Vehicles

rv - Wired backup and side view cameras, new LED front and rear marker lights

The GMC motorhome has a lot of windows. Despite that, it is still a 26' long vehicle that benefits from a rear camera. I briefly tried a wireless rear camera and it looked like crap. Since I was replacing the ceiling anyways, it was the right time to run a wired camera.

And why stop with just one backup camera. I opted to install a second camera viewing the side of the RV so I could line up to a dump station or electrical box.

Doing this job isn't hard. Its just running a bunch of wires. But the benefit is huge. I am extremely happy with the quality of my rear camera. It looks much better than most OEM backup cameras I have seen. I only bought a single backup camera initially so that I could try it out, confirm it worked well, then I would buy a second camera of that same model for the side view.

Only a month after I bought that first rear view camera that I like so much, Amazon stopped selling it. So I went to Walmart and got whatever water proof camera they had on the shelf. It is good, not great, but it does the job.

Having these cameras has been a real pleasure. On the rear camera, the view is from the trailer hitch to the horizon. I can litterally backup to a trailer perfectly ever time, and still use the camera to see the full extents of the trailer I am towing. The vantage point is perfect.

Besides the custom metal cup holders I made, this is one of my favorite upgrades to the RV. And of course it all comes together thanks to my Boss Android Auto head unit that actually has two camera inputs, rear and front. I can mentally rememter that front actually means rear side.

Pictures

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Yellow RCAs provide video to the head unit, while the yellow wires let the head unit power the cams
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A 50' wire was long enought to keep some slack up front and in the back
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Ran the camera wires up into the ceiling wire channel
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In the rear, I kept the excess length wire coiled up behind the closet wall
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time to remove the rear cap so I can finish running the wire
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The middle marker light stopped working
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the assembly simply rusted apart and my copper wire fix stopped working
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I was going to replace the marker light with the camera but the view was wrong
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I ended up drilling some holes for the camera much closer to the rear windowoof
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The wire runs under the camera bracket and back inside
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The picture and viewing angle is superb. I couldn't ask for better
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Clearly the modern LED unit is newer looking, but not too jarring
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I had to switch the wires. I can't remember if this was taken before or after
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Used a different camera for the side view. This was available at Walmart. I prefer the other one mor
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I planned on mounting the side view camera under this marker light. The view was wrong
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This spot provides a better view. But you still see too much of the roof and not down the side
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I need the camera to sit up and out more
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Made a custom aluminum bracket extension
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Not pretty, but it works
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Perfect vantage point. Helps line up to electrical and to sewer drain
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The Natika WS-779 camera is what I used for the rear view. The camera looks great.
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I only bought one of this off brand camera. Once I hooked it up, I immediately went to buy a second
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But its no longer sold on Amazon. Go figure.
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