It’s one of the most iconic 4X4s in Australia, and if you’re towing your RV around Australia right now with one of these legendary farm trucks, I’m totally jealous. That’s right, I’m talking about the LandCruiser 70 Series.
I don’t have one. And I really want one.
For those of you that do have one, you’ll know that the LC70’s standard side mirrors are best described as humble. Now, there’s nothing wrong with being humble. In fact, I particularly enjoy a humble and uncomplicated interior. It’s actually one of the reasons I love the 70 Series, but when it comes to towing, safety is paramount, and we need just a bit more from our mirrors.
It’s not a complex problem to fix, though. Check out these towing mirror upgrades from Clearview for your 70 Series:
One of Clearview’s all-time best-selling mirrors for the 70 Series is the “manual, black” Original Towing Mirror. Priced from $785, it’s an easily justifiable upgrade to the rather basic metal frame mirrors that came with your workhorse.
These might not be the fanciest upgrade compared to the Next-Gen mirrors, but they’re still pretty “ladida”, and they do exactly what they’re supposed to do – extend your field of vision for safer towing. And unlike clip-on mirrors, these ones can’t fly off when you hit the corrugations or cruise along at speed.
Why? Because all of Clearview’s towing mirrors are true replacement mirrors. What this means is that the old mirrors on your 70 Series come off, and are replaced by these Clearview ones. Which, by the way, have been tested on Aussie tracks and are purpose-built tough for Aussie conditions.
Clearview’s Original Towing Mirrors are noticeably larger than your standard mirrors and feature a large single mirror above a smaller convex mirror. The reason behind this is all about safety.
The larger mirror provides a narrower field of view and reflects the true distance for reversing. It provides an exact reflection of what’s going on behind you. The smaller mirror at the bottom is slightly curved on purpose. It allows the driver to have a much wider view and, as a result, reduces blind spots and gives you a better understanding of what’s going on around the vehicle. It also makes objects appear closer than they actually are.
The manual adjustment, black mirrors are also available in Clearview’s new Next Gen and Compact Towing Mirror designs for the 70 Series. Pricing remains at $785 for the Compact and $835 for the Next Gen. The Next-Gen mirrors are engineered specifically for each vehicle.
This means they use the same holes and fittings as your original mirror, and they actually “mirror” the existing functionality. So it’s like your old mirror, but only heaps better because it now looks smokin’, and you have loads more visibility than you had before.
GVM upgrades are hugely popular with the LandCruiser 70 Series and Clearview also offers a CAT 6 LED Indicator option in the Next Gen and Compact Towing Mirrors. These indicators comply with ADR 6/00 Category 6, a requirement for some GVM upgrade vehicles. All relevant Clearview Next Gen and Compact Towing Mirrors are available to order with a CAT6 indicator if required, at an additional cost of $95 per set.
Clearview has a range of mirror upgrades for those wanting a bit more from their 70 Series. Some of these are wallet-friendly at $150 for electric mirror adjustment and $100 for adding indicators. Some will require an investment of $680. For this, you’ll get the handy Power Fold feature.
There will also be additional costs around hard wiring the functionality into the vehicle, although Clearview does provide the wiring harnesses and switches to reduce installation time. So if you have a mate that’s an auto-electrician, it’s time to pop around with a carton to sweeten the deal.
Clearview products can be purchased and installed through their Australian-wide dealer network. Visit www.clearviewaccessories.com.au for more information.
