Mirror Placement

There is a huge difference. I recently went from my wide-cab Pete 387 to a narrow cab KW 900L. For the first few weeks, I was absolutely convinced I would never learn to back it in, because I'm no longer able to lean out the window and watch the trailer go pretty much into the spot before moving to look in my mirrors. There is a longer "Leap of Faith" moment between looking out your window and moving to your mirrors in the trucks with the stacks on the side. You can move your mirrors out before you back to try and reduce some of that, but you'll get used to it. I'm only 5'7" so my ability to look out the window around the stacks is pretty limited. You already learned the dynamics of backing up, so you'll just need a little while to adjust. Honestly, I spent a few hours hiding behind a distribution center practicing backing up with the new truck. Eventually, I started to see the light. The mirrors and seeing the trailer are one thing, the fact it takes about eight billion times longer for the truck to get back straight with the trailer, compared to a shorter wheel based aero truck, was the roughest part.

 

I hear ya. I was really convinced I'd made a huge mistake getting this big KW, but if I can adapt, you can, too. I can only look out the window and see the end of the trailer when I'm already at a 90 degree angle. I felt completely blinded at first, too.

 

Horsin,
The "West Coast" Mirrors should adjust 4 Ways. LEFT. RIGHT. UP. DOWN. 6, IN. OUT. IF you Adjust the BRACKET the Mirror is on that attaches to the Door.
TALL Drivers Adjust their mirrors DIFFERENTLY than SHORT Drivers.
And the Adjustment Picture for each driver is Slightly Different based on what you want to see Driving down the road.

SPOT MIRRORS HELP TOO.

Me Personally, I Prefer to have my West Coasts OFF the TRAILER while driving, I don't need to "SEE IT" Following me. I set it where I need to just TILT my head to See the Trailer. The BOTTOM of the Mirror is Set so I CAN SEE the Trailer Wheels when I Turn.
IF YOU CAN'T SEE AROUND YOUR STACKS BACKING push the Mirrors OUT With the Bracket, Depending on the Bracket Style.
Oh and MORE BACKING PRACTICE could Help too.
Fine Tuning YOUR TRUCKS MIRRORS will Take a while, spend the time, GET THEM RIGHT FOR YOU!!!

 

You could always go old school cool and just step out on the running board and back in without looking in the mirror at all .

 

If the mirrors are mounted on the door open the door as you loose the tail of the trailer on the left side. I can't remember when Pete took the mirrors off the doors.

 

05 just to get technical Wore.....same time they raised the dash....started using rocker switches&did away with vent window.....as to the OP.....Driven lots of trks over the years NEVER got in on the mirrors didn't need to be adjusted....just sop....although if you do have an older Pete....it'll probably require 2 people&couple of wrenches....just park somewhere level&straight&set em up where YOU are seeing what you feel you need to see....then enjoy the ride....

 

If you have to move forward or backwards to see in your mirrors, you need to rotate your mirrors in or out.

 

Move your mirror arm bracket out and forward. Short or tall, you always need to move the bracket as far forward as you can to get the most visibility from the mirror. Once the bracket is out readjust both the mirrors so you can see all the way to the back of the trailer without moving from the seat.

I am surprised how many drivers don't know how to adjust the mirrors. Many a truck I have jumped in has the mirror/mirror bracket so ridiculously close to the truck their is no way the mirror could be usable.