Rear view cameras - full time

[hockayak]

Hi all,

Was just thinking about getting a canopy for my Ute, and will also be likely towing in the future. Just wondering if anyone out there has had any success in setting up an 'always displaying' rear view camera, to act like the rear view mirror. I'm pretty sure that i'll almost never be able to see out of the back of the ute with the canopy on and loaded, and wouldn't mind seeing if i could get a set up that could simulate something like a rear view mirror - just full time showing what is behind? I dont want it to engage when i drop into reverse, i just mean always on. This way, with a caravan towing, i might be able to move/have second camera to hook up, and just display what is behind the caravan instead.

I know you can buy reversing cameras, but what about always displaying backward view (flipped) so that it acts like a rear view mirror? Anyone tried it? Anyone had any success? It's not like i can't manage without, but just wondering if its a) do-able b) cost reasonable?

Any thoughts? Hock

 

[Jackolux]

Yeah it's easy enough done , I had a camera on my Dmax Tow Bar and one on the Tvan , just had to switch between the two , both always on .

 

[tommyb]

Very easy, instead of hooking up the 12V trigger wire to the reverse lights (This is generally how you get it to turn on only when reversing), you can just connect it to the accessory 12V so that it is always on.

For switching between one on the caravan, you can easily setup a connector so that you can plug in either the ute camera or unplug it and plug in the caravan connector when towing

 

[darb]

Yeah my rear vision mirror has been converted into a permanently on camera (night drives i turn it off due to brightness, unless reversing).

I can't see out of my canopy in any case so it was a no brainer to replace it with a nice wide camera view.

It's not as in your face as this photo depicts, just as a mirror isn't.

 

[Bomber2012]

Yeah my rear vision mirror has been converted into a permanently on camera (night drives i turn it off due to brightness, unless reversing).

I can't see out of my canopy in any case so it was a no brainer to replace it with a nice wide camera view.

It's not as in your face as this photo depicts, just as a mirror isn't.
View attachment 63179

Gday @darb , what brand is your unit , it looks quiet clear .

 

[Swaggie]

I thought it would be annoying watching where you've been....

 

[RBJET]

Mines just connected to accessories so it's always on.

 

[darb]

Gday @darb , what brand is your unit , it looks quiet clear .

eBay I think. Or Kogan. Pay attention to the viewing angle. Mines on and off with the key (and a soft button to switch the monitor off)

Very useful for camping, 4wding, reversing up to things and kids of course

 

[darb]

Ps wired not wirlesss. In my experience

 

[darb]

Gday @darb , what brand is your unit , it looks quiet clear .

mine's a lot clearer than it looks in that photo ... the photo is out of focus

 

[greysrigging]

Don't let Mr Plod see the active screen..... they've made video screens that can be viewed by the driver whilst mobile an offence in the NT. Fine and points.

 

[milneyy]

Don't let Mr Plod see the active screen..... they've made video screens that can be viewed by the driver whilst mobile an offence in the NT. Fine and points.

I had heard this and did some reading when I had a full time rear view camera, and there was wording about being a “driving aid” that made it ok.

 

[darb]

Don't let Mr Plod see the active screen..... they've made video screens that can be viewed by the driver whilst mobile an offence in the NT. Fine and points.

Not to jinx myself (because who knows with the Plod), but generally any screens you have (including the ones that come with the vehicle) are permitted providing they are 1) fixed to the vehicle, and 2) for the purpose of : navigation, AC Audio control, UHF or call control or other safety mechanisms of the vehicle.

So for example my dash mounted ipad (or your dash mounted smartphone) is legal, so long as I'm in a NAV app, and not streaming a TV show that can distract you. Just as is the builtin stereo screen, or the touch screen AC controls in most modern vehicles.

Lots of grey areas and interpretations, of course ... hence I try not to fail the dickhead test (when pulled over)

To summarise : if its affixed, and its vehicle related on the "screen", it's OK.

 

[Swaggie]

Don't let Mr Plod see the active screen..... they've made video screens that can be viewed by the driver whilst mobile an offence in the NT. Fine and points.

Yeah it's funny you mention this the girlfriend's van has it on permanently. There's nine in the fleet., he had them installed about 3 years ago. No issues so far regarding this although I get what your saying, looks like a video playing etc....
This is in the Police State of Victoria.

 

[darb]

the funny thing is, I actually think it being legal to pickup and hold a UHF handset is a bit of an issue. I do it all the damn time of course and im not actually advocating for change, but in terms of what "reduces" my safety ... grabbing and using the UHF wiht one hand and steering or gear controls on the other, is more a risk than touching my AC controls, sat navigation, or reverse camera feed "distracting" me.


All modern cars these days are full of screens regardless. So long as you haven't got redtube streaming when you get pulled over, its generally OK.

 

[greysrigging]

Not to jinx myself (because who knows with the Plod), but generally any screens you have (including the ones that come with the vehicle) are permitted providing they are 1) fixed to the vehicle, and 2) for the purpose of : navigation, AC Audio control, UHF or call control or other safety mechanisms of the vehicle.

So for example my dash mounted ipad (or your dash mounted smartphone) is legal, so long as I'm in a NAV app, and not streaming a TV show that can distract you. Just as is the builtin stereo screen, or the touch screen AC controls in most modern vehicles.

Lots of grey areas and interpretations, of course ... hence I try not to fail the dickhead test (when pulled over)

To summarise : if its affixed, and its vehicle related on the "screen", it's OK.

We are not allowed to touch the screen, any screen, whilst mobile.... have to use steering wheel controls.... but hell yeah, so many interpretations, like using your phone at the Dominos drive thru to pay for ya pizza... uh uh, no can do according to NT Plod.

 

[darb]

We are not allowed to touch the screen, any screen, whilst mobile.... have to use steering wheel controls.... but hell yeah, so many interpretations, like using your phone at the Dominos drive thru to pay for ya pizza... uh uh, no can do according to NT Plod.

What about the AC controls? call controls? Stereo system? they're all touch screen in most cars now. What about gear selecting and handbrake? (soft touch buttons in the wife's vehicle).

I actually think steering wheel controls are more of a risk than a dash knob / button / screen ... because with a steering wheel control it's subject to the steering position (altering muscle memory) and more room for someone to get themselves twisted up trying to modify something while cornering a roundabout.

Again though im not advocating anything (other than we should all be safe, non dickheads, and behave ... I do... these days) ... but every time someone dreams up a new law or rule for 'safety' , there's plenty of juxtapositions that turn it on its head

My wife's car and many others have so many dingle dong features, energy harvesting icons that flash up and christ knows what else ... even I feel abit like "oh just turn the whole dashboard off, you're distracting me" driving it

 

[darb]

We are not allowed to touch the screen, any screen, whilst mobile.... have to use steering wheel controls.... but hell yeah, so many interpretations, like using your phone at the Dominos drive thru to pay for ya pizza... uh uh, no can do according to NT Plod.

ha yeah i use paypass on the phone to pay for parking and drive throughs! illegal apparently (because its in your hand, not affixed)

Additionally, evne if your passenger hsa a phone in their hand with a video playing that could distract or dazzle the driver - that's an offence.

The biggest distraction in my vehicles is the two asshole children in the back seat (bless their cotton socks).

 

[greysrigging]

The head unit in my Hilux is a Chinese bit of kit ( Hong Kong actually ) made by A-Sure. For the 450 bucks it cost 7 years ago its never missed a beat, plays movies via DVD or USB, has a Digital TV ( which I naughtily have wired to use while mobile, mainly for the News 24 channel to and from work when in town. Doesn't mean I'm watching it, just listening to the news... oh and the Footy.... and the Cricket.... and when Sophie Monck was the Batchelorette...... the World Cup, the Olympics....
So now Plod has an eye out for such things....
I knocked over 1250klm yesterday going out past Timber Creek and back ( looking at a bridge demo job on Big Horse and Little Horse creeks ) and I just download Audio Books to the phone and Bluetooth to the head unit.... wont get into trouble that way. Back in the day used to prop up a Les Norton book on the steering wheel and read it as you drove across the Barkly.....

 

[Petunia]

video screen ... nono
navigation aid ... yes
obstructing drivers view ... nono
likely to cause injury in accident ...nono
lightbar above bullbar .... nono

5-0 discression ... yes

would I bookem danno ... yes