The Mirror Issue Revisited

Lug_Nut · 07-21-2008, 01:56 PM

The inverted mirrors that showed up on many '07 and '08 Newmar coaches and, by the way, still some '09's remains an issue. Apparently they aren't alone with this "oops" design. On Sunday I was driving on a rain soaked highway when I came upon two fairly new highway buses. They were Mercedes and carried the name Sentra, or at least something like that. They had the stylish sweeping down inverted chrome mirrors. I noticed both had adjustable sun shades on the inside of the windshield. Both were semi down, about a foot or better. This blocked the passenger side totally from the driver and most of the driver side also. I also noticed that both buses were equipped with add-on black painted conventional lower mount mirrors. Boy, that sure looked slick, NOT! How could people design such a poor device given the application. For those not familiar with the issue, I include a link to my January blog cover the topic.

LINK HERE

Peter

Lug_Nut · 07-21-2008, 01:56 PM

The inverted mirrors that showed up on many '07 and '08 Newmar coaches and, by the way, still some '09's remains an issue. Apparently they aren't alone with this "oops" design. On Sunday I was driving on a rain soaked highway when I came upon two fairly new highway buses. They were Mercedes and carried the name Sentra, or at least something like that. They had the stylish sweeping down inverted chrome mirrors. I noticed both had adjustable sun shades on the inside of the windshield. Both were semi down, about a foot or better. This blocked the passenger side totally from the driver and most of the driver side also. I also noticed that both buses were equipped with add-on black painted conventional lower mount mirrors. Boy, that sure looked slick, NOT! How could people design such a poor device given the application. For those not familiar with the issue, I include a link to my January blog cover the topic.

LINK HERE

Peter

**Route 66** · 07-21-2008, 02:15 PM

In '08 Newmar moved the mirrors back down on the DSDP and KSDP.

They can't be moved on the MADP, Essex, and KGDB because the slide out front end extends too high.

I talked to an '07 DSDP owner here at Camp Newmar and he paid over $1,500 to have Newmar move the mirrors back down on his rig. It required new mirrors.

The thought has crossed my mind also.

PAH · 07-21-2008, 05:10 PM

PAH. After many disscussions with NEWMAR about the location of the mirrors on my 2008 Mountain Aire as to saftey issue while Driving to no avail. I took the bull by the horns and lowered the mirrors 17 inches. Took about 4 Hrs 2 pcs of steel and new SS bolts. Now for patchng the holes Carl @ Newmar indicated Newmar may Help with that work but when I got an est for the work he back peddeled and blamed it on his supervisor. I took the coach in today to a Body shop to have the work done Cost of $1200.00,

Its a lot of money but compared to the SAFETY say nothing of the comfort in the ease of drving.

I am new to this forum and don't know the history about this issue. As I have told Newmar I hope they get themselves a good big LAWSUIT, The problem with this senario is that one or more of our fellow RV ers will proably get hurt and God forbid the loss of Life before they get their head out of their --- and face the Problem

Lug_Nut · 07-22-2008, 12:12 AM

Hey welcome to the forum PAH. I think they are trying to get back to the normal lower mount as quickly as they can. While they reversed it on the DSDP and I think the KSDP, the MADP,EXDP and KADB will require a cap change that they are not yet prepared to make. Watch for it in 2010, if finances allow.

Peter

phototex · 07-22-2008, 02:46 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I talked to an '07 DSDP owner here at Camp Newmar and he paid over $1,500 to have Newmar move the mirrors back down on his rig. It required new mirrors. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
At that price, it is something I would consider, too. Seems a small enough price to pay for the extra safety. I have certainly experienced all of the problems mentioned in Lug Nut's earlier post. Are there any negatives to moving the mirrors down? Other than the expense of doing it?

Lug_Nut · 07-22-2008, 02:51 AM

Bill, I think the biggest job is the modifications required. Considering the mirrors can not be mounted on the slide portion due to vibration issues, it seems the body work would be quite in depth. I always hoped Newmar would come along with a fix and I would copy them. That ship isn't coming in.

Peter

**Route 66** · 07-22-2008, 03:08 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Are there any negatives to moving the mirrors down? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not on a Dutch Star other than the high cost.

Lug_Nut · 07-23-2008, 11:56 AM

Interestingly I noticed the London Aire did not have this problem to the same degree. I observed this on Bob G.'s unit last year. Firstly the power driver window was such that you could look through it at the mirror, which is not possible on any of the other models. The non-double glass of the driver power window does not glare out the view as with the double glass view in the others. I am wondering if the King Aire is the same as all the other non-LADB. I think it is and presents the high glare in many situations. Any KADB owners out there can comment?

Peter

Skipper 05MA · 07-23-2008, 12:19 PM

It's interesting that other mfg's have the high mounts...ie Newell. Wonder how they solved the issue?

Lug_Nut · 07-23-2008, 12:45 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">It's interesting that other mfg's have the high mounts...ie Newell. Wonder how they solved the issue? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good point, but are they different?

1) Do they have double glass at view through point?
2) I think their mirrors are lower than Newmar's, eliminating the shade issue, are'nt they?
3) Are they not front windshiels view, both?
4) Maybe their mirrors can be actually locked from being blown out of position which mine can not.

I do not know, just throwing it out. Anybody Know??

Peter

FlyingDiver · 07-23-2008, 05:28 PM

I'd love to give my perspective of the issue on a King Aire, but I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for. I haven't noticed any glare issues yet, but I also haven't driven in what I would consider a high-glare situation.

What should I be looking for?

joe

Lug_Nut · 07-24-2008, 02:04 AM

Joe, I guess the worst glare situation happens when you have a lot of light coming in the windshield and it is somewhat shadey behind. You will know it when it happens if the KADB is in fact prone to it. It can be so bad you can only see through the convex piece.

Peter