Backup Camera

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I forget which Speedster you have, but it looks like maybe a VS from Kirk.

If so, his heat ducting is a convenient way to get wiring from the engine compartment to under the dash. Just zip tie to the outside of the flexible tubing on the driver side and come into the cockpit near the fuse panel.

Remember, though, that the wiring is then exposed to the elements under the car. My solution was to run some of that flexible plastic conduit and put the wires inside that.

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Vince would have installed this on the passenger side floor boards.  Purely for research reason of course.  Maybe call it the panticam.

I have to admit I don't get it. A speedster is a very small car, and with the top down has excellent rearward visibility. I wouldn't put one on my Spyder, but that's me.

Don't get me wrong about technology, I've installed a few cameras.

The first one is integrated into the tailgate latch of my truck, makes it stupidly simple to hook up the trailer. I installed another on the top/back of the enclosed trailer, totally eliminates that 8 foot wide blind spot 30 feet behind you. That transmits wirelessly to the radio's touchscreen in the truck. The trailer camera can also be on when driving on the interstate, invaluable when changing lanes in traffic.

The last one is in my Cayman, which has very restricted rear vision with the high rear fenders and long roof/hatch. That camera is merely to prevent me from curbing the back of the car, I like to back into spots so I can pull forward when leaving.

Not one of my vehicles came with this option, I installed them all. The newest vehicle I have is my Spyder(2016), the rest 2009 and older.

My neck still works! Just turn and look. Backup camera...really

@DannyP posted:

I have to admit I don't get it. A speedster is a very small car, and with the top down has excellent rearward visibility. I wouldn't put one on my Spyder, but that's me.

Except when you have a rack with luggage on it.  I was taking my son for an extended trip in my Speedster and had the luggage rack full of camping equipment and that's why I did it.  However, like I said, I couldn't see it with the top down and it was useless.

@DannyP posted:

I have to admit I don't get it. A speedster is a very small car, and with the top down has excellent rearward visibility. I wouldn't put one on my Spyder, but that's me.

Don't get me wrong about technology, I've installed a few cameras.

The first one is integrated into the tailgate latch of my truck, makes it stupidly simple to hook up the trailer. I installed another on the top/back of the enclosed trailer, totally eliminates that 8 foot wide blind spot 30 feet behind you. That transmits wirelessly to the radio's touchscreen in the truck. The trailer camera can also be on when driving on the interstate, invaluable when changing lanes in traffic.

The last one is in my Cayman, which has very restricted rear vision with the high rear fenders and long roof/hatch. That camera is merely to prevent me from curbing the back of the car, I like to back into spots so I can pull forward when leaving.

Not one of my vehicles came with this option, I installed them all. The newest vehicle I have is my Spyder(2016), the rest 2009 and older.

@DannyP The backup camera on my Ram is in a great spot to see the hitch as well. I am interested in which camera you chose for the back of the trailer and how it integrates with the radio's touchscreen.

@Robert M

The camera is a generic license-plate type on the trailer, mounted just below the center clearance light just above the tailgate. I ran an extension to the trailer's front where I installed the transmitter. The power is hooked up to the trailer plug, that way it is powered only when the trailer is hooked up: no switches necessary.

The receiver is plugged into an aux input on the radio and shoved behind the dash. I put in a switch on the reverse sense wire so I can prevent the hitch-cam from coming on when backing with the trailer attached.

I took a short piece of 1.5"(it might be 2") conduit and an end cap and glued that into a hole cut in the front of the V-nose. I stuck the transmitter in there to ensure the radio waves would pass through.

It works well, every once in a while you get a few lines of interference, like when we were little watching over-the-air TV.

https://www.amazon.com/Camecho...5042869998&psc=1

Here's a few shots, Robert.

@Jim Gilbert - Madison, Mississippi posted:

My neck still works! Just turn and look. Backup camera...really

That made me chuckle, so true...

@DannyP posted:

Here's a few shots, Robert.

Looks good. I'm going to have to think about it some more. Right now I try my best to avoid backing at all. Although when I have traveled distances I have had to back into parking spaces at the truck stops when I sleep. And backing at night is VERY difficult when you can't see the back of the trailer.

I intend to steal Danny's idea, though I may not go as technical. I have an open trailer but I have seen some cameras for not a lot of money on Amazon. They have hand-held/whatever monitors. For the cost, I would happily ruin it for the beta test.

Since my gate (also serves as ramps) comes off, I may try to get a quick-clip connection and tie it into the brake lights.

It's on my list.