Best value back-up camera?

bitternut · Mar 10, 2012

I have a 2009 Silverado 2500HD extended cab truck that I recently added a camper shell. The windows are tinted which prevents me from seeing directly behind me in the interior rear-view mirror, especially at night. Of course the side mirrors are of no use viewing directly behind the truck. I think maybe I would like to get a camera but undecided on which type. First of all how well do they work, are the wireless any good, are heated necessary in the northeast and is there a best camera on the market that stands out from the others?

Thanks in advance for sharing any knowledge or experiences you may have.

yooper1 · Mar 10, 2012

Here is a long thread that has a lot of information

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ra-hook-up-trailer.html?highlight=back+camera

moship · Mar 10, 2012

I don't know about being the "best", but I installed a PEAK brand backup camera on my Mom's Commander. This particular model was the one with the display in the mirror. The mirror (w/video) is mounted to the front of the stock mirror and doesn't look too bad. It's wireless, but there are wires to hook-up (power and to backup lights). Peak sells a wire extension for pickups, so the transmitter can be placed inside the cab.

My parents were very impressed with the video quality and meets their needs... Don't get me wrong it is not HD quality, but better than what they expected. It also displays the reference backup lines if desired. For reference it was purchased at Advance Auto around Christmas time for $100.

Back-Up Systems

newbury · Mar 10, 2012

bitternut said:
I have a 2009 Silverado 2500HD extended cab truck that I recently added a camper shell. The windows are tinted which prevents me from seeing directly behind me in the interior rear-view mirror, especially at night. Of course the side mirrors are of no use viewing directly behind the truck. I think maybe I would like to get a camera but undecided on which type. First of all how well do they work, are the wireless any good, are heated necessary in the northeast and is there a best camera on the market that stands out from the others?

Thanks in advance for sharing any knowledge or experiences you may have.

What are your priorities?
Hooking up to a tow hitch? Got to see the ball
Wide angle view at bumper height? Don't hit that car
Ease of use? built in 24/7 or on the dash?
Large/small screen?
Wired/wireless? Mine I can put at the back of my truck, front of my truck, move between vehicles, etc.

flusher · Mar 11, 2012

bitternut said:
I have a 2009 Silverado 2500HD extended cab truck that I recently added a camper shell. The windows are tinted which prevents me from seeing directly behind me in the interior rear-view mirror, especially at night. Of course the side mirrors are of no use viewing directly behind the truck. I think maybe I would like to get a camera but undecided on which type. First of all how well do they work, are the wireless any good, are heated necessary in the northeast and is there a best camera on the market that stands out from the others?

Thanks in advance for sharing any knowledge or experiences you may have.

I have the same problem with my 2004 Isuzu NPR/EFI stakebed. There's no interior rear view mirror because the headache rack blocks the view. Only have the outside rear view mirrors. I need the camera for backing up and also for watching the blind spot in the rear while driving down the road.

I'm looking at this one now

Rear View Safety | Product | Backup Camera System | RVS-770613

It's a little pricey, but it has IR night vision capability in addition to daylight capability. The quest continues.

RollingsFarms · Mar 12, 2012

My truck came from the factory with a rear view camera. It was worth every single extra $$$ I spent when I purchased. This is one of the best things and most useful they have ever put on a truck in the last 10 years. I will tell you that dust does effect the camera and you have to keep it clean. Also when it rains it's pretty useless because d the water drops( like looking through your glasses when they get wet). Another thing is it takes time to trust it. You're so trained from looking at objects in the mirror and you know you aren't as close as the mirror makes it appear. With the camera you are as close or as far away as it looks on the screen. It's 100% dead on the money accurate. This is worth spending as much $$$ as you can on it because it will up the resale value of your truck unlike most aftermarket add on's. People want these. They steal tailgates to get em so keep it locked at all times!

Diamondpilot · Mar 12, 2012

My Titan came with a camera. No dust issues but snow can get on it. Its gift IR for night and works great. I agree, one if the best features in these new trucks.

Chris

RollingsFarms · Mar 12, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
My Titan came with a camera. No dust issues but snow can get on it. Its gift IR for night and works great. I agree, one if the best features in these new trucks.

Chris

I don't have a problem with dust getting IN the camera, it's sealed pretty well. The problem is dust collecting on the camera lens. It seems like the smallest spec is magnified. I usually keep a cloth to wipe my glasses off with and just use this to wipe off the camera lens sometimes. I had forgot about the IR at night. I hadn't thought about that prior to buying my truck but the first time I used it at night I was impressed.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to aftermarket add-ons for my truck. Unless I see usefulness in it, I won't bother. This is deffinately worth purchasing though.

Diamondpilot · Mar 12, 2012

RollingsFarms said:
I don't have a problem with dust getting IN the camera, it's sealed pretty well. The problem is dust collecting on the camera lens. It seems like the smallest spec is magnified. I usually keep a cloth to wipe my glasses off with and just use this to wipe off the camera lens sometimes. I had forgot about the IR at night. I hadn't thought about that prior to buying my truck but the first time I used it at night I was impressed.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to aftermarket add-ons for my truck. Unless I see usefulness in it, I won't bother. This is deffinately worth purchasing though.

I do not get dust on my or in my camera on my Titan. I guess its just the design where its mounted. Mine is between the bumper and the hitch tucked away pretty good. Best part of mine is it uses the Nav screen which is about 8" compared to my dads F-150 that has a small screen in the rear view mirror. Its pretty good but not nearly as easy to see as mine.

My dads new F-150 has one also but its mounted up high in the tailgate.

Chris

RollingsFarms · Mar 12, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
I do not get dust on my or in my camera on my Titan. I guess its just the design where its mounted. Mine is between the bumper and the hitch tucked away pretty good. Best part of mine is it uses the Nav screen which is about 8" compared to my dads F-150 that has a small screen in the rear view mirror. Its pretty good but not nearly as easy to see as mine.

My dads new F-150 has one also but its mounted up high in the tailgate.

Chris

yeah I prefer your set-up, mine is like your dad's. My friend has a 2011 F-150 and he has the Nav screen like you and has the red, yellow, and green lines to help guide you. I wish my GMC had those. Mine is mounted on the tailgate handle at a downward angle so dust easily collects on the lens from traveling a dirt road frequently.

Diamondpilot · Mar 12, 2012

Mine has the lines also with feet marks.

No dirt roads around here just dirt when I get in the fields.

Chris

Diamondpilot · Mar 12, 2012

Here is a pic during normal driving.

Here is a pic backing up. This is with the tail gate down and 25 sheets of osb in the bed. Another thing I like over the Ford my dad has. With his and the tailgate down its useless.

Chris

tlbuser · Mar 12, 2012

flusher said:
I have the same problem with my 2004 Isuzu NPR/EFI stakebed. There's no interior rear view mirror because the headache rack blocks the view. Only have the outside rear view mirrors. I need the camera for backing up and also for watching the blind spot in the rear while driving down the road.

I'm looking at this one now

Rear View Safety | Product | Backup Camera System | RVS-770613

It's a little pricey, but it has IR night vision capability in addition to daylight capability. The quest continues.

This place has a bunch of choices GPS Backup Camera, Wireless Backup Camera RV truck, Pan & Tilt handheld monitor, Pan & Tilt IP Network Camera, Dancing Daisy baby monitor, usb wireless video camera I got the wireless inspection camera from them. No issues and quick shipping.

BigE_ · Mar 12, 2012

I'm looking at
car wireless camera - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

(That's dealextreme.com, with a search for car wireless camera)

If you happen to have your own monitor already, then one of their wireless options for under $30 looks to be a good deal. I happen to have an old PAL based 7" portable TV, so I may just go that route.

The only downside is that it does look like their transmitters need to be kept out of the weather. Hmmm. Maybe some 1" pipe with some silicone glue to keep out the elements...

flusher · Mar 13, 2012

tlbuser said:
This place has a bunch of choices GPS Backup Camera, Wireless Backup Camera RV truck, Pan & Tilt handheld monitor, Pan & Tilt IP Network Camera, Dancing Daisy baby monitor, usb wireless video camera I got the wireless inspection camera from them. No issues and quick shipping.

Thanks. I'll check these out.

bitternut · Mar 14, 2012

Wow, there sure are lots of cameras out there. I was considering getting a gm oem type that replaced the rear view mirror but as Chris pointed out with the camera in the tailgate latch the gate has to be up to function. I guess maybe the best place is one of the type that locates the camera in the mounting of the license plate. Seems as though that location will stay clean the longest. The camera lens staying clean would be an issue for me since my woods is located in an area with mostly dirt roads and I live in a rural farming area. Lots of muddy roads and dripping honey wagons. The towns around here use a lot of salt in the winter also. Guess my choice will be one of the wireless models located in the license plate area. Now I just have to pick one. Also I think it might be a good idea to power it full time with a manual switch instead of using the backup lights as a power source...........right. Thanks to all for sharing.

cmyoung2 · Mar 14, 2012

I got mine 3+ years ago, camera mounts on plate, does get dirty/wet, but not bad. Have a 7" monitor mounted on the sun visor, just flip it down to see. My transmitter-wireless, is tied to the reverse light and mounted behind the tail light.I did run a 12 volt line to the sunvisor to power the unit instead of using the lighter plug. I use mine for seeing behind me, but the primary use is trailer hookup. It's really funny to be hooking up with people around, someone will always be directing, and you back up perfect-then they realize you were not paying them any attention:laughing:. The only issue I have with mine is it picks up the feed from security cameras, but with the sunvisor turned up, all I see is the blue glow.. I would like to get another one and put in the bed toolbox to hook up goosenecks. Would not be without it

Ken45101 · Mar 14, 2012

cmyoung2 said:
I would like to get another one and put in the bed toolbox to hook up goosenecks. Would not be without it

For hitching up the gooseneck, I have a rubber bungee that I stretch across the bed rails with a piece of string in the middle. I set it a couple of inches in front of the ball and backup until the gooseneck hits the string. If I have it set right, it works perfectly and it's cheap enough :laughing:

Ken

TBarD · Mar 14, 2012

I just went through this and ended up getting a license plate camera and adapting it for use with my tractor camera monitor (had to make a custom cable adapter). The nice thing is that the monitor can be moved about and used for many things. Also multiple cameras can be plugged in, e.g., if a camera is needed for a special purpose such as monitoring or backing a trailer.

Licence plate camera (a bit spendy but good quality):

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051XB2NK/ref=oh_o01_s01_i00_details]Amazon.com: BOYO VTL375HD HD Rear View Camera: Car Electronics[/ame]

Tractor camera:

OverView Rear view camera monitoring system | Affordable price backup camera

BigE_ · Mar 14, 2012

I just purchased this one:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Koolertron-License-Plate-Backup-Camera/dp/B0049LBJ56/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b]Amazon.com: Koolertron Rear View License Plate Backup CMOS Camera: Car Electronics[/ame]

For $15, it was worth a gamble. I also purchased a 4.3" screen for another $32. If this works out, I'll buy three more cameras, and then just move the screen between vehicles as needed. Need one on the motorhome, one on the truck, and one on the Blazer. The last one would go on the back of the 26' enclosed trailer, if I decide the quality is good enough. Might go with a better camera on the back of the trailer.