Adventures in driving and backup cameras: suggestions? comments?

[hshovic]

Hello Fairstreamers (Fellow airstreamers),

Two trends in my life:

*Traveling (more of it) since retirement looms (8 months)

*I get a little older every day, and the older I get the better I think
I was (and is)

* The wife is not as admiring of my manly driving skills as when we were courting.

* The total length of my rig is 43.5 feet, as long as some buses.

So how to make traveling safer?

Here is my idea:

Install a backup camera on the trailer (wireless)
Install a backup camera on the TV license plate (wireless)
Install a clip on mirror display on the inside mirror.
Wire so both cameras are always on.

Switch between views, so can use
* license plate cam for hitching
* trailer cam for highway use (to see vehicles behind trailer)

Clip-on feature prevents theft yet provides an ergonomically
easy to see monitor, since we are all used to glancing at the rear
view mirror, and there is no unsightly and risky monitor display on the dash.

Receiver for both will be buried under dash. Wiring will be inside pillars and headliner.
The models I am reviewing even have a microphone so I can hear when I
hit the picnic table.


How fun is that?

[ScottW]

Hank,
We are all getting older. I retire in May. Total rig length just over 65 feet. Don't have cameras and don't really need them...just my opinion. Wife does a really good job spotting for me (most of the time).

Sounds like you've got it all figured out. Enjoy.

[Janets Husband]

It sounds like a plan, I do have a few bugs in my mind to work out.
How do you intend to switch between the two cameras? I would think you would need two cameras and two receivers on different frequencies to differentiate which one was on the display, unless someone offers a system as you describe. I have also heard that some people have trouble with reception on video cameras. You might think about a hard wired system as an alternate possibility.

[higgy116]

Sounds like a good idea, let us know how they work out.

[azflycaster]

Santa brought me a remote license plate camera this year. Did you know that they renamed the North Pole to Kirkland? I wired it into the trailer connector bundle and it is only powered when the truck is in reverse. I only plug the display unit in when hitching. The picture is good enough to line up the trailer, but it is only a $79 unit. Since the license plate is not that much higher then the hitch, it is difficult to get a good feel for how far to backup.

[TROPHYJIM2]

What kind of wireless cameras do you guys have for the rear of the Airstream and where to find them? Also I was in my buddies big rig flat bed and he has a warning system that lets him know if anyone is within so many feet of his unit...and it is ajustable. Does anyone use anything like this on their Airstream?........I am just looking for all the advantages we can get while on the road. A few years ago one of our family members was involved in a bad wreck and believe me, once something like this happens, you tend to look for every advantage you can get......even if it looks like overkill. best hitch systems and best alert systems, best mirrors and best tow vehicles possible....this is what I am aiming for.....And its a great time to examine this stuff here in the Northeast since the Classic is in storage and their is nothin else to do but wait. I had an older SOB for about 5 years but this New Airstream....My o My it is sweet and I want to give it the best saftey possible on the road. Can't wait till Spring!!!! ,
Jim

[hshovic]

Greetings,

After months of research, comment, and discussion, I have chosen and ordered a backup camera system. I looked at many kinds, that are quite a bit less expensive (~$600), and finally decided on Rearview systems for $300 more. This is because I had concerns about all other systems (such as weatherproofness of wiring, lack of quick disconnects, no curly wires for trailer/truck, wireless interference, sensitivity of cameras, weatherproofness in car washes, field of view, night vision sensitivity, audio, auto switching of views, size of monitor, cold weather operation,etc.) These were all taken care of by the Rearview system. It's a heavy-duty, commercial setup, but not as commercial as Voyager. It even has heaters in the cameras for winter travel.

STM5600 monitori/camera for the hitch/backup cam on the truck
w/ license plate holder.

CC77 camera for the trailer.

trailer tow kit w/ quick disconnects and curly wire (just like the big rigs )

and plenty of integrated, heavy duty wiring.

I will report on its installation in the next month (if it quits snowing)