Best Rearview Camera for RV, Trailers & Motorhomes

Reversing with a motor home or caravan is more difficult than it looks. A reversing camera for motorhomes helps to master tricky situations.

We explain the differences between the models and what you need to look out for when buying a camper camera. Ever tried to maneuver your motorhome backward through a narrow alley or park in a tight spot? If so, you probably know that it’s very difficult to accurately gauge the blind spot behind your vehicle.

In a normal car, the rearview mirror or the electronic parking aid is enough to steer you around concrete posts, branches, or playing children. With a motor home, it’s a different story. The motor home is too wide for the detection range of electronic driving aids, and rear racks or attached bicycles also confuse the sensor’s field of vision.

Advantages of rearview cameras for motorhomes

Retrofitting a reversing camera in a motorhome

A motor home offers a good overview to the front due to the elevated seats, but to the rear the view is often worse than in a compact passenger car. Particularly if the motorhome does not have a parking aid with acoustic signal, a reversing system with camera can offer a good alternative. A distinction can be made between reversing cameras with cables and radio-controlled systems. In cable-controlled systems, the images from the rear reversing camera are transmitted forward to the monitor in the driver’s area by means of a cable. In wireless systems, the image is transmitted by radio.

• Camera, which is attached to the rear of the vehicle.
• In systems with cable: cable for connection between camera and monitor.
• Monitor, which is placed at the front.

Retrofitting seems worthwhile because the transmission of recordings behind the motorhome is for many an enormous relief when driving and maneuvering. At the same time, the financial outlay is manageable with numerous reversing systems on the market – especially when compared with possible damage to the vehicle caused by poor visibility to the rear.

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Types of Rearview Camera for RV

Wired Rear View Cameras for RVs

Rearview cameras with physical cables are the more popular option for many campers. They offer secure and interference-free transmission, as there is no overlap with the frequency range of WLAN, DECT, or other wireless standards. On the other hand, installation is a bit more complicated, as you first have to pull a cable from the end of the vehicle through the camper to the cockpit, which means more effort.

Advantages:

• interference-free, reliable transmission
• not influenced by other radio frequencies

Disadvantages:

• costly installation

Wireless rearview cameras for motorhomes

Wireless systems are much easier to install, but also more susceptible to interference and image loss. Under certain circumstances, the camera sends an image from the rear of the vehicle to the monitor while the frequency is blocked by the WLAN network of the motor home. Result: Nothing comes in front and the monitor remains black. In addition, even with wireless cameras, you may have to drill a hole through the outside wall of the camper to supply the system with power. So you can’t do it completely without cables.

Advantages:

• simple, uncomplicated installation

Disadvantages:

• more susceptible to interference

More info: RV Backup Camera: Is it worth it?

Retrofit or install cable rearview camera in RV

The installation of a wireless or wired rearview camera is not fundamentally different and consists of these three steps:

• Mount the rearview camera on the back of the vehicle.
• Mount the LCD monitor in the driver’s cabin
• Connect the rearview camera to the monitor

Place the rearview camera

First you have to mount the camera at the rear of the motorhome. It is advisable to place the camera either on top or on the bumper to have a good view. Depending on the motorhome, a vertical height of 2.30 to 2.50 is optimal. Make sure you mount the camera horizontally in the middle of the car. In some systems, the camera is installed in the frame of the license plate holder. This works basically also quite well, because the camera sees left and right as in the above mounted variant. Possibly there can be problems with the viewing angle. Try it out for yourself and see which view suits you better.

Mounting the monitor

You should place the monitor in a clearly visible area of the driver’s cab. Make sure that the screen still provides a good image even at a slightly slanted angle. You should also be able to switch between normal view and mirror view, so that the camera corresponds to the view in the rearview mirror.
Otherwise, you have to “rethink” the image on the monitor – and that certainly doesn’t contribute to overall driving safety. To check this, simply hold a sign or sheet of paper with writing on it in front of the camera. If the lettering is displayed mirror-inverted, the perspective is correct.

Laying the cable

There is no need to run the cable from the camera to the monitor if you install a wireless rearview camera in your RV. In the case of a wired rear view camera, you can’t avoid this step. However, you can usually lay the cables over the vehicle floor, which is the simplest and most elegant solution. In the case of caravans, it is a good idea to run the cables along the chassis under the caravan.

So it is highly recommended that you follow the instructions in the manual for your level.

Rearview Camera for RV Price:

Under $200

• AMTIFO Digital Wireless Backup Camera
• VECLESUS Backup Camera for Trucks

Under $250

• Rear View Safety Wireless Magnetic Hitch Camera

Under $400

• ERapta Backup Camera System

Under $600

• Furrion Vision S 7 Inch Wireless RV Backup System

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