Dangerous Blind Spot on Side Camera 2017 3010DS

Gidyupgo · 06-03-2016, 10:40 PM

I contacted my dealer, described the condition where the new location of the passenger side, side camera's field of vision is obstructed by the coach door hinge. This prevents you from seeing a vehicle overtaking you on the right side and gives you a false sense that it is clear to change lanes. The camera simply needs either spaced out further or a taller camera installed so it protrudes past the coach door hinge.
The reply from my dealer's warranty department was that his contact at Sunseeker said that they do not have a repair for this problem. Beware of this hazard and lack of interest and urgency in correcting it by Sunseeker.

Gidyupgo · 06-04-2016, 10:44 AM

Just dropped it off at Three Way Campers in Marietta for them to see what they can do.

benagi · 06-05-2016, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

Just dropped it off at Three Way Campers in Marietta for them to see what they can do.

Did they move the camera from the mirror? My 2016 3171 has the side cameras mounted in the side mirrors . No problem with side view.

ScottBrownstein · 06-05-2016, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

Just dropped it off at Three Way Campers in Marietta for them to see what they can do.

Difficult problem and there doesn't seem to be much room there. They could just put a small spacer under the camera to move the lens out so that it can see beyond the hinge. relatively simple fix but hopefully it is forward enough that the door doesn't contact it when opens beyond 90 degrees. Won't take much, maybe 1/2 if an inch. A white nylon plate under the camera should do it and even allow them to nudge the camera forward to clear the door.

OldCoot · 06-05-2016, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

I contacted my dealer, described the condition where the new location of the passenger side, side camera's field of vision is obstructed by the coach door hinge. This prevents you from seeing a vehicle overtaking you on the right side and gives you a false sense that it is clear to change lanes. The camera simply needs either spaced out further or a taller camera installed so it protrudes past the coach door hinge.
The reply from my dealer's warranty department was that his contact at Sunseeker said that they do not have a repair for this problem. Beware of this hazard and lack of interest and urgency in correcting it by Sunseeker.

Is it possible for you to make a spacer to get it out past the hinge and use longer screws? Just make sure you caulk behind the spacer and the screws.
Another possible solution is move the camera to another location and add a cover to the old position.

bubbles · 06-05-2016, 06:14 AM

Here's a thought. Why not just use your mirrors, like in the old days.

DaGrinch · 06-05-2016, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

Difficult problem and there doesn't seem to be much room there. They could just put a small spacer under the camera to move the lens out so that it can see beyond the hinge. relatively simple fix but hopefully it is forward enough that the door doesn't contact it when opens beyond 90 degrees. Won't take much, maybe 1/2 if an inch. A white nylon plate under the camera should do it and even allow them to nudge the camera forward to clear the door.

I have the same unit and the door does not contact the camera. Camera is far enough ahead of the door and door is restricted by the gas strut.

ScottBrownstein · 06-05-2016, 06:37 AM

Great. Then it is easy. small chunk of 1/2" nylon or other white plastic, some sealant and the camera will won't be blocked by the hinge.

B and B · 06-05-2016, 07:09 AM

Red Souvine would use his mirrors but this is 2016. The spacer mentioned looks like the best option.

grumpy0374 · 06-05-2016, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

Here's a thought. Why not just use your mirrors, like in the old days.

Wow!!! What a great idea!!! Never realized you could use em for that.
Seriously, my mirrors have both the regular and convex lenses, and I have no problem with seeing all I need to on both sides of our Lexi.
The side view camera's may be a convience, but think about what you used in the olden days...a mirror.
Next everyone will be thinking of a way to check the airpressure in the tires without using a tire pressure guage!!!
What will they think of next?
Grumpy

OldCoot · 06-05-2016, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy0374

Wow!!! What a great idea!!! Never realized you could use em for that...The side view camera's may be a convience, but think about what you used in the olden days...a mirror.
Next everyone will be thinking of a way to check the airpressure in the tires without using a tire pressure guage!!!
What will they think of next?
Grumpy

X2! Even on a 5er.

tkarper14 · 06-05-2016, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

Here's a thought. Why not just use your mirrors, like in the old days.

We used to do a lot of things in the old days that we don't do anymore. Like walking to school (up hill both ways). May we should abolish school busses. Vehicles at one time did not have seatbelts. Maybe we should have them removed from the vehicle along with airbags. At one time we didn't have them either.

The OP should not get chastised for wanting a piece of equipment that was paid for to work properly.

I hope the OP finds a solution to the problem.

OldCoot · 06-05-2016, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkarper14

We used to do a lot of things in the old days that we don't do anymore. Like walking to school (up hill both ways). May we should abolish school busses. Vehicles at one time did not have seatbelts. Maybe we should have them removed from the vehicle along with airbags. At one time we didn't have them either.

The OP should not get chastised for wanting a piece of equipment that was paid for to work properly.

I hope the OP finds a solution to the problem.

A simple spacer is all that is required.

bubbles · 06-05-2016, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkarper14

We used to do a lot of things in the old days that we don't do anymore. Like walking to school (up hill both ways). May we should abolish school busses. Vehicles at one time did not have seatbelts. Maybe we should have them removed from the vehicle along with airbags. At one time we didn't have them either.

The OP should not get chastised for wanting a piece of equipment that was paid for to work properly.

I hope the OP finds a solution to the problem.

The OP used words like, hazard, urgency, false sense to address his issue and I did try to make the issue a trivial one but those cameras (side view on MH's) cannot be relied upon to accomplish what a properly adjusted set of side view mirrors are there for. If the OP is going to rely on those cameras as the only source of what he speaks of he will have trouble ahead and God forbid they go inoperative. What will he do, what will he do. At present time those cameras are not part of any safety item on my state annual vehicle safety inspection. Some of those items you speak of are safety items and some of those are required by a law. To me, right now, side mounted cameras on my MH is just a sales gimmick. They don't accomplish a thing for me that my mirrors don't and I haven't removed my mirrors yet. The sky is not falling. I'm done

ScottBrownstein · 06-05-2016, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

...I'm done

of course, everything you say is true. I use both my side mirrors as well as my side view cameras. They are nice to have and there is no reason that they shouldn't work correctly. I do agree that as long as there are side mirrors it doesn't rise to the level of a safety recall. Kinda surprised though that FR didn't see the problem and simply fix it. A $0.25 piece of plastic would have given the OP a nice clear view...from both side cameras and side mirrors.

Must admit, however, that the rear camera is another thing entirely. My coach does not have a rear view mirror...at all, even though it could have had one!!!

Something tells me that is a safety issue and somebody is looking at this so that a vehicle can be sold with no rear view whatsoever with the except of the camera system. Has to be a requirement there.

Gidyupgo · 06-05-2016, 08:41 PM

Thanks for the comments, suggestions, advice, and other, uh, words of wisdom? Yes, the cameras moved from the mirrors to the corners after the 2016. No idea why. I agree that a short spacer would take care of it and as mentioned would still be clear of the door path. I was able to reach inside and feel the back of the mount tube and hope it is long enough to accommodate a thick enough spacer. Dealer has it and will fab up whatever is needed and who knows, maybe the folks in Indiana will eventually start slipping a chunk of plastic under it when they put it in the hole.

chideock · 06-09-2016, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

Yes, the cameras moved from the mirrors to the corners after the 2016. No idea why.

Apparently there was too much vibration in the mirrors so the cameras were moved. At least that is what I was told.

Gidyupgo · 06-09-2016, 04:22 PM

That sounds plausible. Thanks for sharing. I also believe it's possible that their engineers did a mock up of this on a model with a mid coach door and it worked great.

**RedLdr1** · 06-09-2016, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gidyupgo

I also believe it's possible that their engineers did a mock up of this on a model with a mid coach door and it worked great.

That could be as I don't have the issue with our mid-door GTS.

I'd expected the cameras to be on the front fenders, per the brochure, and that's where they were on our MBS. That location worked fairly well on the MBS setup.

Gidyupgo · 06-26-2016, 04:00 PM

Just a quick update if anyone is following/interested. When we arrived to pick it up yesterday, the item on the work order was signed off as shimmed per factory instructons. I was very please until I looked and there was no shim that we could see and no change to the blind spot from the coach door hinge. The Tech that did the work wasn't on duty to explain what he had done and I almost accepted it with the intent of fixing it myself but since the Jensen GPS was still crashing I left it and asked them to try again on both of these warranty items.

C'mon Forest River, Josh, this is your new design for 2017 and it's not right.

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