My brother in law is looking into back up cameras. It seems as though he'd prefer one that has the moniter in the rear view mirror...but I'm sure he's also open to any good setups. Anyone have any brands/
cameras to recommend.
Thanks

I have mine interfaced through my factory TNR nav screen. When I put it in reverse it automaticly signals reverse camera.

If you want a good cheap one, I put this one on my truck. Well, actually I modified it to go on my travel trailer, but the basic unit fits nice on any vehicle. You can now find it at WallyWorld for $100, camera mounts to youe license plate, monitor can go just about anywhere. I have mine on a switch so I can see behind me while towing. No night vision on the one I have (VRBCS3000), but if there is any light at all you can still see. http://www.roadmasterusa.com/backupcamera_vr3.php

Rttoys
Couple of days ago I bought and installed a wireless camera similar to yours (VRBC300WCS from WallyWorld for $135CDN). Wondering if yours is wireless? If so, do you happen to know the range? I was thinking I might move the camera to the back of my 5th for the camping season, but might have to use a hardwire system for that range?

bcarricarte,
The wireless Wallyworld camera works quite well from the back of my cc/lb but I DO get interference as I drive around...probably from power lines. For backing up in my driveway or parking lot...its great.

I connected camera power to the taillight circuit so I can energize the camera by turning on the lights. That way I can turn it on while driving or stopped in 'park'....for whatever reason...and I dont necessarily have to be in 'reverse'. At the moment I MUST have the lights on for the camera to work. When the weather warms up above freezing I might modify it to also work when in 'reverse', with or without lights. Easily done with a couple of diodes. Its too cold and mucky to mess around now. Probably no harm in having the camera permanently energized - the drain on a twin-battery Duramax would be insignificant.

I connected camera power to the taillight circuit so I can energize the camera by turning on the lights. That way I can turn it on while driving or stopped in 'park'....for whatever reason...and I dont necessarily have to be in 'reverse'. At the moment I MUST have the lights on for the camera to work. When the weather warms up above freezing I might modify it to also work when in 'reverse', with or without lights. Easily done with a couple of diodes. Its too cold and mucky to mess around now. Probably no harm in having the camera permanently energized - the drain on a twin-battery Duramax would be insignificant.

Great minds think alike .... I did the samething .... I only have a Extend no crew but does a good job ... built a cover over mine to keep the snow off it ... seems to work well. I did notice that the viewer works better once it warms up ... when I get out in the morning and it has been cold over night to hook up the trailer I get snow on the screen ... after a couple of minutes of it been on the snow goes away and the picture is much brighter and clearer.

As for leaving it on all the time ... even over night ... I don't know .. I don't the screen seems to get a little too warm for my taste so I shut my off when not in use.

The heat could be from the light buld inside the screen ... but I also don't want to burn that baby out.

As for my GPS I just turn down the brightness to as low as it will go and in the morning I just turn up the brightness to full .... I don't seem to get any heat off the GPS when the screen is turned right down.

Rttoys
Couple of days ago I bought and installed a wireless camera similar to yours (VRBC300WCS from WallyWorld for $135CDN). Wondering if yours is wireless? If so, do you happen to know the range? I was thinking I might move the camera to the back of my 5th for the camping season, but might have to use a hardwire system for that range?


This one is hard wired. The camera uses a stereo headphone jack plug, so I just bought a few 15' extensions to get it to the back of my trailer. I had a wireless system to moniter the bikes inside my trailer, but it was hit or miss most of the time. This on is a lot better. Here are some other pictures of the hookups.

As for leaving it on all the time ... even over night ... I don't know .. I don't the screen seems to get a little too warm for my taste so I shut my off when not in use.

I meant leave the CAMERA power permanently on. Mine is wireless and camera and monitor have separate power sources. I haven't had mine long enough to notice the monitor getting warm. In fact its just sitting in the ashtray not even mounted yet. The (future) GPS will get priority location, then I'll find a place to mount the backup monitor - probably near the rearview with power from the maplight circuit.

RTTOYS:
Thanks for the info and food for thought. Looks like I might have to cash in my beer cans and buy a hardwire system too!

It seems the decision to buy wireless or hardwired depends on proposed use. Maybe an *expensive* wireless system would work the required 40 or 50 feet from the back of a trailer through all that metal, but I think I'll let someone else determine that. ;)

I bought the same wireless one for my brother for christmas. He's got a e/c sb. And sometimes it is really clear then other times you get the lines through it. I have it wired so that you flip a switch and they both come on together. I was just wondering if anyone else had the same interference problems. By the way Costco had them for $90.

i returned 2 to walmart because each one had so much interferance you could not see. called roadmaster and they said it is a problem with these trucks due to the metal and the distance, they also said they were working on a more powerful transmitter for the camera

Hey anyone with the wired version having problems? MIne works great for about a day then it gets so dark that you can't see anything. I pull the fuse and "reset" the thing it works great for a day. Pulling the fuse is getting old.

Mine has worked fine for 6 months now.

maybe i just got 2 bad ones and need to try another,did you do anything special with the camera or monitor?

No, and actually modified it to hook up at the back of my travel trailer (as pictured above).

I just installed the wireless VR3 camera on my CC. Not overly happy with the reception. It looks good when not moving but even backing up there are a lot of interference lines.

Not sure if I will return or not. Anyone know where to get the same camera in a wired version?

Steve

It seems to me that someone posted pictures of a rearview camera setup that he did. He had pictures of the monitor in the truck cab. The monitor was mounted to the overhead panel. Does anyone out there remember seeing it and if so would you kindly put up the link to it. I would like to contact that fellow via a PM, because I want to do a similar installation.

CubbyCam.com

DEWFPO

UPDATE: from Roadmaster USA maker of the VR-3 Back Up Camera

When I spoke to the technical service line and I mentioned I had a 3/4 ton fullsize crew cab I could hear the tech sigh (not good). Tech confirmed they are finding out that the wireless version does not transmit well on the bigger trucks due to length and amount of metal (interference) from the bed.

Options was return to store for refund, unhook and power camera with 9V battery and try optional locations and custom mount, wired versions are available on the web.

Hope this information is useful.

Steve

The wired version is also available at Walmart and Pep Boy Auto.