Installing rear view camera.

iana · Guru

Installing rear view camera.

Ron-D · Guru

My Rear view camera on the Van is a safety Dave model and works well,but there's one huge fault,the cars look like there a long way off when in reality there right on your rear bumper,so it's useless for lane changes. Found out the hard way by a near miss by a horn blowing from a car who's driver had to chance his under wear..

iana · Guru

And this is why I was cross with myself for buying the gear at the caravan show, I had already found this out, and that the camera needs to be a narrow field of view in order to get vehicle distances more realistic, I was very disappointed when I set up the unit, and used the camera on the rear of the van, not only is the following distance false but you can't see the vehicles coming up to you easily.
I had thought that getting the 7" screen would counter this but it hasn't.
In the mean time Safety Dave has got a dual camera for caravans, and it has two cameras with lenses at different angles, wish I had have got that. The other problem I have is one or two drops of rain on the lens and bye, bye, picture.

However the main reason for the setup is so I can see what's behind me in the ute, like at Supermarkets etc. The camera mounted on the canopy has a good picture, but still following vehicle distance is misleading. My mirror is now packed away, and with the aid of a hacksaw, file, and a 5mm tap, the monitor is now hard mounted on the mirror stem and it fits quite nicely there.

JackoFJR · Senior Member

I have Safety Dave Camera on the Camper Trailer and one on the tow bar , the Camper one is 91* angle the tow bar one is wider but still could be wider when reversing with out the trailer .
It's really a matter of getting used to the view , if a vehicle can be seen in the camera on the trailer but not the mirrors, it's close .

Brenda and Alan · Guru

I have installed a 45 degree rear view camera on our van and still consider the image too small. I think a 30 degree camera would be ideal.

Alan

terrola · Veteran Member

i agree useless for traffic coming behind on a open road. but i have found when needing to change lanes in a town it is good wider vision

iana · Guru

The hard part is being able to source a camera with the field of view that's required. I would prefer to have the picture on the screen, the same as the view in the rear view side mirrors, i.e. just filling in the missing arc. But I am talking about the camera replacing the view that was in the rear view mirror in the cabin. Which means that the camera is on all the time, if however the system is just used as a reversing camera then the angle of view would most likely be better if it was wide.

Brenda and Alan · Guru

Ian when I was looking for rear vision cameras I found a company in WA which had 30 degree cameras which would give you the view you require. However they were very costly and when I tried to order one they were no longer available. I ended up buying a dual camera with a 45 degree and 120 degree cameras combined and although not ideal the 45 camera gives an acceptable rear view. You do need a 7 inch display for adequate image size.

Alan

-- Edited by Brenda and Alan on Tuesday 5th of September 2017 08:24:18 AM

iana · Guru

Brenda & Alan, I have installed the more expensive setups in other vehicles at what was my work, the monitor picture is way, way better, and I too was eyeing off the narrow view camera, but as you say no longer available. The make was NESA, and the monitor alone was about the price I paid for the monitor and two cameras from SD. The difference being I think is that the monitor image was 100% better in all conditions, it comes down too, you get what you pay for. I have installed NESA, Gator, Axis and Safety Dave. I think that excepting the NESA, they all come out of the same factory. Was that place you went to Alanco ?
Just furthering the info, I went and did some backing practice with the van, and found the camera was of no use at all, one needs to be able to see relative angles between the tug and van, etc.
I have ordered more cables from SD, they were very cheap, but they also appear to be reasonable quality, when they arrive, I will be able to complete the job.

Brenda and Alan · Guru

The company that had the 30 degree camera was nassecurity.com.au - I just had a look and they list one in stock at $195. However last time I tried to order one the web site showed the same stock but on ordering was told not available.

The 45/120 degree dual camera I got from digoptions.com.au currently $162 for white and$118 for black on special.

Alan

toglhot · Senior Member

Sounds like you were using your camera as a rear view mirror - illegal!

iana · Guru

The camera used as a drivers aid is not illegal, and depending on the class of vehicle you only need the two outside mirrors especially if you have no view from the rear window.