Initial comments on Garmin RV 760 with BC 20 camera

Just a follow up on my Garmin BC-20 camera install. I received my 50'? BC 20 Extension cable. I attached cable to camera which I have mounted on the top rung of my rear ladder. I then ran the cable beneath the trailer to my front battery compartment. From their I fished the power cable in the 5'er overhang to the junction box for my 7 pin connector. I located the tail light wires and tapped into those wires for 12 volt power. The camera is powered when lights are turned on.
Next I fished the transmitter portion through a vent on the underside of the 5'er and and attached transmitter to front wall of fiver beneath over hang.
All connections are out of the weather in the battery compartment of my fiver or in the sealed 7 pin junction box.
The camera and transmitter are weather proof however the connections are not waterproof. THe connectors must be made/kept water tight and weatherproof by installer in the field. Luckily I was able to locate connections in interior of RV.
Initially I had transmitter at rear of 39" trailer and my reception in cab was erratic. The camera work occasionally but the signal was not strong/consistent and the rear camera view went in and out.
Now that I have the extension cable in place and have located the transmitter on the front wall of fiver everything is working well. My Garmin RV 760 LMt can display GPS screen or rear camera view with the press of a button in the corner of the GPS screen. You can toggle view back in forth by pressing camera icon.
After a test run to Lancaster this past weekend the system is works great.
I can vouch that the BC-20 camera system is a viable option for those interested in a back up camera
Normal cost of Garmin 760- 399.99 Cost of BC 20 149.99.
50' extension cable 29.99. Total cost 580.00 for GPS and back up camera (less tax shipping).
I was considering purchasing a voyager wireless camera system for $600.00+, however I was reluctant to pull the trigger.
Honestly I am not a big back up camera guy. I have no issues simply using my tow mirrors. I really not that interested in seeing what's directly behind me. In some ways I believe the rear camera can be a distraction and hinder the driver from seeing what is in front of him.
Another issue I had is I did not want another display on my dashboard.I did not want to add a rear camera monitor to the,GPS,tablet,cell phone and TPMS already displayed in my dash area.
The BC-20 wirelessly connect to my Garmin and requires no additional wires or display. I can activate and deactivate the camera as I need it. Toggling between GPS and camera is simple.
The cons of the BC-20 is it does not transmit sound and it does not work well in the dark.
Overall I am very satisfied with the performance of the BC -20. For anyone considering purchasing the unit . I give it 2 thumbs up!

Photos Below:
Camera Attached to ladder







Transmitter



Poor picture of GPS with rear camera view displayed. Actual display is much cleaner/clearer than shown in picture.

My 08 F350 dash has my electronic toys mounted with 2 sets of ProClips mounts. I have the Garmin RV 760 7"screen just right of the steering wheel, a Tire Safe Guard 10 tire pressure and temperature monitor (center) and an iPhone in a case (under & just left of the right vent). The power is connected to a Satechi 4 sockets+USB charger mount below, near the floor. I still have to do some cord management, so the cables are not running all over the place. The RV760 and IPhone are quickly removed for theft safety.

I have mounted the BC 20 rear camera on the upper rear of the DA327RSB, but am waiting for the Garmin cable to arrive to mount the video transmitter. I will have to splice in Weather proof plugs (on order) for the roof mount. I'll post more when and if the camera works. This site is too difficult to add photos to postings.

I cut into the Garmin Rear Camera, BC 20, wire six inches from the camera antenna to set up a splice extension for the antenna with part of the Garmin 50 foot extension (on order). The wire is foil shielded. I found two small wires, a Red and Brown and one larger Black insulated wire. The black wire had a white wire rapped by fine strands of wire. The plug to the video camera has four wire connection.

I plan to drill a 1/4" hole for video camera wire just below the center clearance 12 volt light. I'll mount the camera near this hole then seal it. I'll remove the light as others have described and solder splice in the power to the light wires. I'll have to turn on the parking lights to get power to the camera and wireless antenna. I will drill a small hole at the top of the fiberglass panel and run the antenna wire with a spliced 30 foot section forward on the roof to a homemade aluminum mount to one of the legs to my solar panel. I didn't see any video interference from this location in my testing, but i didn't have the extension.

I'll let you know how this works in a few weeks, dependent on weather.

Try mounting this circular dish to your dash first. I have my 760 mounted to dash us8ing disc. I also have a cup holder mount that I use. That allow me to mount Garmin to one of my dash cubby holes.



Circular mounting disc

Garmin cup holder mount

Don't know about the mount specific to your Garmin, but I've had a verity of different items mounted with Ram mounts and have always been satisfied with there products

I tried to mount the suction cup mount to the RV760 on a 5"x 8" piece of Plexiglas attached to my dash. I didn't make it to the highway before the weight of RV760 pulled loose. Garmin tells me it is larger than the NUVI suction cup. Because I drive on 4x4 trails a lot I don't think it will work, actually I wedged my old NUVI to the dash it worked, but I want the unit closer than the edge of the dash. I like the ProClip for my iPhone, but its attachment limits the location left-right on the dash. I don't think beanbag mounts will work either, and will be to far from the driver. I have RAM mounts for my boats and old truck but you have to drill base mounts to be sturdy. Right now I'm leaning toward the KUDA mount or a similar homemade aluminum bar running from the vent to the front of the dash with a vertical plate and an online purchase of an RV760 adapter mount.

On the BC20, if Garmin put another disconnect plug near the antenna it would be better. Also, all RV instillations would need weather proof connectors to fit through a 3/8" hole. My test of the AC location worked OK (18' closer to the Cab), but with the 50' long cable, my forward solar panel location is about 20' from the RV760. Still not line of sight.

Bruce

I also Have a 760 LMT and BC-20 camera. The GPS works well. Have you tried attaching mount to top of dash vs. windshield?
There is a smooth circular disc that you can use to attach the suction mount toy. With the disc mounting to the top of the dash is easy.

I also have the BC-20 wireless. I get sporadic reception from the rear of my fiver. Camera is mounted to my ladder.
The big gotcha is the camera is weatherproof but the connections are not!
I have solved this issue by using a
1 1/2 PVC pipe as a junction box to keep all the connections out of the weather.
My next step is to move the transmitter closer to the front of the fiver. Currently it is also at the rear attached to the top of the ladder.
I received notice that my 50' extension cable has been shipped.
Once I attach the extension cable, I am confident/hopeful that I will get decent reception between the camera and GPS monitor.

When camera and monitor are working it's nice to have the large 7" monitor work as a GPS and backup camera viewing screen.
Currently the reception goes in and out meaning I have reception for a few minutes or seconds and then I don't!

I plan to post pictures of the entire set up once I resolve the reception issue. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanks for the report