Reverse / Backup Camera

[olbucksnort]

After installing a backup switch last nite I started thinking about Backup Camera.
The Reverse directions seems to get tougher for me these days . I've seen some on R/V's and Buses and new SUV's got'em . I don't have anything that new, but my hard head and stiff neck kind'a like the idea.
Asking if anybody has installed them yet ?

 

[Scarecrow1]

We have a backup camera on our new highlander and to tell you the truth I see it as a liability more than an asset. They do show what is behind you but, it is so limited as to it's field of view. They would be perfect for hooking up a trailer but thats all I can see as an advantage.

 

[Cleveland Iron]

Actually... I feel it depends on the vehicle. My car was backed into by a van because I was not in his side mirrors and I was below his rear window. ( I was parked behind him; perfect positioning.) Of course some sort of "hey look out" sensor might be good.

 

[tennmogger]

I put one on my Unimog/camper after almost backing into a soccer mom in a McDonalds. She came screaming through the parking lot at about 40 and never slowed even though she could hardly have missed the big red truck backing out of a parking space.

Mine is a Brigade. It's the wired type (no batteries to go dead) and has a wide field of view. It's also good for backing into a camping space. I can even see my wife's mouth move when she's yelling backing directions and drawing spaghetti with her hands and arms. But this camera also has a mike so I can hear her if I choose to

Bob

 

[ARYankee]

srodocker has installed one. Here is his build thread: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?53318-srodocker-s-quot-little-quot-project

You may want to ask him about his.

 

[mikew]

I've got one on my bobbed deuce.

Makes hooking up to a trailer and backing up when the cover is on the M105 bed a snap.

 

[caliber1]

Never seen one in 24VDC, but several of my suppliers have them in 12 volt. Just got one to put in my deuce, will find it Monday and snap some pics of it.

 

[59apache]

let me google that for you



many of them are for 12-24V

 

[Robo McDuff]

I would go for backup sensors like the are now installed in most modern cars since the early 2000s. Let's you be more focused on what's happening to the side while not worrying about the back. The sensor gets active when you hit the reverse gear, and bleeps increase in speed the closer you get to an object. Link it with a sound alarm outside informing bystanders that you are backing up.

 

[rrrr]

I've got one on my bobbed deuce.

Makes hooking up to a trailer and backing up when the cover is on the M105 bed a snap.

I had one put on my ford truck. I can back up to a trailer like a pro every time, they are great if you get the right camera. I've been thinking about this for a while.

 

[Coffey1]

A triple system would be the best. Camera, backup sensors, backup. Alarm.

 

[Recovry4x4]

They are great as along as you consider them a supplement to what you have, not a replacement.

 

[olbucksnort]

before I can go the Camera route I need to problem solve my voltage reducer now. just hooked it up powered up rear flood lites good (thanks to peashooters rr/sw ) switch to rear identification lites , good. wiper fluid spray shooter, good. CB radio has a tick.
The CB gives a one second tick when no other accessories is on , and acts like it wants to shut down power to it. The reducer came form Golf Kart Kings and good for 25 amps. Kind a got me wondering if the power draw is low the reducer unit wants to cut off power to the CB.? Anyhow if this is what its going to do for electronics this could be interesting with rear cameras .
Please , any Ideas anyone.
P.s. I wanted to keep all modern accessories and add on's , on the 12 v. reducer.
sincerely,
olbucksnort
Got'er in. Camera needed its own 12v source ; powered it throw my parking lights so now I got a turn on the parking lights to see behind me. Got it from Ebay some Chinese on line merchant sells em' but it's got a funny view as if your squinting ; I'll just not drive backwards much .

 

[unclemikey]

I have a Big Butt Girl to back up and want to see what is going on behind me. At this cam location, hooking up the trailer is no sweet. Makes others think I know what I am doing.

 

[TehTDK]

I would go for backup sensors like the are now installed in most modern cars since the early 2000s. Let's you be more focused on what's happening to the side while not worrying about the back. The sensor gets active when you hit the reverse gear, and bleeps increase in speed the closer you get to an object. Link it with a sound alarm outside informing bystanders that you are backing up.

My company car had parking sensors both front and back. Made parking more of a breeze but also makes you a bit too comfortable to rely on the sensors for input . Furthermore I had close to a foot of leeway when the sensor sounded for impact.

Some sensors triggers by anything the size of a straw of grass (pretty annoying), while others wont go off before something more substantial enter their view.

 

[barefootin]

I have a 4"x7" TFT display with a distance grid mode. My camera also has IR for low light. It does not take place of the mirrors, but it is a nice addition. I have mine manually switched, and normally on because it's also nice knowing how close the idiot behind you is when you are in traffic. I actually added it because my wife was behind me one day trying to get my attention when I didn't hear or feel my phone ringing. Now I can see who's behind me and if they are waving or flashing their lights.

 

[Robo McDuff]

I have a Big Butt Girl to back up and want to see what is going on behind me. At this cam location, hooking up the trailer is no sweet. Makes others think I know what I am doing.View attachment 420730View attachment 420731View attachment 420732

With a big butt like that, one or more camera's surely is a good and needed thing. Just sensors would not work in this case.

As a short side-step on safety, in EU countries, you would need to have an under-ride guard at the "real rear end of your truck". These under-ride guards prevent that cars coming from behind go under your truck with the first point of impact not bumper-bumper (fully utilizing the car's crash zone) but your bed end with a small car's windshield. With the M51, I just got away without one: my rear wheels - point of impact - were less than 30" away from the end of the dump bed.

In your case, it would be recommended here that the underride guard should also doubles your rear lights; they are too far away from the real rear end of the truck. Does not look very nice with this very nice set-up, but is a lot safer for rear-ending accidents.

Checked a bit further and these guards are obligatory for heavy semi-trailers now also in the USA. Added a link to some comments on that. My advise, don't look at the video, it's not for queasy stomachs, even if it only concerns test crashes.

Uncle Mikey, do you have a link to a thread how the caravan is fitted into the bed and presumably can be taken off, or some more details on it?

 

[TehTDK]

Robo Mcduff is indeed correct. And Robo don't forget the sideprotection bars to prevent bikeriders to go under the truck as well

But below is a segment of the european rules for the under-ride protection, just for reference. Not sure if the same rules applies for the US or not but I would suggest people checked to prevent a little slip from their LEO's

Protection from underriding at the rear, also referred to as under-ride bumper, requirements as stated in the detailed regulations for vehicles:
In case of a fixed bed, the general rules are:
a) to provide protection against under the rear collisions with smaller vehicles
b) shall be located no more than 0.55 m above the ground (measured from the lower edge of the curb weight with any bogie lift lowered)
c) shall be located no more than 0.40 meters from the rearmost point on the vehicle,
d) must not be wider than the rear axle, measured from the outer sides of the wheel rims (excluding the bulging of the tire just above the ground), or be more than 0.10 meters shorter on each side, and
e) must have a minimum height of 0, 10 m

It might seem as a set of stupid rules, but one of the images I added begs to differ . Obviously if people would just keep the proper distance while driving and keep their eyes on the road a lot of these accidents could be prevented, but sadly I don't think that is going to happen.

 

[Robo McDuff]

TehTDK, you are right off course with the side curtains.

For max visual effect, the "narrow overlap crash" (outside of the trailer frame) shows a car going under the right side of a trailer, with the driver getting the full impact (and being decapitated). More realistically, the car would probably hit the trailer on the left side.

 

[peashooter]

I have a M109a3 truck that obviously has a large blind spot. I added a Rear View Safety backup camera to it (RVS-770613). It works with 12-24v, has IR Night vision, Color monitor and speaker (though I can not hear anything with the truck running). The system also accepts up to 4 cameras so you if you wanted another one up front right under the bumper to look for clearance when parking or offroad obsticles you cant see from the drivers seat.
I purchased it from costco for $200 http://www.costco.com/1-Backup-Camera-System-with-7%22-LCD-Screen-by-Rear-View-Safety.product.11526596.html?catalogId=10701&keyword=backup+camera&langId=-1&storeId=10301

The company has lots of other options as well: http://www.rearviewsafety.com/