Blind Spots

[White Chocolate]

Unfortunately I spend about 1-1/2 to 2 hours in heavy highway traffic everyday. I am very OCD when it comes to checking my blind spots. What I didn't know yesterday was that there was a new BMW M4 hauling ass right in my blind spot as I was switching lanes. I came within inches of demolishing his car. I have a super-wide rearview mirror to help prevent such things. Apparently this mirror was no help in this situation.

I am looking for suggestions on mirrors and any kind of blindspot detection that you guys can come up with and use on your 4Runners. I wish Toyota was not ten years behind the times and offered some kind of blind spot detection on ALL models.



2015 SR5 Super White

 

[SIGYEO]

www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen.../223739-oem-rav4-blind-spot-mirror- retrofit.html
[MENTION=44305]weeeee[/MENTION] Did a RAV 4 mirror retrofit that may benefit you.

 

[Yukon4Runner]

A 3" convex mirror costs about a buck; stick it in the corner of your existing mirror. You'll see the entire blind spot.

 

[kersh13]

Technically your side mirrors are intended to be aimed at your blind spot. Most drivers have them aimed down the sides of their car facing the rear which only allows you to see what is behind you. If aimed correctly, you shouldn't need any additional mirrors.


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[1engineer]

A 3" convex mirror costs about a buck; stick it in the corner of your existing mirror. You'll see the entire blind spot.

Yep. What I use.

 

[badhabits]

These are what I use and they are adjustable. You can find these at auto part stores if you don't go with amazon. Having driven large trucks I can't drive without them. I put a set on my new 4runner before I left the lot. Just make sure you put them on the outside bottom of the mirror.

https://www.amazon.com/Fit-System-C...qid=1482330433&sr=1-3&keywords=convex+mirrors

 

[philsey]

Technically your side mirrors are intended to be aimed at your blind spot. Most drivers have them aimed down the sides of their car facing the rear which only allows you to see what is behind you. If aimed correctly, you shouldn't need any additional mirrors.

This. You have TWO types of mirrors; rear view (1) and side view (2). They are appropriately named but rarely are they appropriately USED.

Properly positioned side view mirrors should be such that you see next to your car by turning your head only so slightly. You should not see your own vehicle in these mirrors without leaning over.

In a parking lot, have someone stand next to your car as if in the adjacent lane, and in your blind spot. Your mirrors should be aimed outboard such that as this person overtakes you they are visible until they appear in your peripheral vision.

Mirrors are intended to see behind you or next to you with just a click of the eyeballs. Very few American drivers are taught this. I learned it in a gymkhana class a million years ago. Race drivers ain't got time to take their eyes off the road ... no one does, really.

@OP if you'd been using your mirrors correctly, the BMW thing would not have happened.

 

[(none)]

These are what I use and they are adjustable. You can find these at auto part stores if you don't go with amazon. Having driven large trucks I can't drive without them. I put a set on my new 4runner before I left the lot. Just make sure you put them on the outside bottom of the mirror.

https://www.amazon.com/Fit-System-C...qid=1482330433&sr=1-3&keywords=convex+mirrors

I have the same ones. They work great.

 

[Madiusmax]

I follow this:

How To: Adjust Your Mirrors to Avoid Blind Spots - Feature - Car and Driver

This doesn't help much if you are looking closely along your vehicle (spotting rocks, large cliff edges), but it gets the job done for daily driving. Might be an adjustment to some if used to the "make sure you can see your rear door handles" mentality that is taught alot.

 

[badhabits]

This. You have TWO types of mirrors; rear view (1) and side view (2). They are appropriately named but rarely are they appropriately USED.

Properly positioned side view mirrors should be such that you see next to your car by turning your head only so slightly. You should not see your own vehicle in these mirrors without leaning over.

In a parking lot, have someone stand next to your car as if in the adjacent lane, and in your blind spot. Your mirrors should be aimed outboard such that as this person overtakes you they are visible until they appear in your peripheral vision.

Mirrors are intended to see behind you or next to you with just a click of the eyeballs. Very few American drivers are taught this. I learned it in a gymkhana class a million years ago. Race drivers ain't got time to take their eyes off the road ... no one does, really.

@OP if you'd been using your mirrors correctly, the BMW thing would not have happened.

Yes you should have your mirrors adjusted properly and your right that very few know how to do this correctly. I usually suggest these mirrors as an added safety measure, and when you get used to using them they really work.

 

[Engineer]

Wait we are supposed to check for side traffic? I thought the modern thing to do was move over quickly sans blinker or checking and wait for a horn or a crunch.....that has to be what they are teaching these days

P.S. I am a huge fan of the additional mirror or convert from Rav4, lets you see a huge field of view with just a quick look

 

[1engineer]

To all the mirror adjusting police: Leave me alone with my little round mirrors. I do just fine with them. Sincerely, Sides of vehicle.

 

[Antman]

Yup. Adjust your mirrors properly and that's all you need.

Takes a little getting used to not seeing the side of your car in the mirror too but once acclimated you won't drive any other way.

 

[Skizzle1111]

Not to hijack this thread, but has anyone noticed any distortion on their stock side mirrors? When I look at my driver's side mirror mainly, it honestly looks sort of wavy and makes me a little dizzy.

 

[Yukon4Runner]

I have noticed that certain types of people do appear closer than they actually may be.

Not to hijack this thread, but has anyone noticed any distortion on their stock side mirrors? When I look at my driver's side mirror mainly, it honestly looks sort of wavy and makes me a little dizzy.

 

[meder24]

Not to hijack this thread, but has anyone noticed any distortion on their stock side mirrors? When I look at my driver's side mirror mainly, it honestly looks sort of wavy and makes me a little dizzy.

I have noticed this before. I think it has to do with where your seat is positioned and how your eyes focus on the mirror. If your seat is up closer to the wheel, you kind of get the double vision feeling when looking in the mirror. The further back and away from the wheel, this is not as much of an issue.
Not sure if this has any real merit, but this is what I have experienced and what I have done to remedy it.

 

[philsey]

Yup. Adjust your mirrors properly and that's all you need.

Takes a little getting used to not seeing the side of your car in the mirror too but once acclimated you won't drive any other way.

Especially true when you are towing a boat, eh?

 

[flyrv9]

I noticed a little distortion in my mirrors after I Rainx'd them. A rub with a damp cloth fixed it.

 

[barryhiram]

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[mybabydaddy]

Not to hijack this thread, but has anyone noticed any distortion on their stock side mirrors? When I look at my driver's side mirror mainly, it honestly looks sort of wavy and makes me a little dizzy.

...holy shiote.... I've been searching for days on this topic. Swear I didn't touch anything, suddenly a few days ago, driver side mirror became slightly distorted (and as stated above, actually sort-of made me dizzy). Drove me insane. Changed the position of the mirror to see if it helps, that was yesterday... still in test mode (and, it's not in the proper position to be used correctly either, so it still needs to be further adjusted - I.e. The topic of this thread)... so we'll see how this goes.


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