Back-Up Cameras: How Far Is the View...

DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

I'm on my third RV and I now have a "rear camera." Well, how far back should you be able to view? I don't tow a car, but I do have a bike carrier on the back. I carry a small scooter. The carrier is maybe 3-4 feet long. I have noticed that if I'm stopped at a stop light and someone is behind me, I can see the front of the car behind my scooter. But if I'm driving and a car is right on my tail, I can't see the car in my camera. I can see my scooter and some space behind the scooter, but I can't see a car on my tail. Can the angles be adjusted?

JJ
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Please check out my blog on RV'ing without a tow car:

http://rvingtoadless.blogspot.com/

Feel free to leave me any comments.

TannerBee · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 702 Location: Rock Hill, SC

My camera is mounted on a U-shaped bracket and the hardware can be loosened for adjustment. From your description, yours is adjusted about like mine. I turned mine on while on the highway a few times, but as you found, following traffic is never in view. My wife goes out and helps me back up, and we use frs radios. This works really well and I thus use my camera very little.
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Floyd and Tanner
Coachmen Santara 35
Rock Hill SC

Time is either spent or invested.

utmtman · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:26 am Post subject:

JJ, isn't your camera adjustable from the drivers seat? Take a look at your monitor and see, and then adjust it to where it works best for you.
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Lee and Fran
Holiday Rambler Vacationer
While traveling down lifes paths, stop to smell the flowers.

porscheracer · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:39 am Post subject:

It should be adjusted so that the back bumper of the coach is just visible in the bottom of the monitor. Whatever else you can see is dependent on the camera itself. On both of my Winnebagos, when a passsed vehicle disappears out of the frame, it is safe to pull over into his lane - or about 100' behind the coach. Your field of view may well be different.
_________________
Norm & Janet
'08 Winnebago View 24H / '09 Escape XLT AWD toad
'05 Winnebago Vectra 36RD / '03 Dakota QC 4x4 toad, or a 24' trailer with another car;
Probably somewhere in NA - or maybe on another continent.

DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

No, I can't adjust the camera angle from the driver's seat, not that kind of camera. I can turn the volume on and off (volume=noise outside). I just kind of have to assume that just because I don't see a car on my butt in the camera, doesn't mean one isn't there. I just double check with my mirrors.

JJ
_________________
Please check out my blog on RV'ing without a tow car:

http://rvingtoadless.blogspot.com/

Feel free to leave me any comments.

vfrmarc · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Central Ohio

My Georgie Boy has a fixed camera with sound and I use it all the time, especially when I have my car on the tow dolly. I find it very helpful when passing another vehicle (usually a semi) as I can see when the front of the passed vehicle is behind the rear of the MH. I also use it when backing. I store my MH and the tow dolly with the dolly under the back of the coach. I hand walk the dolly into place and use the backup camera to help me back right over the hitch, and first 5 feet of the dolly stopping just before I touch the dolly fenders to my dust brush.

Without the camera, it would be a two-person job and I don't always have my wife available to guide me.

retired and happy · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 303 Location: Stone Mountain GA

We tow a small cargo trailer, and can see all of it and a short distance behind and on both sides. I always drive with the monitor on, but have recently installed a second camera for inside viewing. So I may have the inside or outside camera working. I would not try backing my MH without the camera. By the way, the inside camera doesn't work very well because it's usually too dark to differentiate what I'm seeing.
_________________
Ken
Judy and our Special Angels
1996 37' Itasca Suncruiser
6x12 cargo trailer
2003 EZGO golf Cart

porscheracer · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject:

Kinda OT, but not really . . .

Has anyone found a decent RF backup cam? I'd like to set my 3rd channel to look out the rear of the 24' tag trailer, but everyone tells me they are junk. I'm a little leery about running a hardwired unit with a connector on the drawbar.
_________________
Norm & Janet
'08 Winnebago View 24H / '09 Escape XLT AWD toad
'05 Winnebago Vectra 36RD / '03 Dakota QC 4x4 toad, or a 24' trailer with another car;
Probably somewhere in NA - or maybe on another continent.

DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

porscheracer · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:26 pm Post subject:

Ah . . . then the lens aperture is not wide enough. There is a remote possibility you could get a replacement lens (say a 15mm instead of a 28mm), but most likely a true repair will require a different camera. Sad

_________________
Norm & Janet
'08 Winnebago View 24H / '09 Escape XLT AWD toad
'05 Winnebago Vectra 36RD / '03 Dakota QC 4x4 toad, or a 24' trailer with another car;
Probably somewhere in NA - or maybe on another continent.

bandit1538 · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 403 Location: Skamokawa Wa

We just got back from our first "real" trip with the MH and I have come to the conclusion that I need two cameras: one for the normal rear view and one on the right side so I can spot small cars or motorcycles. Twice I almost pulled over into the right lane thinking it was clear, but saw the vehicle in the "small" mirror just in time. I couldn't see them in the big mirror or out the side window. There are several great combo units in

http://www.crutchfield.com/g_182350/In-dash-GPS-Navigation.html?tp=144

that have GPS, backup camera, Bluetooth, CDs, DVDs, sat radio and more. I think this is the way I'm going to go.
Pat
_________________
Pat & Helen
30' 04 Coachman RoadMaster
For NW HOVER-IN updates and info goto
http://bandits-stuff.com

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

My last RV didn't have the camera. I relied on mirrors. One time I did not see a GEO Metro scoot past me. On this RV I have now, I have a camera and double mirrors on both sides (regular and convex). It helps, but I am sure there is a millimeter of a blind spot.

JJ
_________________
Please check out my blog on RV'ing without a tow car:

http://rvingtoadless.blogspot.com/

Feel free to leave me any comments.

tartan23455 · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 25

This reminds me of an old carpenter's saying: Measure twice....cut once.

Look twice (even 3 times) before pulling over even once.
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Rick & Gail
1997 MADP
2004 JGC

DXSMac · Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 619 Location: Pacific Northwest

bandit1538 · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 403 Location: Skamokawa Wa

I do have the convex mirrors but the right side one I have to look close to see if anyone is in the right lane taking my eyes off the road for too long so I think adding a right lane camera is the ticket.
Pat
_________________
Pat & Helen
30' 04 Coachman RoadMaster
For NW HOVER-IN updates and info goto
http://bandits-stuff.com

If it ain't broke don't fix it.