said:

As stated, it seems the tow mirrors are very easy to sell. Especially OEM mirrors. Power fold would be an added bonus. I've been looking for tow mirrors for myn2017.

As for the DiabloTune, yes, you can "turn off" the AFM. The tune for the 2017+ are a bit more expensive though (like $40?)

Yeah I might even stick with them for a little while to see if I can get used to them. Having that in mind, I can already see them becoming a problem. I frequently have to park my truck in tight spaces where I am already concerned, so I can see the towing mirrors getting broken or beat up. I would hate for it to destroy a part of my door or something too.

I have never had a tuner before, do I need to look for a specific one on Diablos website for example? Also does anyone know if disabling the EcoTec cylinder reduction/AFM whatever could cause issues? Like are the cylinders that get disabled lesser cylinders that are not made to be run all the time? I saw reviewers on Amazon saying it is healthier for the truck overall to just sacrifice a little fuel economy to run full eight cylinders all the time.

SirenRed16 · November 22, 2019

Is it all plug and play? For instance, if I want to "upgrade" to mirrors that have the signal built in and power retract are all/most trucks already setup for it? I would love to have mirrors that auto retract after parking if compatible. Thanks for the information too, it sounds like I will be getting quite the upgrade as far as MPG goes. Right now I average between 12-14 MPG in a 4.8 V8.

It'll be plug and play if you buy the correct harness needed. We have a member here who is the guru when it comes to that type of stuff.

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Hexa Fox · November 22, 2019

2 minutes ago, SirenRed16 said:

It'll be plug and play if you buy the correct harness needed. We have a member here who is the guru when it comes to that type of stuff.

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Thanks, I hope they see this and stop by, would love to know more.

SirenRed16 · November 22, 2019

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?url=https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/198157-2014-2017-dl8-dl3-towing-mirror-upgrade-%E2%80%93-mirrors-explained/&share_tid=198157&share_fid=33003&share_type=t&link_source=app

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Hexa Fox · November 22, 2019

6 hours ago, SirenRed16 said:

A few things here...a lot of guys here have gone from regular mirrors to tow mirrors so you can definitely go from tow mirrors to regular mirrors. You can also get the mirrors that power fold and have the signal in the glass, it'll cost more with more work but doable.
I also have a regular cab with the 5.3 3.42 gears and my DIC is showing lifetime 42k miles 19mph

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I would love to know more about the EcoTec3. I have been doing research on them tonight and have seen some people are totally cool with them and others absolutely hate it. It sounds like you have not done anything to yours correct? I am thinking I might be one that does not like it going back and forth between the cylinders. It looks like if that is the case I can easily fix it with an educated decision on a tuner. Also guessing it will decrease that gas mileage I am looking forward to getting as well.

L86 All Terrain · November 22, 2019

I have the tow mirrors on my 2500. I drive it everyday for work and park my 6.2L in the winter so it doesn't rot out. I have gotten used to them but they can be a handful in city driving. I have had them hide at least 3 cars on me in the 1.5 years I have owned the truck. Undeniably a bigger blind spot than the DL3 mirror. I don't think I would take them off though, they aren't that bad, just be mindful.

Hexa Fox · November 22, 2019

4 hours ago, L86 All Terrain said:

I have the tow mirrors on my 2500. I drive it everyday for work and park my 6.2L in the winter so it doesn't rot out. I have gotten used to them but they can be a handful in city driving. I have had them hide at least 3 cars on me in the 1.5 years I have owned the truck. Undeniably a bigger blind spot than the DL3 mirror. I don't think I would take them off though, they aren't that bad, just be mindful.

Yeah I travel a good bit and we live out in the country but when you start getting closer to town it does start to simulate bigger city traffic with tight spots. Never had any trouble driving full sized pickups though, was just a little concerned about the tow mirrors.

I am sure the EcoTec engines have changed for the better over the years but all one need do is Google 5.3 EcoTec to create enough doubt over them.

I also read that you cannot keep most many tuners plugged into that diagnostic port either. Like the manufacturer of Range says to pull it if you do not drive it everyday. Which is cool and all but I can see myself forgetting about it now.

Z45 · November 22, 2019

I had tow mirrors installed on my 2017 Sierra Denali. I pull a enclosed trailer and the regular mirrors made it hard to see what was behind me. I have the power folding take offs 4 sale.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2302768623347501/

Hexa Fox · November 23, 2019

3 hours ago, elcamino said:

I had tow mirrors installed on my 2017 Sierra Denali. I pull a enclosed trailer and the regular mirrors made it hard to see what was behind me. I have the power folding take offs 4 sale.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2302768623347501/

Those are the ones I personally like. However, if I am understanding correctly from SirenRed's forward the truck I am looking at needs to be DL8 or DL3 compatible? It looks like if you have DE2 standard mirrors or DPN towing mirrors you cannot upgrade without invasive wiring?