Backup Camera choices.

[sixbennetts]

I'm sorry I haven't been back to contribute to this thread. Good install in the Pinz! I like how it looks on the dash. (You gonna trim those ears off that mount, I hope?)

I LOVE the magnet idea, too. Wish I had thought of it before drilling holes in my truck. Does it move around on the bumps? Yes, the camera power leads are short, they're only meant to reach the back up lights.

[djw]

I'm sorry I haven't been back to contribute to this thread. Good install in the Pinz! I like how it looks on the dash. (You gonna trim those ears off that mount, I hope?)

I LOVE the magnet idea, too. Wish I had thought of it before drilling holes in my truck. Does it move around on the bumps? Yes, the camera power leads are short, they're only meant to reach the back up lights.

Hi Donny,

The magnet holds the camera rock solid, no movement at all. It is really stuck on there even though there is a plastic film on the bottom. The camera is oriented to just have the spare tire edge in the bottom of the frame (can't see the hitch for example) and it works well for backing. The beauty of the magnet is that if I was trying to line up the hitch to a trailer or on some other mission, the camera could be easily repositioned to stick it lower where the hitch was visible.

I was going to experiment with some .75" coated neodymium magnets (much smaller thinner, slightly less than a quarter sized) to see if it would adhere well enough on the 2nd camera that arrived last week. I thought of maybe jb-welding two magnets to the mount but to see if they would have the "pull" of the current one (early experiments say not).

As far as the ears on the screen mount, they were the potential mount point for four of the .75" neo magnets. But if I keep the big magnet as-is I will dremel the ears off. I think the screen will end up being attached to the roof between the visors once find a clean way to run wires.

The last step is probably to paint the final form mount and camera OD so it blends in a bit better.

Thanks for the great find and idea, Donny!

[sixbennetts]

It seems pretty robust, too, doesn't it? We took our truck to do some dirt road and sand pit playing and it worked really well. Had to back out of a couple dead end trails and it really came in handy.

With your magnet, you could stick it inside your spare tire, too.

[westernair]

I am looking at the Magellan RoadMate 1700LM 7-Inch Portable GPS that has a port for video. Anyone have experiance with this unit?
$150 plus the cost of a camera
Figure I could also put the repair manual on the SD card for in the field refrance.

[djw]

I am looking at the Magellan RoadMate 1700LM 7-Inch Portable GPS that has a port for video. Anyone have experiance with this unit?
$150 plus the cost of a camera
Figure I could also put the repair manual on the SD card for in the field refrance.

I looked at it and passed on it as 12V and the rear mount camera that mounted on the tag was 12V as well (did not want to run 12V fore and aft just for this). Plus I did not want to leave a portable GPS in full view as I don't want to buy new windows, but I suspect its the same kettle o fish with a video screen now anyway.

Plus I don't think you could view a pdf manual on the sd card with the gps, can you? You'd need some sort of tablet -pad for that at a minimum.

[westernair]

I am looking at the Magellan RoadMate 1700LM 7-Inch Portable GPS that has a port for video. Anyone have experiance with this unit?
$150 plus the cost of a camera
Figure I could also put the repair manual on the SD card for in the field refrance.

I looked at it and passed on it as 12V and the rear mount camera that mounted on the tag was 12V as well (did not want to run 12V fore and aft just for this). Plus I did not want to leave a portable GPS in full view as I don't want to buy new windows, but I suspect its the same kettle o fish with a video screen now anyway.

Plus I don't think you could view a pdf manual on the sd card with the gps, can you? You'd need some sort of tablet -pad for that at a minimum.

Maybe not the manual unless I uploaded and plugged in my phone...
If the price drops on cyber Monday I may pick one up and try.
Problem with GPS on my phone is if no reception no base maps.

[sixbennetts]

A little about the, "out of sight", comment. One of the advantages of the Volvo over the Pinz is the center dash cover. I've attached all my gear to it using 3M heavy duty Velcro, so if I have to park it somewhere questionable, both radios and the backup camera screen all stow behind it in just a minute.





Same for the SWR meter/antenna matcher and even the compass comes off and stowes quickly behind the panel.

Take that you Swiss nuts!

[djw]

For the Pinz the screen fits well on the roof between visors, more out of the way, can be folded up, and does not stick out as badly. Used 4 neodymium magnets with adhesive on the base. Might cut of the ears after I'm sure I don't want them - they help to peel the base off the roof since it sticks with quite a bit of force.

I'll probably leave it here.

Haven't figured out where the spare camera is going to go, but the #2 video input could be used for anything.

[sixbennetts]

Yup, that's exactly where I'll be moving ours to if I ever get a tablet for the dash. It'll bump the backup monitor up to where you have it.

(Hopefully we can keep it).

[djw]

For those interested in the GPS option:

After eyeballing my backup camera, my wife decided "I wanna backup camera too..." as she can't see out of her SUV either. Santa brought her a Magellan that a GPS with a wireless camera option. This is the same camera I tried to get an answer out of their tech support several months ago as to whether it would run on 24V to no avail.

The Magellan RoadMate 9055-LM and a Magellan CPBCKUSGXXX Wireless Back Up Camera could also be a workable option. The camera and inline transmitter runs on 10-32V [like the signal from backup lights]. The GPS and the piggyback wireless receiver runs on 12V (most of you have 12V somehow in the cab). I put it in her car over the weekend but it would work fine in a Pinz. The one rub is that whenever the camera is powered, it takes over the GPS screen, so you can't really leave it run all the time.

This particular GPS is a huge 7" (seems huge to me). The back-up camera video display must be about 10-15 frames per sec. Works fine for the intended purpose but its not the smooth video as from a the sixbennetts-style unit. This GPS runs about $180 and the camera around $130, so quite a bit more expensive.

[compunerdy]

Got my Ebay one installed.. works great!!

I found that the slope to the roof was the perfect angle so I made the bracket as short as possible and tack welded it to the body. I cut the wire so I could drill a very small hole instead of the large one for the plug.

[audiocontr]

I purchased the same system for my 712m. I was able to mount it under the rear roll bar with a strong magnet... It works wonderfully with the top rolled up... gets the job done with the rear rolled down. I can also rotate it to keep an eye on people in the back (though i think ill buy a second camera for that purpose)

I found a suction cup camera mount for the front windshield from Amazon, which is mounted upside down. This places the screen directly to the right of the dash, above the emergency brake lever. Works great!

I'll post some photos one of these days

[surfgringo]

I chose the same one noted on an earlier pic on this thread, got it via costco online, works with 24v, has nice low-light resolution, also good wide angle. Overall happy with it. Painted the casing green to match.