Upgrading or adjusting your 5th gen ram tow mirrors is honestly one of the first things you should look into if you plan on doing any serious hauling with your truck. The 5th generation Ram 1500, which kicked off back in 2019, brought a lot of changes to the table, but the mirrors remain one of the most debated topics among owners. Whether you're staring at a massive travel trailer in your rearview or just trying to navigate a tight parking garage, the glass on the side of your door makes all the difference.
If you've spent any time in the Ram community, you know the "moose mirror" jokes. For years, Ram owners were known for driving around with their mirrors flipped up even when they weren't towing a thing. With the 5th gen trucks, the design shifted a bit. You still have that classic functionality, but the tech packed into these units has jumped lightyears ahead of where it used to be. It's not just about a piece of glass anymore; it's about cameras, sensors, and motors that make life a whole lot easier.
The Big Shift in Design
When Ram moved from the 4th gen to the 5th gen (the DT platform), they didn't just tweak the headlights and call it a day. They completely reimagined how the truck interacts with the world around it. The 5th gen ram tow mirrors are a perfect example of this. On the older trucks, you had a simple manual flip. On the newer ones, especially the higher trims like the Laramie, Longhorn, or Limited, these mirrors are essentially small computers.
One thing you'll notice right away is the shape. They're more aerodynamic than the old "sails" we used to see, but they still provide that massive vertical field of view when you flip them out. This is huge for seeing the tires of your trailer when you're making a tight turn. If you can't see where your trailer axles are tracking, you're eventually going to curb a wheel or, worse, clip a gas station bollard.
Features That Actually Matter
It's easy to get lost in the spec sheets, but when you're out on the road, only a few things really matter. If you're looking to upgrade your current setup, you've got to decide which features are deal-breakers for you.
Power Folding Functionality
I can't stress this enough: if you live in a city or have a standard-width garage, power-folding mirrors are a godsend. These trucks are wide. Adding tow mirrors makes them even wider. Being able to hit a button and tuck those ears in when you're parking saves you from the heartbreak of a cracked housing because someone clipped you in a parking lot.
The 360-Degree Camera System
This is where the 5th gen ram tow mirrors really shine. The 5th gen introduced a sophisticated surround-view camera system. There are small cameras tucked into the bottom of the mirror housings. When you're hitching up or trying to center yourself in a lane, the truck stitches these images together to give you a bird's-eye view. If you swap your factory mirrors for aftermarket ones, you have to be really careful to ensure they support these cameras, or you'll lose one of the best features of the truck.
Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path
Most 5th gen Rams come with some form of blind spot detection. The sensors are usually in the taillights, but the warning indicators live in the mirror glass. It's a little orange triangle that lights up when someone is hovering in your blind spot. When you're towing a 25-foot box behind you, that little light is your best friend.
Aftermarket vs. OEM: The Great Debate
So, let's say your truck didn't come with tow mirrors from the factory, or you smashed one on a drive-thru pillar. You've got two main paths: buying the official Mopar parts or going the aftermarket route.
OEM (Mopar) mirrors are the safe bet. They fit perfectly, the paint match (if you have color-matched caps) is spot on, and you know the electronics will play nice with the truck's computer. The downside? They are incredibly expensive. Buying a pair of fully loaded 5th gen tow mirrors from a dealership can easily run you north of $1,500, and that doesn't always include the labor to flash the truck's computer so it recognizes them.
Aftermarket mirrors have come a long way. Brands like Boost Auto and others have stepped up their game. You can often get the same features—power fold, heat, smoked turn signals—for about half the price of the OEM units. The catch is that sometimes the glass can vibrate a bit more at highway speeds than the factory ones do. It's a trade-off. If you're a perfectionist, stick with OEM. If you're looking to save some cash for other mods, aftermarket is a solid way to go.
The "Sales Code" Headache
Here's a tip that catches a lot of people off guard. You can't always just bolt on a set of 5th gen ram tow mirrors and expect everything to work instantly. These trucks are "smart," which is just another way of saying the computer needs to be told what equipment it has.
If you're upgrading from the small standard mirrors to the larger tow mirrors, you usually have to take the truck to a dealer to have "sales codes" added to your VIN. This tells the truck's BCM (Body Control Module) to send power to the new turn signals or the puddle lights. Without this step, you might find yourself with fancy new mirrors that don't actually do anything when you hit the blinker.
Installation: Can You Do It Yourself?
If you're even a little bit handy with a socket set, you can probably handle the install. It usually involves popping off the interior door panels, which can be a little nerve-wracking because of those plastic clips that love to snap. But once the panel is off, it's typically just three bolts and a few plug-and-play wire harnesses.
The tricky part is the door modules. Depending on what trim level your truck is, you might need to swap out the modules inside the door to support features like power folding. It's always a good idea to pull your door panel and check the part numbers on your existing modules before you order new mirrors. It saves a lot of frustration down the road.
Why Visibility is Non-Negotiable
At the end of the day, the reason we care so much about 5th gen ram tow mirrors isn't just about looks. It's about safety. When you're pulling a heavy load, your depth perception and peripheral vision are compromised. The dual-pane glass on the tow mirrors—with the large flat top section and the convex bottom section—gives you a "total" picture of what's happening behind you.
I've talked to plenty of guys who thought they could get away with those "clip-on" mirror extensions. While those work in a pinch, they usually vibrate so much you can't tell if you're looking at a car or a blurry blob. Investing in a proper set of dedicated tow mirrors changes the entire towing experience. You'll feel more confident, less fatigued, and way less likely to have a "whoops" moment at the boat ramp.
Keeping Everything Working
Once you've got your mirrors dialed in, a little maintenance goes a long way. Since these mirrors have motors for folding and adjusting, they can get gummed up with road salt or grit, especially if you live in a winter climate. A quick spray of silicone lubricant in the pivot points once or twice a year keeps things moving smoothly.
Also, keep an eye on the glass. If you notice your mirrors starting to shake or vibrate more than usual, check the mounting bolts. Sometimes the vibration from the road can loosen them just enough to cause a shimmy. A quick turn of a wrench is usually all it takes to get them rock solid again.
Whether you're sticking with the stock look or going for a custom setup, your 5th gen ram tow mirrors are your primary link to what's happening behind your tailgate. Take the time to get them set up right, and you'll enjoy the drive a whole lot more. After all, nobody wants to be the guy who's constantly guessing if there's a Honda Civic hiding in his blind spot.