Rearview camera on highway

[poguelife]

Hi,
I'm looking for a rearview camera for the back of my 27' Travelstar 239TBS. I'm not looking for a hitch up camera, nor exclusively a backup camera but on that is always powered on while I'm driving down the highway... so not just hooking into a reverse lights circuit. I would like to see who is tailgating me while on the highway, as well as for backing up (but not necessarily to hitch... I could add a second camera for that if such a system would allow....)

An internet search brings up a TON of stuff for hitching, and backing up only. Also, I don't want to make any modifications on the tow vehicle, or void any warranties on the trailer!

Thanks for any help.

[cmcdar]

Hi

I have a Hybrid Travel Trailer so I have a backup camera on my pick-up truck so I can see to the hitch and I installed one near the roof, just below the marker lights.

The Travel Trailer camera is connected to the marker lights so it will be "on" when my lights are on.

I also mounted an LED light strip that I can turn on for backing in after dark.

I really like being able to see if I have cars behind me or if it is all clear. Good to know when pulling out into traffic as I can see if anything is coming from quite a ways.

I mounted a cheap licence plate camera. If it burns out, I'll get another or find something else.

[poguelife]

pitch wrote:
Mirror adjustment is not a set it and forget it thing. All depends on where you drive. The "NEW" thought about setting them wide is for multilane roads with merging traffic. One a two lane road you want them set the"OLD" way with your rear body lines in sight.
I drive 3 to 400 miles a day on every thing from rural town roads to downtown city traffic to high speed expressways and adjust my mirrors accordingly. Static mirror position was always a compromise before power adjust became common.

I wager that within 15 or 20 years mirrors will be obsolete and replaced three or five position camera system that will give a much more complete picture of your vehicles relationship to others.

Very good point!

[pitch]

Mirror adjustment is not a set it and forget it thing. All depends on where you drive. The "NEW" thought about setting them wide is for multilane roads with merging traffic. One a two lane road you want them set the"OLD" way with your rear body lines in sight.
I drive 3 to 400 miles a day on every thing from rural town roads to downtown city traffic to high speed expressways and adjust my mirrors accordingly. Static mirror position was always a compromise before power adjust became common.

I wager that within 15 or 20 years mirrors will be obsolete and replaced three or five position camera system that will give a much more complete picture of your vehicles relationship to others.

[poguelife]

I also suspect that there is something else in our backgrounds that shapes our opinions on this topic, and that is the hundred+ years of driving history in our society. Never before, save the most recent years, have we had the technology of small, affordable cameras... and so we have learned over the decades how to drive our vehicles as safely as we can, using only side view mirrors and accepting that you simply can't see "through" a trailer in tow. But if that paradigm is (and has) been broken, then perhaps its time to challenge the old way of doing things and consider what intuitively makes sense: that awareness of what is behind you can assist your driving* *(if done properly!)
On a different but related topic, I recently read an article discussing a new way to properly set up side-mirrors. It challenged the conventional notion of how to set them up, and instead asked the driver to set them up looking further out and not along the body of the car; at first this feels weird but in practice it reduces or in some cases eliminates the blind spot. Times change, new ideas come into the mix, and VERY often a lot of the new ideas aren't as good as the time-tested techniquest that work. Every once in a while though, a new idea comes out that improves how we do things. These rear-view cameras may, or may not, be such an example.
...interesting thing is, this whole topic will be eclipsed in a few years, once vehicles are able to drive themselves!

[poguelife]

llowllms wrote:


Tell us what you would do if someone is tailgating. I don't see how you can concentrate on what is going on behind you and be aware of what's ahead.

Its more about the "micro-decisions" rather than affecting a full-on change in how you drive. You are correct, you shouldn't be distracted. Your concentration should be ahead obviously. A quick glance at a camera (or any mirror, or any instrument guage) should be all that is required to give you the information you need to be more aware. This needs to be done efficiently and effectively, so that your attention can return to what's ahead.
In a previous post I gave an example of a micro-decision that might change, knowing someone is close behind you, regarding how heavy you choose to brake. In the example I gave it involved a small animal, but in another example lets say it is a pot hole that you spot ahead... you intuitively decide it is appropriate to reduce your speed in order to negotiate the pothole. How heavy you brake, and the ultimate reduced speed which you go over the pot-hole, is a micro-decision you make largely without thinking too much about it. It happens within the span of seconds. It isn't a large decision making process like planning where to stay, or your driving route. Your awareness of all things around, and behind you, including lane changes as others have pointed out, are aided by the proper use of mirrors. In my opinion, it is also assisted (not hindered) by the supplementary use of a rear view camera.

[Bumpyroad]

llowllms wrote:

Tell us what you would do if someone is tailgating. I don't see how you can concentrate on what is going on behind you and be aware of what's ahead.

I gradually keep slowing down until the fool passes me. one thing nice about a cruise control that you can flick down 1 mph at a time.
bumpy

[llowllms]

poguelife wrote:

llowllms wrote:
If you decide on a camera and mount it and see someone tail gating what are your options? If you are rear ended they will be charged at fault and the camera will not stop them from the practice. Even rear view cameras on motor homes are primarily designed to keep an eye on a towed vehicle verses following traffic. I would be more concerned about what is in front of me rather than that in the rear.

Sorry, I dont quite follow the logic here... The more aware you are of your surroundings, the better all your driving decisions will be. We make many "micro-decisions" every moment we drive. I don't think it would serve anyone for me to belabour that point with many examples. By that logic why use rearview mirrors at all?

Tell us what you would do if someone is tailgating. I don't see how you can concentrate on what is going on behind you and be aware of what's ahead.

[T3rry1]

Keep in mind with these cameras, they are to compliment your existing mirrors, not replace them... if it were distracting and counter productive, they wouldn't have rear view mirrors in every vehicle on the road.. it is effectively just a rear view mirror, i even have mine mounted right above my rear view mirror so checking it is just as natural as looking in my mirror.

[Houston_Remodel]

A high , centered rear view camera was the best mod we made. We got a single camera from Tadi Bros. They have excellent customer service. Its wired to the trailer's internal 12v lighting system, so the camera is always on and transmitting wirelessly to the TV monitor. The display screen has those green/yellow/red lines just like in a typical TV backup system. I have my camera tilted so I know how much passing clearance I have using the colored indicator lines.

The monitor replaces the rear view mirror (in a way) I only look at it when 1- we want to change lanes, 2- Heavy traffic and we are crawling along, 3- backing up into a campsite, 4- backing up every place else.

I got over the fear of drilling through the pretty, smooth, clean, pristine, non-leaking fiberglass wall to run the power cord. Tadi sent a rubber grommet, but we used a siloxane waterproofing caulk from work to seal the hole.

To keep the lens clear, I jammed in a piece of foam backer rod between the camera body and the awning. Its been in place 6 months an not a drop of rain or dirt yet.

It works perfectly and give me great comfort when driving down the road knowing I am not going to crush the car in the next lane, back into a tree limb or bollard, and can see pedestrians and veehickles in crowded parking lots.

[SoundGuy]

poguelife wrote:
(sigh). You're choosing not to see my point.

Yes I do see your point, I just don't agree with it. 😉

So yes, the better you know your surroundings the better off you'll be. Hence I'm interested in a camera behind me.

Agree ... hence the reason anyone towing should be using a proper set of towing mirrors that will allow them to see along both sides of the trailer and behind it ... I do, and I can, no distracting fisheye camera system necessary. Obviously you don't agree but IMO, having made the mistake of once installing a rear view camera myself, it serves primarily to entertain others with it's novelty, not as an effective tool for safe towing and only distracts the driver. 😞 Using one as a back up camera when hitching up is an entirely different matter - invaluable, as I can spot the ball under the coupler first time, every time. :B

[poguelife]

(sigh). You're choosing not to see my point. I will extend the olive branch and come to your corner: yes, people hauling big rigs have traditionally not been able to see "through" the rig. You are correct.
And yes, I get the fish-eye argument. But it sounds like an inconvenience, rather than an impairment.
But if we come back to my question...
Lets say I'm driving a small vehicle, not towing anything.... bear with me, I'm using this different example as a way to illustrate my point... There is a rearview mirror. Am I taking my eyes off the road where they should be when I glance at that mirror? Possible answers: Yes, if done at inappropriate moments. Maybe... if done at in appropriate moments.... NO however, if used appropriately. Well, I don't think our opposing views (pun intended) will be settled conclusively. To each his own. Thanks for your interest in my question though, I sincerely appreciate it.
Here's an example of knowing what's close behind you might affect your decision making: You see something ahead on the road which could be a small animal... like a squirrel, or a gopher... If I know my surroundings, I may elect to brake a little heavier than I otherwise would if I know someone is tailgating me.... I don't want to intentionally harm any living creature. Not recklessly heavy braking mind you, well in control; however, knowing that someone is right on top of me behind me, 1. My senses will be heightened, 2. I'll brake but probably more slowly, more cautiously, and 3. Given the choice between slowing considerably or just reducing speed and going over the little fella to avoid getting rear ended.... sorry little guy, them's the brakes! (another pun intended). So yes, the better you know your surroundings the better off you'll be. Hence I'm interested in a camera behind me.
I also appreciate that I've travelled enough to know that this might be a total foreign idea to people who have only ever travelled on busy interstates because there is ALWAYS someone behind you. But often there are times when you may be on less traficked roads and have such luxuries.

[SoundGuy]

llowllms wrote:
If you decide on a camera and mount it and see someone tail gating what are your options? If you are rear ended they will be charged at fault and the camera will not stop them from the practice. Even rear view cameras on motor homes are primarily designed to keep an eye on a towed vehicle verses following traffic. I would be more concerned about what is in front of me rather than that in the rear.

poguelife wrote:
Sorry, I dont quite follow the logic here... The more aware you are of your surroundings, the better all your driving decisions will be. We make many "micro-decisions" every moment we drive. I don't think it would serve anyone for me to belabour that point with many examples. By that logic why use rearview mirrors at all?

The "logic" is that once you have a rear view camera you'll find yourself taking your eyes off the road and off your mirrors where they should be and instead focusing way too frequently on the camera monitor. As I mentioned earlier the camera angle is often so wide (even fisheye) that one loses perspective as to how close or how far away the following vehicles are and you'll find yourself staring at the stupid thing trying to figure it out ... one minute they appear way behind but in a flash they're right on top of you. :E Been there, done that and you couldn't pay me now to use a rear view camera ever again ... and what this has to do with using a rear view mirror is a mystery as none of us who are towing any full height trailer can anyway. :S Instead of wasting $$$ on a rear view camera system which at best will only be a crutch equip your TV with a good set of towing mirrors and learn how to use them.

[thomasgunnar]

It's fairly simple to do. The 5th wheel we had before our current one had a backup camera mounted on the rear. The only problem was the wires were cut at the pin. I wired in a 4 pin flat plug. Put a switch under the dash for power. I can't really remember when I pulled the power from. It may have been straight from the battery. I have an after market dvd in the dash. I hooked into the aux output on the back and boom. I never used it for backing up. I used it most often for watching what was going on behind me.

[pconroy328]

Bumpyroad wrote:

pconroy328 wrote:

{tpc} wrote:
What if you attached the camera way up high facing down?

Then I can't clean it with a quick swipe when I walk behind the vehicle. 🙂

every motorhome rear view camera I have seen is mounted high and in the middle.
bumpy

Yes.

My wife's Honda came with a RV camera and I noticed it was getting too dirty to be of any value several times during the winter.

So, I really mounted mine low because of the wiring. But on rainy or slushy days, I can clean it quickly and easily.