Back-up camera mount

[breeves2245]

New 5.0. I ordered the back-up camera wiring. Looking at where I guess it would be at the center top running light. Did not see any screws to take off the cover and inspect for wiring. Looks like I would have to cut the caulking around the light and go from there.

Sure don't want to do that and have to caulk it back on if there is no wiring. Or if there is, how do I mount the camera?

Previous travel trailer had the exact shaped light as the camera and it was a screw off / screw on easy peezy deal.

 

[Centex]

Suggest you look for the backup-cam pre wiring inside the rear overhead cabinet. You may find a loop of wires there (a 'pigtail' if you will) waiting for the owner to splice to the cam wires, routed through a shell penetration of their making at the location they prefer.

You can of course call ETI during business hours and ask where the end of the cam pre-wiring is located.

 

[zephirus]

I posted how I did my camera install else where (its a way, not the way)- I paid for a camera "pre-wire" and ETI actually did not wire anything for a camera hook-up. I used one of the wire coils in the rear cabinet but that power is always on. I therefore added a switch to turn power on and off to the camera. So you have 2 primary choices - tap the running lights for power (lots of YouTube videos) or tap the power in one of the loops in the rear cabinet. I of course asked ETI about where the backup camera power loop was located but they never responded to that.

Rearview Camera install (Haloview) ETI - prewire

I thought I would share my photos on my rearview camera install. I really didn't find great photos or explanation of ETI how provides wiring on a paid preinstall. This is not the way, but its just a way to do an install. I have learned a lot from folks making You tube videos and posting in...

www.escapeforum.org

 

[zephirus]

Some of the original photos without rotation ...

 

[Luvnlife-ESC]

I’d prefer a constant power supply so I could install a switch and turn it on when I want to. Mine is powered by the lights. Guess I’ll have to try and trace which wire goes to the camera power supply.

 

[kernwig]

I mounted my "backup" camera to the rear bumper and wired through the battery vent to the load of the solar controller. I turn it on, via the controller, whenever traveling. The wireless receiver monitor mounts right onto my tow's rear-view mirror. Thus I have a "mirror" that sees right through the trailer.

 

[shocksll]

I mounted my "backup" camera to the rear bumper and wired through the battery vent to the load of the solar controller. I turn it on, via the controller, whenever traveling. The wireless receiver monitor mounts right onto my tow's rear-view mirror. Thus I have a "mirror" that sees right through the trailer.

Which one do you have, a haloview?

 

[MarkinVan]

I mounted my backup camera to the Solar Panel frame and brought the wire down through the fridge vent. Garmin BC-50.

 

[kernwig]

Which one do you have, a haloview?

No, I used this one: LeeKooLuu RV Backup Camera Wireless HD 1080P 7 Inch Recorder DVR Monitor Touch Key Screen Four Channel Adapter for Furrion Pre-Wired RV Rear View System Waterproof Night Vision 2023 Latest Version LK5

The only downside is that objects are much closer than they appear.

 

[MrLynn]

I bought a magnet-mount wireless camera, so I can put it on the trailer bumper for backing into a site, or on the back of my Expedition when I want to hitch up. I just put the wireless monitor on the dash when I want to use the camera; otherwise it's all stored away.

 

[shocksll]

Thanks, so that large screen fits over your rear view mirror?

I currently have a haloview which I’m mostly happy with but am looking at trying another model/vendor if there is one with better features.

 

[iamunique127]

We ordered a backup camera drop on our build sheet back in 2014. The wires were in a coil in the rear centre cabinet and only had power when the tow vehicle was in Reverse gear. Oh yeah, right, for backup.

So I rewired the drop to a taillight so I had power for an always-on rear view camera, with the headlights On of course.

I then mounted my cheap little camera inside the top of the back window, so no hole in the shell. The resulting view is quite dark because of the dark glass of the window but is still perfectly functional. I may change to an external camera in the future. The wireless connection to the camera transmits a Bluetooth signal that I view on an old iPhone mounted on the dash.

 

[zephirus]

I have the Haloview BT11 system. I was initially interested in this system because of the blindside monitoring and always on electric rearview mirror feature. My TV has BSM already and I don't have enough miles using the BT11 to know if it adds in that regard. It does work well as a rearview "mirror" and BSM seems to work well. Its fall/winter in NC and the sun is always low ... even with the monitor/mirror on brightest setting it washes out fairly bad if the sun is coming your way. Backing Up - for me, the camera is not the best for backing because there are no guide lines or grid lines. You will see a picnic table, but the camera is so wide angle I cant tell where the trailer is relative to say a power pole or water sub. I think I would have been happier with a BT7 system in the Haloview line because I want backing guide lines. And yes the screen fits over the rear view mirror. I do love when I by habit look to the RVM I see the road behind me as you would without the TV. My 2 cents YMMV

 

[dosby]

If anyone considering backup camera, I use Amazon.com
I mount it on my TV when hitching, and I can point it directly to the ball.
For trailer mount, I attached a small metal plate to the solar panel frame and snap it there when needed.
Best purchase of last year!

 

[MrLynn]

If anyone considering backup camera, I use Amazon.com
I mount it on my TV when hitching, and I can point it directly to the ball.
For trailer mount, I attached a small metal plate to the solar panel frame and snap it there when needed.
Best purchase of last year!

That's pretty much the same as the one I bought (see post earlier), which is here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BVFQ81ZN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[dosby]

That's pretty much the same as the one I bought (see post earlier), which is here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BVFQ81ZN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yep, mine sends image to my iPhone, though. Very convenient, I can park using the same phone mount.

 

[sackettd]

New 5.0. I ordered the back-up camera wiring. Looking at where I guess it would be at the center top running light. Did not see any screws to take off the cover and inspect for wiring. Looks like I would have to cut the caulking around the light and go from there.

Sure don't want to do that and have to caulk it back on if there is no wiring. Or if there is, how do I mount the camera?

Previous travel trailer had the exact shaped light as the camera and it was a screw off / screw on easy peezy deal.

I "cheated" a little bit and wired a rear-view camera on the inside of my E19, just above the back window, on the rectangular thick fabric piece, I think it would be called the front of the headrail?, thus avoiding drilling through the fiberglass. The camera fit perfectly on the fabric headrail. I could securely screw it to the outside of the headrail and it doesn't block the operation of the blind. I also bought a fairly cheap camera.

The wireless signal works great, the camera angle is perfect. At times It gets a little glare off the inside of the back windshield, but it suits my needs: mostly for watching out for asshats who pass on the right after I've just overtaken a slow vehicle on a four + lane highway or freeway. Without the camera I'm almost completely blind to their incredibly dangerous maneuver--I've had two very close calls from that right lane pass. With the rearview camera I can see them perfectly and can avoid an accident.

There is a loop of wire (ETI Installed, I assume the prewire add-on I ordered) in the overhead bin above the rear window and I drop down about 6 inches of this wire and plug to connect the camera when I'm towing the trailer then unplug and put up the wire in the cabinet when I'm not towing. It's always on when plugged in, but I simply unplug it when not towing, so I assume it doesn't draw power when not plugged in.

I'm sure a more expensive model wired outside would provide a better image, but I'm satisfied with my interior attachment results.

 

[kernwig]

Thanks, so that large screen fits over your rear view mirror?

Yes, it has some mounting knobs on the sides. I just use a long wire-tie ("twister") around those knobs and wrapped around the mirror - and it's mounted! I power wire drops down to the 12V in the center console.

I also stuck a piece of felt on the back of the monitor to prevent the plastic-on-plastic rattle noise on rough roads.

The wireless connection to the camera transmits a Bluetooth signal that I view on an old iPhone mounted on the dash.

This surprises me. Bluetooth should only work up to 30 feet without barriers - less through the camper and vehicle. A lot of backup cameras are not intended for towing, and I found reviews saying that the signal was too weak from a trailer. A big reason I choose the device I did was that it claimed to work for an 18-wheeler, and the reviews indicated that it does work on at least 25-foot trailers.

 

[iamunique127]

This surprises me. Bluetooth should only work up to 30 feet without barriers - less through the camper and vehicle. A lot of backup cameras are not intended for towing, and I found reviews saying that the signal was too weak from a trailer. A big reason I choose the device I did was that it claimed to work for an 18-wheeler, and the reviews indicated that it does work on at least 25-foot trailers.

I may be wrong about it being Bluetooth. After reading about all the other cameras in this thread that transmit via wifi I suppose mine may have a wifi transmitter too. It has some sort of transmitter in the rear upper cabinet. I just thought it was Bluetooth. My mistake.

 

[hugh]

Here's my setup. The backup camera is mounted to the outside of the trailer with VHB tape. The screen clips to my read view mirror.