So I have looked around and I haven't been able to find any kind of mirror 'cover' for the Excursion/F250/F350 tow mirrors like they have for Crown Vic's and other vehicles that run lights on the outside of the mirror.

I'm trying to find out if the mirror glass and motor can be removed from a tow mirror so I can mount lights like these directly to the mirror housing:

In my case, I'd like these mounted 'forward' on the flat side of the mirror, one white one amber mounted next to each other vertically (90 degrees of the photo above) to compliment the 4 I have mounted in my grill.

I'm hoping I can remove the mirror glass (disconnect the heating element leads), then remove the mirror motor mount so I can access the inside of the mirror shell (BEHIND the mirror motor) and secure the light and run the wires through the extension tube into the truck.

Has anyone removed a mirror motor from a tow mirror housing - is it fastened with screws/bolts or one of those setups where the motor is integral to the mirror housing (removing the motor destroys the mirror)?

They make these smaller ones with flanges - if I can get the mirror motor out and get the wires run, this will be a trick mod...it would let you add small side markers/turn signals to the SIDES of existing mirrors for literally a fraction of the cost of getting new mirrors with signals included. Another type of light you could use:


These are Whelen Vertex LED's. Don't let the photo trick you, when these are on high power, they are CRAZY bright.

You can set these to 'steady burn' and tie them into the turn signal lead. I don't know if they have the 'low power' on all of them, but some do so you could set them as 'running lights' vs. 'turn signal'.

 

why dont you just swap out with someone that is looking for power mirrors?

 

I'm not following. I have power heated non signal tow mirrors. Updating to signal mirrors would still leave me with wanting to add the LED strobes to the front.

 

Just FYI, the amber would be ok, but that red light cannot be mounted facing forward.

Stewart

 

sorry misunderstood. i have had the glass out of mine but never the motor.

 

They offer split colors...you could mount them on the sides of the mirror, amber forward, red to the rear.

Some states vol FF can mount red forward. I'm no FF, I'm a DSW, so I can only run amber, white and green to the front.

 

Unless the CVC has changed significantly from back in the day, not even volunteer FF'rs are allowed to in California.

Stewart

 

In CA not just any vehicle may have amber flashing lights (in addition to turn signals and emergency flashers.) Also, no vehicle that is not an authorized emergency vehicle may display green, red, or blue lights. Also, no vehicle may have more than two flashing white lights above the roof line, or more than two flashing white lights below the roof line, but the two below may be in addition to flashing headlights.

As far as amber lights, California Vehicle code specifies what vehicles may display amber flashing lights.

However, you should be covered under the following:

Other vehicles that may display amber flashing lights:

• Red Cross Vehicles
• Public Utility Vehicles
• Utility Vehicles
• Personnel Aerial Lift Vehicles
• Hazardous Substance Spill Response Vehocles
• County Vehicles (In counties with 250,000+ population)
• House Towing Vehicles
• Coroners Vehicles
• Sanitation District Repair Vehicles
• Levee maintenance Vehicles
• Pest Abatement Vehicles
• Pilot Cars
• Vehicles Herding Livestock
• Pet Ambulances
• Animal Control Vehicles
• Cable television vehicles
• Trucks with long loads
• Vehicles Transporting Mentally Retarded or Disables
• Vehicles Enforcing Parking Laws
• Survey Vehicles
• Private Security Vehicles
• Garbage Vehicles
• Water Tender Vehicles
• Construction and Contractor Companies

 

I may have missed something really big, but this is not what you need?

 

No. He wants flashing amber emergency lights. Facing forward. You COULD use the marker LEDs in the mirror but they arent nearly as bright as emergency LEDs
Look at this part of his post...
He is looking for this, for his truck.

 

Hence my statement "Some states". I don't want to make a blanket statement on one state when all 50 have members who see the board.

 

Yes, you did,
A) they don't strobe (what I am looking for)
B) they face to the side and back, not really to the front (what I am looking for)
C) for those that aren't DSW's and don't have a FD ID, if we can find the proper way to remove the mirror and motor, you could add any of a variety of aftermarket LEDs (set to steady burn of course) and end up with a brighter mirror signal for a fraction of the cost of finding a good power/heated/signal mirror.

 

Almost...I would like to also explore adding side mounted ones I could wire into the turn signals/running lights. If we can find out how they could mount and find a good looking aftermarket LED we could mount, it could offer folks an alternative to side marker mirrors for a fraction of the cost of a full on replacement.

 

I would like to encourage all of my fellow FTE'er to keep an eye on their local CSI shows... I think I see a new episode in the near future.

 

Remember folks, if you don't have an answer to the original question, it's OK NOT to post a reply.