towing mirrors
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New User
Joined: Apr 2003
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towing mirrors
Last year we purchased a 2001 X to pull our travel trailer, but it did not have the extendable towing mirrors. Can the stock ones be changed at a reasonable price? If so is the process difficult?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: North of Boston US of A!!
towing mirrors
Look at my post "2003 F250 TT (trailer tow) mirrors on a 02 Excursion" It should explain it all. Also if you dont need the ones with the directionals built in....there are a few sets on ebay. Search: ford mirrors.
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: I'm lost somewhere in NJ -- can someone please find me?!?!?!?
towing mirrors
In 2003, the option of a heated TT mirror with integrated turn signals was offered for the Super Duty truck. Retrofitting this on Super Duty/Excursions is time consuming, as stated above, and will run about $300-$350 for the mirrors if you shop around online. There are online stores that sell genuine Ford parts for a lot less than what you would pay at the dealership.
If, however, you just want to run the TT mirror (same as the one described above, but without heat & signals) it is a simple bolt-on, simple install. There are posts in the Super Duty forum on this simple process.
If, however, you just want to run the TT mirror (same as the one described above, but without heat & signals) it is a simple bolt-on, simple install. There are posts in the Super Duty forum on this simple process.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: North Port, FL
towing mirrors
I swapped the standard mirrors on my 2001 Excursion for the SuperDuty 2003 towing mirrors that extend, are heated, and have the integrated turn signal. Plugged right in. Swapping the mirrors takes 1/2 hour at the most. The only thing you will be missing is having the integrated running light operate unless you add an additional wire to the harness on the door. It took me another 1/2 to run the wire through the door jamb harness and get it hooked up. Works great.
The mirrors are sold in four pieces...the two mirrors and then the two outer covers that are available in a pebble grain black finish or in paint-to-match. I chose the black. The whole project cost me $360 less the $90 I got for my old mirrors on eBay.
Hope that helps...they look GREAT!
The mirrors are sold in four pieces...the two mirrors and then the two outer covers that are available in a pebble grain black finish or in paint-to-match. I chose the black. The whole project cost me $360 less the $90 I got for my old mirrors on eBay.
Hope that helps...they look GREAT!
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
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From: SEVA
towing mirrors
I bought a set of made-to-fit mirror extensions for my 2001 X. About $50, and I keep my factory mirrors as is ... with heaters & integral turn signals.
I adjust my standard mirrors so whenever someone coming up behind leaves the view in my interior rear-view mirror, they are then seen in one of my side mirrors. When their vehicle has progressed to where they can no longer be seen in the side mirrors, I usually can then see them out of the corner of my eye.
The mirror extensions are adjusted so I can keep on eye only on where the trailer wheels are travelling.
I adjust my standard mirrors so whenever someone coming up behind leaves the view in my interior rear-view mirror, they are then seen in one of my side mirrors. When their vehicle has progressed to where they can no longer be seen in the side mirrors, I usually can then see them out of the corner of my eye.
The mirror extensions are adjusted so I can keep on eye only on where the trailer wheels are travelling.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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towing mirrors
Enter "towing mirrors" in the URL address box in your browser. You will get a number of options which are effective, inexpensive, and can be strapped on when you need them, rather than a permanent "fix".
Stuart
Stuart
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Posting Guru
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From: I'm lost somewhere in NJ -- can someone please find me?!?!?!?
towing mirrors
To each his own. Personally, I have never been satisfied by the strap-on/attachable mirrors. It just looks like cheap, no matter what you do. Nothing beats the full-integrated look. Kind of like hub-caps on cheap rims vs. polished high-end rims.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 6
From: SEVA
towing mirrors
Oh, I agree. While I do enjoy their usefulness, those detachable mirrors are a little ugly, even though they're contoured nicely to the existing shape. But I only tow the car trailer maybe 10 or 12 days per year, so they're only on the X for what(?) ... 3% of the time? I can live with cheap for that long, and not go through the trouble (and great expense) of swapping out factory-made parts.
Like you said, to each his own.
Like you said, to each his own.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: I'm lost somewhere in NJ -- can someone please find me?!?!?!?
towing mirrors
Didn't mean to offend or "dig" your choice. If it works, use it! More power to ya'. The other guy was just going for a different look -- the new TT mirrors with the integrated defrosters, lights & turn signals are pretty hot. I'm still driving closer to signs & obstacles than I should be, hoping to clip one of my 2002 TT's so I can justify the time & expense of putting the new ones on my F-250.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: North of Boston US of A!!
towing mirrors
Insolution,
Would you please tell me where you pickedup the feed for the running lights for your mirrors. I have installed the mirrors but have not gone to that extent. I plan to do this soon. I wanted the mirrors on in time to tow my trailer and was successfull by one day. Now i would like to intergrate the running lights. Thank you in advance.
Would you please tell me where you pickedup the feed for the running lights for your mirrors. I have installed the mirrors but have not gone to that extent. I plan to do this soon. I wanted the mirrors on in time to tow my trailer and was successfull by one day. Now i would like to intergrate the running lights. Thank you in advance.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 74
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From: North Port, FL
towing mirrors
Hi Keith,
I pulled power from the head lamp switch running light circuit. I don't remember the wire color (sorry). Run a wire through the door wiring harness and up to the brown (I think) wire on the mirror harness. I think the brown wire on the mirror harness is the one that does not have a corresponding wire on the chassis side of the connector--take a look as your wiring may be different, but that's how I found it on the Excursion. I just used a tap connector to make the connection. Since I don't anticipate changing mirrors again (my third time) hard wiring to the harness didn't seem like a bad idea.
Hope that helps.
Scott
I pulled power from the head lamp switch running light circuit. I don't remember the wire color (sorry). Run a wire through the door wiring harness and up to the brown (I think) wire on the mirror harness. I think the brown wire on the mirror harness is the one that does not have a corresponding wire on the chassis side of the connector--take a look as your wiring may be different, but that's how I found it on the Excursion. I just used a tap connector to make the connection. Since I don't anticipate changing mirrors again (my third time) hard wiring to the harness didn't seem like a bad idea.
Hope that helps.
Scott
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 230
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From: North of Boston US of A!!
towing mirrors
Thank you. I was really looking for the wire color off of the headlight switch but you at least confirmed that it can be done without any over draw on the switch. The lights in the mirror appear to be L E D's so i was kinda figuring on going there. I just need to find the wire marking. I will do some more research before i start it. Thank you very much.