Rear camera

[Abrahamseven38]

I plan on installing a rear camera on my 17 foot Starcraft launch. Anybody have experiences with these cameras that you would like to share?

Steven

[w8eh]

I installed a rear camera and monitor in my Starcraft Launch 24RLS, on the cheap....

I wasn't willing to purchase the expensive Furion wireless camera/monitor that Starcraft has as an option. Instead, I took the mount down from the outside and installed a cheap mini camera inside and sealed it up. I ran the coax line inside to the rear cabinet. I connected the power to the nearby running light wire behind dummy camera mount. I ran a small coax line to the front of the camper to provide video to my truck. I used a couple of coax connectors to allow easy connect/disconnect.

In the truck I ran a line from the hitch area to the dash. I purchased a cheap mirror monitor. It clips onto the existing rear view mirror. It looks reflective like a mirror until powered on with a camera signal.

Overall the total cost was less than $50, and the material can be found on Amazon.

[Last_Train]

RSD559 wrote:
Last Train, that's very good to hear. The last time I tried a Wi-Fi camera, the performance was very poor. It was a few seconds behind, and it would often cut out. It's good to see someone got it right.

It certainly is not absolutely perfect . . . very seldom, but once in a while there is a pause in the video. But it has not so far been an issue. And the real time video is virtually contemporaneous with reality. But after all, like others have generally noted, this camera is an excellent method to augment your tow mirrors.

Just yesterday afternoon on the way back home, I was towing our rig through some lovely rolling countryside in central Texas on a two lane, "Farm to Market" road (non-Texans will have to Google this). Good highway, and I was keeping our speed between 55-60. No shoulders on this road. But often I would see a car pull up behind me and appear to want to pass. Even though I could not see most of these closely following vehicles in my tow mirrors, there they were on my iPad as transmitted via the SH04. So at least I would have a bit of warning if I saw any of these folks suddenly attempt to pass in an unsafe area.

Wi-fi reception will vary from rig to rig as I'm sure you are aware. A hard wired system was not going to be a good option for us, so I did take a bit of a gamble on this unit. But I figured that if nothing else, I would have an excellent hitch camera! The bonus has been the rear view utility when mounted on the rear bumper of our 192RBS.

[2Macs]

I have a Furion rear view camera installed on my TT. It is very useful to tell me how close or how much traffic is behind me, when to pull back in after passing another vehicle and backing up without hitting something or requiring the other half to stand at the back of the TT to tell me when to stop. It has markings that indicate danger(red), caution(yellow) and clear(green).

[westend]

Furrion and Swifthitch are probably two of the brands that can handle a wireless signal without drop outs and have some durability.
I've decided a direct-wire model is in my future. I won't have any problem pulling wire from the back of the trailer to the front and from the back of the truck to the dash. I also have no problem with connecting that extra wire connection to enable the rearmost camera.

Currently, I am thinking I may be able to make the trailer connection at the truck's umbilical bracket. If I get really lucky, I'll use XLR connectors. They are a very durable connection, used in stage work, studio, and for balanced sound applications. XLR connectors lock when inserted into the proper receptacle, have all the electrical contact surface inside the housing, and mate with all sorts of durable wire. It's also easy to source RCA with XLR wire sets, RCA adaptors to XLR, or a variety of DIY connections.

[RSD559]

Last Train, that's very good to hear. The last time I tried a Wi-Fi camera, the performance was very poor. It was a few seconds behind, and it would often cut out. It's good to see someone got it right.

[Last_Train]

For three trips now we've used the SwiftHitch SH04 model for not only hitching up but also as a rearview camera. This model is their wi-fi version that generates an SSID signal. You can view its images on multiple devices simultaneously. We view the images on our iPhones and iPads.

We mounted the device on our trailer's rear bumper with its magnetic base, though I added a couple of sheet metal screws to secure it completely while in transit. We've been very pleased with the camera's ability to keep me informed about what is behind but not necessarily in view of our tow mirrors.

Real world example from our outbound trip just this past Sunday . . . heading out after church westbound we had to run through some pretty serious thunderstorms with torrential rains. As we slowed along with other traffic, I noticed that my mirrors had been covered in blowing rain and therefore not able to give me their usual good image. Meanwhile, I could see everything behind me very clearly with the SwiftHitch. This, despite darkened skies and headlights on vehicles immediately behind me.

The total distance from the camera's location on our TT's rear bumper to the front of our Ridgeline's cabin is approximately 35'. But we also tested the camera's range on our friend's 29' Rockwood/Tundra combo. The camera transmitted successfully to his driver's seat, also. It's worked well for us so far.

[bowl2764]

2nd chance

"higher resolution and sample rate for full-time rear monitoring"

What is the model#. Thanks

[Second_Chance]

Our fifth wheel came pre-wired with a mount for the Furrion rear cameras and we installed one. They have two versions: one that is intended for a backup camera only and one that is higher resolution and sample rate for full-time rear monitoring (we have the latter). My wife is still behind me with a two-way radio when backing into tight spots, but I find the camera handy for judging clearance to pull back over after passing and backing into parking slots at truck stops. Our total length is about 50' hitched up and the wireless camera/monitor works well from the back of the 36' trailer to the dash of a long wheel base, long bed, crew cab truck.

Rob