I have seen the side cameras that mount on the coach and have heard about a replacement lenses for the mirrors. Has anyone used the mirror camera? I am leaning on getting a system to eliminate the blind spot. My silverleaf has a plug on the back so that when the turn signal is activated the screeen automatically goes to that side camera. I like the idea of a camera in the mirror more than a side mounted model. Does anyone have either? Pro / cons. Thanks, David
By far the cheapest and easiest way to solve the blind spot on the right front corner of the coach is to get one of those stick on fresnel lenses designed to go on the back window of a van. I bought one at Pep Boys for $8 and stuck it on the right front side window by the copilot seat over a year ago. I've driven all over the country with it and I can always see the roof of the car beside me in the right lane now, even short little sports cars. I can also see bicyclists, motorcyclists, and even pedestrians on the sidewalk. Sometimes it's even helpful when backing into campsites if there's a post beside the driveway and I can't remember how far away it is. It could be the wisest $8 investment I've made for my coach from a safety standpoint.
The tophat mirror costs $80+ shipping and takes up to two weeks for the factory to make one if it's not in stock, plus you'll have to install it. The side view camera will cost more than that probably and will require installation. There are mirrors for truck drivers that mount outside the cab at the top of the passenger window. They're supposedly available at truck stops but I wasn't able to find one. I researched all these options and went with the stick on fresnel lens... and it works! :)
In the meantime you can drive with your passenger side window open and you should be able to hear the car beside you if it's moving. If it's one of those hybrid / electric cars and it's sitting still you won't be able to hear it though.
The navigator has the job of checking for vehicles beside the coach on the right. On the rare occasions that I'm passing someone I'll tell Jo Ann to keep an eye on that side. When it is safe to move over I do so. Generally I'm in the far right lane so unless someone sneaks up to pass me on the shoulder I'm okay. Now that the Jeep is set up for towing I don't anticipate any times when we're not together in the coach.
After sitting in another forum member's coach and seeing the view offered by the "Top Hats", I decided we needed them. I realize the Unihome (GV) and the Unicoach (bus style) bodies have different sight lines in the mirrors, but in either case I think the extra added mirror is a terrific safety device. I ordered them from Ramco, total price $228 including shipping, received promptly. Just finished installing them - very simple job. Drill 2 holes for each mirror, insert self-tapping screws.
The view afforded by the 2 stock mirrors + Top Hats is really great! I can see the
total length of the coach on
both sides, all the way from the leading edge of the front wheel well back to the back bumper. I can also see one and a half lanes out to the side of the coach on both sides, to pick up traffic converging from other lanes. The combination of 3 rear view mirrors on each side + rear view camera
almost totally eliminates blind spots...the exception, of course, is directly in front of the coach. I highly recommend the Top Hats.
PS: Had to come back and edit the price I paid - I forgot the freight charge was extra. Mirrors are $102 each, freight to my location was $24. Sorry 'bout that. :-[
Chuck, can you supply a picture of your installation please.
I had thought's of getting a Fresnel lens like Scott mentioned after having a couple of close calls with horns blasting beside me from small cars I didn't see in the curbside mirror shortly after buying the coach. Instead I ordered two tophats from Ramco and had them delivered to the campground we were at in FL. They made a huge difference in visibility on the passenger side. Didn't really need the driver's side one but looks better with both.
Dean
We have a top hat on the right side only, and that is all we need. Visibility on both sides is so good I never use the side cameras.
Ask, and you shall receive! Sorry, it's a kinda dreary day here today, so not great photos. The top hats arrived with a beautiful polished finish, and they made my old stock mirrors look so bad that I was motivated to get out the Mother's Aluminum polish. I finally got the driver side looking pretty good - haven't done the passenger side yet.
On my previous motor home, I mounted a Fresnel lens on the passenger window. It was better than nothing. If the sun was shining on it and at night, light flare made it very difficult to use.
The tophat makes the mirror an even bigger target for bushes to whack out of adjustment, and gives the bushes extra leverage too. This happens to me all the time even just driving down the highway here in Maine where they don't trim the trees far enough back. The tophat isn't motorized or heated like the other two mirrors so you have to stop and get out to readjust it if it gets whacked too far out of adjustment. If it has snow, frost, or fog on it you'll have to stop, get out, and scrape or wipe it off. The fresnel lens is mounted on the inside of the window so it doesn't have any of these issues. If the sun is behind your coach the mirrors and rear view camera are useless, also in the dark, so the fresnel lens really has no unique disadvantage that I can think of.
You know, only on Foreforums would I have to defend a simple $8 solution against an inferior and more difficult $208 solution! :))
Haven't really noticed a big blind spot on the right side and I have no "top-hat". What am I missing?
I have the SilverLeaf system with the Dash monitor, and the side camera's mounted at below waist level on both sides....have had them for about 4 years plus. I find them an asset for lane changes etc.....My personal opinion is with the side mirrors and the camera's ....and anything else you may have to give you additional views, it all helps. I wouldn't use them "ALL" every time, for every thing. But each serves a purpose, and while I feel the top hats, the mirror, and the camera's certainly have overlaps, more information is better than less....
I plan to try a couple of these.
Night Vision LED Car Rear View Reversing Parking Backup Color Camera 170° 12V | (http://www.ebay.com/itm/221541257329)
I going to try them with my 7" monitor and if they work ok I'll get this 9" monitor to use them with.
9 inch Car Truck 12V 4 Way Video Inputs Standalone Monitor Quad Display Monitor (http://www.ebay.com/itm/121253640689)
I'll do a write up once I have it installed.
see ya
ken
Scott,
Actually it is a $228 solution! (See the edit of my previous post)
That is the really great thing about this forum! Somebody asks a question, everybody jumps in with their (often diverse) opinions, and the OP has a whole range of options to choose from. They can go with one of the suggested solutions, or ignore the whole bunch of us and do their own thing.
LONG LIVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE!
So send me $228 and I'll send you a fresnel lens that'll be easier and better than a tophat! hahaha
Chuck, I am with you on this one... Ramco's website is under construction. Did you order and pay over the phone? I gather the only decisions to make are what the finish of the housing is.
Don
I do normally leave my coaches right hand camera on while driving.
Fluids change very slowly and the toad looks like a toad.
But that right side needs monitoring
Don,
I just sent a PM to another forum member who was asking me about the part number of the mirrors (due to website being down). Here is the pertinent info:
"According to the email invoice they (Ramco) sent me, I ordered 2 of item #:
SNP-CAS750, Aluminum Top Add-On Convex Mirror with Snap on Glass, Polished Finish
Price: $102.00 each, total: $204.00 + Freight: $23.79, Grand total = $227.79"
At the time I ordered, the Ramco website was up and working, but did not provide online ordering capability. I used the "Mirror Head Chart" to identify my mirrors, then called them on the phone to order. They will ask about desired finish when you order. I assume all the Foretravel factory installed aluminum mirrors are the same 6000 series, but that may be incorrect. Best to measure your mirror housing and compare to the chart (below).
http://media.wix.com/ugd/9e24ac_0043e29644854523adf4d5eb58328f6c.pdf (http://media.wix.com/ugd/9e24ac_0043e29644854523adf4d5eb58328f6c.pdf)
I ordered a top hat for my drivers side mirror from Ryder Fleet Products. It's special order so it will take a while BUT it's $55.48 plus shipping.
Mirror Top hat, 715374, Velvac (http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/velvac-715374/mirror-top-hat-p-u80-715374)
It's chrome by the way.
Keith
Chuck, Thank you for the pictures. Now I have my options to pick from. That's what this forum is all about :D
What is it made of? What are the dimensions - I don't see them listed. Is it a flat glass mirror, or convex? Did you verify the bottom profile (curve) of the top hat will match the top profile (shape) of your stock mirrors? How are they attached? Just curious...
I would imagine they are plastic coated chrome finish and siliconed on as I do not see any mounting screw holes. They are fully adjustable when hitting something!!! ^.^d ^.^d
Have tried to find a link with more info but no one mentions anything that is why I put those comments in.
JohnH
Maybe the next grandvention should have a coach driving school. What are you guys hitting with your mirrors? Next question: since my mirrors are beginning to show rust spots is there any way to strip the chrome off or rough it up so it will hold paint? Roughing them up in place and painting would be the easiest I would suppose.
Keith: Please post how your Ryder tophat mirror works out. Dan
Larry,
It isn't that big of a job just to take them off & have them re chromed. Most all hot rod shops around the country have someone that does chrome work for them or if you want Ramco has done it in the past. Taking the old chrome off and making paint stick to what is left would be a chore, but it would be a lot less expensive.
Pamela & Mike
Mine was a large green big rig that clobbered my passenger mirror. Left a lot of green paint on the side of it and knocked it totally out of whack. He hit it so hard that he knocked the whole assembly from the outside to the front and knocked the mirror joint loose.
Found out REAL quick that you need your mirrors! And another reason for Ducky's name.
That was the only green paint I could find at the time. Since I have been home, noticed some green paint on my Girard electric awning, but it still seems to function properly.
Kind of amazing that he only contacted me on the mirror and the awning box. I survived the episode from the big bully; it could have been a LOT worse.
Trent
Received the mirror today. Sent a black one. When I told them that the picture shoes chrome and says nothing about black plastic I was told "Oh we just use a generic picture"!
See my corrected previous post for correct part number and price.
Keith