rear view camera fitted to the bike rack

[mentaliss]

as above anyone done this yet......so you un-hitched the caravan but you want to takes your bikes out to the countryside away from the camp site but you cant see via the rear view mirror because the view is blocked by the bikes........

 

[ProfJohnL]

Please read this guidance note on teh Governments website concerning rear view mirrors, it may help to clarify the need for a rear view mirror.

But also do bear in mind tow important caveats to this advice.

The first is we should be morally required to try and make our driving vehicles as safe as possible an that means having as much information available to teh driver about whats going on around them.

And secondly the second paragraph of the web page makes it clear the page is a summary and may not carry the exact point accurately.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/408211/Information_Sheet_Mirrors.pdf
From my own thoughts though, there are plenty of legal situations where the use of a rear view mirror through teh rear window is not possible, so you can rely on teh vehicles wing/door mirrors.

And if you were to try to replace a rear view mirror with a camera system is it legal to use it as there are regulations concerning the use of screens whilst a vehicle is in motion.

 

[otherclive]

Please read this guidance note on teh Governments website concerning rear view mirrors, it may help to clarify the need for a rear view mirror.

But also do bear in mind tow important caveats to this advice.

The first is we should be morally required to try and make our driving vehicles as safe as possible an that means having as much information available to teh driver about whats going on around them.

And secondly the second paragraph of the web page makes it clear the page is a summary and may not carry the exact point accurately.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/408211/Information_Sheet_Mirrors.pdf
From my own thoughts though, there are plenty of legal situations where the use of a rear view mirror through teh rear window is not possible, so you can rely on teh vehicles wing/door mirrors.

And if you were to try to replace a rear view mirror with a camera system is it legal to use it as there are regulations concerning the use of screens whilst a vehicle is in motion.

The big aluminium box hitched to my towball doesn’t do much for my rear view, and extension mirrors only partly compensate.

 

[mentaliss]

thanks for your input, I suppose this would be the same issue then for the hundreds of motorhomer's who use reversing camera's/rear view because there is no rear view via interior mirrors in the majority of Motorhomes... after owning three motorhomes I always fitted reversing/camera/rear view type system's, even the police inspections at Dover, Portsmouth, Newhaven Port authorities have never questioned the use of such equipment
Im sorry but what point are you making here?

 

[ProfJohnL]

thanks for your input, I suppose this would be the same issue then for the hundreds of motorhomer's who use reversing camera's/rear view because there is no rear view via interior mirrors in the majority of Motorhomes... after owning three motorhomes I always fitted reversing/camera/rear view type system's, even the police inspections at Dover, Portsmouth, Newhaven Port authorities have never questioned the use of such equipment
Im sorry but what point are you making here?

You should read and consider the following
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/109/made

 

[otherclive]

thanks for your input, I suppose this would be the same issue then for the hundreds of motorhomer's who use reversing camera's/rear view because there is no rear view via interior mirrors in the majority of Motorhomes... after owning three motorhomes I always fitted reversing/camera/rear view type system's, even the police inspections at Dover, Portsmouth, Newhaven Port authorities have never questioned the use of such equipment
Im sorry but what point are you making here?

I’m puzzled as to why you mention police at the port authorities. Why should they be concerned if you or anyone has fitted a reversing camera? I don’t think port staff would have any views on their use. Police would be concerned if your vehicle didn’t conform to the type approval and Construction and Use Regulations. But unless a after market camera affected the vehicles original specification such that it was a risk to other the police wouldn’t really be that interested. The police are there more for important tasks as seeking criminal or other illegal activities.

 

[xtrailman]

as above anyone done this yet......so you un-hitched the caravan but you want to takes your bikes out to the countryside away from the camp site but you cant see via the rear view mirror because the view is blocked by the bikes........

I assume you mean on the tow car?

I have a rear view camera on my caravan roof, which i view via a clip on monitor, the monitor has two video inputs, i only use one so you could use the other for a second camera attached to the bikes via a wired system.

The video and power is housed in a very small cable so could just go though the door seal, failing that fit an extra socket to connect too on the car.

 

[Hutch]

My camera on the caravan is the same sort of setup as Xtrailman, hard wired via a connector to the car, I have it powered all the time to see whats behind me. I could fit a small camera like Parksy suggested to my trailer plate, so I could see whats behind when having , on the very remote time i fit the bike carrier.
Are the Police really that worried about you viewing a rear camera monitor, what they don't want you doing is watching videos on them. Whilst driving.

 

[mentaliss]

Im sorry but I think the wires are a bit crossed here...Im not the bad guy here, My topic was and still is about fitting a narrow view camera possibly to the bike rack of the car so the obstructed interior mirror view is compensated with a camera monitor SO has anyone done this or not?

 

[Hutch]

Im sorry but I think the wires are a bit crossed here...Im not the bad guy here, My topic was and still is about fitting a narrow view camera possibly to the bike rack of the car so the obstructed interior mirror view is compensated with a camera monitor SO has anyone done this or not?

Mentaliss, sorry it went slightly off topic, but Parksys suggestion of the numberplate mounted camera is the best idea, as if you mount a bike rack then it will most probably obscure your number plate and maybe your lights so a numberplate and lights board would be needed.
Also sorry No I have not done this.
Hutch.

 

[mentaliss]

thanks Hutch, my bike rack is similar to the Thule type a Cykell (Whisper) folds , lights, number plate, no need for a board so I figure to put a bullet type camera hidden within the number plate

 

[xtrailman]

Or you could perhaps fit a camera above the number plate on the lip where the plate lights are fitted, my reversing camera lives there.

 

[Anseo]

Adapt something like this using a crossbar or handlebar mount for the rear view camera, or find a location on or in the rear windscreen area to mount the rear view camera.

www.eBay.co.uk/itm/HD-1080P-Dual-Lens-Dash-Cam-In-Car-Rearview-Mirror-Camera-DVR-Video-Recorder-New-/112080514945

 

[Craigyoung]

thanks Hutch, my bike rack is similar to the Thule type folds , lights, number plate, no need for a board on

Ours is the same folded , but even when it's unfolded with two bikes on it , is nowhere near obscuring the lights or the reg plate .

 

[mentaliss]

was going to download some pictures from my firefox pictures but cant find tutorial advice how to get past this over complicated software?

 

[Icaru5]

was going to download some pictures from my firefox pictures but cant find tutorial advice how to get past this over complicated software?

???

 

[mentaliss]

thanks for your thoughts, never fitted a camera to the No plate fixing before my concern is that the display view might be too low, ie: to much road not enough distance?

 

[colin-yorkshire]

Im sorry but I think the wires are a bit crossed here...Im not the bad guy here, My topic was and still is about fitting a narrow view camera possibly to the bike rack of the car so the obstructed interior mirror view is compensated with a camera monitor SO has anyone done this or not?

yes is the answer. the monitor I use is one of those integrated mirror ones. like others have said the camera sited on the back of the van replaces the view lost by towing a van.
the second channel or vid 2 is powered by a camera high up on the rear screen a switch turns on or off vid 1 or vid 2 [or both] I don't carry bikes but tow a small trailer [or motorcycle] that cannot be seen in the mirror it gives a clear view of the trailer and what's behind it when switched on.

 

[Dustydog]

The prof set the scene with his link.
It is clearly not mandatory to have an internal mirror to view what’s behind you. Hence the “vagueness” of para 2. However and very logically, external no and os mirrors are essential. An internal mirror or camera does not show you what is overtaking etc.
It’s a long time since I had a caravan with see through the rear! Even solo with bikes your external mirrors are all that matters imo.

 

[xtrailman]

The prof set the scene with his link.
It is clearly not mandatory to have an internal mirror to view what’s behind you. Hence the “vagueness” of para 2. However and very logically, external no and os mirrors are essential. An internal mirror or camera does not show you what is overtaking etc.
It’s a long time since I had a caravan with see through the rear! Even solo with bikes your external mirrors are all that matters imo.

So you don't mind the blind spot behind you.?

 

[Dustydog]

The prof set the scene with his link.
It is clearly not mandatory to have an internal mirror to view what’s behind you. Hence the “vagueness” of para 2. However and very logically, external no and os mirrors are essential. An internal mirror or camera does not show you what is overtaking etc.
It’s a long time since I had a caravan with see through the rear! Even solo with bikes your external mirrors are all that matters imo.

So you don't mind the blind spot behind you.?

What blind spot? Yes I know what you mean . Hence the numerous signs on HGVs etc. If you can’t see my mirrors I can’t see you.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

ever tried reversing a trailer that you could not see in the rear view mirror or the side mirrors. virtually impossible. now with my set up. simple.

 

[Parksy]

Im sorry but I think the wires are a bit crossed here...Im not the bad guy here, My topic was and still is about fitting a narrow view camera possibly to the bike rack of the car so the obstructed interior mirror view is compensated with a camera monitor SO has anyone done this or not?

Yes, I have!
Any reasonably competent D-I-Y er would easily be able to fit the number plate mounted camera that I described. My towing vehicle is a Kia Sorento Mk 2 with a high tailgate, my other half is not very tall and hard to see from my driving seat, so the reversing camera is fantastic when it comes to hitching up, the hitch is straight on the towball first time every time.
I have a monitor which clips to the original rear view mirror and which itself acts as a rear view mirror (similar to this) when the car is not in reverse.
I also have a wireless camera and transmitter and receiver ready to fit to my car and caravan, but I haven't had chance to connect it up yet because my caravan is in storage. The caravan is a twin axle model with an end washroom so there's no straight through view, and although I have a set of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors it will be nice to see whats going on directly behind when I'm towing and reversing on to pitches.
As for the Construction and Use regulation that the Prof linked to, it clearly states that the use of television receivers are prohibited unless it to be used : '(c) to assist the driver to see the road adjacent to the vehicle;'
The road immediately behing the vehicle, be it car, caravan or motorhome, is 'adjacent' to that vehicle so I don't see any issue there.

 

[Craigyoung]

We have reversing cameras on the back of the Buses, I can quite confidently reverse the bus up to within a few inches off something if I need to reverse so they would be handy if you are travelling alone and have them on the back of your bike rack on number plate, but in my case if I'm going in reverse I'll get the wife to get out and spot me .

 

[Anseo]

Parksy,

You said you have a wireless camera and transmitter and receiver ready to fit to your car and caravan.

Any chance of a link to that and your number plate camera please.

Thanks.