Community Forums

bandit2014 · 04-08-2020, 03:57 AM

Good Morning All

We are looking for our next coach and (Newmar) and I'm wondering what the the thoughts are about the top mounted rear view mirrors.

It looks like they happened about 2007 to 2011 models.

Do these offer any better view?
Are they up so high that you have to take your eyes off the road more?

Any feed back would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam

timjet · 04-08-2020, 05:19 AM

All American coaches have top mounted mirrors. Having not driven any other coach I can't say if top mount or bottom mount is better. My top mount works fine.

inlineskater · 04-08-2020, 05:37 AM

I have had 8 MH and two of them (including my current one) have had the top mount. I prefer them. You get a better view of the motorhome further to the front and you take your eyes off the road less. Also when you are walking around the motorhome you don't hit your head on the mirrors. I know sounds like a dumb reason, but, it is true. Still it is a personal choice.

Glenn and Kathy · 04-08-2020, 12:14 PM

I've had both top and bottom mount. I find that with the top mount I am bothered by light reflections that at times wipes out view on parts of mirror. Also easier to clean bottom mount.

Glenn

FL420 · 04-24-2020, 01:00 AM

I have never driven a coach or bus with high-mounted mirrors but I have driven many miles in six years in city buses and school buses in primarily urban and suburban environments. Lots of cars, trucks, pedestrians, skateboarders and especially bicyclists all of whose operators seem to be trying to invent new stupid human tricks.
The low-mounted mirrors are great for seeing them when they are alongside you or at quite a distance behind you; however, the mirrors can easily hide an approaching pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, car or even a truck. I can't even recall the number of close calls I had over the years. Driving in a college town is especially hazardous.
The Safety Director of the bus company I worked for was always reminding the drivers to "Rock and Roll" which meant to lean forward and backward then left and right in the driver's seat to look around and behind both mirrors before making a turn or pulling out into traffic. I kinda scoffed at first but with time and experience I became a true believer.
High-mounted mirrors pretty much eliminate those two big blind spots. I'm not absolutely sure but I think high-mounted mirrors on coaches are required in EU countries. I do know they are very common in Europe.

FL420 · 04-30-2020, 07:48 PM

Update...
I was just talking with my next door neighbor and noticed his mirrors were mounted to the top of his cap and suspended from above. He said he really likes them and the only downside is when he needs to lower the power sunshades they cover up his mirrors.
Seems like a pretty serious consideration to me. Of course when the sun is very low a low mounted mirror can present problems too.

timjet · 05-01-2020, 05:26 AM

My top mounted mirrors don't present that problem. The drivers side mirror is viewed through the most forward side window and though the passenger side mirror is viewed through the windshield, I've never noticed that the shades would block my view. I guess because we're having our celebratory end of the day cocktail by the time the sun is that low, I haven't noticed.

PS: At the campsite.

AFChap · 05-02-2020, 08:48 AM

My top mounted mirrors are both viewed through the windshield. They are in direct vertical line of view of the driver so almost no taking eyes off the road is required. There are smaller convex mirrors on the lower end of mine, and I have seen them on the upper end of others. These are adjusted to reveal anything in the blind spots down beside the coach. I can lower my front sunshades enough to do the job as long as I am not driving directly into the sun just before sunset.