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Old 08-12-2007, 12:34 PM   #1
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On Backup Cameras?

One of my goals is to add a backup camera to the SMB.

I'd considered positioning something inside the rear windows so it doesn't get yanked off, but I haven't really thought it through too much. Up by (mounted in/on) the factory 3rd brake light might work.

I'm looking for two things- 1) a hitch view and bumper view for trailering, and 2) a backup/rear view cam.

Is it typical to have just a top-down view of the hitch? Is it helpful at all to have a more rearview of the road behind the van?

I'm planning to be able to have it on while driving, without having it in Reverse (eg. see trailer contents, traffic on rear) as well as for hitching and parking.

I don't mind a manual adjustment between the two, or maybe adding a second camera is an option.

I was looking at this system: http://www.rvcams.com/merchant2/merc...ategory_Code=1

But I don't know anything about backup cameras and monitors and I've never really seen one work.... so, comments and opinions?

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Old 08-12-2007, 04:43 PM   #2
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I got the three cam voyager system from rvcams:
http://www.rvcams.com/merchant2/merchan ... ry_Code=13

BTW- Tim and the others there are very knowledgeable and good to work with. Would heartily recommend them.

I can readily say that I was surprised by how much I like the system. I have the blind spot cams painted to match (you can see them just under the side mirrors on the doors in this pic:


and they activate when I use a turn signal to go to a fullscreen mode for that side of the van. VERY NICE.

The default view is with two little picture in picture type windows at the bottom for the blind spots.

you can remotely pan the rear camera (which is mounted on the rear of the PH top) down to see the hitch and people who are loading or unloading from the rear of the van. The buttons for this are right on the monitor.

I had the monitor mounted as close to the rearview mirror location as they could get it, as it's replacing the rearview mirror which is kind of useless in my configuration.

You can see it here:


edit: I forgot to mention, a fourth camera can be added if I wanted to add one to say the rear of a trailer, or if I wanted to add an IR camera on the front.
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Old 08-13-2007, 10:04 AM   #3
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Back up cams

Buji, do you have to add a labrador with the backup cameras too, or is the dog extra?
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Old 08-13-2007, 09:27 PM   #4
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:-)

That's Mr.Soda, he's our backup alarm system. He is very fond of the van, prefers it very much over the Jeep.
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Old 08-13-2007, 09:41 PM   #5
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That's a serious video screen you have back there. You have surround sound too?


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Old 08-13-2007, 10:45 PM   #6
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Oh yeah my wife and I are already planning to watch TV in Buji's van.
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Old 08-14-2007, 09:21 AM   #7
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Hahaha....

I have the speaker setup for 5.1 (sub under the bench the dog's on) but I didn't want to pursue surround as the fronts (in the doors up front) are so far away from the rears (in the back), and I didn't want to mess with a second pair of fronts just in the back. We do have in-motion satellite which works surprisingly well once it gets going.

Continuing off topic...
the riskiest thing about the setup is the monitor and the arm. Instead of being mounted flush, it's on an arm mounted to the fridge cabinet. SMB did a lot to shore up this connection point, but there's still a LOT of pressure on that MDF if there's ever a turbulent event with the arm deployed. Our intention is to have it fixed against the wall while in motion (it actually can turn 90 degrees to a portrait mode where it can be stowed against the cabinet nicely) and only have it deployed when we're stopped.

The week or so we had the van before it went up to SK I got it tightened down pretty well, but really only time will tell and I am mentally prepared to pull it out and get that cabinet repaired.

Also, I had a devil of a time finding a monitor arm for a 24" monitor!
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Old 08-16-2007, 09:52 PM   #8
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Buji,

You seem to be a major techno-geek (not an insult), so I have a couple ideas for you and your SMB cameras.

1) Get a DVR.
2) Get an internal video camera.
3) Set up all the cameras to start recording if your van alarm goes off.
4) Set up all the cameras to start recording based upon an inertia switch, in case you get into an acccident (as evidence of someone hitting you).

Just a couple of thoughts.

BTW, I forgot to ask, how goes the 4x4 conversion @ S-K?


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Old 08-16-2007, 11:27 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bronco_hauler
Buji,

You seem to be a major techno-geek (not an insult), so I have a couple ideas for you and your SMB cameras.

1) Get a DVR.
2) Get an internal video camera.
3) Set up all the cameras to start recording if your van alarm goes off.
4) Hope they don't steal the DVR too?
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Old 08-17-2007, 06:25 PM   #10
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Heheh... initially I had a DVR for the van. The Hi-def 622 for Dish network. I confirmed a few suspicions:

DVRS generate more heat and require more airflow than I could give it in the van.
DVRs suck a LOT more electricity than their inert counterparts

I may try to get back to using a 622 when I have the van back in hands, but it's not looking good for a dvr. Also, There doesn't seem to be a good way to isolate the DVR from vibrations/jostling it will get exposed to and that is bad bad bad for a hard drive.

Herb, I am a Modern Major Technical Geek.

I actually have something in mind like what you are talking about, but it won't use a hard drive based DVR (which takes a while to boot, unless it's running all the time) but something solid-state.

A lot of this will depend on when I get the van back how much solar I end up putting on it.

The 4x4 sounds like it's going well. At this point we have just scheduled to pick up the van on the 26th. I think it's sort of at the point where addtl pictures are kind of moot. I have certainly not had a problem getting ahold of them or getting questions answered while the van is there.
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