Blind Spot Remover

[dunno513]

So I couldn't see where to post this, so I guess I'll just "dump' it here.

So you go to merge on to the highway, and you know that looking in the driver side mirror is about as effective as driving with your eyes closed, so you look over your shoulder, notice something is there, and slow down.

You take a second look, only to realize that what you saw was that pesky grab handle for the unfit rear seat passengers who need a little "extra" help to get out.

Get rid of it! You will be so glad you did. The only trick to getting rid of it is to pop the cap out of the mount where the screws lay hidden. The rest is just childs play with a #2 phillips head screwdriver. (a fluid one wouldn't hurt either)...oh I kill myself

Take a nail and a pair of pliers. Bend approx 1 inch of the point 90 degrees. Then bend 1/2 of that 1 inch, or 1/2 inch (put down the calculator) another 90 degrees so you have a little square hook with the point pointing back towards the head. (use two pair of pliers to make this task easy on your hands)

There is a little hole behind the grab handle mount that you poke the nail into and the cover pops right off. (DON'T TRY TO PRY IT OUT FROM THE FRONT, you will leave marks) Unscrew the 2 phillip head screws. One holds the handle to the mount, and one holds the mount to the metal. After you remove just the handle portion, re-allign the pieces and put the screw back in as if the handle were still there. You will see what I mean if you do this mod.

I can now see out that rear side window and not have to second guess what I am looking at, or my heart miss a beat when I think I just cut someone off at 75 mph.


Aside from this mod, get a pair of "hot spot" mirrors at your local auto parts store, or the auto isle at ###mart...sigh..
They are truely a lifesaver, especially with these mirrors. I swear by them for reducing blind spots. They come in 2 sizes, smaller prefered.

[larryziegler]

I took the easy way out and bought a 2 in convex mirror and put in in the lower outer corner of the mirror, which solved the blind spot immediately. Takes all of 5 seconds to install. Best yet, you don't ever have to look over your shoulder for anything, as the convex mirror shows vehicles immediately to your side. I use these in all of my cars.

[from Margaritaville...]

Larry, I've been using those convex mirrors on all of my cars and trucks for over 35 years! It's great that you can see the nose of the vehicle beside you while it's still in your mirror and not taking your eyes off the road. Don't feel as safe driving cars without 'em...

[larryziegler]

Originally Posted by Alan Margosian

Larry, I've been using those convex mirrors on all of my cars and trucks for over 35 years! It's great that you can see the nose of the vehicle beside you while it's still in your mirror and not taking your eyes off the road. Don't feel as safe driving cars without 'em...

I started using them about 20 years ago when I was using my 85 Chev K5 Blazer to tow our 17 ft travel trailer. The convex mirrors allowed me to be able to see around the trailer so that I didn't have to use those god awful fender mounted trailer mirrors that existed back then!

[dunno513]

What it looks like after.

[JDigga]

[mild hijack]

I think the reason most people have a blind spot just behind the driver's side is because their wing mirrors are positioned improperly.

Most have them positioned such that they can just see the side of the car in those mirrors. But that leaves a blind spot towards the rear of both driver and passenger sides.

A better way to positioning this is as follows:

For the driver's side, put your head against the window and position your mirror as you would normally so you can just see the edge of the car.

For the passenger side, put your head over the center console and do the same as above.

You'll think the wing mirrors are kicked out way too far, but as soon as you drive in traffic you'll notice something: a vehicle in the lane to your left leaving your rearview mirror will enter your left mirror, and a vehicle in the lane to your right leaving your rearview mirror will enter your right mirror.

Voila! No more blind spots and no need to use wonky convex mirrors that distort the image as well as mess with your perception of distance. Not only that but a vehicle will only be in one of your mirrors at a time, never two, which is much easier deal with especially at night.

I've had my mirrors this way for many years and don't even need to peek over my shoulders when changing lanes (though I do once in a while just in case). I find it amusing that when I have passengers they look over their shoulder when I change because they notice that I don't. I showed boodah this trick and she likes it much better as well.

[/mild hijack]