Clearview celebrates 20 years with a huge year of new 4WD gear

Clearview Accessories is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, and rather than simply looking back at the past two decades, the Australian 4WD accessories brand has marked the milestone with one of its busiest years of new product releases yet.

Best known for its extendable towing mirrors, Clearview has rolled out new mirror platforms for 10 late-model 4WDs and utes so far this year, alongside new retractable side steps and prototype products currently being tested on a co-branded Toyota HiLux N90.

For caravanners and tourers, it means a growing range of Clearview gear is becoming available for some of Australia’s newest tow vehicles.

From a towing problem to a 4WD accessories brand

Clearview’s story began in 2006 when founder Mike Cowan was looking for a better way to see around the caravan he was towing.

Unable to find a suitable towing mirror solution, Cowan developed his own. He was later joined by his son-in-law, Jay Praag, and what began as a solution to a personal towing problem developed into the Clearview Accessories brand we know today.

Twenty years later, towing mirrors remain a major part of the business, although Clearview’s range has expanded to include fridge slides, retractable side steps, tyre inflation equipment and other touring accessories.

10 new Clearview towing mirror fitments in 2026

Clearview says it has released extendable towing mirrors for 10 new vehicle platforms during 2026 so far:

• Kia Tasman
• Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series
• Toyota HiLux N90
• RAM 1500 DT Series
• GWM Cannon
• Nissan Navara D27
• Mazda BT-50
• Mitsubishi Triton MV
• Isuzu MU-X
• Ford Ranger Super Duty

Developing a new towing mirror fitment involves considerably more than adapting an existing mirror to a different vehicle. Each model can have its own mirror base, mounting geometry, electrical connections and factory functions, requiring vehicle-specific development and testing before a new fitment can be released.

With several new or significantly updated tow vehicles arriving in Australia recently, Clearview’s latest rollout brings its towing mirror range to many of the models caravanners are likely to be considering for their next tow tug.

Swing Boards arrive for the Prado 250

Towing mirrors aren’t the only new Clearview product to arrive this year. The company has also released its Swing Boards retractable side steps for the Toyota LandCruiser Prado 250 Series.

Rather than simply dropping vertically when deployed, the boards swing outwards and down. This creates a wider stepping platform and is designed to make getting in and out of the vehicle easier before the boards retract again when not required.

Clearview and TJM build a HiLux N90 test vehicle

Another project to come out of Clearview’s anniversary year is a co-branded 2026 Toyota HiLux N90 developed with TJM 4×4. While there’s certainly a promotional element to the build, the HiLux is also being used as a test platform for unreleased Clearview products.

Fitted to the vehicle are pre-production Compact Towing Mirrors and Power Boards, Clearview’s electrically operated side steps. Both remain R&D prototypes and, according to Clearview, are being tested on public roads under real-world conditions before any potential dealer release.

It means anyone spotting the Clearview x TJM HiLux at an upcoming 4WD or caravan show could be looking at products that haven’t yet made it into production.

What else is fitted to the HiLux?

The HiLux also provides a showcase for a number of products already available in Clearview’s touring range.

Inside the canopy are Clearview Power Slide and Easy Slide fridge systems, finished in TJM Gold for the build. An aluminium Fridge Cage protects the fridge while allowing airflow, while Clearview’s Cable Saver uses a magnetic fitting designed to prevent fridge cables becoming caught in the slide runners.

The vehicle is also equipped with Clearview’s Tyre Spider®, which allows multiple tyres to be connected so their pressures can be equalised and monitored through a digital gauge.

TJM and Projecta complete the touring build

TJM has supplied much of the HiLux’s protection, suspension and air equipment. Up front is a pre-production TJM Outback Bull Bar developed for the N90, while a Pro Series Twin Air Compressor and five-litre air tank take care of tyre reinflation and other air requirements.

LED driving lights have been fitted for additional vision when travelling after dark, while XGS suspension is used to accommodate the extra weight of the touring setup. The electrical system comes from Projecta and centres around a 200Ah lithium battery, 50A DC-DC charger, 200W solar panel and 2100W pure sine wave inverter.

An Intelli-IQ monitor keeps tabs on the setup, which allows the auxiliary battery to recharge while driving, take additional charge from solar when camped and provide 240V power through the inverter when required.

What’s next for Clearview?

Clearview’s 20th anniversary provides a useful reminder of just how much the Australian towing and touring market has changed since 2006.

Vehicles have become more sophisticated, caravans have grown and the accessory market surrounding them has expanded considerably. Towing mirrors themselves have also had to evolve as factory mirrors gained features such as cameras, indicators, heating, power folding and other integrated electronics.

For Clearview, however, 2026 appears to be as much about what’s coming next as what has happened over the past two decades. With 10 new towing mirror platforms already released this year, new Swing Boards for the Prado 250 and prototype HiLux N90 products undergoing real-world testing, its 20th year is shaping up to be one of its busiest yet.

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