Do I legally need towing mirrors in Australia?

If your trailer or caravan is wider than your towing vehicle, you need an adequate rear and side view, which usually means fitting towing mirrors — either clip-on or factory extendable — since standard door mirrors won't give a compliant view.

What's the difference between clip-on and factory towing mirrors?

Clip-on mirrors are lower cost and removable but vary in quality and can vibrate at speed. Factory or OEM-style extendable mirrors integrate with the truck's existing mirror housing and electronics, giving a more stable view but at higher cost.

Does my trailer need a brake controller?

If your trailer has electric brakes — as most caravans and heavy trailers in Australia do — you need a correctly installed and calibrated brake controller in the towing vehicle for those brakes to function properly.

What's the difference between proportional and time-delayed brake controllers?

Proportional controllers use a motion sensor to apply trailer braking in proportion to the towing vehicle's deceleration, generally giving a smoother feel. Time-delayed controllers apply a preset braking curve and are simpler but less responsive to changing conditions.

How do I know if my brake controller is set correctly?

Test at low speed in a safe area — trailer brakes should engage smoothly without excessive jerk from the trailer or sway. If braking feels delayed, increase the gain slightly; if the trailer brakes too aggressively, reduce it.

Does my American truck have a factory brake controller?

Some RAM models and higher-spec trims include an integrated factory brake controller built into the dash. Many other American trucks sold in Australia don't, and require a correctly installed aftermarket unit.

Do I need to recalibrate my brake controller for different trailers?

Yes, gain should be checked and adjusted whenever trailer weight changes significantly, such as towing a loaded caravan versus an empty one, or switching between different trailers.

Towing Mirrors & Brake Controllers Guide

Two towing essentials that are easy to overlook

Full-size American trucks are well suited to towing, but the factory mirrors and (on some models) lack of an integrated brake controller mean you often need to add or upgrade equipment before you're set up correctly and legally for a caravan or heavy trailer. These aren't optional extras once your trailer is wider than the truck or fitted with electric brakes — they're both a legal requirement and a genuine safety factor.

Towing mirrors: what the law requires

Australian road rules require the driver to have an adequate view of the road behind and to the sides when towing. If the trailer or caravan is wider than the towing vehicle, the standard door mirrors generally won't provide a compliant view, and towing mirrors — either clip-on extensions or factory-fitted extendable mirrors — become necessary.

Clip-on vs factory extendable mirrors

Clip-on towing mirrors attach over the existing mirror and are a lower-cost, flexible option that can be removed when not towing, but quality varies and cheaper units can vibrate or shift at highway speed. Factory or OEM-style extendable towing mirrors integrate with the truck's existing mirror housing, generally give a more stable and adjustable view, and often retain features like indicators, heating or blind-spot sensors — but they're a bigger investment.

Mirror type	Pros	Cons
Clip-on towing mirrors	Lower cost, removable when not towing	Can vibrate, quality varies, may block some factory mirror functions
Factory/OEM-style extendable mirrors	Stable, integrates with existing electronics	Higher cost, may need professional fitment

Brake controllers: what they do and why they matter

An electric brake controller manages the electric brakes fitted to most caravans and heavy trailers in Australia, applying trailer braking force in proportion to (or ahead of) the towing vehicle's braking. Without one, a trailer with electric brakes either won't brake at all or will only brake via a basic breakaway system — neither is adequate for regular towing.

Types of brake controllers

Proportional controllers — use a motion sensor to apply trailer braking in proportion to the towing vehicle's deceleration, generally giving the smoothest, most predictable feel
Time-delayed controllers — apply a preset braking curve when the brake pedal is pressed, simpler but less responsive to varying conditions
Integrated factory controllers — fitted to some RAM and higher-spec American trucks from the factory, built into the dash and vehicle electronics

Where a truck doesn't have an integrated controller, an aftermarket unit needs to be correctly wired into the vehicle's brake and trailer wiring systems and mounted where the driver can adjust it while driving. Poor installation is a common cause of inconsistent trailer braking, so this is worth having done properly rather than as a DIY wiring job.

Setting up and calibrating a brake controller

1Confirm the trailer's electric brakes are in good working order and correctly matched to the controller's output
2Set the controller's gain (sensitivity) according to trailer weight — start conservative and adjust
3Test at low speed in a safe area: apply the truck's brakes and confirm the trailer brakes engage smoothly without excessive jerk or sway
4Adjust gain upward if trailer braking feels delayed, or downward if the trailer brakes too aggressively relative to the truck
5Recheck the setting whenever trailer load changes significantly, such as a full water tank or loaded caravan

A correctly calibrated brake controller reduces stopping distance and helps prevent trailer sway under brakes — both genuinely important on the Sunshine Coast hinterland's hills and on the highway with a loaded caravan.

How this fits with the rest of your towing setup

Mirrors and brake controllers are part of a broader towing setup that also includes correctly rated tyres, appropriate suspension for the load, and towing within your truck's rated capacity — our towing caravan checklist and load rating guide cover those areas in more detail. None of these items work in isolation; a truck that's correctly tyred and braked but has inadequate mirrors is still not set up safely for towing, and vice versa.

Towing setup checks at American Truck Centre

American Truck Centre at 46 Regent St, Caloundra can check and advise on towing mirror compliance and brake controller installation or calibration for RAM, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC and Ford F-Series trucks. Call 07 5491 2199 before your next big tow if you're unsure your setup is correct.

Frequently asked questions

Do I legally need towing mirrors in Australia?: If your trailer or caravan is wider than your towing vehicle, you need an adequate rear and side view, which usually means fitting towing mirrors — either clip-on or factory extendable — since standard door mirrors won't give a compliant view.
What's the difference between clip-on and factory towing mirrors?: Clip-on mirrors are lower cost and removable but vary in quality and can vibrate at speed. Factory or OEM-style extendable mirrors integrate with the truck's existing mirror housing and electronics, giving a more stable view but at higher cost.
Does my trailer need a brake controller?: If your trailer has electric brakes — as most caravans and heavy trailers in Australia do — you need a correctly installed and calibrated brake controller in the towing vehicle for those brakes to function properly.
What's the difference between proportional and time-delayed brake controllers?: Proportional controllers use a motion sensor to apply trailer braking in proportion to the towing vehicle's deceleration, generally giving a smoother feel. Time-delayed controllers apply a preset braking curve and are simpler but less responsive to changing conditions.
How do I know if my brake controller is set correctly?: Test at low speed in a safe area — trailer brakes should engage smoothly without excessive jerk from the trailer or sway. If braking feels delayed, increase the gain slightly; if the trailer brakes too aggressively, reduce it.
Does my American truck have a factory brake controller?: Some RAM models and higher-spec trims include an integrated factory brake controller built into the dash. Many other American trucks sold in Australia don't, and require a correctly installed aftermarket unit.
Do I need to recalibrate my brake controller for different trailers?: Yes, gain should be checked and adjusted whenever trailer weight changes significantly, such as towing a loaded caravan versus an empty one, or switching between different trailers.
Can American Truck Centre install or check a brake controller?: Yes, we can check and advise on towing mirror compliance and brake controller installation or calibration for RAM, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC and Ford F-Series trucks at our Caloundra workshop. Call 07 5491 2199 to book.

Towing Mirrors and Brake Controllers: What Your American Truck Actually Needs