4th gen rear mirrors

[4reak]

for those of you guys out there that own a 4th gen, what do you guys think of the mirrors on the D pillars? do they serve much purpose? to me, they look a little small. I am considering a nav unit with a back up camera for my rig, and was wondering how functional the mirror idea was. thanks in advance guys.

 

[icantsee]

via jacal

Cargo Area Backup Mirrors
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35802

 

[icantsee]

They are very useful!!

I haven't mastered them...but I get close ~6 inches to the object behind me.

Give it a try!! Put your garbage can on your driveway & back up as close to them as you can w/ the Cargo Area Backup Mirrors.

 

[statman24]

I don't have them in mine... they don't come in 4runner's with 3rd row seats.

 

[banker1]

I don't use them either. I have factory navigation which came with a backup camera, the fish eyed lense on the camera covers more than enough (don't forget to check your other mirrors and look over your should when backing up though :driving: )

 

[toto]

The backup camera is a really nice option. Since I didn't get nav, I made sure I also didn't get the upgraded JBL audio with extra speakers, as the mirrors are replaced with speakers with that option.

With a little practice as others have mentioned, the mirrors really are useful.

 

[Jeffrey_VB]

I don't have them in mine... they don't come in 4runner's with 3rd row seats.

I hate that too. I drove one with the mirrors and thought they were neat, but then I bought a Runner with the 3rd and don't have the mirrors.

 

[statman24]

I hate that too. I drove one with the mirrors and thought they were neat, but then I bought a Runner with the 3rd and don't have the mirrors.

I think that's because the seatbelt harness are in the same place as the mirrors.

 

[tipotex]

I use them often and find them to be a simple, perfectly functional solution.

 

[4RunerFan]

We have both nav and D pillar mirrors. I like the mirrors when backing out of a stall at a parking ramp or lot just to see if anything or anyone (kids!) are approaching. You can see further to the sides than with the backup camera.

It took a little patience to master them, though. They aren't the kind of mirrors you can just casually glance at, but instead I find I must stop and focus for a second on each one. A little irritating at first.

Now I feel I'm taking the time needed to be personally responsible for whatever happens when I back up.

The rearview backup camera is terrific for parallel parking and hooking up trailers.

 

[banker1]

I don't use them either. I have factory navigation which came with a backup camera, the fish eyed lense on the camera covers more than enough (don't forget to check your other mirrors and look over your should when backing up though :driving: )

After reading this post I made it a point to try and use the cargo mirrors... while I still prefer the rearview camera when backing up I have found the mirrors help a lot on the highway when changing lanes. On two occasions yesterday there was a car which I didn't see with the side view mirrors but was able to see in the cargo mirrors (I would have seen it when looking over my shoulder before actually changing lanes).

My old lane change method was something like this: side view mirror --> over the shoulder --> change lanes

My new lane change method will be something like this: side view mirror --> cargo mirror --> over the shoulder --> change lanes

 

[4reak]

unfortunately

unfortunately i have a 3rd gen so i dont have the mirrors. but i was in my friends 4th gen and thought that they were a great alternative to getting a back up camera. but he looks directly into the mirrors, whereas the picture previously posted shows that you are supposed to lookin into your rear-view mirror and look at them. this explains why he thinks there is no use in having the left side mirror.

do you guys think it would fairly easy to "install" the mirrors in a 3rd gen?

 

[ran]

I was told I can't have the mirrors because the speakers are there. Not that I sit in the rear much, thinking about putting the mirrors in place over the speakers anyway.

 

[chronicanomaly]

New here, and I got an 03 SR5 about 2 months ago, and it has the JBL 10 speaker system, so I don't have the rear pillar mirrors.

In the thread on the accessories page, covering up the speakers with the mirrors is mentioned, and the poster says the sound quality isn't at all affected.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35802

Can anyone confirm this? Before I spend the money on the mirrors, I want to make sure that putting pieces of glass over my speakers isn't going to sound awful.

 

[seh750]

for those of you guys out there that own a 4th gen, what do you guys think of the mirrors on the D pillars? do they serve much purpose? to me, they look a little small. I am considering a nav unit with a back up camera for my rig, and was wondering how functional the mirror idea was. thanks in advance guys.

I have the mirrors and they're handy sometimes. I'm curious, what nav unit/backup are you considering? I'm getting a bigger trailer and that would be handy for hitching.

 

[4reak]

Re: Re: 4th gen rear mirrors

I have the mirrors and they're handy sometimes. I'm curious, what nav unit/backup are you considering? I'm getting a bigger trailer and that would be handy for hitching.

i have been reading up on the nav unit in the new scions. That unit is really impressive in my eyes. if not that one, then the eclipse avn 6620 is a nice one too. if you are just using the screen for the back up camera, then you can always do a stand alone back up camera screen. its not one of my favorites, but if thats all you want from it, then i dont see why not. my buddys dad just bought his back up camera and stand alone screen from costco not too long ago. he doesnt mount the screen though, he puts it in the glove box, and when he needs it, he pulls it out. i stilll think an in-dash nav unit with back up camera would be best though.

 

[jacal]

New here, and I got an 03 SR5 about 2 months ago, and it has the JBL 10 speaker system, so I don't have the rear pillar mirrors.

In the thread on the accessories page, covering up the speakers with the mirrors is mentioned, and the poster says the sound quality isn't at all affected.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35802

Can anyone confirm this? Before I spend the money on the mirrors, I want to make sure that putting pieces of glass over my speakers isn't going to sound awful.

I'm not sure that they are glass. They were awfully light to be glass, more like a fine coating of something.

Again, in my person opinion, I did not notice a difference. To me it doesn't make sense that those smaller speakers set that far away could possibly contribute much over the massive (relative) door speakers? High frequency doesn't tend to travel far, and small speakers don't usually do much bass.


J

 

[2003-4x4runner]

for those of you guys out there that own a 4th gen, what do you guys think of the mirrors on the D pillars?

I use my rear mirrors all the time. Those are a great idea and they should be on all the SUV/Cars. My sister and her husband have a 2004, but they never use them. :cheers: