Reversing camera for the parallel parkingly challenged!!

[bennyyorkie]

Hi,
We are in the middle of our conversion and I will definitely need a reversing camper as its a long wheel based van. Not that I cant park or haven't driven SUVs with trailers attached before etc....but well, I just think it would be safer and less stressful especially when in an unfamiliar place
Have been looking on amazon at wireless reversing cameras as would like to avoid the hassle of getting a wire all the way from the back to the front of the van. An electrician I know flat out told me "the wireless are useless, dont go near them" but have seen one or two on amazon with 4 star reviews.
Anyone have experience of these? Is he right? Many thanks
P.S...as for parallel parking..its not that one cant....its that one wont ( Ok...maybe I cant!)

 

[AndyPK]

I use a Garmin BC 40 wireless camera (battery-operated) and a compatible Garmin sat Nav.
Works for me, on our 7m van.

 

[bennyyorkie]

I use a Garmin BC 40 wireless camera (battery-operated) and a compatible Garmin sat Nav.
Works for me, on our 7m van.

How to you find the picture quality, any negatives? Didn't realize that was an option. I have a garmin somewhere I think!
Just had a look online, looks good...just wondering if the camera is liable to being stolen? Perhap thats rare

 

[AndyPK]

Picture quality is fine for purpose, even though it’s only 720p. Garmin have a list of compatible sat navs, so you need to check if yours is on it, or factor-in the cost of an upgrade to the overall price......
My BC40 has been on the ‘van for a year now (same batteries!) and, as it’s mounted low just above the rear number plate, is not very noticeable. Some reviewers have said that it could be stolen as it is very easy to remove, and have resorted to fixing with tie-wraps or screws......., but I haven’t bothered. I guess it depends what sort of area you park in!

 

[Ranger]

We fitted a 120 degree camera at roof height looking straight down the rear and its brilliant for parking. Vehicles and objects are clearly seen behind and you can go literally to within an inch of them. Wider angle cameras make the image too small.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[AndyPK]

We fitted a 120 degree camera at roof height looking straight down the rear and its brilliant for parking. Vehicles and objects are clearly seen behind and you can go literally to within an inch of them. Wider angle cameras make the image too small.

Which camera did you fit, Ranger?

 

[SpeedyDux]

The OP has a van conversion. I would also be interested to know if this wireless solution is feasible with a PVC rather than a coachbuilt MH. There is a difference.

The relevant question is how well these wireless reversing cameras work on a PVC. Especially those Garmin B series cameras that can transmit to a Garmin satnav screen.

 

[AndyPK]

Presumably the implication is that a PVC being mainly metal could possibly degrade the wireless signal? I do not know the answer but, to be honest, most of the interior of the van would not be made of such material (cupboards, etc.) so should not really be an issue. What do you think?

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

I have a wireless camera on the back of my toad which transmits to a receiver in the rear of the Motorhome and from there i have a cable that runs along the chassis and up through the gas locker into the dash where I have mounted a monitor on the flat bit between the steering wheel and the windscreen. The same cable also carries a signal from the number plate camera so I can toggle betweethe 2 views depending on whether or not I am towing. This was Avery inexpensive piece of kit from ebay and works fine for the purpose.

The wireless input suffers from occasional interference from in-suppressed vehicles overtaking and very occasionally picks up a signal from another set up. I once passed a horse box and our rear view image was replaced by an image of the horse!

I also have a camera at the top rear of the van pointing downwards to the towbar which shows on the radio headset when In reverse gear. This is ideal for parking or reversing the van to the A-frame of the toad.

I still have this all wired up but I have now added a pair of cameras (90/150) mounted above the downward-looking camera and which I have wired through the van cupboards to the same monitor. The quality of these cameras is much better than the cheap ones, and I can now recognise faces and read number plates, though the cheap ones were perfectly adequate. As this is mounted at height I can see above the toad so no longer need the wireless part or the number plate camera, though as I say I have left them wired up but not plugged in the the monitor and have removed the fuse - so are there as a back up.
The 90 degree camera is better than the 150 degree wide angle as it gives images about the same size as the images in the van mirrors, the wide angle makes cars that are quite close look far away so could be dangerous. That one is really more useful to look out if the back when I am parked or in a camping field!

I chose to run the cables inside the van through to the dashboard. The cables enter through the same hole that the original downward facing camera used. To run the cable invisibly I had to dismantle and rebuild the above bed cupboards, the wardrobe, the curtain rail, the sliding door, the toilet door, the bathroom cabinet, the TV cupboard, the hab door frame, the cupboard under the seat behind the drivers seat and the cupboard adjacent to the drivers seat. That was a long job but I preferred that route to running down the inside of the rear wall then under the van along the chassis as I did not want to cut a hole through the garage floor! it’s a 7.4m Aclass Rapido

One other thing: I have bought a second small monitor which is mounted adjacent to the driver which I have wired to another cheap wireless camera mounted under the van pointing down adjacent to the grey drain. This enables me to align the van exactly over the drain in motorhome service points. The next stage will be to fit a solenoid valve so I can drain the van grey waste from the drivers seat.

all cameras are fitted in switched fused spurs from the “always on “ side of the fuse box so I can use when the engine is off if required.

 

[bennyyorkie]

I have a wireless camera on the back of my toad which transmits to a receiver in the rear of the Motorhome and from there i have a cable that runs along the chassis and up through the gas locker into the dash where I have mounted a monitor on the flat bit between the steering wheel and the windscreen. The same cable also carries a signal from the number plate camera so I can toggle betweethe 2 views depending on whether or not I am towing. This was Avery inexpensive piece of kit from ebay and works fine for the purpose.

The wireless input suffers from occasional interference from in-suppressed vehicles overtaking and very occasionally picks up a signal from another set up. I once passed a horse box and our rear view image was replaced by an image of the horse!

I also have a camera at the top rear of the van pointing downwards to the towbar which shows on the radio headset when In reverse gear. This is ideal for parking or reversing the van to the A-frame of the toad.

I still have this all wired up but I have now added a pair of cameras (90/150) mounted above the downward-looking camera and which I have wired through the van cupboards to the same monitor. The quality of these cameras is much better than the cheap ones, and I can now recognise faces and read number plates, though the cheap ones were perfectly adequate. As this is mounted at height I can see above the toad so no longer need the wireless part or the number plate camera, though as I say I have left them wired up but not plugged in the the monitor and have removed the fuse - so are there as a back up.
The 90 degree camera is better than the 150 degree wide angle as it gives images about the same size as the images in the van mirrors, the wide angle makes cars that are quite close look far away so could be dangerous. That one is really more useful to look out if the back when I am parked or in a camping field!

I chose to run the cables inside the van through to the dashboard. The cables enter through the same hole that the original downward facing camera used. To run the cable invisibly I had to dismantle and rebuild the above bed cupboards, the wardrobe, the curtain rail, the sliding door, the toilet door, the bathroom cabinet, the TV cupboard, the hab door frame, the cupboard under the seat behind the drivers seat and the cupboard adjacent to the drivers seat. That was a long job but I preferred that route to running down the inside of the rear wall then under the van along the chassis as I did not want to cut a hole through the garage floor! it’s a 7.4m Aclass Rapido

One other thing: I have bought a second small monitor which is mounted adjacent to the driver which I have wired to another cheap wireless camera mounted under the van pointing down adjacent to the grey drain. This enables me to align the van exactly over the drain in motorhome service points. The next stage will be to fit a solenoid valve so I can drain the van grey waste from the drivers seat.

all cameras are fitted in switched fused spurs from the “always on “ side of the fuse box so I can use when the engine is off if required.

Excuse my ignorance...but what is a "toad"?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Excuse my ignorance...but what is a "toad"?

Car towed on a A frame.

 

[Ranger]

We fitted a 120 degree camera at roof height looking straight down the rear and its brilliant for parking. Vehicles and objects are clearly seen behind and you can go literally to within an inch of them. Wider angle cameras make the image too small.

Which camera did you fit, Ranger?

It was "CAM 039" bought from Revcamuk. A good quality camera, good price with quick delivery and I would expect their other equipment to be good. At the time it was about the only 120 degree camera available.