Wireless camera to see A frame tow point whilst towing

[Conal]

I am having an A frame fitted to tow my Morris Minor behind my motorhome. I want to be able to view the A frame connection to the tow bar whilst towing. I have considered having another rear view camera fitted but wonder if a wireless car cam would do the job. I don’t want anything permanent as the car is a convertible. I have looked on-line and car cams can be bought for less than £200 but they seem overkill. I simply want a camera mounted high on the front windscreen of the Morris to view the tow bar, and be able to use my iPhone 8 as a monitor. I don’t need to save the film, and I don’t need bells and whistles such as lane changing warnings. I do’t think I need sound or colour either, although a good night-time image would be useful.
I may not even need a car cam as a 12 volt “security“ camera may do the job I need. There may even be a simple basic camera that will wirelessly feed a real time image to my phone or to a basic dash monitor.
I have spent a little time trying to research but the more I read the less I know!

 

[Conrad J]

Afraid I'm a bit mystified! Are you concerned the tow bar connection may malfunction? If so, suggest review it! I think you'd know when driving if the Morris came loose, don't see how a camera would help. Also as the Morris is a convertible, does that mean you wouldn't fit the camera on the windscreen then? Sorry, but I seem to be missing the key point here!

 

[Conal]

I would feel better being able to see the car as I negotiate narrow streets, camping site entrances, acute bends etc. The reason why I am worried about a permanently fixed camera is it would be easy to steal.
Re: being aware of the car coming loose, I wouldn’t expect this but many have stated on here that, whilst towing, they hardly notice the towed vehicle.

 

[David and Sally]

Does your moho have a rear view camera? I can see the top of our Aygo in the monitor on the dash

 

[Cal54]

I have a twin lens camera on the back of my van and I just flick between them. One is specifically pointing down so that I can keep an eye on the hitch, the other faces down the road. Would this not be an option for you. I suppose it depends what monitor you have currently but my whole set up wasn’t that expensive.

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[Conal]

David and Sally My motorhome has two rearview cameras. Sadly the original factory fitted one appears to be broken - I have replaced the camera but the media screen resolutely remains blue. However, this camera was for reversing only and I have been told that, even if fixed, it will only activate when I reverse.
I have also got a RoadPro fitted rear view mirror camera but need this to look at the road ahead, not down at the tow bar. I did consider having a third camera fitted but this seems overkill as I am sure the A frame will be safe, just wanted a bit of psychological reassurance, and a view in tight situations.

 

[donkey]

I have also got a RoadPro fitted rear view mirror camera but need this to look at the road ahead,

Sorry not getting your logic here. A rear view camera is unlikely to give a view of the road ahead.

Geoff

 

[Conal]

Sorry - road behind!

 

[cmcardle75]

David and Sally My motorhome has two rearview cameras. Sadly the original factory fitted one appears to be broken - I have replaced the camera but the media screen resolutely remains blue. However, this camera was for reversing only and I have been told that, even if fixed, it will only activate when I reverse.
I have also got a RoadPro fitted rear view mirror camera but need this to look at the road ahead, not down at the tow bar. I did consider having a third camera fitted but this seems overkill as I am sure the A frame will be safe, just wanted a bit of psychological reassurance, and a view in tight situations.

It's probably unplugged, or lost power.

As for the activating on reverse, you can swap that for a switch that lets you choose between automatic reverse and always on (even always off, if you pick a centre off latching switch).

 

[Conal]

cmcardle75 The motorhome is at John’s Cross at the moment and they brought in a specialist auto electricIan to look at it. He reports it is a wiring issue that might be expensive to pursue just to get the same view the other camera gives when reversing.
He has fitted the switch you mention to the remaining camera to allow me to look down but I can only get one view at a time.

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[Spriddler]

I have a flag on a stick on my motorbikes on the trailer so that I can see that they're still there and in an upright position. Before the flags I only saw the bikes on roundabouts.
Maybe you can close each front window on a flag on a stick like the ones I've seen when England were playing in the World Cup?

 

[Conal]

Spriddler that sounds like a great low tech solution!

 

[cmcardle75]

cmcardle75 The motorhome is at John’s Cross at the moment and they brought in a specialist auto electricIan to look at it. He reports it is a wiring issue that might be expensive to pursue just to get the same view the other camera gives when reversing.
He has fitted the switch you mention to the remaining camera to allow me to look down but I can only get one view at a time.

You can fit a relay to the rear, so that you can use a single video cable to feed a single monitor from two cameras. You still need to get a signal wire to the relay, or you can alternatively feed it off a nearby reverse signal (usually easily obtained in the vicinity of reversing cameras). That way you'd get normal rear view when driving and then downwards view when reversing.

 

[Spriddler]

Spriddler that sounds like a great low tech solution!

If the A frame kit has been competently and correctly fitted it's not necessary to look at it whilst driving.
Some folk worry too much.

 

[the1andonly]

3 cameras is not over the top 4 cameras 2 displays. As a rear view mirror swmbo prevers a view from the mirror position display. Camera positions :
Top near mid brake light

Top fridge vent

Rear number plate
Drivers side bumper (blind spot b&w)

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[the1andonly]

Edit Sorry about repeats

Edit i obviously don't know what I'm doing

 

[cmcardle75]

I've got 3 views (no pictures, unfortunately). A standard rear view up to the horizon. A top down view from the high level brakelight and the waste-cam view, pointing directly down where the grey water will land. All displayed on the stereo.

Currently thinking of sticking in a separate monitor where the rear view mirror would be and adding a fourth camera for the left rear quarter view for merging onto motorways from the right. Ideally, I'd keep the reversing view on the stereo, so I'd have the normal rear view simultaneously on the other monitor, if I can be bothered to run the extra cables. The cameras I've bought are £7 each. And they work very well!

 

[Grummyb]

All this seems a lot of over kill for Morris minor but I could understand it if you had an Austin Maxi
(Seems like ages since I got my Maxi into a thread)

 

[Conal]

Grummyb Metro, Maestro, Maxi - the next generation?
I developed great arm muscles pulling my long gone non-power steering Maestro round corners and in and out of parking spaces. The Morris Minor is a lot easier even without power steering.

 

[Grummyb]

I just use any excuse to try and lever my maxi into as many threads as I can yours was just just the perfect chance

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[ceejayt]

Using your iPhone as a monitor for a dash cam might present some issues:

1. Distance from where you are to the dash cam - you may not be able to see it
2. To connect to a dash cam involved selecting the dash cam unique wifi point generally - that means disconnecting from any other hot spot you have enabled in the van like a MiFI for example

 

[Sapper520]

Left hand screen is van fitted camera, right is the £109 Autovox numberplate wireless camera.

 

[kevino]

Try this - I use as a reversing camera but can face any direction hooked up to my android phone

Rechargeable Aguri Mag Mount For Reversing Camera

Our mag mount reversing camera incorporates a built-in rechargeable battery and is magnetically mounted on to the rear bumper of your vehicle.

aguriworld.co.uk