Visit our Popular Forums

m.hony · 03-22-2014, 06:13 AM

After testing my system in the real world I am very displeased.
The constant intermittent loss of signal deems the system useless.
Huge fail.
Extreme waste of time and money.
Back to square one.
I basically wasted my time and money on something that I could honestly live without.
Wishing I could go back to Monday and just not do anything and keep my money.
Yes, it was a good idea. I just didn't get the results I was looking for.
My vote is for no rear view camera system on the trailer.
I lived without it all those years. I could continue to live without.
The frame rate is terrible when it does work. The picture is jittery and not as clear as the wired camera on the truck.
A co-worker told me the picture is clearer than the image on a Ford factory back-up camera system. That doesn't matter to me. I want a picture as clear as the truck camera.
Feeling disappointed.

lsbrodsky · 03-22-2014, 06:53 AM

I have the new SwiftHitch digital and it is great for backing the trailer, with the suction mount on the rear bumper lid. It is not a solution for driving down the road because of battery life, mounting method and screen size.
Larry

m.hony · 03-22-2014, 08:27 AM

I bought what I bought to overcome the obstacles of battery life, mounting method, and a second monitor in the truck.

TinTin · 03-22-2014, 08:31 AM

MH, if you're not happy take it back to the dealer, and have them switch it out for something that works as advertised!! (I'm assuming the dealer provided you with the equipment.)

m.hony · 03-22-2014, 10:30 AM

Nope.
Car stereo store.
I will be going back after a call or visit to let them know how disappointed I am.
I just wish I hadn't done it. I lived just fine without it. It is really just a novelty. It doesn't really make anything safer or easier.
Right now we are camping.

chaeha · 03-22-2014, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

I have the new SwiftHitch digital and it is great for backing the trailer, with the suction mount on the rear bumper lid. It is not a solution for driving down the road because of battery life, mounting method and screen size.

Larry

What's the specific model number of the Swift Hitch digital you have?

kingfisher24 · 03-23-2014, 08:36 AM

iPhone Android iPad WIFI car backup camera

has anyone tried this system that uses iPad/Iphone for monitor.

looks too good to be true. and an affordable price and can be powered thru a cigarette lighter, i suppose, inside the trailer...

HiHoAgRV · 03-23-2014, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

iPhone Android iPad WIFI car backup camera

has anyone tried this system that uses iPad/Iphone for monitor.

looks too good to be true. and an affordable price and can be powered thru a cigarette lighter, i suppose, inside the trailer...

I tried an app that uses Bluetooth between my iPad and iPhone. It has a horrible delay and ended up being useless.

m.hony · 03-23-2014, 11:57 AM

Uh-huh...
Kinda sorta like my Rydeen system.

m.hony · 03-23-2014, 02:44 PM

That poor frame rate causes some silly images.
When we got home and I was backing in at the house my wife looked like a robot walking around behind the trailer or would be in one spot and all of a sudden be in another spot.
I think the rear view camera for me was a $450 stupid tax. It really isn 't that practical or useful. It is simply a novelty whose newness wore off real quick.
It really is a good idea. It just didn't turn out like I hoped it would.
If the image was as smooth and clear as the hard wired truck camera I would be happy.
Maybe the solution is a hard wired camera. Then there would be one more step to hitching up- plugging in the video cable.
Maybe I will find a wireless solution such as a repeater or signal strength amplifier. It is a shame that in order to make it better I will have to throw more money at it.
If I had only known how it was going to be I would have never done it in the first place.
Maybe my experience will help keep someone else's money in their pocket.
This really is s feature that I could have lived happily ever after without.

**Rocinante** · 03-23-2014, 04:49 PM

Hey, what if you ran some more antenna wire off that camera? Maybe up to and around the window so it has a shot thru the trailer, or maybe a wire over or under the TT that ends near the hitch? I wonder whether you could just use the whole darn trailer as an antenna instead of fighting to get past that metal shell. There has to be some way to get that signal to your cab. Dang.

m.hony · 03-23-2014, 08:22 PM

I have considered letting the antenna dangle outside the trailer behind the license plate.
If I were to run an antenna wire from back to front i could just have a hard wired camera...

dznf0g · 03-23-2014, 09:29 PM

I still like my system very much. Not a novelty at all. Just drove from Chi to Pensacola. I use it like a rear view mirror. Indispensable IMO.

Sent from my XT907 using Airstream Forums mobile app

m.hony · 03-24-2014, 04:20 AM

That was the idea- to use it like a rear view mirror- but there is so much interference/lack of signal that it doesn't work that way.
If it worked properly I would be OK with it.

HiHoAgRV · 03-24-2014, 08:40 AM

I can't help but think of a line from 'The Gumball Rally'

Franco: And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving.
[Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car]
Franco: What's-a behind me is not important.

m.hony · 03-24-2014, 10:43 AM

I have contacted the manufacturer and the installer.
The solution may be to run a wire to the camera and have a wired rear view camera.
One more thing to plug/unplug when hitching/unhitching, but if it actually works...

m.hony · 03-24-2014, 10:58 AM

At this point I am wishing I would have kept my $450 toward tree trimming and camper shed...
Gotta git dem trees trimmed- low hangin' branches rub my pickup when entering/exiting the driveway- birds poop all over my Airstream-
Gotta git me a camper shed- will help with bird poo and keep the beamin' sun and rain off my silver trailer.
Those are the next 2 items on the list- soon, and very soon- if my central air conditioning unit at the house lasts long enough to let me-

m.hony · 03-24-2014, 11:43 AM

Apparently this device simply does not work in this application.
Expensive lesson learned.
I have spoken again with a tech at Rydeen and expressed my disappointment.
I urged him to tell anyone who inquires that this wireless unit does not work in an RV application because the signal cannot travel in a straight line due to walls and furniture/bedding/curtains in the RV.
Good idea that just doesn't work/is not useful or practical in the real world. Y'all just keep on getting Voyagers and what not and leave this one alone.

nickmeloy · 03-30-2014, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickmeloy

I installed the Voyager system with the single camera option. I will report back at the end of our 7,500 mile trip on such items as rain effects, headlight effects, etc. ...

We are preparing out travel trailer for our trip this summer. After de-winterizing the trailer and connecting all of the gadgets, we pulled the trailer about 10 miles to check out all of the systems.

I am pleased with the initial performance of the Voyager system. The view behind the trailer is more than adequate to clear all of the blind spot behind the trailer.

The image is clear and stable at 55 mph on the interstate.

I estimate that I can see vehicles behind the trailer that are about 100 yards away.

I will report back at the end of our 7,500 mile trip on such items as rain effects, headlight effects, etc.

m.hony · 03-30-2014, 04:22 PM

My system seems to work slightly better these past couple of days. I think it is effected by placement of pillows and bedding.
Even with the jittery herky-jerky frame rate it is still a very nice "rear view mirror".
It also makes backing into a camp site a "get-it-right-the-first-time" "one-shot" deal.
I was considering switching to a wired system, but I am just going to live with it. The experience of the installer tearing into my trailer was a traumatic experience for me and I do not wish to live through it again. Also, the installer got a big dirty hand print on the head board. I got some Resolve upholstery cleaner for that.
I have decided to leave well enough alone and live with what I've got, but cannot recommend the Rydeen wireless system.