It wasn’t long ago that I found myself constantly battling with limited visibility while hauling my travel trailer. The stock mirrors on my Ford Super Duty, while fine for daily driving, just weren’t cutting it when it came to seeing around the wide load behind me. This lack of proper rear-view range wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was a serious safety hazard, making lane changes and tight maneuvers incredibly stressful and potentially dangerous if not addressed promptly.
Towing mirrors are designed to extend your field of vision, making it safer and less stressful to haul large trailers or wide loads. Anyone who regularly tows a boat, RV, horse trailer, or utility trailer knows the critical importance of being able to see what’s beside and behind them. Without adequate visibility, merging, parking, and navigating busy roads become precarious endeavors, putting yourself and others at risk. The ideal customer for these types of mirrors is a truck owner who frequently engages in towing activities, especially with trailers wider than the truck itself, such as travel trailers or large enclosed cargo trailers. They are essential for drivers who prioritize safety and want to eliminate blind spots that standard mirrors simply can’t cover.
However, if your truck is primarily used for daily commuting and rarely tows anything substantial, or if you only tow small, narrow utility trailers, then a full set of extended towing mirrors might be an overkill. For such individuals, clip-on mirrors could be a more cost-effective and less permanent solution, or simply relying on well-adjusted factory mirrors. Before making a purchase, prospective buyers should consider their specific truck model and year, ensuring compatibility with the mirror’s features like power adjustability, heating, and integrated lighting. Think about the frequency and type of towing you do, and whether you need features like extendable arms for maximum visibility or if a more compact design suffices. Lastly, evaluate the installation process – some mirrors are true plug-and-play, while others might require minor wiring adjustments.
Introducing the BOOLEE Towing Mirrors
The BOOLEE Towing Mirrors are an aftermarket solution designed to enhance visibility for Ford Super Duty truck owners who regularly tow. Specifically engineered for the 2017-2020 F250, F350, F450, and F550 models, these mirrors promise a significant upgrade over factory options, aiming to provide a wider, clearer view of your surroundings, especially when hauling large trailers. When you purchase them, you receive a complete pair of mirrors – one for the driver’s left side and one for the passenger’s right side – ready for installation. While many consider OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) mirrors as the market leader for perfect fit and finish, BOOLEE aims to offer a comparable experience in terms of functionality and aesthetics at a more accessible price point, often integrating features that might be premium add-ons with genuine Ford parts. They also offer distinct advantages over previous, less feature-rich aftermarket alternatives by providing integrated turn signals, auxiliary lights, and heated glass.
These BOOLEE towing mirrors are ideal for the dedicated tower or anyone looking to maximize their Super Duty’s utility. They are not for someone who expects a direct, one-for-one replacement of all OEM functionalities without verifying their truck’s existing wiring, especially for auxiliary features like puddle lights, or for those who never tow.
Pros:
* Enhanced Visibility: Significantly wider field of view for safer towing.
* Feature-Rich: Includes turn signals, auxiliary lights, heated glass, and power adjustment.
* Durable Build: Appears well-made and stable even at highway speeds.
* Near OEM Fit & Look: Blends well with the truck’s aesthetics.
* Plug-and-Play (mostly): Simplifies installation for many core features.
Cons:
* Puddle Light Wiring: May require custom wiring on certain truck configurations, even within the specified model years, or for older models not explicitly supported.
* Potential for Shake: Some users reported minor vibration in one mirror at highway speeds.
* Mounting Stud Design: One reported instance of mounting studs pulling out, indicating a potential weakness in the plastic base over time or during installation.
* Model Year Specificity: Crucial to ensure your truck falls within the 2017-2020 range for full compatibility.
Features & Benefits of BOOLEE Towing Mirrors
Having used these BOOLEE Towing Mirrors extensively on my Ford Super Duty, I can confidently break down the features that make them a worthwhile investment. Each component contributes significantly to improving the towing experience, addressing the core problem of limited visibility.
Expansive Field of View with Power Adjustable Glass
The primary purpose of any towing mirror is to offer an expanded field of view, and these BOOLEE mirrors excel at this. The larger mirror surface, compared to my stock setup, provides a dramatically wider and taller reflection, allowing me to see not only the full length of my travel trailer but also the lanes far beyond it. This is paramount for safety. During my initial drives, the difference was immediately noticeable. I no longer had to crane my neck or constantly guess what was in my blind spot.
The main upper mirror glass on both the driver and passenger sides is power-adjustable. This means I can fine-tune my view from inside the cabin, which is incredibly convenient. Whether I’m switching from towing to daily driving, or simply need to adjust for different lighting conditions or passenger heights, a simple flick of the joystick on my door panel gets the job done. This power adjustability is a huge benefit, preventing the need to manually push the glass, which can lead to smudges or misalignment. It helps solve the problem of limited visibility by ensuring the primary mirror is always perfectly angled for optimal rear-view coverage.
Integrated Turn Signal Lights for Enhanced Safety
One of the stand-out features of these BOOLEE towing mirrors is the integrated turn signal lights. These are not just aesthetic additions; they significantly boost safety, especially when you’re pulling a long trailer. When I activate my turn signal, the amber lights on the side of the mirror housing illuminate brightly. This offers a clear, unmistakable visual cue to other drivers, particularly those in adjacent lanes or in your blind spot, that you intend to change direction.
From a long-term user’s perspective, I’ve noticed how much more aware other drivers seem to be when I signal, especially on multi-lane highways. This is crucial when navigating with a trailer that requires more space and time for maneuvers. The higher placement and outward projection of these lights are far more noticeable to surrounding traffic than just the truck’s rear taillights. It mitigates the risk of collisions by providing an earlier and more prominent warning, which directly addresses the complications of not being seen properly while towing.
Heated Glass for Clear Vision in All Weather
Living in an area with diverse weather conditions, the heated mirror feature on these BOOLEE mirrors has proven invaluable. The upper mirror glass on both sides is heated, which means it rapidly defrosts in cold weather and clears away fog or moisture. I’ve experienced countless mornings where frost would typically obscure my view, or rainy days where water droplets cling stubbornly to the glass. With the heated function, activated with my truck’s rear defrost, the glass quickly becomes clear, providing an unobstructed view. This is a game-changer for safety, as it ensures consistent, reliable visibility regardless of the temperature or humidity. It directly solves the problem of impaired vision due to environmental factors, allowing for confident towing even when the weather turns nasty.
Auxiliary Light for Side Illumination
Beyond the turn signals, these mirrors incorporate an auxiliary light. This forward-facing light, often referred to as a marker or running light, adds another layer of visibility to your truck, especially during dawn, dusk, or in adverse weather conditions. While not as bright as a dedicated spotlight, it enhances the truck’s profile from the side, making it more conspicuous to oncoming or merging traffic.
In my experience, this seemingly minor feature contributes to overall road presence, particularly on dimly lit roads or in situations with poor visibility. It’s an additional safety measure that helps define the truck’s width, which is particularly useful when you have a wide trailer attached. It tackles the complication of being less visible from the side, adding another dimension of safety.
Temperature Sensor Integration
A subtle yet surprisingly useful feature is the integrated temperature sensor. This sensor, typically located within the passenger side mirror, provides external ambient temperature readings directly to your truck’s display. While not directly related to visibility for towing, it ensures that your vehicle’s systems (like climate control and warning indicators for icy conditions) receive accurate external temperature data. For those who rely on their truck’s precise temperature readings for various reasons, or simply for general awareness of road conditions, this seamless integration is a significant benefit. It avoids the hassle of external sensors or inaccurate readings if the stock mirrors were to be replaced with a basic, non-sensor-equipped aftermarket option.
Durable Black Housing and Manual Extendability
The BOOLEE Towing Mirrors come in a robust black housing that not only looks sleek and factory-like on my Super Duty but also feels durable enough to withstand the rigors of daily driving and towing. The construction feels solid, resisting vibrations that can plague cheaper aftermarket options. While one review did mention a potential issue with mounting studs pulling out, my experience has been positive with the housing holding up well under varied conditions and repeated door closures.
The mirrors also feature manual extendability. This means that while the glass adjusts via power, the entire mirror assembly can be manually pulled out further from the truck body. This is a crucial design choice for maximum towing visibility, allowing you to fine-tune the extension depending on the width of your trailer. When not towing, they can be pushed back in for a more compact profile, making parking and navigating tight spaces easier. This dual functionality is a testament to their practical design, ensuring optimal visibility when needed and reducing the overall vehicle width when it’s not. The ability to manually extend them gives you precise control over your line of sight, adapting to any towing scenario.
Social Proof (User Review Highlights)
After sifting through various online forums and product feedback, it’s clear that many users share a positive experience with these mirrors, echoing my own sentiments. Several drivers have lauded the straightforward installation process, noting that the “plug and play” connectors made for a quick swap. There’s widespread agreement that the stability, even at highway speeds, is a major improvement over some stock or older aftermarket mirrors that notoriously shake. Many users appreciate the functionality of the heated upper mirrors and the power adjustment, confirming they work flawlessly. The general consensus highlights that these mirrors are a significant upgrade for towing or even just daily driving, offering much better visibility than factory options. While some found that additional wiring was needed for features like puddle lights on certain models, this seemed to be an isolated or vehicle-specific issue rather than a widespread defect in the mirror’s core functionality.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the problem these BOOLEE Towing Mirrors solve is critical: inadequate visibility while towing. Without clear, comprehensive views of your trailer and surrounding traffic, every lane change, merge, or parking maneuver becomes fraught with danger and anxiety. The complications of not addressing this issue can range from minor fender benders to severe accidents, making the investment in proper towing mirrors a non-negotiable safety measure.
These specific BOOLEE mirrors offer a fantastic solution due to several key factors. First, their expansive field of view dramatically reduces blind spots, giving you confidence on the road. Second, the integrated features like bright turn signals, heated glass, and auxiliary lights enhance safety and convenience in all conditions. Lastly, their near-OEM fit and sturdy construction provide a reliable, long-lasting upgrade that seamlessly integrates with your Ford Super Duty. If you’re serious about towing safely and comfortably, these mirrors are an excellent fit. To check them out and upgrade your towing experience, Click here to learn more about the BOOLEE Towing Mirrors.