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Last Changed 2/11/2007
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One thing we became used to with the motorhome Training
Wheels was a rear view camera system. The system
eliminated the blind area immediately behind the coach. The
Pace Arrow had a wide view system and was extremely
useful when passing a vehicle. The rear view system gave a definite
view that we were ahead of the vehicle we were passing before we cut
back.
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There will be two monitors eventually. We used a piece of 1/4"
Lexan as the base of the monitor mount. We fabricated a pair of
brackets from bar steel. The sun shield was cut from a plastic
report folder. |
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The location of the monitors really do not interfere with the
forward view anymore that if we installed a bug deflector on the
hood. |
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A view from outside in. |
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This is the DAOC Color Waterproof CCD IR Camera. We will use the
monitor reverse video to allow rearview usage. We found this camera
in KAWAMALL on eBay.
The IR means that the camera has infrared capability to see at
night. The camera captures available light for an image. One of
the largest sources for this light is the taillights. |
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The camera lens angle is 120ยบ for a wide angle view to the rear. It
also has a .33" CCD receptor for greater resolution. We used the
same style camera on the back of the trailer. |
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We mounted the truck rearview camera on the headache rack cabinet.
Because of the wide-angle view of the camera, we get a good view of
the hitch plate for hitching up the trailer. |
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It is hard to take a photo of the image on the LCD monitor. We will
try some more. |
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You will note the trailer hitch near the bottom of the monitor. |
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We plan on having two cameras. One is located on the headache rack
cabinet mounted behind the cab of Red Rover.
The other camera will be on the back of the trailer. The selected
monitor has two video inputs to accommodate these cameras.
One feature of the Pace Arrow's rear view
system was a set of decals that were mounted on the screen of the
monitor. One decal was calibrated in feet and the other in yards.
They formed a inverted "V". When viewing the rear view monitor, the
decals' "V" lined up with the roadway. The accuracy of the
calibration was very good. We could back up to a post where the
decal indicated we were 3' from the post and we actually were. We
are not quite sure how we will be able to replicate this. We guess
a sheet of clear covering for the LCD monitor and a set of lines
created with a Sharpie may do the job. |
Changes - a Hitch Camera |
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We found a problem with hitching up. The hitch plate is black, the
bed in black, the hitch well is black and the trailer pin is black.
With everything black, it was hard to see things unless the light
was just right. We added another camera just ahead and above the
hitch. |
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We used a plastic conduit body for making corners. We cut off the
collar on the bottom of the body. We used a plastic plate to fill
the bottom hole and to hold the camera. |
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The camera fits inside the end collar which acts as a sun shield.
The two filler pieces were glued in with 3M 5200 adhesive/caulk. |
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A piece of aluminum bar stock was shaped as the stand. The body and
stand was sprayed with bed liner. |
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This camera was feed into one of the video inputs of the monitor
normally used for the computer. Since this camera is only used
during hitch-up, that was not a problem. |
Possible Futures |
Red Rover has powered mirrors and forward
mounted wide view mirrors. Time will tell if more right side vision
is necessary. Experience with Training Wheels
proved that we could not run with the shades drawn on the window
behind the passenger. Pulling out from angular streets just was not
handled by the mirrors.
If the need for more right vision is necessary, then we will mount
another camera on the right mirror mount. We will r un this camera
direct to the monitor. We will then add a monitor switch between the
camera on the back of
Red Rover and the camera on the back of
the trailer. Only one of these is needed at a time. |
