LC200 ClearView Towing Mirrors : Not-so-Long Term Review

[maujkar]

I guess we all get excited to hear about new products making our overloading experiences interesting. I tow a relatively big camper trailer and was in the market for reliable towing mirror or some kind of wide-blind-spot attachments to my side-mirrors. In came the clear-view towing mirrors and i think most of you will remember, back in 2014, the Aussie side went crazy over it. I saw tons of good reviews and decided to order a pair for my LC200 and my friend's GU61 Patrol. we both tow trailers. I think we were also the first-customers for the clear view company from the east-side, back in the Mar 2015.

Long story short - the mirrors were a breeze to install and we experienced immediate benefits of having them while towing. By October 2015, the powder coating started to bubble out on us and the LC200 (black) mirrors were shedding paint in patches. I sent few pictures to the Aussie side and they , just like BajaRack, claimed that they have now improved the powder coat process and gladly sent in a new pair of mirrors for my LC200. This free-unit arrived back in March 2016.

By April 2017 - the paint has started to peel off 'again' and it just looks pathetic. Considering the cost we paid plus the shipping from AUS-->Saudi - it is a really disappointment. I have since sent few emails to the ClearView guys and they have decided to ignore me.

Anyways, paint is one aspect. We also observed that at higher-speeds, lets say 120km/hr, or more, the mirrors have slight vibrations which makes it a bit difficult to focus on your tail. over the year, this vibration has increased and sometimes you cannot make out on what kind of vehicle is at your tail. I will have to open it up one day and see what is 'loose'..

Few pictures for you guys to evaluate and make your mind before purchase !! Few more images i will post later.

 

[Markuson]

That's pretty disappointing. I have a set of those, but they are not currently on my truck as I pulled them off until I get another trailer.
What's curious to me is that if I saw the paint only in that last photo you posted...it looks more like abrasion. But abrasion wouldn't cause the bubbling. Bummer. Hope you'll post any updates to this story...

 

[TexAZ]

I've had mine on for just over a year. Installed October 14, 2016. they show no signs of paint bubbling or chipping. even on the passenger side where the neighbor clipped it with their mirror.
they do seem to vibrate a little more than when they were new at highway speeds (70-80 mph)
nothing too bad though, can still see fine.
Hope clearview takes care of your issues.

 

[Markuson]

I've had mine on for just over a year. Installed October 14, 2016. they show no signs of paint bubbling or chipping. even on the passenger side where the neighbor clipped it with their mirror.
they do seem to vibrate a little more than when they were new at highway speeds (70-80 mph)
nothing too bad though, can still see fine.
Hope clearview takes care of your issues.

I think @maujkar might be the first person I ever saw with these mirrors. Maybe another Middle East locale (maybe Dubai?). An early unit
might explain the first problem, but it wouldn't explain the repeat. Curious.

 

[maujkar]

That's pretty disappointing. I have a set of those, but they are not currently on my truck as I pulled them off until I get another trailer.
What's curious to me is that if I saw the paint only in that last photo you posted...it looks more like abrasion. But abrasion wouldn't cause the bubbling. Bummer. Hope you'll post any updates to this story...

true that abrasion me trying to sand paper it clear and apply some cosmetic black paint. this was the first set -

 

[maujkar]

I think @maujkar might be the first person I ever saw with these mirrors. Maybe another Middle East locale (maybe Dubai?). An early unit
might explain the first problem, but it wouldn't explain the repeat. Curious.

exactly thats the point - the second batch should have been better. i will post pic of the latest chip off from the passenger side.

 

[LALC]

Thanks for posting about this. These are in my long-term plans, but I will definitely be looking for more reviews before purchasing well into the future.

 

[maujkar]

The rust spread across the aluminum base and it started to look even worse. The second batch is the same. So with a help of DIY friend, decided to remove and repaint them and see the extent of rust. Pics are self explanatory.

 

[maujkar]

The pics show the extent of rust on aluminum base. Dismantled it and it only has a Single layer of paint - after paint remover, it revealed the extent of the corrosion. The paint peeled off so easily.

 

[maujkar]

So in sequence, sand blasted fully , cleaned, primered and then black coat of high temp paint plus clear coat. Didn't opt for powder coating .. we believe the reason it corroded so badly in the first place, was that the inside of the panels weren't painted. They just got a little over spray. So the water and humidity that leaks into the inside cause the corrosion to creep to the outside.

After nice even coats , the mirrors will be installed. All pics courtesy my dear DIY friend, who after developing the best flow on 1st batch will do the 2nd batch soon !

 

[sleepycruiser]

Anyone else using these? I wonder how difficult it would be to hook up the version with the blinkers on them to a 2011 LC200 that did not have the blinker on the side mirrors?

 

[fj60eric]

I installed a set earlier this summer. Hands down the best towing upgrade I have done thus far - makes a world of difference in visibility around my camper. They even gave my wife the confidence to tow the camper to/from our storage spot ~20 miles away. Looks good too - more like I use my rig for truck things instead of whole foods trips.

I didn't get the blinker option so I can't speak to that. It is still too soon to definitively tell, but on one cold morning camping a couple weekends ago the passenger mirror defrosted far quicker than the driver side. I will keep an eye on that issue and report back.

 

[fj60eric]

I installed a set earlier this summer. Hands down the best towing upgrade I have done thus far - makes a world of difference in visibility around my camper. They even gave my wife the confidence to tow the camper to/from our storage spot ~20 miles away. Looks good too - more like I use my rig for truck things instead of whole foods trips.

I didn't get the blinker option so I can't speak to that. It is still too soon to definitively tell, but on one cold morning camping a couple weekends ago the passenger mirror defrosted far quicker than the driver side. I will keep an eye on that issue and report back.

 

[dubyahard]

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Do those auto-fold when you lock the car?

 

[sleepycruiser]

I installed a set earlier this summer. Hands down the best towing upgrade I have done thus far - makes a world of difference in visibility around my camper. They even gave my wife the confidence to tow the camper to/from our storage spot ~20 miles away. Looks good too - more like I use my rig for truck things instead of whole foods trips.

I didn't get the blinker option so I can't speak to that. It is still too soon to definitively tell, but on one cold morning camping a couple weekends ago the passenger mirror defrosted far quicker than the driver side. I will keep an eye on that issue and report back.

You have the version with electric mirror up top? I’d love the fold in version, but they are spendy and I found a set of the basic ones for $250

 

[fj60eric]

Do those auto-fold when you lock the car?

They do not. Haven't really missed it though, they are very compact when pushed all the way in.

 

[fj60eric]

You have the version with electric mirror up top? I’d love the fold in version, but they are spendy and I found a set of the basic ones for $250

Correct - electric mirror up top. No complaints with that operation at all.

 

[dubyahard]

I see the electric options on Clearview AUS site but I assumed it was just adjustments. Do they have ones with auto-fold?

Do you have a picture of them pushed in all the way?

I think given the rate right now, 0.64 AUD to USD, it might be a good time to load up on Clearview, Kaon, and Stedi stuff.

 

[fj60eric]

I see the electric options on Clearview AUS site but I assumed it was just adjustments. Do they have ones with auto-fold?

Do you have a picture of them pushed in all the way?

I think given the rate right now, 0.64 AUD to USD, it might be a good time to load up on Clearview, Kaon, and Stedi stuff.

 

[sleepycruiser]

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They can also fold in closer than that?