Buyer's Guide to Aftermarket Semi Truck Mirrors (Styles, Housings, Brackets & Finishes)

Semi truck mirrors are crucial for maintaining clear visibility, reducing blind spots, and ensuring safe driving for drivers and other vehicles on the road. 

Here’s an example.

Let’s say you’re looking to replace your OEM Peterbilt 379 mirrors with a high-quality aftermarket alternative; with so many options on the market, it’s good to have a solid reference guide to make the best choice possible, both for resale value and pricing. 

Good news! 

In this simple semi truck mirror guide, we’ll explore the various types of semi truck mirrors, their key features, and their materials.

Types of Semi Truck Mirrors Explained

Flat Mirrors 

Flat mirrors are known as west coast mirrors and show an accurate reflection of the size and distance of objects while offering a narrower field of vision when compared to convex mirrors. 

Convex Mirrors

Fish-eye mirrors or “wide angle mirrors” are commonly used as side mirrors or rear view mirrors which provide a wider field of vision and help to reduce blind spots. The objects in a convex mirror appear smaller than they really are thanks to the bulging curved shape of the mirror. 

Sometimes they come attached to a single mirror kit, near the bottom, and sometimes they come separate as an oval, rounded-looking mirror (about 6 to 8 inches wide). 

Extended-Length Planar Mirrors 

These mirrors have long, extended mirror arms to give a driver an even wider view of the road when hauling a large trailer. These help drivers see passing traffic. 

Additional Mirrors (Blind Spot Mirrors) 

Offset mount blind spot mirrors are typically convex mirrors that are small in size and attach to the existing side mirrors. 

Heated Mirrors 

Heated mirrors prevent fogging and ice buildup through radiation heat transfer using a thin wire grid that’s inside of the mirror glass which connects to the semi truck’s electrical system. These are great for truckers operating in harsh weather conditions. 

Semi Truck Mirror Housing Materials and Construction

The Most Common Mirror Materials 

• Stainless Steel: sturdiest and longest-lasting material with heavier weight 
• Aluminum: lightweight, corrosion-resistant material for a longer equipment life
• Polycarbonate: lighter weight and highly versatile
• Chrome: highly reflective, mirror-like finish that offers a more eye-catching, sleek appearance

Mirror Brackets and Assemblies 

Brackets and assemblies are designed to withstand vibrations and rough road conditions, supporting the stability and visual accuracy of the mirror. 

Mirror brackets can be door-mounted or cab-mounted. 

When brackets are not installed correctly it can lead to: 

• Blind spots 
• Distorted or inaccurate reflections 
• Excessive wear, tear, and damage from vibration
• Potential traffic citation and fees by non-compliance with state regulations 

Proper mirror adjustment is critical for safe and accurate driving. Most semi truck mirrors offer an aerodynamic design to help reduce wind resistance and improve fuel efficiency. But when they aren't mounted accurately, they increase potential wind drag. 

Mirror Bracket Materials

Normal and extension brackets are primarily made of durable steel material. However they can come in other materials as well. 

• Stainless Steel: corrosion-resistant, durable, and heavier than aluminum 
• Aluminum: lightweight, but doesn’t weaken over time
• Powder-Coated Steel: resists rust and corrosion
• Chrome-Plated Steel: visually appealing, but can rust over time

Mirror covers and chrome accent finishes offer a sleek look on truck models from the likes of Western Star and Kenworth. 

Best Aftermarket Brands for Semi Truck Mirror Brackets

Moto Mirror is among the most widely-sold brands on the market today. It's sold by several aftermarket parts companies.

• Chrome Shop Mafia: A custom fabrication shop that creates parts like cab-mounted mirror bracket kits for Peterbilt.
• RoadWorks: Roadworks makes sleek, stainless steel mirrors and mirror accessories, like Peterbilt door window panels for door-mounted mirrors.
• Twelve Gauge Customs: A reputable semi truck parts manufacturer that offers sturdy paintable steel mirror brackets.
• BESTfit: 4 State-owned parts manufacturer that crafts chrome-finished, heated hood mirror arms and heated power mirror kits.

It's also important to look for customer reviews and gather more information if you're looking to upgrade to a new aftermarket mirror brand, even if it’s word of mouth. 

Your replacement mirror will depend on the mounting bracket setup that's already in place. While the majority of hood mirrors are universal, easily applied to nearly any heavy-duty truck hood, most truck models have their particular mirror mount positioning.

Take the Freightliner Cascadia as an example. 

You can see that the mounting is entirely different than the Kenworth T680 or the Peterbilt 359. 

Top Considerations When Purchasing an Aftermarket Semi Truck Mirror

If you're just getting a replacement, it's straightforward. Swap the old mirror glass out for the new, and leave the housing and brackets. Find the aftermarket mirror kit that has the same specs as your OEM or current in-use one.

But if you want a new setup, you'll probably need a completely new mirror setup, which means new brackets and a new cutout on your exterior cab to mount the lights.

The choice still comes down to style preference, whether it's rounded, oval, or squared-of, offset or direct mounting configuration, or light-backing or no light-backing setup, and whether or not the mirrors fit your truck make: Freightliner, Volvo, International, Peterbilt, Kenworth, or Western Star. 

Flat vs Convex Truck Mirrors

A Flat mirror is best used when you need an accurate view of the surrounding area in order to better maneuver the rig and judge clearances. 

However, a convex mirror is better for a wider field of view when observing traffic in adjacent lanes and near the rear of the trailer. 

Some mirror housings come with both a flat mirror and the convex, wide-view mirror attached at the bottom. 

Material Quality of Your Truck’s Mirror

Choose high-quality housing materials like stainless steel or reinforced polycarbonate to ensure your mirror assembly is durable for years to come. 

Installing and Adjusting Your Truck Mirror

Depending on the manufacturer, most mirrors are easy to fit, install, and adjust for optimal performance. Most of the time, when you buy an OEM-replacement or its complementary aftermarket alternative, the housing and mounting positions stay the same. So it's fairly easy to install.

But when you have a new offset mounting placement, you'll need to measure the base of the mirror kit's mounting, then cut out a new spot on the cab to mount it. 

Adjusting your semi truck mirrors is easy. 

Position the flat mirrors so you can see the rear corners of the truck, then tilt them up or down till you can see the rod and trailer in the bottom edge of the mirror. Put the convex mirrors down as far as possible to max out your visibility. 

Compliance with State Laws

Mirrors should meet state regulations for safety and visibility, whether it’s Missouri, Texas, or California, which include length standards for bracket-extended wide-view mirrors among other things.

Upgrading and Replacing Your Semi Truck Mirrors

Mirror Replacement Depends on the Mounting Bracket Setup 

Your mounting bracket configuration depends on the make and model of your truck. 

Hood-mounted mirror assemblies, and most fender-mounted mirrors, are pretty much universal, easy to fit on any nearly class 8 truck model you have. 

The Freightliner Cascadia is a truck model that requires a very specific mirror set, simply due to its mounting configuration on the truck. 

Many Peterbilt or Kenworth models, on the other hand, have two mounting spots. 

If you’re replacing one mirror kit with another that has a different mounting setup, you’ll need new cutouts to your door or cab - depending on where it’s being positioned. 

Aftermarket Mirror Kit Accessory Upgrades

Upgrading to an advanced mirror system can include adding additional mirrors, wide-angle or fish-eye mirrors, or just getting a set of heated mirrors. 

There are plenty of aftermarket mirror accessories to help extend the functionality of your mirror assembly, including items like the 2-inch nut cover mirror extension kit, which helps to extend the visual scope of your mirror after you’ve installed thick exhaust stacks on the side of your rig.

There are a myriad of other, more advanced tech-laden accessories that can radically upgrade your mirror setup. 

Keep in mind, it’s just a question of whether or not you want to invest your hard-earned dollars into additional features like: 

• Electrochromic Glass: glass that changes tint or opacity to mitigate glare from sunlight or headlights.
• LED Illuminated Glass: integrated within and around the edges of the mirror glass itself to improve visibility during low-light conditions. 
• Remote Control Adjustment: these mirrors allow for remote adjustment of the position via buttons or joysticks within the cab, saving time when compared to manually adjusting mirrors. 

At 4 State Trucks, we offer more basic, essential accessories like mirror assemblies with LED-back lighting, or attachable LED light bars for side mirrors. Or, additional watermelon mirror light brackets that attach below the mirror mounts. 

Signs of a Low-Quality or Worn-Out Mirror Bracket

• Excessive vibrations: poor bracket construction or loose mounting hardware
• Misalignment issues: weakened bracket cannot hold the mirror in place
• Loose movement: shifting positions after minor vibrations  

Common Issues With Truck Mirrors

Misalignment

Issues: improper installation of the mirrors can create blind spots

Solutions: regular inspection and adjustment of mirror brackets and mounting hardware

Visibility and Stability

Issues: excessive vibrations from worn-out brackets

Solutions: Buy durable assemblies from quality vendors who are known for not compromising part quality for profitability, and inspect the mirror for signs of wear or loose attachments 

Fogging and Contaminants

Issues: reduces visibility from dirt, debris, or fog 

Solutions: regularly clean the mirrors and maintain them correctly

Rust and Corrosion

Issues: Rust weakens the mirror assembly

Solutions: avoid using harsh chemicals; use soft cloth for cleaning and perform regular inspections

General Cleaning Tips for Mirrors 

• Regular cleaning and inspection: once a week, using a soft cloth and mild glass cleaner.
• Check for damage and replacements: cracks, chips, or loose mounts. 
• Prevent rust and corrosion: keep mirrors dry as much as possible or use protective covers.

Tip: Always use a mild, ammonia-free glass cleaner and spray it directly on the cloth - NOT onto the mirror. Then, wipe in a circular motion. 

You can use a simple vinegar and water mix. But if you need an automotive glass cleaner, the BullSnot glass cleaner is an excellent choice. 

Final Considerations When Before Buying Aftermarket Semi Truck Mirrors

Truck mirrors are essential for safe, functional driving. With so many options, it’s important to have the right knowledge before making a choice on which mirror to buy for your truck. 

Check customer reviews and ask a qualified product sales rep about what you’re looking for so they can give you more insight into the right mirror kits for your budget, style, and truck model. If you have specific questions about the type of mirror you're looking for, give one of our team members a call today.