Towing Mirror Swap

khancock · December 24, 2008

I have been searching for a while as I though there was already some info here about swapping power folding mirrors to towing mirrors but I can't seem to find it.

In a gifted moment at 1am I recently destroyed my passengers side mirror (headed, power folding, signal etc). I had been planning on upgrading to the factory GM towing mirrors anyways so I took this as a sign that it was time. I emailed GMAccessoryStore.com to check fitment on my truck and they said without either option code DL8 or 6P3 towing mirrors can not be installed and I have neither option code. I did find a few threads of people saying they upgraded without problem and just had the button left for power folding there to avoide any reporgraming. Can anyone provide me with reason or explination as to why these would not fit? Different electrical connectors? Something else? I know I read here at one time about door modules but I can't seem to find it....

If anyone could / would run a vin build sheet for me maybe it could provide some more info?: 2GTEK19JX81303238

Thanks!

Outbacker · December 24, 2008

I checked on mine and I did have the RPO code of DL8. I changed out my stock mirrors with the towing mirrors, and they are great. There are 3 bolts holding them on, and the bolt pattern was identical, and then just plugging in the harness to where the other one unplugged. The only pain part was the door panel had to come off as the harness plug is somewhere in the middle of the door frame. Hopefully someone else will chime in and get that build sheet for you.

khancock · December 24, 2008

I do not understand why they would not fit. I changed out my stock mirrors with the towing mirrors, and they are great. There are 3 bolts holding them on, and the bolt pattern was identical, and then just plugging in the harness to where the other one unplugged. The only pain part was the door panel had to come off as the harness plug is somewhere in the middle of the door frame.

I don't understand why the DL3 wouldn't work when the DL8 does, unless maybe its a different wiring harness or plug style?

bsibold96 · December 25, 2008

I had the power extending towing mirrors on my 05, I changed them to the power folding models and I had no problems with the plugs or any of the functions not working

pm26 · December 25, 2008

Can somebody explain what do these RPO codes mean (DL3 and DL8)?

khancock · December 25, 2008

Can somebody explain what do these RPO codes mean (DL3 and DL8)?

Stolen from other posts:

DL3 - EXTERIOR MIRROR W/DRIVER SIDE AUTO DIMMING, PWR FOLD & ADJ, HEAT, TURN SIGNAL & GROUND ILLUMINATION

DL8 - DUAL PWR HEATED OSRV MIRRORS

Basically DL3 is the code for power folding where DL8 is the "Basic" mirrors.

alaska511 · December 26, 2008

Yes you can add them. I don't know about the RPO codes. I have an LTZ that had the fold/tilt/heat/signal mirrors. I swapped them for the heated towing mirrors. There are many threads on this.

khancock · December 26, 2008

Yes you can add them. I don't know about the RPO codes. I have an LTZ that had the fold/tilt/heat/signal mirrors. I swapped them for the heated towing mirrors. There are many threads on this.

Did you do the swap or have a dealer do it? Did you keep the switch and just have a dead folding button or replace it? Anything else involved? I searched for quite a while and know I have found some in the past but can't seem to now.

VT_Z71 · December 26, 2008

Yes you can add them. I don't know about the RPO codes. I have an LTZ that had the fold/tilt/heat/signal mirrors. I swapped them for the heated towing mirrors. There are many threads on this.

Did you do the swap or have a dealer do it? Did you keep the switch and just have a dead folding button or replace it? Anything else involved? I searched for quite a while and know I have found some in the past but can't seem to now.

Search my username for past posts or topics. Earlier this year I swapped from DL8 to DL3, and had a complete writeup about it. The switch from DL3 to DL8 is simple, and quite a bit easier than what I had to go through. Either or, you can get the idea from the writeup I did a while back.

By the way AlaskaLTZ, those mirrors still lookin' good!

Midwestcruiser · December 28, 2008

You guys had the same idea as me...replace the smaller mirrors for the the biggunz! My son bought a 2500 Dmax last July and ever since, I've had my eye on them...maybe in 2009. Until then, I'll settle for the mirrors. The only things I lost were the power fold and drivers side, auto dimming features...a small price to pay for more viewing capactiy. Here are a coule of before and after pics of mine...took me about 1 1/2 hours to install them.

alaska511 · December 30, 2008

Yes you can add them. I don't know about the RPO codes. I have an LTZ that had the fold/tilt/heat/signal mirrors. I swapped them for the heated towing mirrors. There are many threads on this.

Did you do the swap or have a dealer do it? Did you keep the switch and just have a dead folding button or replace it? Anything else involved? I searched for quite a while and know I have found some in the past but can't seem to now.

Search my username for past posts or topics. Earlier this year I swapped from DL8 to DL3, and had a complete writeup about it. The switch from DL3 to DL8 is simple, and quite a bit easier than what I had to go through. Either or, you can get the idea from the writeup I did a while back.

By the way AlaskaLTZ, those mirrors still lookin' good!

Thanks, Clay! Yeah, now I am wondering if I will keep them on, or not. I sold the Travel Trailer, and am thinking about getting a class C, or another 2500HD/3500 and a slide in camper.

If I do that, then I will put the blue mirrors back on

geektoad · December 30, 2008

Yes you can add them. I don't know about the RPO codes. I have an LTZ that had the fold/tilt/heat/signal mirrors. I swapped them for the heated towing mirrors. There are many threads on this.

Did you do the swap or have a dealer do it? Did you keep the switch and just have a dead folding button or replace it? Anything else involved? I searched for quite a while and know I have found some in the past but can't seem to now.

Search my username for past posts or topics. Earlier this year I swapped from DL8 to DL3, and had a complete writeup about it. The switch from DL3 to DL8 is simple, and quite a bit easier than what I had to go through. Either or, you can get the idea from the writeup I did a while back.

By the way AlaskaLTZ, those mirrors still lookin' good!

Thanks, Clay! Yeah, now I am wondering if I will keep them on, or not. I sold the Travel Trailer, and am thinking about getting a class C, or another 2500HD/3500 and a slide in camper.

If I do that, then I will put the blue mirrors back on

I think you should get another 3 story walk-up with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths camper like you had on the old truck.

Also...why'd you go back to AlaskaLTZ?

alaska511 · December 30, 2008

Yes you can add them. I don't know about the RPO codes. I have an LTZ that had the fold/tilt/heat/signal mirrors. I swapped them for the heated towing mirrors. There are many threads on this.

Did you do the swap or have a dealer do it? Did you keep the switch and just have a dead folding button or replace it? Anything else involved? I searched for quite a while and know I have found some in the past but can't seem to now.

Search my username for past posts or topics. Earlier this year I swapped from DL8 to DL3, and had a complete writeup about it. The switch from DL3 to DL8 is simple, and quite a bit easier than what I had to go through. Either or, you can get the idea from the writeup I did a while back.

By the way AlaskaLTZ, those mirrors still lookin' good!

Thanks, Clay! Yeah, now I am wondering if I will keep them on, or not. I sold the Travel Trailer, and am thinking about getting a class C, or another 2500HD/3500 and a slide in camper.

If I do that, then I will put the blue mirrors back on

I think you should get another 3 story walk-up with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths camper like you had on the old truck.

Also...why'd you go back to AlaskaLTZ?

I love campers I miss that Adventurer, it was sweet!

...and it just felt wrong not to have my name old dispay name showing, and since I am here this week and it is 20 below freakin' zero, it really felt wrong

I need to come up with a good one when I switch again

rckt442 · December 31, 2008

I did the swap from the heated, folding, turn signal, dimming mirror to the camper mirrors. I did not install a new switch. Well, actually I did order the mirrors that come with the switch, but found out that it wouldn't work without a BCM reprogram, so I just kept the original switch. The only difference is the folding mirror button has no function now. IMO, order the mirrors without the switch and just swap them out. Less cost and less hassle. The swap shouldn't take more than a couple of hours, the majority of which is spent taking the inner door panels off. As AlaskaLTZ said, there are several threads on this, which I used to guide me through the swap.

khancock · January 1, 2009

I did the swap from the heated, folding, turn signal, dimming mirror to the camper mirrors. I did not install a new switch. Well, actually I did order the mirrors that come with the switch, but found out that it wouldn't work without a BCM reprogram, so I just kept the original switch. The only difference is the folding mirror button has no function now. IMO, order the mirrors without the switch and just swap them out. Less cost and less hassle. The swap shouldn't take more than a couple of hours, the majority of which is spent taking the inner door panels off. As AlaskaLTZ said, there are several threads on this, which I used to guide me through the swap.

Thanks for everything guys, I completed the swap with out problem. I did keep the old switch and just have a dead power folding button now. I didn't even bother removing the entire door panel, it was pretty easy to just release the top half and re run the new mirror wires. My only advice to people completing this swap in the future is not to drop your tools down the door as that was the biggest pia during the entire process