Reversing Cameras

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myths63

New Member
Posts
384
Location
Perthshire
Hi all,
Anybody fitted one of the aftermarket reversing cameras on the back of their Freelander :confused:
I am going to buy a wireless one off eBay....it will work thru my Kenwood double din no problems BUT just wondered if/where on their Freelander they put it ie bumper or lower trim on door etc....

Not wanting to get one that has the number plate light/camera as they do seem a tad more expensive....worried incase it would 'point' too far down on the bumper as its slightly angled......

Ho hum....the stresses of life:D:D
 
Yeh....that was my thought, central on the rear door outside trim.....hidden from view, high enough up & protected from rain etc......had an expensive camera system fitted to my van, after about 3 months the camera was knacked...water ingress i think
 
Reversing cameras are gay. Mirrors come with the car, they're free and cheap to replace if they get broken. Oh and they give you a much wider field of view than a reversing camera
 

I got one of these. It does not fit the freelander 1. I do have a reverse camera on mine I have one of these instead ImageUploadedByTapatalk1371634688.935084.jpg. It is also in a metal housing. Someone on here said that the wireless one are not so good.
 
Maps worked fine since 2000bc, and yet now most have Sat Nav and not all are lazy or idiots, some scenarios technology is necessary.

Reversing cameras are useful for situations such as car parks and heavily built up areas where trying to park in confined spaces requires quite a high degree of skill and judgement, where often other factors (pressure from other motorists fighting for the space you want) can make people rush their parking move and have a scrape.

Such as..

* Those who aren't very skilled in parking, or lack confidence including elderly.
* Physical limitations that make it hard to turn neck, e.g. arthritis/neurological problems.
* People who worry about damaging their own vehicle or others due to many factors.
* Carry loads/having an obscured rear view and no rear parking sensors.

If you live with people who are elderly or disabled who still try to keep remnants of their independence by driving, you will see they often have less confidence than younger people in parking, and or those with other conditions that affect physical and neurological judgement who don't have a full range of movement to be able to observe as well as able bodied people.

I saw that cheap camera on Ebay essexpestcontrol posted, but I doubt it fits as Freelandie71 also mentions. It says Freelander 1 on the fleabay advert but if you look at the design it's not the same, and looks like it's from a Disco or a Rangie classic as the number plate light design is different.

Even if not, I'd save up the pennies for a reasonably good rear camera with advertised LED nightvision (or very low lux operation) and get a second hand quality head unit (Pioneer/Alpine/Kenwood) that supports a rear camera input, and mount the camera near the rear door latch and have a camera when you need but now a decent double DIN sat nav/car stereo with bluetooth hands free for the phone. It won't look very good externally, but the cameras usefulness overrides this for people who need it.

My dad was a great driver but had a stroke. His parking is now abysmal and I can't get out and help him easily (the few times I get out), so a camera for me would be very useful and my mother too who is nervous driver since getting squished by a lorry driver. In fact she refuses to drive at all, simply due to nerves.

Many people aren't confident drivers, even though they own a driving license and can drive safely at their pace and limitations they live with, so for these people parking cameras literally are a disability aid, which for some without disabilities affecting parking rear cameras may indeed surplus to requirements, because they were never available in the past. Sometimes though parking cameras have a good reason to be used and so I like them a lot, and wish I had one fitted. I'm amazed other people can park huge great estate cars, but they are more skilled than I. We aren't all skilled or confident drivers, well not any longer. Maybe practice makes perfect.
 
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I wasn't inclined to read through all of the 500 page novel that you posted but I don't agree. Many people still don't use satnavs because they're inaccurate and have been shown at times to be downright dangerous. I still prefer to look at a map and use route cards and/or road signs rather than paying attention to a tiny screen.

Same with reversing cameras and parking sensors. They may be handy but in no way are they a good substitute for a mirror. Cameras can't provide a view from different angles and don't give you proper depth of vision. You see exactly what's in front of the camera and that's that. So if you rely on that and you're reversing and a kid runs behind you (let's say you'd be able to see them in wing mirrors or a rear view mirror) and you hit them, what's your excuse? 'Aw he didn't show up in the camera?' I don't think that'll wash.
 
I think anything that makes it safer to reverse is a good thing,If it means fitting a reversing camera as a extra to help you as well as using all your mirrors is a good thing.
I find it difficult to turn my head round enough to see through the rear window so if a camera helps it is a good extra.
 
I'm looking at getting a reversing camera purely to aid with hitching up my caravan. It's quite difficult to manoeuvre the caravan where it's kept so I prefer to reverse up as close as I can to the hitch to minimise having to man-handle it too much. It's fine when my wife is at hand to assist me but she's not always with me so I wanted better solution.

I have the facility on my Pioneer double-din head unit so why not make use of it. I've been looking at the camera Maplin have as it seems to be fine for the job and appears to be easy to mount too. Exactly where, I'm not sure yet!

Nikkai Colour Reversing Camera 480 TVL : Cameras : Maplin Electronics
 
Well i fitted mine a little while back, ended up buying a wireless one from ebay...around £16.....works great, its hooked up to my Kenwood ;)

Any safety device that can be retro fitted to any car is a benefit, be it Reverse Sensors or Camera....if it helps you at least once from hitting something/someone then it was money well spent.

They are not designed to replace your 'line of sight/mirrors' etc nor your common sense but an added safety feature....if you dont agree/dont like them then dont buy them....

Nuff said :D
 
I use my reversing sensors all the time. Not that I don't use my eyes as well, but there are always people parked opposite my driveway, and it's handy in car parks too.
 
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