Dixie Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 When we bought our motorhome, one of the things on our 'must have' list was a reversing camera or at very least sensors. This was based mainly on experience of a hired MH which had one. I've not yet fitted one and having now done a couple of trips totalling about 1000 miles, the reversing camera is sliding down the list of things to do to the extent that I now wonder whether it is necessary. Any comment from you experience MH drivers would be useful.... Ta, John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliB Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I won't be without one. Campsites are not usually a problem I reckon I could do without one if that was the only placed we parked. With a longish van, just over 7m, I like to be as close a possible to the end of a parking space in places like a supermaket car park. Last year on the Hull Rotterdam ferry being a late arrival the parking marshals asked me to turn round and reverse on. Glad I had a camera that day. It is all done to personal choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Hi John This earlier thread might give you some help: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=22243&posts=10 PS: How's Anne's neck? :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Dixie - 2011-02-02 5:15 PM ......... Any comment from you experience MH drivers would be useful.... Ta, John. Just in response to that, it would help greatly if you said what van you have. It could be anything from a VW conversion, or even smaller, to an American RV, each of which would present very different problems. Also, is there any through vision, and do you want a camera for reversing only, or for improved rear visibility when driving forward as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Brian Kirby - 2011-02-02 5:59 PM Just in response to that, it would help greatly if you said what van you have......and do you want a camera for reversing only, or for improved rear visibility when driving forward as well? Sorry, should have given more detail: 2008 Sunlight T66 on a Transit - just short of seven metres long, no through vision and the wing mirrors just about give me sight of the rear corners. If I fit a camera I would wire to allow it to be used going forward, not just reverse. Perhaps also worth mentioning that our usual 'car' is a Citroen dispatch van with no rear view mirror so we are used to wing mirrors only... Ta, John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Mel B - 2011-02-02 5:48 PM This earlier thread might give you some help: :-S Thanks Mel - thats useful, particularly the hint about plugging it in - I had been pondering finding a power connection for it. Had already decided that if I go ahead it will be an ebay job - from memory I think the dealer quoted us £480 fitted! John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 Its good to have the camera available during forwards travel as well. For me the most important is the Blind Spot camera I have fitted on the nearside of the van, low down and as far to the front as possible. Its invaluable. The monitor has a "Camera Select" button so I can switch between the two. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 What it was- I was travelling slowly throgh a very narrow french village when I met this van coming the other way towing a trailer with a mini digger aboard. I stopped checked my mirrors and straight into reverse and backed a foot into the car that had driven right into the blind spot below my back window. The van driver gave the driver behind me a right earfull. You are a total pratt sounds the same in most languages. She did not bother to claim for minor scratch and I fixed my own torn GRP back bumper when I got home. There are no spares as the moulds were scrapped some years ago. I now have a integrated twin camera set up mounted high up. One acts as a rear view mirror the other looks straight down for close work. The downward one is great for backing up to walls or hanging the tail over a flower bed in a car park. Cheapish set up with picture quality to match but it only needs to save one claim with resultant excess to pay for itself. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art338 Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 The first rule of reversing is get out and look, assume nothing, you could have run over a child, the same applies when starting from parking, it could be someone's pet rabbit you've just casserolled! Why did you not see the car earlier in your travel? art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ips Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I have a reversing camera mounted under the rear number plate it is wide angle and gives excellent cover with no blindspots. Monitor is the type that clips onto rearview mirror which is reduntant as no rear window. Wired permanently so rear view all the time. Bought for about £120 fitted myself, easy job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliB Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 ips - 2011-02-03 12:40 PM I have a reversing camera mounted under the rear number plate it is wide angle and gives excellent cover with no blindspots. It would be interesting to know the mounting height of your camera and the angle of view. If it is mounted low down it must have an angle of view of 180 degrees to avoid blind spots. Not many camera have such a wide view. It is usual to mount the camera as high as possible to avoid blind spots around each rear corner of the vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ips Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Height must be about 2' and I can assure you that the angle of view though probably not 180 (think its 120) must be very close. If I am reversing to a kerb when is still just within view I stop, and will be about 12" from it. When overtaking on the motorway as soon as the cab of the wagon or car appears I know it is safe to pull in, this normally coincides with said wagon driver flashing me in. http://shop.reversingcamerasuk.com/epages/es106294.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es106294_shop/Products/CAM002 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhinoInstalls Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I would advise to stay away from reversing sensors, they are not very good on motorhomes. As for cameras we fit a lot and they are very handy. Many of my customers use them if they are towing a car (we only realise that the car is there on roundabouts) or (when we get to where we are going) Or when there is a car at the back of them and they didn't realise that there was one there at all. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Didn't have one on previous van. Got one fitted as part of the purchase deal on our present (bigger) van. ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. If it saves just one reversing blunder anytime in the next ten years, it'll have been well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Like many others once you have had a reversing camera you wouldn't want to be without it! Don't bother with sensors as they are not totally reliable in spotting low narrow obstacles like bollards - and the bleeping drives you daft (dafter in my case)! The other must have item for us is a rear bumper to a] prevent me from damaging my van and b] to prevent others from doing damage. Coachbuilt bodies are quite delicate and even a small nudge can cost a lot to repair whereas anyone hitting a steel bumper will probably come off worst! Some say that an afterfit rear bumper alters the structural integrity of the vehicle's chassis but if you are hit that hard up the rear that is probably the least of your worries! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmac Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I too have one which can be switched between use as a normal driving mirror and downwards view. You can park within a couple of inches of walls etc. I found it invaluable last year on a trip round Italy when my sat nav /navigator led me into a couple of dead end streets/car parks. I would have struggled without it to get out of them. It also has a sound switch which enables you to hear the navigator (assisting the maneouvre) to scream helpful words such as "STOP" Wouldn't be without it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I want to get one on new panel van as will be carrying bikes on a Thule tow bar rack, so a twin camera one would be best I guess. someone used to have an ebay shop that came on here a while back, and looked like they had a pretty good system.......I thought I had the link but cant find it now *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 JudgeMental - 2011-02-03 6:05 PM .....I thought I had the link but cant find it now *-) http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21250&posts=22 ??????? Posting 5 ??????????????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamw Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 JudgeMental - 2011-02-03 6:05 PM I want to get one on new panel van as will be carrying bikes on a Thule tow bar rack, so a twin camera one would be best I guess. someone used to have an ebay shop that came on here a while back, and looked like they had a pretty good system.......I thought I had the link but cant find it now *-) Found this one with the Sony CCD camera to be excellent on my PVC. I use this tilting camera to keep an eye on two bikes on a Westfalia tow bar rack and a view down the road. http://shop.reversingcamerasuk.com/epages/es106294.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es106294_shop/Categories/Tilting_Reversing_Camera_Systems Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 This Twin Rev Camera was recommended on a previous thread about 2-1/2 years ago, so Model No may have changed now. www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/reversingcameras/rearvisionsystems-twinlenscamera.htm Not cheap but those who had them were well satisfied Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corkbuoy Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 This setup seems to fit the bill http://shop.reversingcamerasuk.com/epages/es106294.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es106294_shop/Categories/%22Twin%20lens%20reversing%20camera%20systems%22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 grahamw - 2011-02-03 7:41 PM JudgeMental - 2011-02-03 6:05 PM I want to get one on new panel van as will be carrying bikes on a Thule tow bar rack, so a twin camera one would be best I guess. someone used to have an ebay shop that came on here a while back, and looked like they had a pretty good system.......I thought I had the link but cant find it now *-) Found this one with the Sony CCD camera to be excellent on my PVC. I use this tilting camera to keep an eye on two bikes on a Westfalia tow bar rack and a view down the road. http://shop.reversingcamerasuk.com/epages/es106294.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es106294_shop/Categories/Tilting_Reversing_Camera_Systems Graham Thanks Graham they are the ones I think seems very familiar and the same sony camera...great stuff! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 flicka - 2011-02-03 9:21 PM This Twin Rev Camera was recommended on a previous thread about 2-1/2 years ago, so Model No may have changed now. www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/reversingcameras/rearvisionsystems-twinlenscamera.htm Not cheap but those who had them were well satisfied Your last sentance should really read "Not cheap but those who have them seem to be reasonably satisfied." See Brian Kirby's comments on: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21250&posts=22 There is a French mirror-based kit that can be fitted to a single-lens non-motorised reversing-camera to provide a 'split screen' view. Details are on http://www.kitmiroirderenvoi.com/ As the camera points directly downwards, it might help with the glare problem mentioned on the earlier forum thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Derek Uzzell - 2011-02-04 9:35 AM flicka - 2011-02-03 9:21 PM This Twin Rev Camera was recommended on a previous thread about 2-1/2 years ago, so Model No may have changed now. www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/reversingcameras/rearvisionsystems-twinlenscamera.htm Not cheap but those who had them were well satisfied Your last sentance should really read "Not cheap but those who have them seem to be reasonably satisfied." See Brian Kirby's comments on: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21250&posts=22 There is a French mirror-based kit that can be fitted to a single-lens non-motorised reversing-camera to provide a 'split screen' view. Details are on http://www.kitmiroirderenvoi.com/ As the camera points directly downwards, it might help with the glare problem mentioned on the earlier forum thread. Agreed Derek, appears I over egged it, in light of last years thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Tuckley Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I fitted a reversing camera about 2 years ago. Again after reversing into a French car which had come so close behind that I couldn't see it. The present camera is wired to the reversing light of the Duccato and so comes on as the light is energised. I would love to wire the camera into some other feed and fit a flick switch to the facia so I could check the motorbike trailer with it whilst travelling. I have to take out the radio in the facia soon to fit a proper aerial and I am wondering if it would be feasable to wire the camera from the radio feed. If not, does anybody have any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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