Rear Camera

[rjshiflet]

Our new Cardinal 3456RL came "pre-wired" for a backup/observation camera. Can someone tell me a couple of things about that?

1) What exactly does that mean? Is there a specific camera that must be used to plug into it? Should it be a wireless or since it is "pre-wired" does it need to be a wired camera?
2) If it's wired - how do we get the signal from the trailer to the cab of the truck? Is it transmitted wirelessly or via the seven-way plug? Does it show up on our Ford Super Duty's display or do we need a monitor? Does the monitor come with the camera?

Sorry for my ignorance - I've had RVs for 16 years but this one has me baffled and really nobody was sure how it worked during our PDI and walk-thru.

Robert

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

Our new Cardinal 3456RL came "pre-wired" for a backup/observation camera. Can someone tell me a couple of things about that?

1) What exactly does that mean? Is there a specific camera that must be used to plug into it? Should it be a wireless or since it is "pre-wired" does it need to be a wired camera?
2) If it's wired - how do we get the signal from the trailer to the cab of the truck? Is it transmitted wirelessly or via the seven-way plug? Does it show up on our Ford Super Duty's display or do we need a monitor? Does the monitor come with the camera?

Sorry for my ignorance - I've had RVs for 16 years but this one has me baffled and really nobody was sure how it worked during our PDI and walk-thru.

#1 Yes. Its a specific camera, Namely the Furrion. it comes in two flavors, the "Backup camera" which is cheaper and the "Observation camera" which costs a little more but is well worth it.

#2 By 'pre-wired' they mean there is a mount installed with a power connector to the camera. The signal to the monitor is wireless. The observation camera has a more powerful transmitter, hence the higher cost. It does not show up on the stock Ford monitor.

You can buy the Furrion camera and monitor as a kit. I got mine from amazon, and it's funny, but the camera/monitor/mount kit is cheaper than just the camera and monitor without the mount. go figure...

The monitor comes with a nice suction cup mount and plugs into a cigarette lighter. Installation of the whole unit took about 10 minutes. It is simply removing 4 teeny-tiny screws holding a blank plate on the camera mount, plugging in the power cable, and installing the camera in the mount with the 4 teeny-tiny screws. Then you go to the cab, mount the monitor where ever you please, and plug it in.

To me, it was WELL worth the $$$ to have this thing. Not so much for backing (but that helps too) but just for keeping an eye on what's behind you and how close it is.

FYI: The camera only gets power when you have your running lights on.

Tim

[rjshiflet]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

To me, it was WELL worth the $$$ to have this thing. Not so much for backing (but that helps too) but just for keeping an eye on what's behind you and how close it is.

FYI: The camera only gets power when you have your running lights on.

Tim

Thanks for this and all the other info you provided. I do appreciate it. Our new trailer is 42 feet long - the wireless will transmit that far?

Headed to Amazon Prime right now.

Robert

[youroo]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

Thanks for this and all the other info you provided. I do appreciate it. Our new trailer is 42 feet long - the wireless will transmit that far?

Headed to Amazon Prime right now.

Robert

The "48 Model" will transmit that far! Good clean Pic as well! Furrion FOS48TAPK! Youroo!!

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

Thanks for this and all the other info you provided. I do appreciate it. Our new trailer is 42 feet long - the wireless will transmit that far?

Headed to Amazon Prime right now.

Robert

When I installed mine, I had jumpered on the lights to get the camera to turn on so I could set the camera angle (it's adjustable). The truck was not hooked up, and I decided to run to the gas station near the house for an iced tea. I was surprised to find that could go as far as 2 streets over, a good 600 or so feet from the camper, and still get a signal.

42 feet will be a cake walk for it

Tim

[lesterw]

Originally Posted by rjshiflet

Our new Cardinal 3456RL came "pre-wired" for a backup/observation camera. Can someone tell me a couple of things about that?

1) What exactly does that mean? Is there a specific camera that must be used to plug into it? Should it be a wireless or since it is "pre-wired" does it need to be a wired camera?
2) If it's wired - how do we get the signal from the trailer to the cab of the truck? Is it transmitted wirelessly or via the seven-way plug? Does it show up on our Ford Super Duty's display or do we need a monitor? Does the monitor come with the camera?

Sorry for my ignorance - I've had RVs for 16 years but this one has me baffled and really nobody was sure how it worked during our PDI and walk-thru.

Robert

The pre-wire is set up for your backup circuit. Which means it will only come on when you put it in reverse. If you move the camera hot lead from the backup circuit and onto the running lights, the camera can operate all the time by turning on lights. This way you can see behind you when traveling. It useful when changing lanes, etc.

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by lesterw

The pre-wire is set up for your backup circuit. Which means it will only come on when you put it in reverse. If you move the camera hot lead from the backup circuit and onto the running lights, the camera can operate all the time by turning on lights. This way you can see behind you when traveling. It useful when changing lanes, etc.

Not sure how the Cardinals do it, but every trailer I have seen out of FR so far has the power coming off the running lights, not the backup lights.

Tim

[lesterw]

I can only speak for mine. As it is a backup camera, mine came on when in reverse.