Backup Camera
By Darcy Nybo
Rear view cameras are not something to be purchased in hindsight.
Rear mounted cameras are the best way to ensure you know what is going on around you at all times. The camera gives you a live video feed to whatever is between you and what you are towing. When you aren’t towing anything, it gives you a clear view to any kids, dogs, holes, bushes, hedges, firepits, stray wildlife, or water hazards that could be just out of sight.
There are several types and styles of hitch cameras. They range in price from $80 to $1000 with the average cost around $275. You can get them wired, wireless, as part of a tow kit, and even with built in heaters. Some require tools for drilling and running wires, while others have a powerful magnetic base, which attach to the back of any vehicle. The wireless models usually plug right into the lighter in the cab.
When faced with a choice between wireless and wired, remember that wireless device are susceptible to interference, especially when your vehicle is in motion. They also have a lower picture quality.
Wired rear-view camera installations are usually easy to do. Some sit above your license plate (which may require drilling or cutting) while others take a couple of bolts into the hitch itself. Once you camera is mounted, it’s simply a matter of running the wiring into the cab of your vehicle. The monitor is even easier to install. Most are removable and can sit on a nearby surface or attach temporarily somewhere in the cab near the driver’s seat.
When searching for the one that’s right for you, make sure to look at the specs and ensure they fit your vehicle. What works for an F-150 might not work as well with Toyota Tundra.
Some systems have two cameras that watch the front of your trailer and the back of the vehicle. These will usually run around the $300 mark. For those of you who want to cover every blind spot imaginable, quad camera setups can be purchased for around $600.
Here are some questions to ask when purchasing your rear-view camera system:
- Does the system have the ability to switch on automatically whenever your vehicle is put in reverse? Doing this manually can be distracting and dangerous.
- Does it have mirror imaging through the monitor? You want this so you have the same perspective as you would when looking through your rear view mirror. Some systems even allow you to select between normal and mirror image as well as the ability to flip the picture vertically.
- What is the field of view? The camera you choose should have at least a 90-degree field of view. Cameras with 120-degree field of view could save you some headaches in the long run. Some high-end units can give you views up to 210-degrees. Whatever you choose, steer away from the lower grade cameras that give you a fish-eye view.
- Does the camera have high quality CCD imaging? Sharp and Sony have some great ones, check the specs.
- Is the system weather resistant? Make sure all cameras, cables and connectors are protected against water, snow, ice, salt, slush, road dust, grime, and detergents.
- Does the camera come with night vision? Unless you only travel during the day, night vision is a must. Cameras equipped with infrared LEDs turn on whenever the background light drops to a level that is too low for you to get a quality picture.
Don’t be the one who ‘looks back’ and wishes they’d purchased a rear-view camera.