Rear View Camera

[Sproket]

John
Have a look on here for some mounting ideas

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I mounted my camera high up on the rear panel as I wanted to see if our friends who were following were behind cars etc
I used rubber Rawlbolts like the ones for caravan rear lights and sealed the centre hole with silicone
The Swift had damp at the first service but not from the camera fixings
My friend installed his in the number plate aperture by mounting the plate to one side
When I sold my previous ex camera caravans I fitted a plastic GB sticker over the holes and my friend just moved the number plate over the holes
It may be possible to make a bracket to fit to a high level brake light

There is no need to use an expensive curly cable to connect to the car if you buy a good quality phono lead and have the connections inside the car boot by passing the wire clear of the boot catch and in the door aprture where the rubber seal will easily accomodate it

Hope that helps

 

[Gagakev]

Hi Kev
I have gone ahead and bought the system below as you can see its hard wired and has 2 cameras

i just need to find a way of mounting the camera now without making any holes

i was thinking of mounting under the van at the back but am now thinking it could be too low has anyone got any ideas or pictures to show there cameras??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120978020010?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Hi John does the monitor switch to mirror veiw? had a quick look and it doesnt mention it or have I missed it?
Think mounting down low would attract the grim on a wet day so thinking of putting mine on the roof, like the idea of a previous post
of fixing camera to a bit of uPVC facia board and sticking it to the roof, that way no holes to drill, will maybe run the cable in the offside awning channel. good luck with the install.

 

[johnandrew70]

I am thinking of a bracket on the hight level brake light so i just need some L shaped brackets, i was thinking of passing the cables in through the brake light but where do they go inside the rear panel?? powering the camera will be easy as i am going to use side light power as i always tow with the lights on anywa, i just need to find out where i can fish the cables out of the rear panel

any ideas peaple would be appreciated??
How is your plan going Kev??

 

[johnandrew70]

Hi Kev
I have gone ahead and bought the system below as you can see its hard wired and has 2 cameras

i just need to find a way of mounting the camera now without making any holes

i was thinking of mounting under the van at the back but am now thinking it could be too low has anyone got any ideas or pictures to show there cameras??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120978020010?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Hi John does the monitor switch to mirror veiw? had a quick look and it doesnt mention it or have I missed it?
Think mounting down low would attract the grim on a wet day so thinking of putting mine on the roof, like the idea of a previous post
of fixing camera to a bit of uPVC facia board and sticking it to the roof, that way no holes to drill, will maybe run the cable in the offside awning channel. good luck with the install.

Looks like i was typing while you were posting your comment Kev, i like your thinking but how do you keep the cable in the awning rail ?? I want to install it without any visibal cables.
I have to admit i had not noticed if its got mirror function on the monitor lets hope so but to be honest would it be so bad?? if i was reversing yes granted it would be i guess.

 

[Gagakev]

I am thinking of a bracket on the hight level brake light so i just need some L shaped brackets, i was thinking of passing the cables in through the brake light but where do they go inside the rear panel?? powering the camera will be easy as i am going to use side light power as i always tow with the lights on anywa, i just need to find out where i can fish the cables out of the rear panel

any ideas peaple would be appreciated??
How is your plan going Kev??

Gee John you are way ahead of me

I have a little birthday next month and am working on the rest of the family to cough up

nearly there

Think I will power mine using/adapting the grey S plug which will be redundant when I change over to the 13 pin have ordered the plug and socket just waiting for delivery. Hope this will be possible.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I used to power mine from the fridge feed off the grey plug
I now use the camera on site as stated before to show what is behind the caravan via a monitor so its powered via a fuse and switch straight off the caravan battery

 

[johnandrew70]

Has anyone got any idea how I can feed the cable down inside the rear panel of the van? Making a bracket to attach under the brake light using the brake light screws. Then I am going to feed the cable in through the brake light but can't see where to locate the cable inside the panel any ideas?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Am I right that you have a fixed bed at the rear of the caravan?
If so could you drill through the high level brake light aperture int an over bed cupboard ?

 

[johnandrew70]

Am I right that you have a fixed bed at the rear of the caravan?
If so could you drill through the high level brake light aperture int an over bed cupboard ?

I dont think i have big enough B*lls to attempt that

, Its a thought though if all else fails i dont even know how big the hole behind the brake light is yet, knowing my luck its only just big enough for the brake light wires.
i really want to do this properly instead of the wires being on show i think it looks unsightly otherwise,
I know the all the wires for the rear light come up under the bed and then dissapear through a hole in the wall at the back, but its a very small hole.

 

[Gagakev]

Has anyone got any idea how I can feed the cable down inside the rear panel of the van? Making a bracket to attach under the brake light using the brake light screws. Then I am going to feed the cable in through the brake light but can't see where to locate the cable inside the panel any ideas?

John, in short no

But what I know is that with the amount of insulation tightly packed against both the outer skin and inner wall board dont think it would be very easy, you will also have to consider any cross member timbers in situ.
Am also thinking about the future if and when you want to remove it all to change vans.
The more I think about it fixing the camara near to the number plate will enable me to lay the cables in under the fixed bed and out through a vent to the underside of the van, fixed underneath perhaps along the chassis with cable ties?

 

[johnandrew70]

Has anyone got any idea how I can feed the cable down inside the rear panel of the van? Making a bracket to attach under the brake light using the brake light screws. Then I am going to feed the cable in through the brake light but can't see where to locate the cable inside the panel any ideas?

John, in short no

But what I know is that with the amount of insulation tightly packed against both the outer skin and inner wall board dont think it would be very easy, you will also have to consider any cross member timbers in situ.
Am also thinking about the future if and when you want to remove it all to change vans.
The more I think about it fixing the camara near to the number plate will enable me to lay the cables in under the fixed bed and out through a vent to the underside of the van, fixed underneath perhaps along the chassis with cable ties?

trying to feed the cables throught into the van and under the bed will be just as hard a job as mine, were you thinking of drilling a hole through the panel near the number plate??
i dont feel confidant enough to do that, thats why i was going to feed the wired in throught where the brake light is, A friend of mine at work is going to fabricate the bracket for the camera out of plastic as a metal bracket will eventully rust/corrode and stain the rear panel so plastic is the preffered choice here.
I was going to Stikaflex the camera to the van but if i ever wanted to remove it i would be left with a mess where the stikaflex was.

John

 

[Gagakev]

trying to feed the cables throught into the van and under the bed will be just as hard a job as mine, were you thinking of drilling a hole through the panel near the number plate??
i dont feel confidant enough to do that, thats why i was going to feed the wired in throught where the brake light is, A friend of mine at work is going to fabricate the bracket for the camera out of plastic as a metal bracket will eventully rust/corrode and stain the rear panel so plastic is the preffered choice here.
I was going to Stikaflex the camera to the van but if i ever wanted to remove it i would be left with a mess where the stikaflex was.

John

Just been out under the van and found there are no vents to come out of

If I were to take that route I would have to drill a hole in the floor and by the number plate

Not sure I want to go that far.
So back to the drawing board, either back on the roof and use awning channel or fixed lower down and just run the cable under the van, oh decisions decisions.
sikaflex should clean off with white spirit and meths.

 

[Sproket]

If you are going to run the cable on the chassis you can use some of these to secure it in place

 

[johnandrew70]

Why did you have to post this on here Kev

, i am now thinking if my original plan of fixing under the van but would it be too low????
The roof is a no no for me as the cable on show would drive me nuts even if it is in the awning channel. also my cable is black

 

[johnandrew70]

found this on youtube,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFZil9HhVKE

 

[WatsonJohnG]

If you do drill through from the number plate light to under the bed you could run the wires to a vent or alongside heater pipes etc at any point under the bed

 

[johnandrew70]

I dont think you could get the angle on the drill to drill through the rear wall of the van from the number plate light, that is the same for the high level brake light unless, i dont want to drill the outer panel, thats just asking for water ingress problems.
i am still thinking of under the van just under the number plate with strong industrial double sided tape that we have at work.
at least i can see what its like there and if its no good i havent made any holes in the van and i can re-think things,My mate at work is still going to make a bracket for the brake light so if all else fails i will drill a hole through behind the brake light straight through the rear wall of the van then seal it with mastic or something,hopefully the kit will be here today fingers crossed

John

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I think that if you drill through from the high level brake light you are less likely to have a leak so long as the seal round the braksplate light is adequately sealed with silicone
On our Ace Award Nightstar I fitted a surface mounted high level brake light and suspended a bullet type camera in a holder below it

 

[Parksy]

I thought about fitting a rear view camera to our caravan, I might get around to it one day.
Personally I'd fit the camera to the rear of the roof just where the downward curve begins and I'd fix the bracket using something like white Sikaflex 512 with the cable going back across the roof to an entry point above a run of overhead lockers or perhaps the wardrobe which would hide the cable and take it to the front of the caravan where it would exit via the gas locker. The roof entry hole would need to be carefully drilled and expanded with a small hole cutter for a rubber cable grommet and a cable gland housing like this one.
When the cable is in place through the grommet and entry gland the Sikaflex can be used to fill the area around the grommet and the gland housing for a good leak-proof seal and to fix the housing. I can understand the reluctance to drill through the roof, great care must be taken to find the lighting cable runs inside the caravan and to work out a suitable cable run for the camera cable which would hide the cable completely.
I did a similar thing with my roof mounted solar panel cable, just explore everything that can go wrong, work out the best cable route, take a deep breath and away you go with the drill

 

[johnandrew70]

I thought about fitting a rear view camera to our caravan, I might get around to it one day.
Personally I'd fit the camera to the rear of the roof just where the downward curve begins and I'd fix the bracket using something like white Sikaflex 512 with the cable going back across the roof to an entry point above a run of overhead lockers or perhaps the wardrobe which would hide the cable and take it to the front of the caravan where it would exit via the gas locker. The roof entry hole would need to be carefully drilled and expanded with a small hole cutter for a rubber cable grommet and a cable gland housing like this one.
When the cable is in place through the grommet and entry gland the Sikaflex can be used to fill the area around the grommet and the gland housing for a good leak-proof seal and to fix the housing. I can understand the reluctance to drill through the roof, great care must be taken to find the lighting cable runs inside the caravan and to work out a suitable cable run for the camera cable which would hide the cable completely.
I did a similar thing with my roof mounted solar panel cable, just explore everything that can go wrong, work out the best cable route, take a deep breath and away you go with the drill

take a deep breath haha you forgot to say close your eyes haha
i am probably going to cut a small hole behind the brake light I did think of cutting the hole in the back wall then get a coat hanger and try to thread the wire through the hole and try to grab it where the brake light wires come through which would mean not having to drill holes in outer panel.

 

[Parksy]

Had you considered asking a caravan workshop to feed the cable through the brake light aperture John?
That way you could do the rest of the fitting but without the hassle.

 

[johnandrew70]

Had you considered asking a caravan workshop to feed the cable through the brake light aperture John?
That way you could do the rest of the fitting but without the hassle.

Sounds like a plan Parksy only trouble is its probably more hassle having to take the time off work take the van to them and then bring the van back

than it is to take a drill with a hole cutter and try to do it myself, probably cheaper too, i i wonder how long it will be before the caravans come pre wired for the rear view camera option.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Had you considered asking a caravan workshop to feed the cable through the brake light aperture John?
That way you could do the rest of the fitting but without the hassle.

Sounds like a plan Parksy only trouble is its probably more hassle having to take the time off work take the van to them and thenbring the van back

than it is to take a drill with a hole cutter and try to do it myself, probably cheaper too, i i wonder how long it will be before the caravans come pre wired for the rear view camera option.

Could be an Eterniti

http://www.eterniti-caravans.com/index.html

 

[Gagakev]

Why did you have to post this on here Kev

, i am now thinking if my original plan of fixing under the van but would it be too low????
The roof is a no no for me as the cable on show would drive me nuts even if it is in the awning channel. also my cable is black

So you do all the hard work, tell me how its done, and I just copy

Think I will go with the lower down position as I am assuming I can angle the camara slighty upwards, after all all I want to see is what is behind me, Sprockets link to the chassis clips looks good.