So I have a 1500 Limited 4x4 on order. 6'4'' bed with Trailer Tow Group (B) and a few options that will probably put my payload somewhere around 1200lbs.
I'm looking at travel trailers in the 20-26ft exterior length range, with widths between 7 and 8 feet and dry weights under 5k lbs. My specific question here is, do I really need tow mirrors?
I didn't get the factory ones as I had done some research (here in this forum and elsewhere) that tells me the stock mirrors stick out pretty far and will cover you well enough for trailers under 30 feet, and less than 9 feet wide. But, I wanted to ask more formerly what you all think.
It seems like if I have a trailer that's 8 feet wide and 24 feet long (the most common size of the trailers I'm narrowed down to) that I'll be fine. Thoughts?
On a seven foot wide unit you will NOT need tow mirrors. I'd at least get some of the nice aftermarket tow mirrors that attach without blocking lights and almost look like OEM to anyone unfamiliar. They don't interfere with the power elements either including folding or adjustment. I had a pair on my 2015 and they were great for towing. On my 2021, I have the tow mirrors. I gotta admit I love them and they are pretty easy to flip up. They DO stick out though and I'm figuring at some point, one will get taken out in a parking lot. The power folding "regular" mirrors are EASY to get on most any 1500 but the power FOLDING tow mirrors are NOT easy to get except on certain trim levels... So, in retrospect, and I have an 8 foot wide trailer, the OEM manual folding tow mirrors are wonderful while towing. They are a bit of a pain otherwise. I did like having the ability to power fold my regular mirrors even when the aftermarket tow mirrors were attached. They did a good job. I'm ambivalent right now as if I had a choice which way I would go. For towing an 8 foot wide travel trailer, the OEM tow mirrors are superior to after market, but not having the power folding is an issue AND you really have to get out to fold them in manually is my experience. There have been a few parking lots where I decided to manually fold them in... As I write about this, I'm starting to lean toward getting the regular mirrors power folding vs the manual fold tow mirrors. But I got what I got. I must admit though that from a blind spot point of view (get it), the tow mirrors make blind spot monitoring unnecessary. On my 2015, I don'' know how many times I almost moved over into someone. The new regular mirrors do have that blind spot mirror though. See, still ambivalent.
So, IF you can get the power folding tow mirrors, I'd go that way. If not, it is a matter of choice. The aftermarket ones do a good job and come off easy after the trip. The OEM manual folding tow mirrors are awesome...while towing...with a few issues when not towing (can you say elephant ears). You makes your choices AND be careful, the literature including stickers are NOT crystal clear staing boldly "POWER" tow mirrors and then in smaller print saying "manual fold."
