dalsnpals1
marlboro ma
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Joined: 05/25/2009
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New to traveling in class C. I have a 31 ft coachmen and no rear camera. I was wondering if anyone has installed a camera themselves and what type they got. Trying to save some money and do it myself. Thanks for any suggestions.
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Bobbo
Memphis, TN
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Joined: 09/16/2007
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Avoid the wireless cameras. The distance is too great.
Bobbo, Linda and the furry kids (German Shepherd and German Shepherd mix)
2007 Winnebago Outlook WF331C on a Ford E450 Super Duty Chassis
NRA Life Member
Near N35 12 17 W89 50 57
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markm1
Attleboro, MA
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Joined: 07/24/2003
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I installed my own. Depending on how handy you are, it's not too bad. The hardest part was trying to get the cable from the back to the cab area.
I came in through the rear wall, and routed the cable down the interior and into and through the basement. From there I ran it all along the chassis, then up through the doghouse.
If you want pictures, you can see parts of the install about 3/4 down in my Picasa album
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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Basically, it's sort of like the difficulty of installing a car stereo and speakers, with the added complication of running the cable front to rear. This may take drilling a hole thru your rear cap. The choice then is to go down thru the floor, and along the frame, staying away from exhaust heat, or to go thru the interior in cabinets and under furniture. Then you've got to figure out a place and way to mount the monitor.
You can go cheaper, but I've gotten mine from [url]www.rvcams.com[url], and am very happy with both product and service.
Jim, "Be careful reading health books. You could die of a misprint."
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
'94 968, M030 swaybars ('DOPPLER')
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Roadfrog
Chilliwack, BC Canada
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Joined: 04/27/2001
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I installed this: Head unit
And this: backup camera
A grand sum of about 375 bucks, which gives me my backup camera, ipod interface, am/fm, CD, DVD, satellite radio, numerous audio and video inputs and outputs, Dolby Digital, etc all by touch screen. Spend a hundred more and you can even have a built in GPS in the deck too.
If you've ever installed a deck before, you'll have no trouble here. I ran my camera video cord through a hole in the back and into the bedroom cabinets and down through the basement and along a fame rail and into the doghouse as mentioned already....couple of hours tops.
Cheers
Chris
1999 Winnebago Itasca Spirit 29N
1988 Campion Allante 195
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erstanfo
Northwest, Olympia WA
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Joined: 02/26/2009
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I have a wireless from Costco. Camera is inside the coach looking through the rear window, antenna behind the side curtain. It works just fine. For $75 it is great. If you get a wireless, shop costco or other store that will let you return it if the distance is too long. I wired it into the parking lights so all I do is turn on my lights to activate the camera.
Ed, Sharon & Doolin the standard poodle
2006 Coachmen Freelander 2600SO, previous rental, E450, Blistein comfort shocks; removed carpet & new Allure Floor, Remodeled Galley
RV modifications
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Harvey51
Alberta
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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Erstanfo, great idea to wire into the parking lights!
I got one of those inexpensive "license plate" wireless cameras and installed it on the license plate bracket with power from the backup light as the instructions suggest. It was helpful, but I did not like the view from one side and being unable to see any part of the rig left me without a good feeling for how close things were. I moved the camera to the inside, peering out the back window and looking down so the spare tire on the back was just visible. Excellent view. It was easiest to get power from the house batteries (from the 1 Amp fused connection for the gas detector) with a pair of wires leading to an on/off switch just behind the driver's seat. There is no problem with the wireless signal on our short motorhome.
I would pay a fair bit more money to get a camera with a remote swivel.
2004 Adventurer (Canadian) 20 footer
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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Joined: 09/04/2003
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Chris, I like your setup with camera into the in-dash deck! A few questions if I could...
Where (indoors or out) did you mount the camera and is it weatherproof?
Can you activate its infrared for night vision?
Do you have a link to a deck with GPS?
What was your source for the camera-to-deck video cable?
Thanks!
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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Roadfrog
Chilliwack, BC Canada
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Quote:Chris, I like your setup with camera into the in-dash deck! A few questions if I could...
Where (indoors or out) did you mount the camera and is it weatherproof?
Can you activate its infrared for night vision?
Do you have a link to a deck with GPS?
What was your source for the camera-to-deck video cable?
Thanks!
Hi j-d. Yes, the camera is waterproof. I mounted it just below the rear clearance lights and above the rear window. Drilled a small hole and ran the video cord through it and sealed the hole and cord with 3M 5200 sealant. The infrared is automatic and requires no switching - I can see equally well day or night. The video cable I bought on Ebay as well (I think I paid 6 bucks). It's just a regular RCA video cord and you may find it at Radio Shack (we don't have a RS where I live). As for a GPS deck: deck
Clarion, Pioneer and others also make similar units - albeit for a lot more $$.
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