Rear and side view cameras

G'day Jim, to obtain better,wider vision from the external mirrors you can drill holes
through the outer bend of the frame & then mount the heads vertically. I found this
gave much better rear vision. You can easily remount to original holes. Be aware of
the extra width in the shed, etc.....cheers.......oldbaz.

Jim.
I have had in the last 19 years 1 x Hilux,1x 75 series and my current 79 series all fitted with canopies.
I have never even thought about fitting the cameras you are thinking of installing,although I have seen one or two.
These units are ( that I have seen ) wired to the reverse switch to activate them when required, and some are used to aid the hook-up of caravans etc.
Personally the only time I would really require them would be when I am parked at 45 degrees, which is a pain sometimes but not really bad if someone is on board with you.
But only my opinion as once people are used to the side mirrors you really don't need them.
Cheers
Paul

I have reasonably recently fitted a single camera to the back of my hilux that has a canopy.......while it has glass front and back it is totally blind at night due to the 3 layers of galss to look thru and even during the day the blind spots are significant.

I fitted a 120 deg camera high inside the rear window and the results are satisfactory......
The 120 deg field of view allows me to see out the back well into the medium distance and to within about a meter of my towball at ground level.

it also give me a veiw about 3 lanes wide by the time it gets out about 5 meters.

this single camera fills in most of the blind spot caused by the canopy and overlaps considerably with the door mirror coverage.

I have intention of fitting a second camera under the tray and that will cover a low angle and should get me right back to the mudflaps and a clear straight shot over my towball.

the biggest issue is getting cameras and monitors that perform well.

I have access to some different suppliers wholsale so I ordered several different cameras, some where disapointing to say the least.

I settled on a simple camera with a butterfly bracket from altronics because the vision from it was pretty good in daylight and the low light performance was fair.

I was skint for somewhere to mount the monitor so I mounted on the back of the pasenger sunvisor which now remains permantly down.

It worth going for a larger screen, but there lies the biggest issue a screen with quality and durability....and the choice of screens and sizes is quite poor.

there are plenty of GPS units with 5 or 5 1/2 inch screens which would be quite good but the stand alone monitors seem to step from a pissy 4 inch up to an inconvienient 7.

And the cheaper screens simply are not durable, I have had one fail already.

hope this helps.

cheers

Jim, I've got a double pod system with a permanent 700mm storage area immediately behind the cab and then a removable camping pod. I've mounted a rear camera into the rear pod, and a camera to 45 degrees looking out to the passengers side on top of the 1st pod. This is mounted in a swivel arrangement so should I be travelling with the camper off, I can swivel it to the rear to give full vision to the rear. The rear camera connects to the main through a small five pin plug. This plug also provides power etc to the rear pod.

Both cameras feed to the double DIN stereo unit and I can switch between the two views with a simple toggle switch. Saves having an extra screen around the place.


Building the dream off roader

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Jim,
I am about to fit camers to my canopy as well, as mine is pretty high as well as wide. I fitted those small bubble mirrors (rotatable) to the outer corners of my side mirrors. They are not the greatest, and take a bit of getting used to, but they are a major help in city traffic. Those, and the cameras (one fitted at centre rear above towball, and the other fitted near the top rear of the canopy) should take care of all the blind spots. I'll be fitting the monitors under my roof shelf console adjacent to my rear vision mirror (seperately switched, rather than connected to reversing light).
regards,

Jim,
I don't think you will look back after fitting rear mounted cameras.

As an example most underground trucks are fitted with reverse cameras. As the trucks are operated in very tight spaces these cameras are the ants pants to keep the vehicles of the wall and more importantly know what is behind them.

Once you gain faith in he cameras it is very easy to place your vehicle exactly where you want it.

All of our 76 series cruisers and cut down troopies have them fitted as the rock walls are not very forgiving. Again they are great to use and you can backup very quickly with the cameras when confronted by a Bogger or Truck coming at you.

I can't comment on the wireless cameras as ours are all plug in hardwired.

RA.

Hi Jim

I have ABR sourced wired and wireless cameras connected to a dedicated monitor fitted to my overhead console. I also have towbar cabled for connection to the van camera when needed.

The wireless camera is directed on to the treg hitch for van hook up which I find magic. Good for reversing around stumps etc as well. The others are hard wired and quality is good all round. Any camera can be selected at any time from the monitor controls. I like the idea Mick for the side camera and the monitor will accept another wireless input so that's on the list.

With limited space in the ute cab Jim, I recommend an overhead console to get rid of some of the dashboard clutter (see photo).

Regards

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Hi Jim, I have 1x rear and 1x "passenger side rear corner/side camera" as well on my Troopy and would not be without them, especially when you are angle parked.

I also have one one the rear of the caravan mounted up high.

All three can be selected seperately with a 4 position rotary swich, 1=rear, 2=side, 3=rear of caravan.

The side camera on the troopy looks out from the corner at about 45-60 degrees from the rear.