Dumb question on installing one of rvcam.com's backup camera system. How do you attach the camera to the back wall of the RV? Are you supposed to drill 2 holes from outside in, and use the nuts and bolts provided with the plastic washer type gizmos. Just getting a sanity check before i start with my holes.
Also where did you guys who installed one put the cable? It does not look like it fits through the center. Did you drill a separate hole for it above or below the camera?
I think i have mapped out my cable route. Through the back wall above the rear window, into a cabinet, that goes down the the floor. It looks like there is a little space I can go down to get all the way down the the chassis rails. From there follow up until the drivers side. The plastic piece covering the step comes up and i can see that is where coachmen ran some of their wires, so i will follow the same path, then behind the dash over to where i will install it.
Any other advice?? I am hoping to get this done before my first trip on friday.
Does anyone have pictures of their installation???
Mike,
Have no pics but, The back of the MH where I wanted to put camera had cabinets on the inside. After I removed the inside panel I found that where I initially was going to route the cable was right smack in the middele of a structural steel beam. So, before drilling any holes, make sure you have a clear shot to the inside. I did not put the cable through the middle of the mount in case I later wanted to adjust the position of the camera higher or lower.
Tim from rvcams watches this forum so he may come up with a better idea for you.
Tim & Cindy
34' Bounder 454, Headers, GV splitter
15' Hobie Kayak
custom V-Star Classic
Saturn L200 toad
Siberian rescues, Ivan (the terrible) & Alexandra UPS~88
I installed one on our last coach, a 1998 Aerbus. I was able to get access to the outside wall by removing part of the back of the cabinet above the bed. I then mounted the camera using screws, washers and lock washers. Personally I would worry about using the expandable plastic gizmo's as I can't see how they would anchor it solid enough to keep the unit from moving enough to cause problems with the caulking. When running the cable I had to drill another hole large enough to allow the cable connector to pass through. I made sure to leave a drip loop and then siliconed it. The camera and the cable were then covered on the top part by a chrome box which I sealed on the edges. Never had a leak in 6 years and never re caulked it. For me, mounting the camera, pulling the wire and installing the monitor took the better part of a weekend.
Brian, Loretta & Daisy (Golden Retriever)
2008 Holiday Rambler Endeavor PDQ40
2008 Ford Explorer toad
There is a cut out at the top of the rear for the camera on my Minnie so that wasn't a problem. It even had pre-drilled holes for the mounting screws. On my camera (RVCams) the wire comes out on the right side as you look at it. I drilled the hole right behind the camera but a little left so I would have enough wire to work with should I want to adjust the camera angle. I did put the camera cable in conduit before running it forward. Finding the right place to mount the monitor was the biggest challenge. Ended up having a special bracket made for mine (stainless) and mounted it near the change holder on the motor cover. For me, this is a great location. Took my first ride in the motorhome today since the installation. The camera works great.
Art
2005 Winnebago Voyage 33V (Workhorse)
Garmin 3760T GPS
2008 Honda CR-V EX-L
Blue Ox Aventa II, Apollo Brake
Protect-A-Tow
If possible, try to cut an access hole inside of the MH. The access hole will allow you to see any potential obstructions and it will allow you to use the backing nuts for the camera bracket.
Most (or at least many) motorhomes have cabinets across the rear which allow you to conceal the access hole. I like to use a dremel tool to cut the opening -- you can control it pretty well and you can make a very shallow cut.
If you can't make an access hole, the camera will still hold well with self-tapping screws.
Tim, Nita, Natalie (11 yrs), and Claire (8 yrs)
35-foot '91 Holiday Rambler 1000
F-53 with Mor-Ryde Tag Axle and Mor-Ryde Front Suspension Kit
1990 Mustang (5.0) Toad
In may case, I mounted two cameras. One is simply screwed right into the fiberglass - the fiberglass is thick anough and the camera light enough that this is working out well. The other ended up going into some top piece of wood trim or something, so wood screws worked out great for that one.
My wires are run outside the rig, but behind trim and under the chassis so as to not be visible.
I was not comfortable with just screws into fibreglass (although, it will probably be fine). I bought 2 1/2" long stainless steel machine screws, body washers, and nylon locking nuts. Inside the cabinet above the bed on the inside, I installed some of that plastic track that is designed to conceal wires. I then drilled from the inside out through the plastic track, the cabinet back, the block insulatin, and the outside skin. I then went outside and machine screws through the bracket and pushed them into the holes about an inch. I then packed the holes with silicone caulking. Then I pushed the bracket against the outside wall making sure I used enough caulking. then while my wife held the bracket in place, I went inside the rig and installed the body washers and the nylon lock nuts. I snugged the lock nuts up tight, but not too tight. I then used a die gringer to cut the bolts flush to the lock nuts, then ran the cable in the plastic track, into the closet where I installed more plastic track. Down the back of the closet, drill through bottom of closet and now behind drawers and drill through floor to pop out ooutside nest to frame rail. Caulk hole in floor. Snap the plastic covers on all the plastic track to conceal wiring.
Hard to explain. I hope you get the picture!
Jim and Deanna
2008 Tiffin Allegro 35QBA 2007 Carson Trailer 22' Titan TH Trailer Toad
Me, Wife, Boy/14, Boy/11, Girl/9
1985 Toyota 4Runner FOUR quads, THREE kids, TWO motorcycles, ONE wife, ONE dog, ONE cat!
I used some heavy duty aluminum pop rivits on mine.
Apply silicone sealer to the rivits before installing to seal the holes.
Also you MUST put a drip loop in the cable before it enters the RV.
This reduces the chance of any water running down the cable and into the RV.
* This post was
edited 03/24/05 06:29pm by Home Skillet *
Thanks for all of your assistance and suggestions. I did most of the install today. I could not sleep after being up with the baby at 5:20, so i ran the cable under the chassis this morning before work. Then tonight i drilled through the back into the cabinets and finished the rear inside wiring. Tomorrow I have to attach the monitor to the dash, and do some cleanup.
Good thing I got most of it done today, my todo list for tomorrow before we head out for our first trip in the afternoon is growing by leaps and bounds!!
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