2500HD Camper Mirror Problem

oldspwr · March 16, 2005

Hi...

I just bought a 2005 2500HD crew cab last week with the camper mirrors. The problem is that the passenger side mirror is not convex, just a normal mirror. This creates a problem since now I have a terrible blind spot when you pass someone or when someone passes you on the right. I put small 2" spot mirrors on to try to help but the can only help so much. Does anyone now if GM (or aftermarket) makes a convex mirror for this (with the LED turnsignals)???

Thanks!

Tom M.

Shawn T · March 16, 2005

I have been aggrivated with this problem from day one with my mirrors. The passenger side mirror is useless. If I had to do it over, I would have just stuck with the power folders. Answer to your second question: no I have not heard of a convex replacement with the signal indicator on the market yet. When they make one, I will be the first to buy it. F*&d and D&*(e have great camper style mirrors that work very well. I think GM just dropped the ball on their version. They set too low and they vibrate when fully extended, oh yeah, and did I mention, the passenger side is useless(because it is not convex). The power extend option is nice but just another thing to quit working. I have had both mirrors replaced so far because the arms quit extending. I am in the process now of swapping mirrors with a friend(he has the power folders with curb assist and auto-dim feature). I just feel guilty because I know he is definately getting the short end of the stick.

jeb · March 16, 2005

I agree. It sucks to pay $200 more to get less mirror. I expected to have all the features of the regular mirror plus the power extending. Pretty disappointing.

I did find a nice stick on mirror, at WalMart of all places. It's the far right one on this webpage. It works really well and I'll probably get another for the drivers side. But if anyone comes out with a convex replacement, I'll take one, too.

oldspwr · March 16, 2005

I did find a nice stick on mirror, at WalMart of all places. It's the far right one on this webpage.

Did you put this mirror towards the cab of the truck or did you cover up part of the turn signal? I wasn't sure if mounting towards the cab would help with the blind spot...

Thanks for the help...

Tom

RipT · March 16, 2005

Tom, Back in 2000 I got a Tiger CX Class C motorhome built on a Chevy 2500 NBS chassis and had the same issue with the manually extendable GM camper/towing mirrors that came on the truck - flat glass on the passenger side.

After a bit of research I found the company that supplied these mirrors to GM and was able to buy the exact size convex replacement glass direct from them. I do not know if the same company is making the current model power extendable mirrors, but it is worth a try:

Burco, Inc

2936 S Wilson Ct

Grand Rapids MI 49544

Ph: 616-453-7771

I had to break the original glass to remove it, and then used silicone adhesive to mount the new one, but it fit perfectly and provides the usable field of vision that one would expect. The person I spoke with was very helpful, and understood exactly what the problem was and said it was GM that specified flat glass for these mirrors. Guess they still do. Good luck!!

Shawn T · March 16, 2005

Tom, Back in 2000 I got a Tiger CX Class C motorhome built on a Chevy 2500 NBS chassis and had the same issue with the manually extendable GM camper/towing mirrors that came on the truck - flat glass on the passenger side.

After a bit of research I found the company that supplied these mirrors to GM and was able to buy the exact size convex replacement glass direct from them. I do not know if the same company is making the current model power extendable mirrors, but it is worth a try:

Burco, Inc

2936 S Wilson Ct

Grand Rapids MI 49544

Ph: 616-453-7771

I had to break the original glass to remove it, and then used silicone adhesive to mount the new one, but it fit perfectly and provides the usable field of vision that one would expect. The person I spoke with was very helpful, and understood exactly what the problem was and said it was GM that specified flat glass for these mirrors. Guess they still do. Good luck!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

RipT

I jumped right on the phone and spoke with a sales rep. Unfortunately, right now, while the mirrors are still in production for new vehicles there is some kind of FMV law. It states that if they modify these mirrors while GM holds the design patent on them, it is a violation. I call BS. But you were right, they new exactly what my problem is. They have the flat glass replacement. It was GM's call on that design. Good job General. They will not make a convex or demagnified replacement until GM discontiues them on the NBS trucks.

RipT · March 16, 2005

LAWS!!!!

Hard to figure how this makes us safer if we run someone off the road because we could not see them! Perhaps with the older manual design GM was not the pattent holded on them since I was able to get the convex glass for an '00 model in May of '00.

There are a couple of clamp-on convex mirrors that stick out farther than the regular mirror head, but I have not used them or know if they even fit the power extendable mirror heads. Wish I could help you further.

whitesnake01 · March 16, 2005

I am equally dismayed about this. I ended up getting a replacement mirror glass for a minivan and glued it right over 60% of the mirror's surface. Of course, this is not very elegant and means the mirror heater is basically useless (due to air pocket between real mirror and glue on).

At this point I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that the problem isn't that it is flat. The problem is that it is only flat. The flat surface is good if you are trying to keep track of a trailer behind you. So the mirror should have been split flat/convex rather than just convex or flat.

Right now I am contemplating adding a smaller convex mirror on top of the extendable mirror, allowing me to keep the entire flat surface for the trailer while adding a convex mirror to keep track of what is near me.

RipT · March 16, 2005

That could be an acceptable solution. I have a little aux convex mirror (like the top 1/8 of a 8" circle) that clamps on the top of the stock mirror housing and then is independently adjustable. I use it on the drivers side, but would work on pass as well, but is rather small IMO.

It is better than nothing and won't stick out too far or vibrate. I am still very glad I was able to get the full convex glass for my motorhome, because I would have had to do something drastic otherwise. What I am not sure, but double-arm dual head Velvac comes to mind.

I agree that flat is also nice to have on the right side, but if I have to make an either/or choice, I will go convex every time.

whitesnake01 · March 17, 2005

I agree that flat is also nice to have on the right side, but if I have to make an either/or choice, I will go convex every time.

This might depend on what you are towing and what you are towing with. My truck with a 31ft TT behind is easily longer than any class C. So the distance to cover, and hence the natural "shrink" due to perspective, is more noticeable.

On my Suburban I use clip-on mirrors and they are flat, while the stock mirror is convex. It is while thinking about that I realized that I do not just want a convex mirror. I want both!

Shaners · March 17, 2005

I have the old style manual slide out towing mirrors on my '01 HD. The drivers side mirror is great because it is split, but the passanger mirror required a stick-on round mirror to help eliminate blindspots. I never could figure out why they didn't split the passanger side mirror too...

silverado3500 · March 17, 2005

um, somehow my previous post got posted 3 times in a row. Not sure how that happened, but if a mod could delete the second two, that would be great, thanks.

silverado3500 · March 17, 2005

Actually, they did change the design in late 01/early 02 to a spilt design on the passenger side. I have them on my 02 3500

silverado3500 · March 17, 2005

Actually, they did change the design in late 01/early 02 to a spilt design on the passenger side. I have them on my 02 3500

catiaeng · March 17, 2005

I did find a nice stick on mirror, at WalMart of all places. It's the far right one on this webpage.

Did you put this mirror towards the cab of the truck or did you cover up part of the turn signal? I wasn't sure if mounting towards the cab would help with the blind spot...

Thanks for the help...

Tom

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I placed mine on the lower inside corner of the mirror. The big thing for me was to see the lower part of the truck and trailer to keep it on the road. Plus this helps when parking because I can see the ground with the spotter mirror, and whats behind me with the stock flat glass.

The company who make the mirrors for GM is Muth Mirror Systems, in Sheboygan, WI (1-800-844-6616) At this time they have no objective to add a convex style glass to the GM tow mirror. This is due to the next version of GM mirror for the trucks, which WILL have both Flat and Convex (spotter mirror)similar to the F**d and D***e mirrors.

As far as after market is concerned the best placement for some type of spotter mirror is on the outside edge of the current mirror, however as someone else pointed out, these things shake so bad already, if you add weight to the glass away from the vehicle it will only make it worse.

If I ever get spare time I will tinker with something and show it to everyone.

BJ