Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: jor on February 28, 2021, 06:28:49 pm

Title: Side Camera
Post by: jor on February 28, 2021, 06:28:49 pm
I had my side camera mounted in the fender area ahead of the entry door but it was removed when I got a headlight conversion. Rather than drill a hole in that new fiberglass I moved it up to the mirror. Not too bad a job although a third hand would have handy.
jor

Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: master2301 on February 28, 2021, 08:26:03 pm
Nice safety wire job on awning arms. Proper pigtail as well. LOL I think camera mount is better situated also.
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: jor on March 01, 2021, 09:50:03 am
Quote
Nice safety wire job on awning arms.

Good eye there, Larry!  :D
jor
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: juicesqueezer on March 01, 2021, 10:43:14 am
Jor, would you mind sharing the side mounted cameras you used and how you did them?  Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: jor on March 01, 2021, 05:19:03 pm
Quote
would you mind sharing the side mounted cameras you used and how you did them?

I used this camera which of course is from China. 16 bucks (cash). I chose this one because it is somewhat adjustable.
Side Camera (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075DYTBXG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

As to how,
* Wired the mirror to the awning support and removed the large bolt that attaches the mirror to the big arm. Having a helper would make this easier.
* Drilled a hole in the fiberglass just below where the stock mirror control cable passes from the mirror housing into the rig. I added this hole as the camera cable wouldn't fit through the factory hole.
* Drilled a hole in the mirror arm to mount the camera. The camera comes with its own hole saw which works great on fiberglass but only lasts about 10 seconds on aluminum! I really used it just to score the surface. Then I used a step drill bit to get it close and then finished it off with a round file.
* Passed the camera cable through the arm and down into the mirror base and into the rig.
* Wired the camera according to the instructions. (always a challenge with this cheap stuff from China)

I usually take a lot of photos from didn't think of it for this job. Anyhow, here's a few illustrating the process.
jor

Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on March 02, 2021, 09:35:14 am
I did the same thing with my pioneer head unit. It came with the camera from the previous owner who never installed the head unit or the camera. I wired it through the mirror and put it on the underside of the arm of the passenger side mirror. The head unit has a screen that swings up and parsley blocks my rear camera but I still can see behind my toad. I like it there it's great. Good job jor.
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on March 02, 2021, 11:30:22 am
Nice job. Every trip, I almost crush a car in the blind spot on our GV.

Pierce
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: John Haygarth on March 02, 2021, 11:38:33 am
John, are you using this new camera for normal driving use or mainly for parking, as the screen would have to be on all the time otherwise, correct?
JohnH
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: Chuck Pearson on March 02, 2021, 11:42:51 am
Are you using  a multiplexer switched by turn signals?  That's a great mounting scheme there. 
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: jor on March 02, 2021, 01:09:34 pm
I wired it through the right turn signal so when I turn on my blinker, my backup camera monitor (voyager has 2 inputs) switches to that view. Its sole purpose is to cover the blind spot.
jor
Title: Re: Side Camera
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on March 02, 2021, 11:51:43 pm
John, are you using this new camera for normal driving use or mainly for parking, as the screen would have to be on all the time otherwise, correct?
JohnH
Mine is on all the time while driving to monitor the Bay doors opening. Also is better than the mirror for seeing incoming entry traffic on on ramps. Easy to turn off.