2007 Itasca Navion - getting to the backup camera cable

[BillHoughton]

The existing hardwired backup display is terrible. Tech support at the manufacturer of the display and camera suggests I replace the existing (black and white, presumably low-grade) camera with a newer one, and see how the existing monitor works before replacing the whole thing. Going wireless, while theoretically attractive, would require figuring out how the cable runs, where it comes out at the front of the RV, how to wire power, etc.

So camera replacement seems like the simplest solution to try first.

I've got the camera dangling down, with its cable. The connection from camera cable to cable-in-the-RV is just out of reach behind the plastic cap covering the roof to wall transition. There's a center piece of this trim, held down by screws and plenty of flexible sealant, and trapped on the ends by corner caps, where it's also held down by getting wider as it goes down the wall. It looks like I need to remove one of the corner caps, and I'm going out to try that in a minute; but posting the "help, what do I do next?" question here, in case that doesn't turn out to solve the problem.

Thoughts and expressions of sympathy greatly appreciated.

[BillHoughton]

I guess I wasn't clear, C.G. No, I'm not replacing the whole cable. In fact, the direction I'm going - staying with the same manufacturer, staying with a cable rather than wireless connection - is about minimizing the work needed to have a usable backup camera*. I just couldn't reach the connection between the cable running from the front to the back of the RV and the pigtail from the camera without pulling all that trim off. I've confirmed with the manufacturer (Voyager) that the connector on the camera pigtail is the same from the old camera to the new one.

I could touch the connection without pulling all that trim, but sure couldn't take it apart; just not enough room/fingers not strong enough/couldn't tell how the connection "made."

*It has been hard to tell, with the existing camera/display, what it is that I'm about to run over. The manufacturer suggests that a better camera might be enough and that the existing monitor is probably fine. I sure hope so, because the work involved in replacing the wiring for a newer monitor is daunting.

[cgmartine]

It sounds from your last posting that you have already began the work of replacing the entire cable. When you purchase your new camera, make sure it comes with its own cable and monitor. When I replaced my Voyager system, I bought the camera with the cable and monitor. The Voyager system I had was old and the cable connections did not match the new monitor and camera, so I could not use the old cable. I routed the new cable in the same manner you have described. I encountered very little silicone and only had to remove a few screws to allow me a gap of about a 1/4 inch in order to insert the cable along the top and side molding.

[BillHoughton]

The answer, is turns out, is: scrape off the thick layer of sealant slathered* all over the junction of the top of the back corner piece and remove screws. Fool around carefully with the putty knife until you've released the corner piece from the sealant gluing it down to the roof. Lift it up until it's free from the corner molding running down the outside wall corner, then sideways (away from the center of the RV, so rightward for the right corner piece, viewing it from the back). It should come loose from the clips holding it in place. Wiggle and cuss as needed until it's loose.

Now repeat the sealant, screws, release from sealant gluing down routine for the long center piece. Be sure to separate it from the other corner piece. Once that's free, you should be able to wiggle it sideways until it's free from the other corner piece. Now you can move it out far enough to gain access to the connection of cable to camera pigtail.

My local RV parts house says they stock a Sikaflex product that's the correct sealant to replace the stuff I removed.

Thanks for the link to the wiring diagrams. I'd found them and realized that the camera cable is routed around the outside edges of the RV wall-roof juncture, saving me fooling around trying to fine "attic access" in the back room of the RV. That's all fine; it was that last six inches that was making me nuts.

*This may or may not be a factory slather; it's possible that a past owner had a lot of sealant and got carried away.

[CharlesinGA]

You don't say if you have a B, H or J model, but here are links to the wiring diagrams for them, and in the front are some views showing routing.

http://www.winnebagoind.com/diagram/2007/07_523b_70167476012.pdf

http://www.winnebagoind.com/diagram/2007/07_523h_70167476013.pdf

http://www.winnebagoind.com/diagram/2007/07_523j_70167476014.pdf

The View/Navion forum on Yahoo is quite active and in the pictures section of Techie Forum you will find cutaways of the roof/wall and floor/wall junctures.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/View-NavionTech/photos/photostream

If you are not a member of the three View/Navion Forums (Regular, Techie, and Mods) you would do well to join.

The original camera system that is in my View appears black/white, but the monitor is, I think, a color monitor, as it has tint, color, brightness, volume (yes, sound from back there) and a couple of other adjustments. The picture on mine is quite good, more than clear enough for backing up.

Charles