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Old 11-08-2018, 01:27 AM   #1
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Rear view monitor

Hi all,

Don't know if anyone else has tried this, but I just couldn't feel comfortable driving with just my side mirrors. Yeah, on my dash there is a media device that is connected to my side mirror cameras and to my backup camera - but I really didn't like changing my focus from the road, down to a small monitor on the dash, and then back up again - so - I made a little change. I mounted a computer monitor (26") up about where a rear view mirror would go (on a tilt/swivel mount) - then got an adapter and wired my backup camera to the monitor (through a video to monitor adapter). As I travel down the road now (and when I back up), I have a REALLY NICE VIEW of what is behind me. It is GREAT to look up and see what traffic is doing - when someone is passing me - when I'm passing another vehicle, etc. It ALSO lets me keep an eye on my TOAD.

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Old 11-08-2018, 11:33 AM   #2
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Are you telling us you mounted a 26" monitor to the center of your viewing area by the windshield? I'm gonna bet if you get stopped or have an accident you're insurance company won't be too happy and deny your claim. I think that would be like watching a TV while driving. Now who am I to say, just my opinion.
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Old 11-08-2018, 11:44 AM   #3
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Sounds interesting, can you post a picture of your setup?
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Old 11-08-2018, 11:52 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpmath View Post
Are you telling us you mounted a 26" monitor to the center of your viewing area by the windshield? I'm gonna bet if you get stopped or have an accident you're insurance company won't be too happy and deny your claim. I think that would be like watching a TV while driving. Now who am I to say, just my opinion.
They can't do that. Your insurance is in effect to protect you even when you do stupid things.

That's like saying your insurance won't cover you because you caused the accident.
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Old 11-08-2018, 12:56 PM   #5
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Interesting idea putting it where the rear view mirror would be; thus you can just use "muscle memory" looking at it. I think I'd have the same issue I had with the Premier Bolt's video rear-view mirror: It took a sec for my eyes to focus from infinity (looking out the window) to the near monitor and I found that distracting (If you're looking at a rear-view mirror you keep your eyes focused at infinity).

There are quite a few on here that put a multi-camera monitor on the dash, but haven't heard of someone mounting it there yet.
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Old 11-08-2018, 01:03 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by JamieGeek View Post
Interesting idea putting it where the rear view mirror would be; thus you can just use "muscle memory" looking at it. I think I'd have the same issue I had with the Premier Bolt's video rear-view mirror: It took a sec for my eyes to focus from infinity (looking out the window) to the near monitor and I found that distracting (If you're looking at a rear-view mirror you keep your eyes focused at infinity).

There are quite a few on here that put a multi-camera monitor on the dash, but haven't heard of someone mounting it there yet.
I told the development guys at GM Research about that refocus issue with the video mirrors. Even worse if you wear bifocals. I could barely tip my head back far enough to get the screen clear
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Old 11-08-2018, 04:50 PM   #7
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Clearing up some questions.

In response to some of the reply's I've gotten:

I was in error on the size - it's actually 24" instead of 26" It's not positioned within my viewing area of the road or objects that shold be within my field of vision necessary to drive safely. It's not like watching TV while driving. It provides the same sensation as if you are looking in your rear view mirror when you're driving a car, van, or truck. Taking a quick glance at the monitor is MUCH better than looking down at my small dash monitor and then back to the road. It's ALSO much better than taking you eyes off the road to look in a side mirror.

As you can see in my attached photo, where its mounted, it is not much below the sun shading on my windshield. When I drive, I usually lower the night shade a little anyway to block out the glare of the sun - which also helps with the contrast of the monitor on bright days.

When I took this photo, our RV was parked in our back yard, and it was pretty cloudy outside, which makes the monitor look like its black and white - it's actually a color monitor. My only complaint I personally have thus far is that when driving at night, my current backup camera doesn't do well with low light levels - but I'm going to replace that soon with a pan/tilt/zoom camera with better low light level response, which will then let me tilt the camera to see the pumps when I'm pulling up to refill my tank.

Just for some reference, I don't wear glasses (except for reading). I've also been a ham radio operator for over 50 years, so I don't sweat the technical stuff.

Hope this clears up some questions, and reassures everyone that I find this to be MUCH SAFER, than driving with just mirrors.
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Old 11-08-2018, 05:12 PM   #8
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Old 11-08-2018, 10:50 PM   #9
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That came standard on our Super C 35SD
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Old 11-08-2018, 10:52 PM   #10
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Looks like a sweet setup.

I hate the small screen on my RV. I been toying with an Idea of using a 10 or 12 inch on top of the dash like some others have shown in the past.
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Old 11-08-2018, 11:36 PM   #11
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When do you see the day where they replace the entire windshield with a monitor?
No glass just a 55" screen with camera pointed out front.
Day & Night view. No more windshield heat or bad wipers.
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Old 11-09-2018, 12:54 AM   #12
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Rear view monitor

We may see driver-less RV's before that happens. By then, a big monitor wouldn't be used for driving - just for sight seeing if you want to see where you're going.
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Old 11-09-2018, 06:21 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by revjeffrey View Post
When do you see the day where they replace the entire windshield with a monitor?
No glass just a 55" screen with camera pointed out front.
Day & Night view. No more windshield heat or bad wipers.
Your on to something..... No windows at all in the entire RV. Just flat sceens that you can switch between the outside cameras or 200 channel with internet access all over the walls.

Plus the option that when you see a pine tree on the screen it emits a fake pine smell in the RV. LOL
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Old 11-09-2018, 06:22 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Sneezeweed View Post
We may see driver-less RV's before that happens. By then, a big monitor wouldn't be used for driving - just for sight seeing if you want to see where you're going.
Yep, they are coming. You can just go to sleep and wake up at a different camp ground every other day!
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Old 11-09-2018, 06:51 PM   #15
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Yep, they are coming. You can just go to sleep and wake up at a different camp ground every other day!
Well there would be some instances where you're traveling 70 miles an hour down the highway and just using your monitor with no windshield that's why I'm hoping Thor keeps all the programming in house and only use Axxera components that way I know I'll be safe.
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Old 11-09-2018, 07:56 PM   #16
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Yeah, I know for one if im going to trust any manufacturer with an fully automuous vehicle "THOR" will be at the top of the list, Right above Tesla and MB/BMW. LOL.
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Old 11-09-2018, 07:58 PM   #17
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I think "AXXERA" in China mean "of high quality".
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Old 11-09-2018, 08:38 PM   #18
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I use a "mini" version of your set-up with a 10" monitor mounted to the dash. I like it because I don't have to take my eyes off the road to see any of the cameras that might be displayed and my CoPilot GPS is right below that in my line of sight ...
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Old 11-10-2018, 01:05 AM   #19
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Just think, with wrap around monitors, if you don't like seeing the sunset on one side of the coach - just electronically rotate the view to the other side. Quick as a wink, you could make it look like there are no windows. On the ceiling, you can bring the stars indoors at night. After all, its just money ;-)
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Old 11-10-2018, 01:27 AM   #20
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Actually wouldn't have to replace any of the windows with monitors.

Thor could just include an Oculus Rift with every RV and then they wouldn't have to do anything: Sell you an RV with nothing on the inside but a lawn chair. Sit in the chair, put on your Rift and look around the insides of your virtual RV that you can't touch...only look at.

"Wow it'd be really cool to have a real RV that looks like that ! "
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