Best Motorhome reversing cameras for 2022
Fitting a Motorhome reversing camera or rear view camera has to be one of the best upgrades you can fit to your motorhome. It not only makes manoeuvring a lot easier and safer but the confidence you gain in driving your motorhome is worth it alone.
In this article our aim is advise what to look out for when finding the best motorhome reversing camera for your vehicle.
Most damage to motorhomes occurs at the rear of the vehicle as although the front wing mirrors are generally very good you are normally with out a rear view mirror for reassurance when reversing etc. Judging the swing of the rear of a motorhome can also be tricky as you are so far from the rear corners.
This is when fitting a reverse camera is worth the money as your excess on an insurance claim will most likely be more than the cost of the camera.
No1 Best seller in ‘Car Parking Assist’ on Amazon. Wireless and easy to fit with neat looking display.
Last update on 2023-01-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Types of motorhome reversing cameras
Reverse cameras come in two main categories, wired and wireless.
Wired – a fully wired reverse camera has a cable running from the camera all the way to the front monitor. It is the best way to get a permanent reliable feed with little interference. Fitting a wired system does take longer though as the cable normally gets run under the motorhome and up behind the dash etc.
Another advantage of using a wired reversing camera is that they normally have the function to be on permanently acting as a rear view mirror and not need the reverse the lights to trigger the camera to come on.
Our pick for best motorhome reversing camera that is wired. Its a decent price and the reviews are excellent.
Last update on 2023-01-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Wireless – wireless reverse cameras work by the camera sending its images wirelessly to the monitor on the dashboard without the need to run cables from the front cab to the back of the motorhome.
Many of the modern ones use Wi-fi or Bluetooth (as opposed to an analogue signal) to stream the camera feed to the front monitor on your dash. This used to be a bit hit and miss as the signal could be lost or interference from other 12volt items running but over the last few of years they seem very reliable and on par with a wired system.
A “digital” system (wifi, bluetooth) is normally favoured over analogue as its newer technology which in theory means improved signal/picture quality. The improved signal range is ideal for longer motorhomes as some reverse cameras are only intended for cars.
Fitting a wireless reverse camera is less time consuming than fitting a wired camera as there isn’t the need to run cables front to back. The down side to this is that the camera often gets powered by the reverse light power (when reverse is selected the camera comes on) so the camera can not be used as a rear view monitor when driving normally in the forward direction.
This is our pick for Best Motorhome Reversing Camera – Wireless. A neat display and digital reception for a good price and highly rated in reviews.
Last update on 2023-01-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Cameras
These come in a few form factors:
Classic style – This type of motorhome reverse camera is normally installed high up on the rear of the van and usually has infrared l.e.d’s that illuminate when used in the dark. This helps the picture quality in a night vision kind of way. The viewing angles are around 120 degrees on these and are normally adjustable to get the optimum viewing angle (if you prefer to see the bumper in the image etc)
Twin camera- These have the best of both worlds. They use one camera as a permanent rear view mirror, then when reverse gear is selected, the camera pointing down towards the back bumper is activated and it operates as a normal motorhome reverse camera.
Number plate camera – This type clips onto your number plate and is a smaller camera. It doesn’t normally have the infrared l.e.d’s to help it “see” in the dark and the low mounting position can make it trickier to work out how far away objects are. The upside to these is that they are easier to fit and if any drilling is needed its usually into the bumper and not into the habitation area of the motorhome allowing for possible water ingress.
This short video from Practical Caravan shows the some basics when choosing a camera.
Display monitors
The displays that you receive the camera feed on come in various sizes, from 4″ to 8″ seem to be the most popular. Its all down to your personal preferences as to what size you go for.
Most of the monitors will sit on your dashboard so if its too big it can get in the way a bit especially if you have cab blinds across the windscreen. Alternatively you can get some that clip over the original rear view mirror which solves that issue, as long as your motorhome has one!
The quality of the screens all seem pretty good these days even cheap reversing camera setups display a decent image. Its in bright sunshine when lesser quality screens get highlighted, to combat this you can get a “sun visor” for your screen which helps keep direct sun light of the display.
The monitor will usually come with a dashboard mount/stand with double sided on it, unfortunately the double sided is rarely long lasting and you may have to put a couple of small screws in it to fix it permanently. Some come with a sucker mount for the windscreen but this can become a pain if you have the cab blinds again.
Other points to consider...
- Microphone – If your camera comes with a microphone built in this can really handy as you can hear if someone is directing you at the rear.
- Waterproof ratings – This is displayed as an IP rating, the higher the better. IP68 is the highest which allows you to effectively jet wash the camera with no effect.
- Bike rack – If you have a bike rack on your motorhome its worth mentioning that this will restrict the view if you have a high mounted camera.
- Cables – Make sure the cable will be long enough to run front to back and up to the camera if using a wired system.
- Solar powered cameras – I’ve seen these advertised but not fitted one. Things with small solar panels never seem to last so I would say to avoid.
- Camera angle – Angle adjustment of camera can be handy, seeing the edge of the rear bumper in the display gives a sense of distance.
Our choice of camera...
Our choice of best motorhome reversing camera kit has to be the Auto-Vox TD2 Digital Wireless. It has fantastic reviews on Amazon and users frequently mention the quality of the screen and excellent instructions. Its digital as well and is IP68 water resistant. It ticks all the boxes and looks the part too!
DIY fitting a motorhome reversing camera or not?
Yes absolutely – Anyone who’s handy with basic tools and can use a multi-meter should be fine fitting one. Tools required:
- Drill and bits
- Screwdrivers
- Volt meter
- Soldering iron or at a pinch Scotch locks – eeek!
- Sealant if drilling the motorhome body
- P clips/cable ties
I won’t go into a “how to fit guide” on this article but just as a bit of guidance the main 12volt supply is normally tapped off of the cigarette lighter feed as this goes off and on with the ignition (on fiat/peugeot cabs).
If you can find the reverse light feed from under the dash area that’s great if not you can run a single wire back to the reverse light positive. This is needed to act as a trigger to turn the camera/monitor on.
The cameras always come with instructions and the wiring in process is quite straight forward, so you shouldn’t get stuck.
I hope this has helped in finding the best motorhome reversing camera for your van, as always there are a few variants not covered in this article but these are not that common.
Links: Auto-vox,
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Disclaimer
Please note these are the words and opinion of the author only. Neither the author nor the website can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. You should seek professional assistance if in doubt.