Back up Camera

[kelpie]

Still working on equipping myself to tow a vehicle behind the rig and today met someone who insisted tha back up cameras are essential if towing. Wasn't really planning on getting one so here's my question for you ladies - how many of you with MHs and toads have them? Not really sure why they would be so "essential" since you can't back up anyway.

[Birdie]

I think if you have a window and can see your toad that it should be no problem. However, I don't have a back window. I just had a camera installed and really love it. Not for backing up, but for knowing my car is there and being able to see traffic behind me. It is mounted on the top strip just before the roof. i have made one trip with it and really like being able to see that, yep, the car is still there.

[retiredhappy]

There will be times when you will have a back-in site so a camera would be nice in that instance.

[sharon]

ROFLOL! Kelpie sweetie, the back-up camera isn't for backing up...not really anyway. You try and back up using the camera you'll be every which way but where you want to be! You use it to keep an eye on your toad since you won't be able to see it with your side view mirrors, to glance at when you're passing a car or truck to make sure it's safe to get back in your lane (since you can't see the toad and won't know if it's cleared traffic) and if you're backing into a spot and you know there's an obstacle directly behind you but you can't see it in your side mirrors, lets you know when you're getting close. Notice I used the word GLANCE....that's how you use it, just a glance once in a while. Guess they should be called glance cameras or toad view cameras or something.

[OregonLuvr]

I towed for many years without a back up camera or a window. I did just fine. My MH now has backup and side cameras but I still dont see them as essential just a nice perk.

Karen

[carold]

Our backup camera quit after a short time. It does still show the sides when we turn on the signals to turn left or right. We really liked it because it had a sound connection but that no longer works. We've decided it isn't important enough to fix. Agree with Sharon about how useful it was-not. carold

[Getupngo]

I have a rear-view monitor on my MH, and it is invaluable.

In addition to being able to keep an eye on my toad, I also use it to see (in conjunction with my mirrors) when my toad has cleared traffic while changing lanes. That was a white-knuckler when I had a "C" without one. With one, driving a long rig is a breeze.

[AlmostThere]

My 23 ft MH has the camera in the back and I love it for backing my rig into it's stall where I store it. Lets me know how close I'm getting to the guy behind me. I have yet to use it on the highway/interstate. Never think to do so as it's on the back on the sunvisor so I'd have to drive with it down, which would irk the snot out of me! I'm sure it would be invaluable if I were towing, tho.

[Bethers]

People convinced me I needed one even tho I didn't have a toad. Bought it- hooked it up. Didn't give me any advantages - and I found myself looking at it when I shouldn't be. Returned it for my money. Now, I'm not saying they don't have advantages - but I just didn't need it. If I got a rig and it came with - I'd keep it - if it broke, I'd live without it. It's a perk. Some people won't do without them. Some don't feel the need - it's up to you how you feel.

[Nasoosie]

My rear view camera---a back-up camera, actually----has been the best thing for me alone hitching up, and for backing out of parking lots with no trailer attached. It only works when I put the truck into reverse, and is a small color screen in a corner of my rear-view mirror. It also has a sound beeper for when I get within 3 feet of something and gets more repetitive as I get closer. I can now put my ball into that socket like a pro by myself! My only need to get out is to be sure my tongue is cranked up enough to allow the ball under the socket when I get close.

I also love to know that there is no small kid behind me, or an animal, when I am backing out of a parking space.

Those cameras that allow you to see behind you as you are driving are something I can't imagine, as my TT is so high, a camera like that would have to be on a pole somewhere!

LOVE my backup thing! I no longer dread hitching up alone. I can turn off the noise if I am backing into a camping spot, so it doesn't think I am crashing into something with the truck and trailer already connected. I won't use it for backing into a site, however...it's strictly a monitor for the truck and things around it....not for the trailer.

[BirdbyBird]

I have a smaller rig and no back window to see anything out of. My camera is mounted above the useless rear view mirror ( I had the kind on the back side of the visor and agree that it was a pain and not helpful to have to flip anytime you needed it. I keep it on traveling down the road. It would be uselful IF I had a toad. I have a friend that used theirs to notice that one of the arms connecting their toad had broken and the care was swinging side ways. I bigger rigs you really can't feel what the toad is doing. Because my unit is smaler I can pull into smaller parking lots and do not have to just find pull through spot. That does mean though that I have to back up to get out. The back up camera really helps along with the mirror for me to do that safely. Without the camera there are many parking spots I would not feel comfortable using...and that really is one of the pluses of being smaller...getting to park in those more "regular" spots! The camera is also useful in backing in campground spots. I still jump out and double check angles and distances but have learned how the visual I see on the screen relates along with the side mirrors...to the back of the lot or that table off to one side Some day I will probably have a toad if/when I travel for longer times....I would want to keep an eye on that car behind me

[Pooker]

The back-up camera was one of the first things I bought for Flitter. My son and I looked at the displays in CW and chose the one that was running at the time, had the most features, had large screen, nice, clear picture, etc. I HATE it! The picture is that horrible fisheye type that makes everything look like it's in a semi-circle. It isn't much help backing into sites because like the concave side mirrors, it's a tiny image and hard to determine distance. Just means I'll hit the picnic table as I back up toward it. Having it on while driving is a tad distracting and the cars coming up on you look like they are much farther away than they really are. I see a vehicle behind me as being 2 car lengths back when it's actually right on my tail!

Having said all that, we loved having the cameras in our previous A's because DH could always see the toad and what was going on back there. It didn't have the fisheye lens things weren't teeny tiny.

Pooker

[sharon]

Well there you have it, Kelpie! The must haves, the don't need it's, the love it's, and the hate it's. Are you confused yet???

[Bethers]

Well there you have it, Kelpie! The must haves, the don't need it's, the love it's, and the hate it's. Are you confused yet???

Sounds like just about all aspects of rving.

[snowball]

We have a camera that when we are towing the 5th wheel we use DH loves it because he can see what is behind and know for sure when to get back in front of the person we just passed for him I think it's more security he uses the side mirrors but this helps with the rear mirror that is blocked by the 5th wheel
I'm not sure if he uses it much for backing in as we are lazy and when we can we use pull throughs
sheila