Side view cameras?

[ChesapeakeTechie]

Looking at a 320BH and wondering what those with the Coachmen Class C's think of the side view cameras? I've towed a 21' TT but never driven a class C pulling a toad.
Do they give a much better view than mirrors alone?

[cmalberto]

After wearing the "newness" off, I am back to using the mirrors. They are activated from the blinkers so to use them effectively, you have to turn the blinkers on early, review and then double check the mirrors anyway(piece of mind), then change lanes.

But I do keep the rear camera on all the time. I suppose I could do that for the right side as that is the harder side to see out of.

[1nshort]

Originally Posted by ChesapeakeTechie

Looking at a 320BH and wondering what those with the Coachmen Class C's think of the side view cameras? I've towed a 21' TT but never driven a class C pulling a toad.
Do they give a much better view than mirrors alone?

I have a class A, but the principle is the same. Yes, you need to turn them on early, but hey, you are driving an RV, you need a bit more time to turn safely. That said, it is a good quick check for blind spot vehicles, but mainly use your mirrors before committing.

Just my 2 cents.

[paulmlac]

Recommend you go to the Sunseeker sub forum. There's a post on the first page. It's toward the bottom. It's dated (I think) 9/18. Two pages worth of comments (mine included) on side view cameras. I am assuming there are similarities between the Sunseeker / Forester & Coachmen side view cameras so might help you make a decision.

[2013leprechaun319dsf]

Only have a few trips on my Leprechaun, but I check side mirror first then check side-view camera. Just eases my mind to have a double check.

[Roll]

I thought I had to have them; now that I do (Coachmen Encounter) I wish I could turn them off.

I can see very well out of the flat and convex mirrors that were equipped on the coach.

The rear camera is very helpful but the rear image is replaced by the side camera image when I put the signals on. Because of this I can't see when the toad clears the vehicle I am passing. In the side view the vehicle is too far back and too small in the image for me to make decisions about when to turn back into that lane.

I would turn them off if I could. I have also seen some systems that put a smaller image of the sides at the lower left and right of the rear view image so all three are on the screen at the same time. That is a better alternative and more useful than flipping the rear view for a side view.

[2013leprechaun319dsf]

Roll
If your cameras are like mine in the Coachmen Leprechaun, you can turn them off or arrange so rear view stays on all the time. I think I push the camera button on the left side of the display to set it up.

[Roll]

Originally Posted by 2013leprechaun319dsf

Roll
If your cameras are like mine in the Coachmen Leprechaun, you can turn them off or arrange so rear view stays on all the time. I think I push the camera button on the left side of the display to set it up.

Thanks, I'll look into that. Would be an easy fix for an annoying problem.

[Roll]

Originally Posted by 2013leprechaun319dsf

Roll
If your cameras are like mine in the Coachmen Leprechaun, you can turn them off or arrange so rear view stays on all the time. I think I push the camera button on the left side of the display to set it up.

Nope, doesn't work for me.

[2013leprechaun319dsf]

Originally Posted by Roll

Nope, doesn't work for me.

What kind of radio/screen is in your unit. Believe mine is a Jensen.

[Roll]

Originally Posted by 2013leprechaun319dsf

What kind of radio/screen is in your unit. Believe mine is a Jensen.

I also have a Jensen radio with a screen about 5 inches diagonal, (just guessing).

And the monitor of the rear and side cameras is a Motorola I think. it might be a little larger than the radio.

Attached a pic, ooops, Jensen screen is much smaller than my short memory reported and the Motorola screen below the radio is maybe 7 inches on the diagonal. The disassembly was due to overlapping projects, Hushmat over and around the engine compartment and something I don't recall I was installing while the seats were out.