Rear View

[Val & Frank]

Hi All,

If I have read previous posts correctly, John Watson has fitted a rear view camera onto his van ???. I also read that someone had put a clear window in the rear bedroom, so they had a straight through view of traffic behind ??. I drive a fairly large car/estate and tow an 8m van. I fitted extension mirrors onto the Toyota and I am alarmed at how far they stick out.

Now it costs around £600 for a new mirror for the car should someone hit it, or should I hit someone. Does anyone have any idea of the cost of A The Camera System ( fitted )or B adding a Clear Window to the rear of the Van.

Both jobs I would have done by Professionals if I can find them !!. Next question would it still be legal to drive without extension mirrors if I carried out either A or B options.

Finally would fitting a window in the rear panel affect the rigid body shell of the van???

Thanks

Frank

 

[Robtel]

Frank,

I think that no matter if you have a camera or rear window in the caravan mirrors which give you a clear view down either side of the caravan are still required.

I have no experience of a rear view camera but did at one time have a van with rear window. I was driving an estate car at that time and was not able to have a good view through the van. Probably if I had been driving a 4x4 and sitting higher up off the road I would have had a better view. Even at that I think the view would still have been limited and mirrors still required.

Robert

 

[emmerson2]

Frank, whatever you do, you still have to have a view down both sides of the van by law. On my classic Range Rover I can almost manage without extensions, and talking to a local Traffic Examiner, he said that my rear view is adequate in law. I do use extesions, however, but they only stick out the width of the mirror again, if you see what I mean.I'd suggest you try a different mirror.

 

[Angela_5076436]

I have a thought running round my head that says that you are required legally to have mirror/s that give rearward vision.

This does not rule out the interior mirror BUT I'm certain my husband has said that we have to have external mirrors as well.

There's something about having a clear field of vision to the rear and you are never likely to get that with an interior mirror and a rear window - heights won't match up properly and you will have a blind spot immediately behind the van and under the height of its rear window.

Sorry - it's bite the bullet time

 

[ThePlotter]

Many years ago most vans had rear windows and a degree of through vision but mainly if in 4x4.I had a retrovisor which was a periscope that fastened to the car roof so that you could see through the van .I still have it ,probably a collectors item now!

 

[JeremyClarksson]

We have a view through our van from our Seat Alhambra and although you can see high vehicles I would say the threshold would be somewhere between the height of a 4x4 and standard transit van.

I tend to use it to judge how close lorries and coaches are getting and nothing more.

I think you have to use extension mirrors if your car mirrors do not extend beyond the width of the caravan and rear view cameras would not change this so you still have to use them if required.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The camera systems vary in price depending on who is selling them

I got mine off Ebay from Hong Kong and the cost of camera and 7in Tv was about

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The camera systems vary in price depending on who is selling them

I got mine off Ebay from Hong Kong and the cost of camera and 7in Tv was about

 

[Val & Frank]

Frank, whatever you do, you still have to have a view down both sides of the van by law.

I believe that I do have the view down both sides of the Van. The mirrors on the LC seem to be huge when looking at other cars etc.I was kooking for an improved view without using the extensions. John I will look up the camera and monitor thanks for the link

Val & Frank