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Side camera ideas?
I have a blind spot on the curb side of my bus that no amount of mirror adjustment will eliminate, so I’m going to add side cameras, most likely mounted on the mirror housings or mirror arms. Can anyone recommend a kit that includes the cameras, monitor and other necessary gear? I will have the side cameras stand alone from the rear camera, with a completely separate monitor. The side cameras will be continuously powered rather than turn-signal activated but I want to be able to switch easily between left and right. Any camera mounting suggestions will also be appreciated. I have Ramco mirrors with the convex mirror on the top, similar or identical to those on most H-3s. Thanks.
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4 Replies
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Brian,
I have had good luck with these folks. They have complete 3 and 4 camera systems, back up monitors, etc. They have a split screen monitor that allows you to see the sides and back, and people like Peter Cambell can even add a camera to the inside of their trailer, if wanted. Their side cameras mount to the coach rather than the mirrors, but they may have mirror mounts also, I have not checked.
http://www.rearviewsafety.com/products/camera-systems.html/
Fred
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LA-Hodag,
We had side-mirror camera’s on our Monaco installed in the lower mirror in the mirror housing (we had 3 mirrors). I found that we had a blind spot if a low car like a Mazda Miata was hanging near the exit door, I could not see it.
When we were ordering the new Liberty, I wanted the side camer’s on this coach too. Liberty installed them lower on the side of the coach vs. the level that they would be if on the mirror housing. I find it to be a better location from my experience. Our camera’s are about 6-7 inches from the front edge of the coach. I noticed that a couple Marathon coaches that we looked at had the camera’s installed on the slide-out which would be at least 3-4 ft. from the front edge of the coach.
If a motorcycle is at our curb side just slightly past our side camera, I might not see it (hasn’t really happened yet). Our camera’s are angled out slightly to give a better view.
It’s a little hard to see, but just below the writing on the door (Liberty Elegant Lady) about 10 inches down, you can see the camera attached to the side.
Mark
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I know the conventional wisdom is to install a camera to look rearward so it shows traffic along the length of the coach. If I were to install blind spot cameras my location would be at the top, just above the door and driver side windows. We have our mirrors that do a good job of showing potential conflicts along almost the full length of the coach, but a roof mounted camera that shows from slightly ahead of the bumper, to perhap as far back as the second bay, and out maybe 6 feet will do so much more.
Obviously a car in the blind spot will be clearly visible. But with the extreme turn angle of our steer wheels a camera like a roof mounted one is going to show what our coach is going to swing into during a sharp turn. My concern is the boulders or posts or other low obstructions we cannot see that the front will swing into . Rear pointing cameras will offer no protection or warning when we are about to hit something with the front bumper end or the lower portion of the door.
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Thanks, everybody. The roof idea is a good one. The concept is why truckers have begun installing convex mirrors facing the ground above the passenger door. I looked at that cheap option and it would work on the bus, but I didn’t want a barnacle on my door so that’s what got me looking into cameras. I think I’ll buy a few and try various placements. Thanks again.
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