Installing a Backup Camera in a RV? ideas, good bad, what have you,??

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mobile - 05 Sep 2006 00:39 GMT

hello,

I am looking for recommendations of types of rear cameras to install on my
RV, it is a diesel pusher, allegro 1992, 32 foot long. I pull a car dolly to
tow my truck, so I would like to watch what is going on back there. looking
for brands, and things to watch for when installing. under the trailer or
down the walls in the inside, granted one is infinitely more work, but are
these things requiring adjustment and so on, so you need to get to your
wiring. or is the wiring delicate and cannot take the outside under the RV
type of run..

thanks

another idea, is how to tow my truck (automatic) 2 wheel drive with a tow
hitch on all four wheels.

any suggestions besides the super expensive automatic transmission
re-circulate type items. I am open to ideas.

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NoSpam_aljimenez@yahoo.com - 05 Sep 2006 02:35 GMT

> hello,
>
> I am looking for recommendations of types of rear cameras to install on my
> RV, it is a diesel pusher, allegro 1992, 32 foot long.

I installed one in our Class B, an '05 PleasureWay on a Sprinter chassis. I
installed it high, and the biggest challenge is to figure out how to get the
wires below. In the Sprinter, a hole to punch through is already up there
right behind the third brake light, and then I was able to get the wires
down by one of the corner columns. The wires can be routed underneath the
coach just fine. It works really well.

The camera I bought is wide angle, around 100 dollars in eBay; there are a
lot of rear cameras that are not wide angle enough. It has infrared eyes so
it shows color in daytime and black and white in the dark. I can see behind
very well. I decided that I did not need sound, so that saves a wire and
cost. The power these cameras need is very small, so a long run for power to
the front is fine. I bought a 30 feet run of cable that has all the wires
together and is relatively easy to route. You need a display and connecting
it to power. Ideally you want a switch to turn it on when you want to and
also to turn on automatically everytime you place the vehicle in reverse.
This part is another challenge. You also want to make sure everything is
turned off when you park as the system will drain the battery. I have an
8inch LCD display which gives a very good view... Al

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Ernie Klein - 05 Sep 2006 22:17 GMT

> > hello,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> down by one of the corner columns. The wires can be routed underneath the
> coach just fine. It works really well.

I did it somewhat different in our 2006 sprinter conversion. I got a
small flush mount lcd monitor and mounted in in the headliner behind the
drivers sun shade. When the sunshade is up you don't even see the
monitor. Since both the monitor and camera are up high, I simply ran
the camera wire along a rib near the center of the top and imbedded it
in silicon rubber. Drilled a small hole in the roof in front near where
the rib ends and fished the wire under the headliner from that point to
the monitor. Since the Sprinter is so tall you can't see anything from
the ground.

Full time power can be had by taping into the courtesy lamp also in the
headliner, but since I wanted the power to go off with the ignition so
as not to accidently run down the battery, I went to the extra work of
removing the front column trim and ran the power wire under the dash and
tapped into switchable power.

Signature

-Ernie-

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Bob V - 05 Sep 2006 02:37 GMT

: hello,
:
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
: wiring. or is the wiring delicate and cannot take the outside under the RV
: type of run..

I installed a backup camera in my Allegro 32'. I ran the cabling through
the ceiling AC ducting. I bought mine (same as the one listed) from this
seller on eBay http://tinyurl.com/mxrmk (just a short link to eBay item
260027105024) Pretty easy to install, and I wouldn't be without it. Just
make sure you seal the opening properly. I paid $275.00 for a two camera
setup. One points down to the hitch, or what's right behind the RV, the
other points to just behind my toad. Works great for passing. Once the
vehicle I'm passing just disappears from view, I know it's safe to move
over.

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mobile - 05 Sep 2006 20:16 GMT

Bob,
do you have an email address I can mail to ask you a few questions about
your camera. thanks

> : hello,
> :
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> vehicle I'm passing just disappears from view, I know it's safe to move
> over.

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Bob V - 06 Sep 2006 05:02 GMT

: Bob,
: do you have an email address I can mail to ask you a few questions about
: your camera. thanks

Sure, use bobged@hotmail.com

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CruzMastr - 06 Sep 2006 13:22 GMT

I have a traditional rear camera (dealer installed for previous owner) and
wouldn;t be without one. It's aimed to view from the back bumper out. The
cable is installed along the upper wiring chase so I'm sure it was a bit od
work to remove the covers and fish it thru the cabinets. I have seen
wireless backup cameras but don't have a link to a source (maybe Google?)
and I have no experience if/how they work. It certainly looks like the
simplest solution.

CruzMastr

> hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> any suggestions besides the super expensive automatic transmission
> re-circulate type items. I am open to ideas.

Reply to this Message

L. C. Clower - 07 Sep 2006 11:38 GMT

Look at http://sewelldirect.com/VRBCS300W-wireless-backup-camera.asp

>I have a traditional rear camera (dealer installed for previous owner) and
> wouldn;t be without one. It's aimed to view from the back bumper out. The
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>> any suggestions besides the super expensive automatic transmission
>> re-circulate type items. I am open to ideas.

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b b - 23 Sep 2006 19:10 GMT

> hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> wiring. or is the wiring delicate and cannot take the outside under the RV
> type of run..

The camera on my 99 seabreeze was installed after market, by I think
Camping World. The cable leading from the camera to the display was run
on top of the roof, thru a sealed hole from the camera compartment in
the rear, and down thru sealed hole into the front compartment under
which the display was hung so the driver can see it. The coax was stuck
to the EDPM rubber on the roof with seam seal type calk every few feet,
and it has caused no problems at all.

I might look into the cheaper cameras designed for security monitoring
if I were putting that camera in myself today....although it works fine.

HTH,
Barrie B

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