The Slippery Soapbox

[Fogdude]

My wife has MS & can't walk or stand at all. She gets around in a power chair. To be able to go away from home, for doctor visits or even out to eat, we bought a full size van with a hydraulic lift that can load her & her chair & take her anywhere. We bought it a long time ago. It's a 1992 Ford. When new, it sold for $62,000. I've added $12,000 worth of extra equipment, since. It was originally a custom van with TV, VCR (yes, really) & dual stereo systems for driver area & passengers, separately, power adjustable sofa/bed, at the rear. If I sold it today, I might be able to get $1,500 for it. It has just over 74,000 miles on it. (Yes, really.)

I recently replaced the front stereo/radio with a new model. This one has a motorized screen that swings out on demand. I also bought a backup camera & wired it to the radio, so I would have better rear vision when backing up. It sucked. Not the camera, but the screen. It's in the dash & not optimally positioned. It also only operates when the vehicle is in reverse. Trying to change this was too complicated & inconvenient.

So, I found a commercial rearview system. It has an industrial strength camera, which I drilled holes in the body to mount it on. It has a 7" LCD screen that mounts on the windshield. Installation took 2 guys a whole day, but the result is phenomenal. I now have a screen on my windshield that occupies no more space than the original rearview mirror did, except that it now has a complete field of view, not just the inside of my van, my wife sitting in her chair, blocking most of the view of the two smallish windows in the rear doors. I have a wider field of view, can adjust the contrast & brightness, can reverse tor flip the image, zoom, etc. And it's on from the time I turn on the ignition until I turn it off.

I can't express my joy. I've never had such a great rearview experience in any car I've ever had. I just had to tell someone. Sorry My wife is tired of me raving about it...

[topmeasure]

Very happy for you Foggy.

[VincentLupo]

Sounds like just what you needed.  Glad you found it and were able to get it installed.

[sauron]

Oooo sounds like an interesting piece of kit!

[Fogdude]

Oooo sounds like an interesting piece of kit!

It is. It's a complete system & there's only one thin cable from the power box (provided) to the camera & another to the screen. Power is delivered to each through the cable, so no need for local access to power for either. The power box can handle up to 3 separate cameras & the screen has a button to switch between them. It's really incredible. Just mount the power box near (within 3 feet, or so) the fuse box under the dash, tap into the ignition power & run the cables. They give you 65' of cable to get to the camera, in case you're mounting it to the back of a trailer or mobile home, etc. Simply amazing. The majority of the time installing was routing & hiding the cables inside the passenger compartment. The screen has a large duckfoot mount that self-sticks to the windhield & the screen connects to the mount on a 2 way swivel, like any CCTV camera would. Adjust to taste & you're done. It's amazing. I'm ecstatic.

[sauron]

Oooo sounds like an interesting piece of kit!

It is. It's a complete system & there's only one thin cable from the power box (provided) to the camera & another to the screen. Power is delivered to each through the cable, so no need for local access to power for either. The power box can handle up to 3 separate cameras & the screen has a button to switch between them. It's really incredible. Just mount the power box near (within 3 feet, or so) the fuse box under the dash, tap into the ignition power & run the cables. They give you 65' of cable to get to the camera, in case you're mounting it to the back of a trailer or mobile home, etc. Simply amazing. The majority of the time installing was routing & hiding the cables inside the passenger compartment. The screen has a large duckfoot mount that self-sticks to the windhield & the screen connects to the mount on a 2 way swivel, like any CCTV camera would. Adjust to taste & you're done. It's amazing. I'm ecstatic.

Wow! Any YouTube videos of the product so we can see it in action?

[Fogdude]

I hadn't thought about a video. There's an installation video on Amazon Here , but it's mostly about installation, not use. I don't even know how to find it on YouTube. Amazon sells it direct. There's not even a brand name or model associated with it. Maybe I'll make my own...

[sauron]

That video is really good! Cars are so complicated though haha that guy knew exactly what he was doing. The camera looks awesome though, if I had the need for it I would definitely get one.

[jamshedt]

foggy add a pic of the work of art !! sounds incredible

[Fogdude]

foggy add a pic of the work of art !! sounds incredible

Yeah, pictures would be easier & quicker. I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

[stampe]

Happy for you
Sounds like a cool setup!
I can just see you driving your van in reverse everywhere hehe

[Fogdude]

Happy for you
Sounds like a cool setup!
I can just see you driving your van in reverse everywhere hehe

It's tempting! I'm still trying to justify buying 2 more cameras. I hate wasting empty ports!

[topmeasure]

This may help  

[Fogdude]

Cool! That's a whole different system, but the screen is identical to mine.

[Fogdude]

Well, wouldn't you know it. Completely forgetting that I'm no longer staff, I made a video of my van & the camera/screen, then can't upload it here. I don't have a YouTube account & I'm not going to establish one, just to post one stupid, amateur video. Sorry, folks. Maybe I'll grab some frames from the video & post some stills, later.

[VincentLupo]

How big is it.  You could drop it on Wetransfer for me or CT to grab and post for you.

[Fogdude]

How big is it.  You could drop it on Wetransfer for me or CT to grab and post for you.

Thanks, Vince. It's 423MB, so I think my alternative of just posting it on my FB page & letting anyone interested just hit that will have to do. No need to load up our server here with such things.

[VincentLupo]

Sounds like a plan Fog.