A Class A Mirror Option That Needs To Be Designed And Offered

There is always room for new innovative ideas for motor homes and recreational vehicles. Each year the manufacturers seem to come up with, and deliver, something new to the market.  Items such as side cameras, power tilt and telescopic steering wheels, full wall slides, one piece windshields, hydronic heat, and more, have shown up over the years.  But there is one option that has not been introduced that has been available on some SUV’s for years and could really benefit a class “A” coach.

That option is “Power Folding Mirrors”. A control that when activated, folds the outside mirrors back and into near flush with the coach sides, or in some cases forward to rest in front of the windshield.  Then, at the push of a button, the mirrors power back to their normal driving position.

This option would save many owners from damaging the mirrors while traversing narrow toll booths, customs gates, or any other large vehicle non-friendly obstruction areas.  In addition, folding at least the driver mirror during times when travelling on narrow roadways, tunnels or bridges could help reduce the chances of striking the mirror on an oncoming vehicle or vehicle’s mirror.

It is strange that the mirror makers and the coach builders have stopped further development and enhancements to these large mirrors.  They made them power adjusting, they gave them the ability to heat for adverse weather and they incorporated L.E.D. directional lighting within the mirror face.   Never the less, none of them introduced a power folding option.   This is an option on a vehicle that could really benefit it, far more than that of a SUV.  Hello!  I hope some mirror or motor home designer is reading this.

One of the, “not so good”, mirror design features, that recently has been seen on some coaches, is the inverted mirror.  These are those mirrors that are fastened from the top with that hang down look.  Part of the reason that this was done was to eliminate the “head banging” events that many owners experienced with the lower mounted units. Well, guess what?  There would be no head hitting if these appendages could be powered in upon arrival into camp.

Well, it certainly appears that there may be several good applications to support the need for such a mirror design. Will we see these in the near future?  In my opinion, yes.  It just makes too much sense and only makes one think, “Why didn’t they think of this before?”

So, what about it! Would folding mirrors benefit the operation of your vehicle?  Would you pay extra for such an option?

Reflecting On Mirror Design   –    Lug_Nut   –    Peter Mercer