TNpilgrims
Warner Robins Georgia
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Joined: 08/26/2009
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O.K, I found my rearview camera. Is it a massive undertaking to install the camera myself? Is it a must to hire professional tech or could I tackle this with a savy mechanic and tech friend or two without making a big mess on my 2006 Class C?
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GrumpyandGrandma
CIncinnati, OH
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Joined: 02/02/2004
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It should be something you can do yourself especially if you have some "qualified" help. The biggest issue is IMHO running the cable from the rear of the coach to the monitor. I installed one on our 2001 Jayco Designer with no problems. It just took a little time to get a clean job.
Grandma in front of her retirement home..
She lets Grumpy drive!!
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tenbear
Northern Vermont, USA
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Joined: 08/11/2004
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I installed our rear view camera, it took quite a bit of time but wasn't too dificult. I put the camera inside the rear window and ran the wire to the monitor inside "tunnels" where the walls meet the floor. The hardest thing was getting the wire over the rear wheels, under the shower. I probably could have run the wire under the coach easier. Wiring under the dash was a pain because there is no room there. If you are a DIY type person or have a DIY type friend you should be able to do the job.
2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
Subaru Impreza Outback
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Kendas
Tucson AZ
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Joined: 02/06/2007
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Ran one on our '76 Tioga a couple of years ago... No real problems, I just ran the camera video/power cable from the camera over the roof to the 'fridge vent and down. Once I got through the wood at the bottom of the fridge area it was just a matter running the cable along the bottom of the wall forward to a vertical pillar (back of right front door worked well) and under the ceiling plastic to the center of the upper windshield. Since I don't have a good view to the rear of the RV I wired the monitor and camera to a switched ignition source so it also acts as a review mirror and is always on with the ignition.
Couple of "dabs" of silicon keep the cables from flopping on the roof (You could even use Eternabond tape to cover the wires on the roof, but don't expect to ever get them off).
Ken
1978 21ft Tioga Dodge 440 Motor,
4.5kw Generac and 80 watts Solar
1984 Goldwing Interstate (Daily driver)
Misc Things I've done to my RV pictures
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Westronics
Redmond, WA
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Joined: 08/07/2002
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I installed mine myself. A couple of possible tips that may or may not work for you:
1. The cable from the camera to the monitor was run under the trim that covers the place where the back cap attaches to the side walls. This worked really well for me to have a nice clean appearance and brought the cable to under the vehicle with no drilling.
2. Running the wire under the rig to under the passenger door was not too difficult.
3. I was able to run the wire up into the cab via a rubber grommet under the passenger-side running board and then behind the dash.
When done, I had a very clean installation with no new holes anywhere.
2002 Jayco Greyhawk 24SS, Camera, ScanGauge, Inverter, Airtabs, Portabote, SeeLevel II, Tireman valves, Xatnrex Battery Monitor, Aero-flo vent, Trik-L-Start, XPS Rib, Chains, Lil' Stanker, Be kind to septic systems Ford: 1-800-444-3311. RV Tires
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KenWCorley
Rio Rancho
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Joined: 11/02/2009
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I just got one from Pepboys for $80 that is wireless from the camera unit to the monitor. I installed it today. Biggest problem was deciding where to mount it since it was designed to mount to the lisence plate. I didn't want a wire showing from there to the tail light so I mounted it on the other side where I could run the wires through a small hole drilled to the back-up light inside the storage hatch for the sewer line. Works great.
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Harvey51
Alberta
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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I mounted mine on the license plate holder and was very unhappy with it. The view to the other side was poor and I could not judge distance or even tell when I was about to hit something.
I moved it to the center and up high looking down at quite an angle so I can just see the spare tire mounted above the bumper. Now I know when the tree approaches the tire, I must stop!
Mine was wireless. I connected to power at the 1 amp house fuse powering the gas detector and ran a wire forward to a switch on the base of the driver's seat. The switch turns on the camera and the monitor simultaneously. Power is available at that fuse when either the house power is on or the vehicle is running.
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SailnSeagulls
New York
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Joined: 09/24/2009
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I installed a Voyager monitor with a tilting camera on my Four Winds Class C. I wanted a professional install so ended up removing the trim and back panels inside my rear bedroom cabinets. This allowed me to see the hole I drilled would not be into a beam or someplace inaccessable. The camera has to be below the marker lights so they do not interfere with the night vision capability. With the cabinet apart, I was able to run the camera cable inside and connect to the long cable which I ran behind the cabinets, through the floor and along the frame to the firewall. I also used loom and wireties to install. The hardest part of all of this was putting the cabinet rear wall and trim back on and the nailholes filled like from the factory.
The monitor was installed over the mirror on the ceiling area of the cab cutout. This was a little difficult because Four Winds just used a fabric to span this space with no hard backing. I made a bracket which I installed to the frame around the windshielsd and then put the fabric back to hide it. The monitor has a rather large wiring harness that allows for three other cameras, triggers to turn them on, ground and hot wires, etc. All of this was also hidden up over the windshield under the fabric, with a big rubber grommet to allow the connector through to hook up the monitor. This grommet is hidden by the sunvisor.
Lastly, in order to hook up the back-up trigger (so the camera automatically comes on in reverse), I had to find the hot reverse wire. The closest reverse hot wire is on the nutral safety switch off the transmission. This was easier to me than running a wire all the way to the reverse lights in the rear.
Hope this helps.
Larry
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AstroRig57
near Tehachapi, CA
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Joined: 01/15/2009
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Though I don't recommend that everyone try it, I installed my camera near the top of the end cap...and ran the wiring through crowned roof "attic". In several places, a fish tape had to be forced through the styrofoam type insulation while in most runs there was an existing "channel" through the foam for existing wiring.
Wiring runs were made in sections using a fish tape to pull the camera cabling. The rearmost roof vent and several ceiling lights were detached from the ceiling to allow access. The first, and most difficult, run was made from the "pass through" hole and grommet adjacent to the camera to the hole for the roof vent (removed of course). The second run from the roof vent to an overhead light in the "hallway". Subsequent runs were made from light to light toward the front of the coach till it was run into a wiring loom in the cabinet just aft of the curbside passenger seat.
From the cabinet, it was run into the pillar where the coach meets the chassis and then through the healiner to where it terminates at the monitor which is mounted in place of a rear-view mirror.
There is no wiring visible except for the short (less than 2") section from the end cap to the camera, and a very short section from the headliner to the monitor. There also is no cabling run under the coach and exposed to the elements. It was probably a little more hassle than some installations but is extremely clean.
I did make the mistake, as noted by others, of installing the camera above the clearance lights which, to some extent, initially interfered with night vision. This was at first mediated by merely placing a strip of black tape on the top of the clearance lights and thus preventing any upward transmission of light to the camera. I subsequently installed shielded (hooded) LED clearance lights which serve the same purpose. Since I had wanted to do this anyhow, I just moved it up in my timeline.
These are the clearance lights I used.
2005 31' Coachmen Freelander 3150SS, Stargazer II - Mobile Astronomy Unit
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Nobuck$
Nor Calif.
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Joined: 10/23/2008
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I would ask if anyone has installed or used a back-up camera in this manner. I'm just about always towing my horse trailer with my Class C and would like to be able to see the horses inside the trailer while towing. Additionally I would like to having a functioning rear view camera when not towing the horse trailer. Anyone ever installed such a system where one can choose which camera to view from. Also what kind of connections would one need or use for the camera cord at the trailer hitch,when hooking & un-hooking the trailer. Is this a plausible system?
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