New Innovations Are Not Always Better
Innovations and new features are always welcome each year on vehicles of all types and sizes. After all, if it’s new, it’s got to be better. Not necessarily. If we look back at some “new innovations” introduced by the auto industry in past eras, the square steering wheel, Chrysler Plymouth 1957, auto dimming headlight controls (never did really work well), and who could ever forget the Ford Edsel, king of the designer “oops” awards.
Motor homes and RV’s in general, for that matter, can be even more challenging when introducing change. This is because they are dealing with a balance of mobility and livability. What might add a plus to livability may be not practical given its mobility’s needs and vise versa. Then there are features that are somewhat unique to RV’s, such as slides to extend the living areas when stopped. We’ve seen innovations in this area like flat floor slides, full wall, telescopic and more. But, today I would like to look at what we use to watch our back, our rear view outside mounted mirrors.
Traditional rear view mirrors have been used for a century on all types of vehicles. They even used them in early fighter aircraft built in the canopy above the pilot so he could watch his “six”. Motor homes have seen innovations to mirrors like power remote adjusting, heated faces, separate convex sections and recently relocation from a below mount to an overhead hanging type. With this new design look, the above mounted units came with a whole new set of issues.
First, let’s try to understand why a motor coach builder would go from the traditional mounted mirrors to the overhead inverted type. Only two things here come to mind. To prevent people from striking the lower mounted mirrors with their head and, I believe, they thought it looked, design wise, pretty nifty.
Newer, spiffier looking, no head hitting, inverted mirrors, well may deliver that, but the side affects may far out weigh any benefits. The following are the issues faced by some owners.
- The mirror view of inverted overhead mounted mirrors is at least a 10 degree up look from a level driving view, as opposed to at least a 10 degree look down of a normal driver level view with conventional lower mounted mirrors. This pretty well eliminates the use of visors, both side and front on the driver side and the passenger side. Using either side visors or side shades will in fact block the view of the appropriate mirror. Honestly, what were they thinking about?
- The pure height outside can not be reached or adjusted by even Magic Johnson. This requires standing on a fence, barricade or ladder. Hello! Most owners are retired non basketball players. What were they thinking about?
- Some inverted mirrors, like mine, allow only viewing through the driver side window, not the windshield. The glare factor of some of these types, like mine, can exceed 99% glare to 1% visually correct, depending on the light conditions. During these times, their use is just plain dangerous.
- Inverted mirrors can experience being blown outwardly at high speeds while heavy head winds are present. I know as I have experienced this as much as 4 or 5 times in one day. (Note: Adjustment bolts were tightened twice by the factory prior for this same issue) I’ve seen this happen also on similar coaches.
- Oh, and as far as it looking spiffy, in my opinion, it ain’t.
Bottom line, if it ain’t broken, don’t try to fix it. The lower mounted mirrors were just fine. Watch for some manufactures to go back to what really worked, lower mounted conventional mirrors.
The Way I See It, Lug_Nut
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I agree 100% with your mirror observations.
Peter–x2…
In my opinion, the way things improve is by constantly prying, pushing and prodding. If one is satisfied, then complacency overcomes achievement, and the mother of invention stays home and bakes pies.
Bottom line: If it ain’t broke, break it.
I have the high mount mirrors. While I agree with your evaluation, I have adjusted to them.
Wayne, I agree, I also have somewhat adjusted to them as there is little else to do. As the entire front, up to the windshield, slides out, it is not possible to change to lower mounted due to possible vibration issues.
I curse my driver’s side inverted mirror just about every time I drive it. The glare makes it impossible to see. I only wish there was a way to change them out for traditional, lower-mounted ones.
I have the bottom mounted mirrors that I view through the windshield, I find that they present a blind spot at intersections and require me to do a little dance in the seat to see around them at times.
I guess this is a minor problem compared to the fact that you can not use your shades and the glare makes the mirrors useless in certain situations.
I guess the positioning of the mirrors is a tradeoff, you don’t hit your head, but you cann’t use the mirrors for what they were designed.
One step forward, one step back.
Keep up the good work, enjoy the blogs.
[...] Having a movable section of the front cap that is that large, can present some new challenges. If it is the entire piece from the windshield down, mirrors must be relocated as the movable section would prove unusable due to vibration issues. This would mean going to the inverted upper mounted units. That could raise all kinds of new issues. See January 27th article “New Innovations Are Not Always Better” LINK HERE [...]
[...] Having a movable section of the front cap that is that large, can present some new challenges. If it is the entire piece from the windshield down, mirrors must be relocated as the movable section would prove unusable due to vibration issues. This would mean going to the inverted upper mounted units. That could raise all kinds of new issues. See January 27th article “New Innovations Are Not Always Better” LINK HERE [...]
If one’s secondary handle is doctor of mixology, then who could take his remarks seriously……
Well Bob, I don’t know, why don’t you explain what you mean? Life shouldn’t be that serious. Lighten up!