Video cameras for vehicles.

[Lakota Wolf]

If you have ever wondered about rear video cameras to be able to see whats behind you and your RV, Only to look at the RV dealership and see $399 to $1,000 units and the sticker shock made ya burp some chili ya had last weekend? Almost all NEW cars,trucks and RV's have back up cameras. That leaves us,, the ones with older classic Rv's and trailers that dont have all that fancy electronics Preinstalled.

I have shopped around and finally settled on EBAY, with reputable sellers, who have back up cameras that are wireless with mini monitors and hardwire mini cameras with and without monitors.

The cameras without monitors that are hardwire, come with 25 foot or more of RCA cable connections. 

This in my opinion is a good way to go if you dont mind running a little wire under your rig and leaving a pig tail to plug in along with your power supply plug. (I will get to wireless in a moment.).

With hardwire RCA plug type mini cameras, which by the way are as small as a quarter in diameter, are the easiest configuration if your going to have more then one camera. I myself have 6 for my camera installation, 2 on the back of my truck,, one is high up on headache rack to view hitch assembly,, the other is lic. plate level. I have 2 mounted under the front of the trailer to view the axles and wheels, and 2 on the very back. Again, one is high up to view traffic etc, behind me and one low, (the one low is to view the pup trailer I pull behind the 5th wheel).

I run the camera wiring up to a video switch,( the kind we had to use to hook up the old VCR, TV pong or Atari and the ole surround sound).The switching box works great to bring up what ever camera you needed to use by pushing the switch button. Now you ask, what do I use for a monitor? I use a DUAL  DVD  player setup,

(The kind you see at Walmart,, to video monitors that connect to the headrest of drivers and passengers seat so the kiddies can watch a DVD while traveling). The secondary video monitor is great for connecting RCA cables to and configuring a set place for it to use saftly while driving. All the cameras connect to video switch and that connects to video monitor. These monitors are all 12 volt, so easy to connect to a power source, Like cig plug.

 Wireless is another way to go if you dont like hard wire set ups, But you are limited to One camera, One monitor per camera. If you have 2 cameras,, you will need 2 monitors etc.. the monitors are the 4 inch mini monitors and if your old like me, ya have to squint to really see them. But they also require a 12 volt source.

I believe in safety and I like to know if I have a tire going low or even if it blew out,, because you cant always feel the tire blow or see it in mirrors.. Plus I like to know exactly whats behind me while traveling and to make sure I have a clear shot when changing lanes or backing up.

If you cant find a good deal on Ebay, leave me a message and I will pass on a link to the seller I have been using to purchase my cameras.

[marcel lemieux]

That is one impressive set up..i like it,defenitely will look into a project  like yours..well done.