Back up camera ready?

[k_allison510]

Our new trailer is "back up camera ready". The tech said everything is already wired and ready to go. I asked home much the camera system was and thought I might do it. Until our salesman said it was $700. Has anyone successfully used a wireless camera system on their rig? I would need one with a pretty good range. The monitor would be about 50' away from the camera. Thanks.

[Kimber45]

I assume you have the standard furion preps. Very easy install. I hate Walmart but on line they had the best price when I did mine. Think it was about 1o minutes and 1/2 of the 700$ you were told. I believe there a few different models. if im not mistaken one has a little better range and the call it an observations model/ the less expensive one they call back up only?

[k_allison510]

Thanks Kimber45. That is what I needed to know. I found some on Amazon for about $370.

[k_allison510]

Has anyone used the observation model on a 40ft+ rig. My 5ver is 43ft. I watched a couple of videos on it but they were all on 30-34 rigs and only getting 2 bars of signal at speed. Kinda worried about losing signal at highway speeds. Which is when I am wanting to use the unit. Thanks.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by k_allison510

Thanks Kimber45. That is what I needed to know. I found some on Amazon for about $370.

If it is the "48 " unit you are good to go! Youroo! !

[Kimber45]

the observation model works well with my 43 foot 5th wheel just fine

[robledjl]

I just install a furrion observation camera on my 230bhxl... It took less than 10 minutes to install. The best part is the deal I got. I bought it brand new for $180. I checked online and they usually go for almost $400! They had two I should have bought the other one too but I'm not a hoarder. Either way I'm happy with it, sure the monitor is small but it does its job by letting me see the back of my TT when I'm on the road and when backing up to the campsite.

[jd50i]

Click to add to cart and price drops to $338.
https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Furri...0.htm?CartID=1

[robledjl]

Originally Posted by jd50i

Click to add to cart and price drops to $338.
https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Furri...0.htm?CartID=1

Nice! That's the exact one I got this past Friday.

[Mountndream]

at the Goshen Rally, I had one installed on my small fiver. We were well over 100 ft from camera to the base unit and it worked FINE. Just remember, you have to turn on your trailer lights to make it work

[jd50i]

Originally Posted by Mountndream

Just remember, you have to turn on your trailer lights to make it work

What? The prewired ones are powered from the tail lights?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by jd50i

What? The prewired ones are powered from the tail lights?

It depends on the model of camera.

The "backup" camera is powered from the reverse light pin on the Bargman plug. Trying to run a backup camera continuously will overheat it and destroy it in very short order.

The "Observation" Camera has a much longer duty cycle but is also not designed to be run continuously (like forever). If you hook it up to a 12 volt source in the camper, it will run as long as there is 12 volt power on the camper (like even in storage or hooked up to power while camping). The life of the camera will be seriously degraded if you do this.

Using clearance light power makes the install fast and it only works when you are actually towing.


Herk

[jd50i]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

It depends on the model of camera.

The "backup" camera is powered from the reverse light pin on the Bargman plug. Trying to run a backup camera continuously will overheat it and destroy it in very short order.

The "Observation" Camera has a much longer duty cycle but is also not designed to be run continuously (like forever). If you hook it up to a 12 volt source in the camper, it will run as long as there is 12 volt power on the camper (like even in storage or hooked up to power while camping). The life of the camera will be seriously degraded if you do this.

Using clearance light power makes the install fast and it only works when you are actually towing.


Herk

ok, so the prewiring for a back up camera is connected to the reverse light from the factory and the wire would need to be changed to the tail lights if using as an observation camera.

[robledjl]

I just installed mine this past weekend and my trailer was pre-wired, once installed I turned the car on and nothing.... Blank screen... Then I turned on my running lights and that did it... Everything works fine.

[GalsofEscape]

Originally Posted by jd50i

ok, so the prewiring for a back up camera is connected to the reverse light from the factory and the wire would need to be changed to the tail lights if using as an observation camera.

Dont think that is always right. My camper came prewired for a furion camera. I had the dealer install the furion camera when I bought my camper, they brought out a ladder, went up there and snapped the camera it in. No rewiring was done. It is the backup camera and is powered off the marker lights. It is always on when going down the road and lights on.

[rlh1957]

Originally Posted by k_allison510

Our new trailer is "back up camera ready". The tech said everything is already wired and ready to go. I asked home much the camera system was and thought I might do it. Until our salesman said it was $700. Has anyone successfully used a wireless camera system on their rig? I would need one with a pretty good range. The monitor would be about 50' away from the camera. Thanks.

Prewired is really just a power lead to the camera mounting spot. It is intended for wireless cameras. You can go RF or Bluetooth. My Furrion is the new Bluetooth and works better than the one I had on the other camper that was 2.4GHz wireless RF. There aren't any other hardwires to the front.

There are several camera models that will work well. The FR models have the setup there for a Furrion. You can get a Furrion online and not go to the dealer. If you go Furrion the hookup on the rear is quick and easy. The monitor in the cab is cigarette lighter unless you wired it in. Rear camera powers up when position lights are on.
Mine is Bluetooth camera to Bluetooth receiver. Rig is just over 25' and driving F250 Crew Cab truck, so about 35ft camera to truck.
Mine works great. Use backup and seeing what is on my 6

[Freetyme]

Bought the Furrion observation for the pre wired Mini Lite. Works great. Can use it on the road also. Don't believe I need to have vehicle lights on, but my trailer battery is usually connected for the fridge on gas while on the road, so not sure where it's powered from.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by jd50i

ok, so the prewiring for a back up camera is connected to the reverse light from the factory and the wire would need to be changed to the tail lights if using as an observation camera.

Not really. The pre-wired Furion power connection is a 3.5mm socket that has three connections (like a stereo socket). It is wired to the backup light circuit, clearance light circuit, and ground.

The Furion cameras have a matching plug that is connected to ground and either the backup line or the clearance light line depending on the camera type.

If you choose not to use a Furion camera, you will need to connect to the correct pins by determining which is the clearance and which is the backup power (in the socket). This is harder than you might think without a pigtail with exposed wires so you can check for power.

[SailorSam20500]

Just be careful when you do the install. The screws used are TINY! Drop one and you will probably never find it - I did. But the unit I ordered included the mounting bracket (which had a lower price than the camera alone), so I had 4 extra screws...

[Timberking]

I found a furrion camera New on E-bay for $200.00, Took about 5 mins. to install. Then I found out that someone at forest river wired it in to the Bath room light.. Well i fixed that. Now it comes on with the running light.