Solo vanners... driving on the wrong side of the road...
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edina
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They are called 'Big Wheels' and stock lots of gear for vans and lorries. If you took your van and asked their advice they should be able to help you.
floatingaround
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I saw these on an early 2000s Sprinter the other day (and they looked like they'd fit the LT as well as the mirrors are the same) and would love to buy some but can't find anywhere online to purchase them or any information.
They exist but actually finding some seems to be impossible
In answer to the OP I have this issue - so far I have angled my mirrors out as far as possible, Lean right forward in my seat for the best view and place the van in the best position for a decent view (often angled slightly away from the motorway I'm joining).
If needs be I'll happily stop on a slip road to ensure I can see as much as possible. Holding someone up for a few moments is far better than having an accident with a vehicle doing 60mph+
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vwalan
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great store for bits . we have one at the end of our road. use them for lots of truck and van bits.
mind we also have mitzy /mercedes garage , a volvo truck garage . and three other parts places on the estate at end of road.
there used to be a door mounted frame the hooked over the tops of the doors and fixed at the bottom below the window glass that used proper truck mirrors . cant find it on line but will keep trying .
wide angle truck mirrors above or below a normal truck mirror works great.
vwalan
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397 | Product Details | TTC
these should be able to be cut etc and made to fit. ,part no, 398 may be better..
big wheels may stock them or get them.
worth a look anyway. these will let you fit good mirrors.
these should be able to be cut etc and made to fit. ,part no, 398 may be better..
big wheels may stock them or get them.
worth a look anyway. these will let you fit good mirrors.
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colinm
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That is one of, if not the most, dangerous things you can do on a motorway, unlike being on the main carriageway, there will be drivers approaching behind who are not 100% looking in front of them. If there is a hard shoulder (unfortunately disappearing with smart motorways) much better to continue along this.
Nabsim
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I have the twin mirrors on mine Dave but they are opposite to all others I have seen, smaller parabolic mirror at the top and the larger normal mirror below. The large mirrors are still electrically operated but the parabolic are manual.
I spoke to a previous owner who had them fitted and he said they’re are OEM Mercedes and fitted by them.
wildebus
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Unusual - could they have been fitted upside down?!
I'll like to have a look at those this weekend and see if they would suit my van (the LT doors are different but I think think the key mount points are in the same place).
Wooie1958
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Nabsim
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They work extremely well the way they are but I have never had them before to compare, no idea if fitted wrong but I would hope MB dealer would do it properly. I did say hope
Have a look over the weekend and see what you think, can’t remember what yours were like, mine look more industrial arms than the close in ones you see on most vans, you can push the frame/arms out to farthest point and they would be a good bit wider than the boys. They have detent (not sure if that’s correct term) positions where they click in then can be tightened up, I have them closer in but the combination gives me great views both sides. I haven’t driven wagons on the road but have driven a 6 wheeler internally and a good few 50 and 75 tonne dumpers up to maybe 1998 and I would say my van gives me the best vision through the mirrors I have had. I would think newer vehicles (especially trucks) would be better though.
I know the parabolic mirror on drivers side has saved me twice on uk motorway as I was about to pull out showing a car along side the van that was blind spot to the main mirror.
My car is May 2016 Astra estate and that comes with a drivers door mirror that has the end quarter at a different angle. They are supposed to work as blind spot mirrors I believe but not a patch on the 2005 Sprinter set up. Then again you wouldn’t want the van mirrors on a car
To Delic, I am certain it is just a matter of finding the right mirrors that work for your van. As a couple of posters have said you may be able to get what you need with the removable towing mirrors, you will get the extra width and be able to set it to the angle you need. You may even be able to fit extra mirrors to the arm. Know the ones I had for my Saab back in early 90’s were strong steel tube, clipped over rubber at bottom of window then rested a pad on the door with bungee that clipped under the door. Very stable at speed, big mirror and space for a smaller parabolic if you wanted to fit. Plus you can easily remove when parking up or back in uk. The arms were much better than the type that fix to your mirrors for my car then.
wildebus
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Mercedes do have a habit of doing things in their own way if it works well rather than following a trend, so the fact they work well 'upside down' would mean they are right I bet
Oh - are the mirrors symmetrical to each other? Most vans are, I think, but my VW T4 and T5 ones were not - and the LT is not either. Not sure if it is purely a VW thing or not?
I added blind spot mirrors to the corner of mine and they are pretty good - but would still like the 'real thing'.
I do have a nifty little system on the car .... Blind spot warning lights that come in the mirror if a car coming up but out of normal view. Off topic but in subject of mirrors, a great feature I have only had on one car - I think it was a Chrysler Sebring I rented in the US? - auto drop-down on reverse so you can see the kerb. Brilliant idea and don't know why it is not common p!ace on all cars with electric mirrors?
Oh - are the mirrors symmetrical to each other? Most vans are, I think, but my VW T4 and T5 ones were not - and the LT is not either. Not sure if it is purely a VW thing or not?
I added blind spot mirrors to the corner of mine and they are pretty good - but would still like the 'real thing'.
I do have a nifty little system on the car .... Blind spot warning lights that come in the mirror if a car coming up but out of normal view. Off topic but in subject of mirrors, a great feature I have only had on one car - I think it was a Chrysler Sebring I rented in the US? - auto drop-down on reverse so you can see the kerb. Brilliant idea and don't know why it is not common p!ace on all cars with electric mirrors?
Minisorella
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David, is this type you mean?
If so, mine's an early 2006 Peugeot Boxer... the Ducato probably used the same ones.
carol
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Mines like that Jenny but I must confess I don't use the bottom section - what do you use it for?
Minisorella
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It gives you a slightly different and lower perspective... I think it's likely wide-angle because things seem further away in it than they really are, if that makes sense. I always double-check the bottom bit for cars alongside in either lane that don't show in the top mirror because they're too close but not level enough yet to be visible through the side window... so it sort of covers what would otherwise be a blind spot. The nearside one on mine is also perfect for spotting when a lorry flashes you back in after you've overtaken... I see it in the bottom section first.
Nabsim
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That’s why I think mine work so well the other way round, eye level catches the wide angle bit first but probably because I don’t know any different. May not be as useful in yours with it still being van sides Carol but it should eliminate blind spots.
wildebus
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That's the kind of thing. I might see if I can adapt a pair like that to suit my LT
TJBi
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Firstly, I would recommend driving on the right side of the road. This is always best. :lol-049:
With my LHD motorhome, I have never encountered problems joining UK motorways or dual carriageways with slip roads. The mirrors on my Transit-based moho are set the same for driving in both the UK and France, and provide an adequate view in both countries without altering settings. I also have a rearview camera mounted just below roof level. However, strangely, given their far greater land area, the French do sometimes seem, on dual carriageways at least, to provide surprisingly short slip roads, which must render joining them extremely difficult in a RHD vehicle.
The idea of an additional mirror appears to be the best solution, and is one that I intend to investigate to cope with issues that I face frequently in the UK and occasionally in France with junctions at awkward angles at which it is not feasible for whatever reason to adjust the angle of approach.
floatingaround
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It's far from ideal and definitely a last resort, but if there's no hard shoulder it's a better option than pulling out blind into the flow of traffic
Canalsman
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I angle that section downwards so I have a better view of the rear wheels. This I find useful for positioning whilst manoeuvring e.g. reversing round a corner.