what keeps these from folding in while you drive tho? it looks as if the adapter you machined could move freely. I like the whole idea, its way better then welding it next to the vent window.

 

It's growing on me. Does the door flex or mirror fold in at speed?

 

The mirrors are from a 94-01 manual dodge. They had a sale on ebay for a pair for $138. Then I bought 2 15/16" 304 stainless rods 6" long for $20 and turned down one end to 3/4" to fit in the door mount with the bushing on it. Then put a tapper on the other end to fit into the center hole of the mirror with the taper in the center of the mirror. Their is a 1/4" hole threw the side, which is hidden by the cover, then drilled and tapped a hole in the tapered side of the adapter that locks it from turning. The tapper is very tight to the tapper of the center of the mirror. So I believe that takes most the load off the stainless 1/4" bolt. Ive driven the truck around for a few days around town and on the highway at 85, which I don't usually do but wanted to see if they would move. with the mirrors up they didn't budge. only down side so far is cant open the vent window all the way. The door flexs a little on the drivers side when I go to adjust the mirror. the drivers door tho is aftermarket. the passenger door is solid.

 

These Dodge flip-up towing mirrors fit trucks from '98 up to whenever the 4th gen body style was in production, 2010 (?). As far as I know. The 4th gen mirror housings are shaped slightly different but I don't know if the mounting base is the same as the earlier, 3rd gen trucks. The '94 to '97 trucks had mirrors similar to our 1st gens but the mounting base was up in the lower corner of the window opening and I don't know for cerain if these flip-up mirrors mount to those or not.

I've considered doing the same to a set of Chevy towing mirrors. A set of powered reproductions can be picked up on Amazon for about $150. They even have the integrated turn signal behind the mirror glass. I like them and the Ford tow mirrors because the convex mirror is separate from the flat glass and is on the bottom, in a better position. Just my opinion though.

The only thing I'd need to know is how exactly they'd come apart to do what you've done with the Dodge mirrors.

 

Do you have a pic of the mirrors you are making reference too?

 

I assume you mean the Chevy mirrors, Brian?

These are the ones I've considered. 2003-2006 or 2007 GM trucks.



I was mistaken on price. I was looking at the manual mirrors which are around $150 for the pair on Amazon. A pair of powered mirrors are about $250 give or take. I believe they are even power sliding??

 

Those were the ones I thought you were making reference too. I've looked, and considered those as well, but couldn't figure out a way to mount them to the existing power mirror base like the cmcr0703 did.

 

That's what I am thinking at least not high enough to be of any use.

 

The chevy mirrors may work. IT would take a little doing and depend on tearing the hinges apart without destroying anything.

It would take a shaft (A) and some spacers (B) being made. Be a little easier and better looking if you can swap the top and bottom plastic hinge covers, if the top one is long enough to cover the entire spacer.
And you'd have to either use a piece of tubing for the shaft, or drill the solid one you made, for the wires to be run through.

 

Good work on adapting the towing mirrors. Like them much better on the original mirror base.

I have considered the Chevy style mirrors as well. Any new ideas or progress on adapting those?

-Dawson

 

I'm trying to get my hands on a set of take-offs from a friend who just bought a mid-90s Chevy with them on it. He hates them and wants to put the OEM mirrors back on. I keep reminding him to remember me when he does. Other than that, junkyard would be the only other place to get some for cheap that I wouldn't mind doing a little R&D with.

 

That's great. Hope he remembers, too. I'm considering some R and D as well.

Really wish I could get a complete, detailed look at the mirrors. Found this picture of the inside of them.

 

I searched Chevy forums for a bit and saw about the same images. Seems they would just need a hole drilled through the bottom arm. Or both top and bottom to secure them better to the factory mirror base.

 

Your mounting setup reminds me of how GM 'adapted' the GMT400 (88-98 style) power mirrors for the last of the 89-91 square body suburbans

 

I really like this idea. Someone should make the adapter for these and sell them on eBay.