I was thinking of putting some side markers for turn signals rather than having the turn signal mirrors. What do you guys think? Is it too importy? I figure it would be much cheaper than getting side mirrors.

I was thinking of putting some side markers for turn signals rather than having the turn signal mirrors. What do you guys think? Is it too importy? I figure it would be much cheaper than getting side mirrors.

Definately cheaper. Sounds a little importy, but it is a NISSAN

What are they for? Looks or function? There is already visible turn signals from all angles of the truck. :confused:

Those side running light turn signals would give it a Euro look. Not really the look for me, but if you like it, why not?

What are they for? Looks or function? :confused:

Looks, I'm sure.

I believe they can still have a good function but at very rare occurances. I've had people that failed to realize that I was signaling to merge into their lane. They couldn't see my front and rear turn signals because the were directly to my side. This one lady had a mini cooper and it was broad day light. Considering that our trucks are so big, she couldn't really see my turn signals. So either she didn't see me signaling, or she was just a mean lady and wouldn't let me in her lane, LOL. D.C. is notorious for mean and inexperienced drivers hehehe. One more thing, you sure you want to drill a 3/4 inch hole into your fender just for side markers?

What are they for? Looks or function? There is already visible turn signals from all angles of the truck. :confused:

Uh, I would say both depending on preference. I had one of those mid size benz merge towrads the lane I was in and noticed the marker before the signal as i was next to them. I tought it would e helpful and obviously less expensive. Im just not ready to put the cash into some side mirrors


I believe they can still have a good function but at very rare occurances. I've had people that failed to realize that I was signaling to merge into their lane. They couldn't see my front and rear turn signals because the were directly to my side. This one lady had a mini cooper and it was broad day light. Considering that our trucks are so big, she couldn't really see my turn signals. So either she didn't see me signaling, or she was just a mean lady and wouldn't let me in her lane, LOL. D.C. is notorious for mean and inexperienced drivers hehehe. One more thing, you sure you want to drill a 3/4 inch hole into your fender just for side markers?

exactly what happened to me the other day. Different vehicle of coarse. The only thing I was skeptical about is the fenders flare so much that it may stick out like a sore thumb. I guess thats the whole point when turning

:confused: What are those? What do they look like?

They couldn't see my front and rear turn signals because the were directly to my side........ So either she didn't see me signaling, or she was just a mean lady and wouldn't let me in her lane, LOL.

I hate people that drive like that. Sounds to me like you're the one being inconsiderate. Um, hello, if there's already a car there, why would you be trying to change lanes? Why would you think I should slow down / speed up to let you into the space I'm currently occupying? YOU should be the one to either slow down & get in behind me, or speed up & get in front of me. As you said, it's HER lane.

The ones I especially love are the ones that just absolutely have to cut me off to get into the short space in front of me when there's 1/4 mile empty behind me that they could easily take & not cause any drama. Another favorite are the people in the right lane 100 feet before the stop light & they suddenly realize they need to make a left turn. So they cut across 3 lanes of traffic. Just make the right turn, then hook a U. Might take a few seconds longer for you, but you also avoid pissing off about 10 people, & there's less risk of an accident.

As my Drivers Ed. instructor said many, many years ago, "you shouldn't do anything to make the other cars slow down". That's what causes the majority of slow downs on the highways - the ripple effect of someone changing lanes & making the person they get in front of slow down which makes all the people behind them slow down.

Whenever I change lanes, I make sure I do so when there's a large gap in traffic. I hate it when I'm maintaining a safe distance between me & the car in front, then somebody comes in so I have to slow down to get that safe distance back. Doing it when we're all on the brakes is just asking for trouble. (no I'm not saying I'd hit anyone on purpose, just laying out a fact)

I hate people that drive like that. Sounds to me like you're the one being inconsiderate. Um, hello, if there's already a car there, why would you be trying to change lanes? Why would you think I should slow down / speed up to let you into the space I'm currently occupying? YOU should be the one to either slow down & get in behind me, or speed up & get in front of me. As you said, it's HER lane.

The ones I especially love are the ones that just absolutely have to cut me off to get into the short space in front of me when there's 1/4 mile empty behind me that they could easily take & not cause any drama. Another favorite are the people in the right lane 100 feet before the stop light & they suddenly realize they need to make a left turn. So they cut across 3 lanes of traffic. Just make the right turn, then hook a U. Might take a few seconds longer for you, but you also avoid pissing off about 10 people, & there's less risk of an accident.

As my Drivers Ed. instructor said many, many years ago, "you shouldn't do anything to make the other cars slow down". That's what causes the majority of slow downs on the highways - the ripple effect of someone changing lanes & making the person they get in front of slow down which makes all the people behind them slow down.

Whenever I change lanes, I make sure I do so when there's a large gap in traffic. I hate it when I'm maintaining a safe distance between me & the car in front, then somebody comes in so I have to slow down to get that safe distance back. Doing it when we're all on the brakes is just asking for trouble. (no I'm not saying I'd hit anyone on purpose, just laying out a fact)
blairc,

I kind of agree with you, but I live in the DC area with Paspasero. I don't think you understand!

In this area, there can be more than adequate space for you to make a safe lane change, but there are folks who are bound and determined not to let you do it for the sake of making you wait or miss an exit. Folks around here just seem to speed up purposely to make you wait or just so that you will not get in front of them. That is why the DC Metro area is in the top 10 of the most inconsiderate and unsafe driving areas in the country!

blairc,

I kind of agree with you, but I live in the DC area with Paspasero. I don't think you understand!

In this area, there can be more than adequate space for you to make a safe lane change, but there are folks who are bound and determined not to let you do it for the sake of making you wait or miss an exit. Folks around here just seem to speed up purposely to make you wait or just so that you will not get in front of them. That is why the DC Metro area is in the top 10 of the most inconsiderate and unsafe driving areas in the country!

Mr. Spyda. Thank you for understanding!

Blairc, What do you do when you have a car to your left, cars infront and behind you, and all going the same speed on a two lane street? The car to your left has no cars infront or behind them within four cars length. You have a block to make a left turn on a one way street (that's DC for ya) and you have been signaling for an ample amount of time for the person to your left to slow down for you, but they don't. Do you think that person couldn't see you signaling or is just being mean? What would you do to make that left turn "without slowing down traffic" as your driver's ed teacher said?

Side repeater indicators are a legal requirement in the UK and most of Europe and they are for safety. The test they carry out on import cars there includes standing around 5 yards behind the vehicle and at 5 degrees angle from the front of the vehicle. If you can't see the front indicator you must fit side repeaters.

You could fit motorcycle indicators to the underside of the mirror body so that you don't damage the body work. I am sure you could get something like these from a USA bike dealer.


http://www.mandp.co.uk/productInfo.aspx?catRef=525886

Do you think that person couldn't see you signaling or is just being mean? What would you do to make that left turn "without slowing down traffic" as your driver's ed teacher said?

Where is it written that you are supposed to slow down to let someone else do a lane change?

If you knew you needed to make a left turn up ahead, why are you in the right lane? Wouldn't it be less stressful for you to have gotten into the left lane before then?

No, I have not ever driven in DC. But I have been driving in San Francisco Bay Area traffic for the last 12 years, so I understand heavy traffic, people who are mean / inconsiderate / just plain don't know how to drive, narrow 2 lane streets, 1-way streets, and wide-open 7 lane highways (where we still get bumper-to-bumper traffic).

What would I do? First, I'd already be in the left lane. But if I happened to be in the right lane for some reason, I would slow down and get into the left lane behind that car. Yes I realize that would slow down traffic behind me, which goes against what the drivers ed teacher said. But isn't that still a better move than expecting someone else to slow down for me? If I wasn't able to get over? I'd make a right, then hook a U. No U-Turns allowed? Make a left into a driveway, then turn around.

You can't control what others do, only what you do. Why get upset when someone else doesn't do what you want them to when you could've avoided the whole situation by being the the lane you need to be in earlier?

You can't change others, so why not see what you can change about yourself & the way you drive? What are you doing to make DC a better place to drive?

Where is it written that you are supposed to slow down to let someone else do a lane change?

If you knew you needed to make a left turn up ahead, why are you in the right lane? Wouldn't it be less stressful for you to have gotten into the left lane before then?

No, I have not ever driven in DC. But I have been driving in San Francisco Bay Area traffic for the last 12 years, so I understand heavy traffic, people who are mean / inconsiderate / just plain don't know how to drive, narrow 2 lane streets, 1-way streets, and wide-open 7 lane highways (where we still get bumper-to-bumper traffic).

What would I do? First, I'd already be in the left lane. But if I happened to be in the right lane for some reason, I would slow down and get into the left lane behind that car. Yes I realize that would slow down traffic behind me, which goes against what the drivers ed teacher said. But isn't that still a better move than expecting someone else to slow down for me? If I wasn't able to get over? I'd make a right, then hook a U. No U-Turns allowed? Make a left into a driveway, then turn around.

You can't control what others do, only what you do. Why get upset when someone else doesn't do what you want them to when you could've avoided the whole situation by being the the lane you need to be in earlier?

You can't change others, so why not see what you can change about yourself & the way you drive? What are you doing to make DC a better place to drive?
In the words of the great scholar, Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

I understand what you are saying, and i totally agree. There isn't anything (legally... just joking) you can do to control what others do. Me personally, I try and be as courteous as possible. It doesn't always help though. There are too many crazy folks on the road and I don't want to be one of them. All you can do is shake your head sometimes at what people do.

blairc, I wouldn't say that I disagree with your driving ethics, we all have our ways of driving and there are just so many factors to consider when it comes to proper driving ethics especially in a very busy city. I was just in San Francisco last month and drove around the city trying to get to my cousin's wedding at the corner of Lyon and Washington Street. Ended up on Market Street from the freeway and I have to admit, it was quite an adventure just trying to get on the north side of it. I then considered SF as challenging as when I first started driving around DC. I must confess though that I am an aggressively defensive driver (not to be confused with crazy drivers) and it's a reason that I have not been involved in any collisions ever. To get back to the subject, I believe it wouldn't hurt to have side markers. It will only make you more visible to others.

The side markers are a great idea and I think the look would be good. If you check out a 2006 Honda Pilot, they added side marker lights and it looks pretty slick.

I've seen side markers offered for other brands that could work for an Armada. You'll have to do the wiring on your own, though.

Here's a product that could get you started:

Check out http://www.ipdusa.com/ProductsCat.aspx?CategoryID=233&NodeID=4539&RootID=629

Thanks to every1 that put in their input. looks as if got a little off topic but i never thought the idea of having the side marker on the under of the mirror. Pretty clever I think. I just need to know which ones would go well with the truck. Being that its wide and flarey on the sides. i wouldnt want to go with something thats sleek like the Benz, but more square. Maybe like the land rover side marker. What do you all think???

like the expedition mirrors...those are hot...

but our mirrors work as side markers...just think about it...the car next to you can see you r mirror from certain angles..they just decide to ignore them... i am happy with the mirror i got...

side marker would look nice but in my opinion, too much work fro something that is not really going to do any benfit and maybe not even add any greater looks...

with too much work i mean, if installed on the side of the vehicle, drilling, wirring, installation... and they are still going to be pretty much located at the same angle as the mirror turn signals...

if installed at the mirrors, below them , like the expedition mirrors...to much work to mod the mirro, wire them and they are at the same place where your turn signals are in the mirrors...

just my opinion...i know we, as car fans, do many mods that are more the work than the end benefit but... i dont think i would do this one, but i could change my mind later..so keep coming with ideas,... :)

Luigi

check this out... http://www.clubarmada.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1840 third page....

If you put the side repeaters under the mirror (cheap option), check out

www.muthco.com and http://www.muthco.com/products/kits/220-0179.htm

They have a PDF file for instaling their signal mirrors (more expensive option) which shows you how to remove door trims and where to put the wiring.

Hope that helps a bit.